The band was formed by Marc Martel and Jason Germain who were roommates at Briercrest Bible College in Caronport, Saskatchewan.[2] In 1999 Martel and Germain added fellow Canadians Jeremy Thiessen and Tyson Manning, along with American Corey Doak, and released an eponymous debut album independently on Slyngshot Records.[2] Tyson and Doak left the band, and later on Downhere signed with Word Records. In February 2001, they moved to Nashville, Tennessee. The band soon added bassist Glenn Lavender, whom they had met two years earlier, after his band broke up.[2] Downhere's independent album was reissued with the inclusion of bassist Lavender, and released in 2001 as their international debut, Downhere.
In 2007, the band released two additional CDs that were unique. In early 2007, they released Wide-Eyed and Simplified, which contained new versions of 8 songs from Wide-Eyed and Mystified, in addition to three popular songs from earlier releases. Later in 2007, the band released Thunder After Lightning (The Uncut Demos). This album contained 15 previously unreleased demos which were considered for use on Wide-Eyed and Mystified but were not used. The CD also contained demo versions of two songs which were used on Wide-Eyed and Mystified. In April 2007, Downhere released Thank You for Coming (The Live Bootlegs), a six-song collection of live songs recorded in 2007 while on tour with Jason Gray and Lanae Hale.
Their next album, Ending Is Beginning, was released on September 23, 2008. The band released the songs for a few days and gave fans the chance to give input on which songs they should put on the album, and as a pre-release to Ending Is Beginning in June 2008 they gave away the whole album Wide-Eyed and Mystified as a free download.[3]
In October 2009, they released How Many Kings: Songs for Christmas, a collection of Christmas songs. This included "How Many Kings", which was a bonus track on Ending Is Beginning. After the release of Ending Is Beginning, Downhere released Two at a Time: Sneak Peeks & B-Sides, a collection of older songs compiled over their career, as well as two new songs: "You're Not Alone" and "The Song You Sing". "You're Not Alone" was released as a single in May 2010.[citation needed]
In May 2011, the first single, "Let Me Rediscover You", from their upcoming album On the Altar of Love was released.[citation needed] The album itself was released August 23, 2011.[4]
In September 2011, lead singer Marc Martel also gained attention on YouTube for his cover of "Somebody to Love" by Queen, auditioning to be part of the Queen tribute band. Martel was noted for his vocal and visual resemblance to Freddie Mercury.[5] On December 8, 2011, Martel was announced to have been voted as one of six winners (and one of three Canadians) of the contest.[6]
In July 2012 the members of the band announced that as of January 1, 2013 they would no longer be touring together, although the band would not be broken up.[7]
Hiatus (2013–present)
Vocalist Marc Martel released an EP, Prelude, on February 1, 2013.[9] The EP was recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles with producer John Fields.[citation needed] His full-length debut, Impersonator, released on September 30, 2014.[10]
In October 2016, the band got together for one more night to celebrate Centricity Music's 10th anniversary. The band shared live footage of the rehearsal on their Facebook page. They performed their hit song, "A Better Way" at the event.
Band members
Left to right: Marc Martel, Jason Germain, and Glenn Lavender performing in 2011
Jason Germain – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano (1999-2012)
Marc Martel – lead vocals, lead guitar (1999-2012)
^Downhere also received 2006 GMAC nominations for Artist of the Year, Group of the Year, and Album of the Year: Wide-Eyed and Mystified. GMAC 2006 Covenant Award NomineesArchived November 27, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
^Downhere also received GMAC 2009 nominations for Group of the Year, and Modern Worship Song of the Year: "Live For You". GMAC 2009 Covenant Award NomineesArchived September 1, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
