- published: 25 Feb 2013
- views: 29175
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.
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 lead 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 VOTA was a typo in an email from VOTA's then-current management team, Chaffee Management, as the band, management and label were brainstorming new names. The name VOTA 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.
Thought that I could hide
Oh how I've wasted time
I've spent my life running from you
And I just can't say no
your love won't let me go
My shields are defenseless against you
Lost in the dark
'Til your love dawned in my heart
Filled all the hollow
And you freed my pent-up soul
It's so hard to believe
You're here with me now
Make me feel so alive
I've got to let it out
Oh, extraordinary
You're bringing me out
Filled my heart with your love
And turned my world around
I've been here and there
Oh I've looked everywhere
But nothing can compare to you
You know my heart
I want to be where you are
I'm hopeless without you
How'd you teach this heart to love
Oh, you don't need love
You've got yourself
And that's good enough
The fool lives life
For no one else