While on stage a few years back, the M.C. incorrectly introduced the band. “Ladies and gentlemen, please give it up for… The Destructionists!”

He couldn't have been more incorrect. While destruction and deconstruction both involve breaking things apart, the motive and end result are entirely different. With destruction the goal is simply to take apart- to destroy. Deconstruction involves purpose; to see how and why something is. It requires care. And the end goal is to use some or all of the existing pieces and to put them back together in a different way- to try to make them more beautiful. It is ultimately a process filled with the hope of finding something better than ‘what is'.

This is the songwriting vision of The Deconstructionists’ Chris Kauffman. As lead for the band, and occasional solo performer, Chris’ goal is to use sound to connect with people on a human level. He does this by sharing his own journey and search for beauty and truth. For him (as an Enneagram 5) this comes from first recognizing his own biases and beliefs, and then by tearing them apart to see if they can really stand up to questioning. And then the final phase involves putting them back together in a way that is more purposeful and lovely. Religion, politics, and societal norms are all fodder for deconstruction in this search for truth.

This process is deftly chronicled in much of the music of the band. The Lancaster, Pa based writer is joined by band-mates Joe Stauffer (guitar, vocals), Joel Meck (bass), and Dan Carpenter (drums). The team has played together in one form or another in the northeast US for over a decade. Fiercely independent, they write and produce all of their own original material at their studio/practice space in Strasburg, Pa. They have released one full album in 2018, a 5 song E.P. in 2019, and are currently hoping to release their second album in the summer of 2020.

Music Releases…

2018 “The Deconstructionists” Album

Born out of the eternal search for what's true, and the desire to pass on to the next generation only the things that can stand up to questioning, "The Deconstructionists" contains 12 honest songs that chronicle the difficult process of tearing apart one's deeply engrained mindsets. Accompanied by some of his Waiting for Cadence bandmates (Joe Stauffer, Joel Meck, and Dan Carpenter) and others, Chris takes the listener on a journey through the deconstruction process and, in some cases, back out again. Sonically dense on purpose, the listener should hear new things with each listen. Borrowing vibes from late 80's/early 90's alternative music as well as from the current indie and Americana scenes, Chris has created a layered sound that is interesting and unique. Cliches have no place in these writings as The Deconstructionists attempt to use words in new ways to describe the age-old search for truth.

2019 “Thoughts and Prayers” E. P. (digital release)

Experimenting with new sounds, drum machines and a little bit more of an electric feel than their 2018 self-titled album, The Deconstructionists offer up a 5-song E.P. entitled “Thoughts and Prayers”. Acoustic guitar is less central and replaced with big soundscapes as Chris Kauffman and co. explore new ways of writing and performing their original material. As usual, religion, politics, social media, love and other topics are all fodder for deconstructing, as Chris tries to understand the modern world and share his musings in a way that is both relatable and thought-provoking.

2020 "Never Returned" (single-digital release)

“Never Returned” is the first single from the upcoming album ‘New Heaven, New Earth” by The Deconstructionists. On the heels of their 2018 self-titled debut album, ‘New Heaven, New Earth” is largely focused on the religious experiences of lead singer/songwriter Chris Kauffman. Both the positive and negative experiences of growing up in conservative Lancaster county church culture are explored. The first single is a simple song about relationships that take- without giving. A liberation song, the subject finally comes to realize the dis-function and one-sided-ness of the relationship.