Brothers Paul and Jason Watkins are the driving force behind the band Clemency.

The name Clemency dawned inspirationally to Jason from an unlikely place, “It struck me as a great band name when I was sitting in Sociology class listening to my college professor lecture on the term. I thought the word was a great representation of what our music is all about. I still do. Clemency means: pardon or the act of leniency; mercy.”

The bands’ four members Paul on bass, Jake Goss on drums, Whit Stiles on guitars and Jason on vocals and guitar came together with a common purpose, “Our music is the place where the desire to create meets the desire to live for something more. We write songs of hope, love, and grace. It is our goal to inspire and encourage people by pointing to the Creator and Savior of this world, the greatest artist of all,” explains Jason.

“Paul and I grew up in Oklahoma, where the waving wheat can sure smell sweet and the wind comes sweeping down the plain,” says Jason. “Life was good. We grew up playing baseball and football, going to church, and visiting our Grandparents' farm. We have a great family. Our dad was in the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and our mom taught 4th grade. So we were pretty good students and never really got in a lot of trouble.”

“When we started getting into our instruments and making music, starting a band was kind of the next, natural step in the progression of things. We played around quite a bit in Oklahoma for a few years, with a cast of different people, before we moved to Nashville. Once we arrived in TN, Paul started school at Belmont University, which has begun to make a name for itself among aspiring musicians. This is how we met Jake and Whit. Jake and Whit both graduated from Belmont University in Nashville, TN, with music degrees in their instruments. Neither Paul nor I have any formal training. We just kind of taught ourselves.”

Clemency recently finished their new record called Vapors with producer Brent Milligan. Their single from the album has been released to radio.

Fame, though, is not the utmost goal for the band; “We are a rock band that is comprised of people who really aren't all that interested in being ‘rock stars.’ We just want to make beautiful,undeniable art that reaches people. We want to know that our lives were significant and that we poured our efforts into something that is meaningful, something bigger than ourselves. We want to love and laugh, experience truth and beauty. We want to make the most of this gift that has been given to us...and know the One who has given it.”

“I've learned that the simplest things in life are usually the most profound,” concludes Jason. “Love God with all your heart, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. If those two things are taken care of, everything else seems to be taken care of as well.”