Add together a fun-loving, enthusiastic, music-playing couple with a timid, talented and passionate “stick man.” Mix in a heaping measure of heart and soul, and you will cook up a Christian rock band known as Gretchen.
Gretchen has a heavy rock ‘n’ roll influence, and could be compared to Evanescence and No Doubt – a very eclectic sound with diverse vocals and varying song styles.
Bristol-based Gretchen is fronted by Mia Richards, who has a dynamic, powerful voice. She also fills in the bass guitar lines and lends her abilities as a songwriter.
Backing Mia on wailing seven-string guitar is her husband, Dave Richards, who also lends his skills in the songwriting process and sings backup. Setting the steady rhythm and rounding out the trio is Stick Man Stephen Robinson on drums.
Dave and Mia began as a duo, Serenade, with Dave playing acoustic guitar and Mia singing. The couple worked for Robinson’s former band, Human Resource Foundation. When HRF split, Robinson joined Serenade, along with Dave’s brother on bass.
Mouth Full of Nails, the band’s debut album was recorded in 2000, with the assistance of Dove Award-winning producer Travis Wyrick. When the group signed with Rugged Records, the owner did not think the band’s name fit the style or genre of their music. “We were given three weeks to come up with a new name – which was no easy feat considering most of the other names we liked were either already taken or didn’t mean as much to us personally,” Mia said.
After much deliberation, the group decided on Gretchen from one of their favorite bands, Kings X, and their album Gretchen Goes to Nebraska. “It is full of spiritual metaphor and meaning, which fits the band’s purpose,” Dave said. “It has a dark mysterious sound to it, which fits the band’s sound. It’s a girl’s name – meaning “pearl” in German – which fits because we have a chick singer. It’s perfect! I just want to know, why I didn’t think of it.”
Regardless of who thought of the name, Gretchen humbly gains its strength from each of its members. Described as “an intense character” by Mia and a “perfectionist” by Robinson, Dave is a driven musician who is encouraging and straightforward. “He is one of the most hardworking, blunt and honest people I know,” Robinson said. “He tells it like it is.”
Mia calls Dave a “slave driver,” but said she appreciates his support. “He’s encouraged me in his own little way,” she said, “but it works.”
After several bass players joined and left the band, Mia decided she would fill the role herself and pull double-duty as vocalist and musician. Robinson describes her as a “gifted and talented as a musical artist” and she is a source of strength for her husband. “She’s the thing that keeps me together … while I’m cracking,” Dave said.
Robinson has great respect for his band mate and friend. “Mia’s as equally hardworking as her spouse,” he said. “She is very brave, and will take things on that confound me at times, like the bass.”
Behind the drums is the man described as “a mellow dude” by Mia. “Steve is a man of few words and many thoughts,” Dave said.
Robinson is also a very driven musician whose main goal for the band is to make an impact on those who listen to their music. “My interpersonal goal is to come out better off than we started,” he said. “Not necessarily financially – although that would be nice – but as people and as Christians.
“We hope to take something from this experience that is lasting, not fleeting, and help people along the way.”
The band has goals to tour the world and to sell at least 20,000 CDs. But, the trio also hopes to continue responding to the call to witness through their music, Dave said. “We want to continue to strive for and achieve a certain level of honesty musically and every other way,” he said.
Sincerity and truthfulness comes through in Gretchen’s performances. “Their music is refreshingly honest,” said Joshua Groom, 21, a musician and Gretchen fan. “They are incredible for a local band. I hope to see them make it big outside this area – they definitely have the talent.”
Gretchen’s main message is in their music. Lyrics and music are drawn from their beliefs and from personal experiences. “We don’t really even say a whole lot from stage about what we believe,” Mia said. “We usually don’t have to. There have been very few shows where people don’t come up afterwards and start opening up their lives to us and sharing their problems.
“We always take time to talk to these people. They are the reason we do what we do.”
Gretchen receives different responses from each audience, especially when playing outside of the Tri-Cities area, Mia said. “Last year, we got to play in a variety of different states, settings and venues,” she said. “In every instance, the details, promoters and audiences were different. We played for 15 people and for 600, never really knowing what to expect.”
Touring is a fun and positive experience for the Tri-Cities band. In 2003, Gretchen traveled from Ohio and Connecticut to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
A highlight for them was performing in Fort Lauderdale, Dave said. “One of the coolest moments was getting to open for STRYPER on their ‘Reunion 2003’ tour,” Mia said. “It was kind of surreal being able to play with a band that we looked up to when we were kids.”
After writing new music and practicing several times a week for the past three or four months, Gretchen is heading back to the studio on April 26 to record its second album In the Mean Time. Again they will be working with producer Travis Wyrick and are excited to see what insight he will have for them, Mia said.
“From out last studio experience with Travis, we learned that the material that you bring in can come out of the process sounding totally different than what was originally envisioned,” she said. “But, that is why Travis has won awards for his production work and why some of his bands go on to be picked up by major labels … He knows what he is doing. We just bring him our raw version of the new material and trust his experience.”
Gretchen was just released from Rugged Records, but has secured a deal to put a remastered version of Mouth Full of Nails back into stores, along with the new album, when it’s released, Dave said. “When In the Mean Time is finished, it will be shipped out as a new release,” he said. “It’s at that time we’re hoping to move a few units of MFON as well. It will be available in some large chains such as FYE.”
If everything stays on track, In the Mean Time will be completed and released in July. An acoustic album is also being discussed for release in a year or two.
For more information about Gretchen and a list of upcoming performances, visit them on the web at www.gretchenland.com.
Writer’s note: Thanks to Rob and Jason from TeamRock for their assistance and background info.

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