Not only is David Layser ’10 the associate pastor of Halifax United Church, he also plays in an indie folk rock collective called October Wedding.
What’s a collective? Layser says it differs from a band in that the group has no lead singer. Friends come together, take turns in the spotlight and highlight various songwriters. The name comes from his connection to fellow alum Kyle Werts ’10. The two musicians played music at each other’s weddings.
“A wedding is the kind of thing we all live for and long for,” said Layser. “It’s a defiant celebration and passionate proclamation in the midst of the world’s present yet passing chaos. Weddings bring together all that is beautiful and important in life.”
A biblical and religious studies grad who minored in music, he says faith and music are longtime passions of his. While at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, he minored in music, played in the Powerhouse band (also with Werts) and studied abroad in Thailand. Those experiences solidified his calling to lead in the church and the local music industry.
“Music has always been a prayer language for me,” he explained. “As soon as I started to personally engage God and feel God’s calling upon my life, music was a way for me to commune with Him in the secret place. I would spend hours alone in my room just singing out songs of prayer and worship with my guitar. To this day, it’s often where I feel most intimate with God.”
The band released their first album this year, titled “Sabbath,” while also promoting their music online through NoiseTrade, a platform that helps artists build their audiences.
“The fact that we were able to even release our first recording was something we felt God was behind and truly a dream realized,” said Layser. “We walked forward with that plan through prayer and discernment, but it was completely contingent on the support that came in. The same goes for future endeavors. We’ll have to trust and discern about the provision and the vision, and enjoy the ride!”
— Sarah Fertsch ’19