VOTA (formerly known as Casting Pearls) is a Christian rock band from Lincoln, Nebraska, featuring Bryan Olesen, a former guitarist with Christian rock band Newsboys. Several of the band's songs have been featured on rotation with national radio networks such as K-Love, and are part of the international 180 Tour. Their song "Hard to Believe" was listed at No. 17 on R&R magazine's May 2, 2009, weekly chart for the United States.[1]
Casting Pearls was formed by Bryan Olesen and bass guitarist Case Maranville in 1997 when they joined drummer Shane Coop. After a few line-up changes, the band solidified in 2003 to include Olesen, Maranville and drummer Scott Rutz. In July 2003, the band met Peter Furler of Newsboys which led to Olesen's tenure as lead guitarist for Newsboys from 2003 to early 2006 and the self-titled release on Furler's Inpop Records of Casting Pearls in 2005.
In 2008, the band changed its name to VOTA due to confusion with similarly named Christian artist Casting Crowns. Originally, the name was a typo in an email from their management team as the band, management and label were brainstorming new names. The name was ultimately chosen by the band as being without a specific meaning and having a bit of mystery to it, allowing their fans to individually interpret the meaning. In summer 2008, while performing at an Oklahoma summer camp, the band discovered the name does have a spiritual meaning. Vota is a Latin root word that stands for a collection of vows before God.[2]
2009 saw the departure of band members Riley Friesen, who left to start a recording studio, Coda Record House, and original Casting Pearls member Scott Rutz, who left the band to pursue an advertising and marketing career.[3] Jeff Goff and Cody Bender joined the band shortly before the 2009 LifeLight Festival in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.[4] Near the end of their 2010 tour with BarlowGirl[5] guitarist Cody Bender left the band to focus on his personal life.
A new line-up was announced on September 27, 2010, with Case Maranville and Jeff Goff left replaced by John Wooten (drums), Justin Wantz (guitar and keyboard) and Stefan Carlson (bass guitar), leaving Olesen as the only remaining original Casting Pearls member.
A third studio album, Love Found Me, was announced in late 2012 and was released January 8, 2013. "Love Found Me" was a campaign in collaboration with non-profit organization, Tiny Hands international, to fight human trafficking in India and Nepal. In a non-traditional sense, the band decided to give away this album for free by having fans visit lovefoundme.org. Before getting the album, fans must watch a video about human trafficking and this campaign, and then have the option to attain a second bonus album by donating any amount of money to Tiny Hands International.
In 2016, they released Fearless to support 300 children in Panali, Nicaragua with Food for the Hungry.[6]
In 2018, they became a two-piece band with Olesen playing both guitar and bass via a guitar he custom modified and Wooten playing drums and keys.[citation needed]
Discographyedit
All releases up until 2008's VOTA were released under the name Casting Pearls. All of these recordings, except Really Great Sinners, can now be found under the band's new name, VOTA.
Bryan Olesen – lead vocals, guitar, bass (1997–present)
John Wooten – drums, keys (2010–present)
Former membersedit
Case Maranville – bass guitar (1997–2010)
Shane Coop – drums (1997–2003)
Scott Rutz – drums (2003–2009)
Lee Bowes - guitar (2002-2005)
Riley Friesen – guitar (2008–2009)
Jeff Goff – drums (2009–2010)
Cody Bender – guitar (2009–2010)
Justin Wantz – guitar, keyboard (2010–2014)
Stefan Carlson – bass guitar (2010–2014)
Zach Lardy – bass guitar, keys (2014–2018)
Graham Lyons – guitar (2014–2018)
Christian Hale – keyboards (2015–2018)
Referencesedit
^"R&R magazine's May 2, 2009 chart". Weekend 22. May 2, 2009. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
^"Vota – Discover music, concerts, stats, & pictures at". Last.fm. February 11, 2009. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
^"Farewell from Scott and Riley « Connect with VOTA". Votaband.com. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
^"Looking Back on 2009 « Connect with VOTA". Votaband.com. December 24, 2009. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
^"Follow Us On The Love & War Tour". BarlowGirl. February 18, 2010. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
^"Love Found Me | VOTA". Music.votaband.com. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
External linksedit
Official website
October 27, 2023
vota, formerly, known, casting, pearls, christian, rock, band, from, lincoln, nebraska, featuring, bryan, olesen, former, guitarist, with, christian, rock, band, newsboys, several, band, songs, have, been, featured, rotation, with, national, radio, networks, s. VOTA formerly known as Casting Pearls is a Christian rock band from Lincoln Nebraska featuring Bryan Olesen a former guitarist with Christian rock band Newsboys Several of the band s songs have been featured on rotation with national radio networks such as K Love and are part of the international 180 Tour Their song Hard to Believe was listed at No 17 on R amp R magazine s May 2 2009 weekly chart for the United States 1 VOTAVOTA performing in 2007Background informationAlso known asCasting Pearls 1997 2008 OriginLincoln Nebraska United StatesGenresChristian rock CCMYears active1997 presentLabelsINO Inpop Big Box EntertainmentMembersBryan Olesen John WootenPast membersJustin Wantz Stefan Carlson Scott Rutz Riley Friesen Cody Bender Case Maranville Jeff Goff Zach Lardy Graham Lyons Christian HaleWebsitevotaband wbr com Contents 1 History 2 Discography 2 1 Albums 2 2 EPs 2 3 Singles 3 Members 3 1 Current members 3 2 Former members 4 References 5 External linksHistory editCasting Pearls was formed by Bryan Olesen and bass guitarist Case Maranville in 1997 when they joined drummer Shane Coop After a few line up changes the band solidified in 2003 to include Olesen Maranville and drummer Scott Rutz In July 2003 the band met Peter Furler of Newsboys which led to Olesen s tenure as lead guitarist for Newsboys from 2003 to early 2006 and the self titled release on Furler s Inpop Records of Casting Pearls in 2005 In 2008 the band changed its name to VOTA due to confusion with similarly named Christian artist Casting Crowns Originally the name was a typo in an email from their management team as the band management and label were brainstorming new names The name was ultimately chosen by the band as being without a specific meaning and having a bit of mystery to it allowing their fans to individually interpret the meaning In summer 2008 while performing at an Oklahoma summer camp the band discovered the name does have a spiritual meaning Vota is a Latin root word that stands for a collection of vows before God 2 2009 saw the departure of band members Riley Friesen who left to start a recording studio Coda Record House and original Casting Pearls member Scott Rutz who left the band to pursue an advertising and marketing career 3 Jeff Goff and Cody Bender joined the band shortly before the 2009 LifeLight Festival in Sioux Falls South Dakota 4 Near the end of their 2010 tour with BarlowGirl 5 guitarist Cody Bender left the band to focus on his personal life A new line up was announced on September 27 2010 with Case Maranville and Jeff Goff left replaced by John Wooten drums Justin Wantz guitar and keyboard and Stefan Carlson bass guitar leaving Olesen as the only remaining original Casting Pearls member A third studio album Love Found Me was announced in late 2012 and was released January 8 2013 Love Found Me was a campaign in collaboration with non profit organization Tiny Hands international to fight human trafficking in India and Nepal In a non traditional sense the band decided to give away this album for free by having fans visit lovefoundme org Before getting the album fans must watch a video about human trafficking and this campaign and then have the option to attain a second bonus album by donating any amount of money to Tiny Hands International In 2016 they released Fearless to support 300 children in Panali Nicaragua with Food for the Hungry 6 In 2018 they became a two piece band with Olesen playing both guitar and bass via a guitar he custom modified and Wooten playing drums and keys citation needed Discography editAll releases up until 2008 s VOTA were released under the name Casting Pearls All of these recordings except Really Great Sinners can now be found under the band s new name VOTA Albums edit Year Title Label Chart peaksUS US Heat US Christ2000 Really Great Sinners Self released 2004 Casting Pearls Big Box Records Inpop Records 2007 Live in Wichita Inpop Records 2008 VOTA INO Records 33 252009 VOTA Special Digital Edition INO Records 2013 Love Found Me Big Box Records 2016 Fearless Big Box Entertainment EPs edit Year Title Label Chart peaksUS US Christ2002 Rock Big Box Records 2012 God of the Universe Big Box Records Singles edit Year Title Album Chart peaksHot 100 Hot Christ 2008 Hard To Believe VOTA 272009 I ll Go VOTA 2009 Honestly VOTA 2012 God of the Universe Love Found Me Members editCurrent members edit Bryan Olesen lead vocals guitar bass 1997 present John Wooten drums keys 2010 present Former members edit Case Maranville bass guitar 1997 2010 Shane Coop drums 1997 2003 Scott Rutz drums 2003 2009 Lee Bowes guitar 2002 2005 Riley Friesen guitar 2008 2009 Jeff Goff drums 2009 2010 Cody Bender guitar 2009 2010 Justin Wantz guitar keyboard 2010 2014 Stefan Carlson bass guitar 2010 2014 Zach Lardy bass guitar keys 2014 2018 Graham Lyons guitar 2014 2018 Christian Hale keyboards 2015 2018 References edit R amp R magazine s May 2 2009 chart Weekend 22 May 2 2009 Retrieved May 9 2009 Vota Discover music concerts stats amp pictures at Last fm February 11 2009 Retrieved November 25 2011 Farewell from Scott and Riley Connect with VOTA Votaband com Retrieved November 25 2011 Looking Back on 2009 Connect with VOTA Votaband com December 24 2009 Retrieved November 25 2011 Follow Us On The Love amp War Tour BarlowGirl February 18 2010 Retrieved November 25 2011 Love Found Me VOTA Music votaband com Retrieved December 23 2012 External links editOfficial website nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title VOTA amp oldid 1154742085, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
