Music can change your mood, paint your experiences and color your memories. I believe that the right music led, played and offered to the Lord can deepen our connection to Him, and to each other. From a young age, I understood that music means different things to different people and definitely fastens moments in time to our lives. My gifts and fervor for music originates from the Lord Himself and He is unquestionably worthy of our praise!
To spread the unspeakable joy and appreciation I feel in being a follower of Jesus Christ in 2019. God gave me some gifts as He gives to everyone liberally and I just want to share what He has given me with as many people as possible.
People's hearts and minds. It starts with my own though and I thank God that He is changing me day by day.
There's really too many to mention and I'm showing my age here. However, the first tunes that popped into my mind when I read this question believe it or not was I'll Be There and I Want You Back by Jackson 5. Another odd one was Quenton's Theme from Dark Shadows that was a relatively big single in the early 70's I think. Do I need help or what?
Wow, I really have a hard time answering this question. I generally have a stronger respect for artists or bands who write their own material, and I have to say lyrics are probably the most important thing to me in a song. If the song doesn't have anything worthwhile to say, or if the artist or band is just trying to be hip or cool in some way, I won't take them seriously. Some of the artists I admire for their writing ability are John Hiatt, Graham Parker, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson. There's a lot more and in different areas of rock, blues, and R&B. Obviously, being a Christian artist, I also have some writers and bands I admire but mainstream Christian music sounds a lot alike. It seems everyone is reading the same playbook. This is unfortunate and is a result of Christian songwriters copying the secular hits and the fact that 90% of them are the same 4 chords in different key signatures. I'm not saying my stuff is so unique or anything, or even better. I'm not the judge of that. I just write what I believe the Lord is giving me and then I hope I can put it all together creatively in the studio. As far as Christian music goes though. I think we can do better. We should do better!
That's easy. God gave me the gifts and talents I have, all of them. It's a desire and a fire that never goes out and at times is all-consuming. It's in my blood and I'm simply happier when I'm writing with the Lord and working in the studio. Don't get me wrong. I love to play out too!
Praise to my God and encouragement to all people.
If I take all of my music experience playing mainstream rock to what I am doing now which is Christian music, I would say nervous is the central word. One would think that after 20+ years one would not be but that's not the case here. It's a healthy nervousness I think. It keeps me humble. The crowd is always great and I appreciate the people that enjoy my music, but it's really not about me. In Christian music or in anything done to the Lord, all I am is just another instrument that is used to give Him Glory. He deserves it!
I'm old school. I am in the camp that thinks the digital revolution and the Internet have kind of ruined music. It's a hard spot to be in. I love the fact that just about anyone can afford to put a home studio in their house who has a passion for music and is willing to work for it. It's also very convenient that we can stream music at will to a load of devices no matter where we are. Even when those devices can't possibly reproduce the sound quality of what was recorded in the studio. No one seems to be an audiophile anymore. I remember the days when having the best home stereo was as important as having the coolest car on the block. I also believe it has drastically affected the quality of the music itself. These days you don't even need to be a musician anymore to create it. I could go on and on here but I won't. No one really cares what I think anyway as this is all subjective and everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
So far so good. We shall see.
The business of music.
I see local artists as much as possible and I also mentor fellow musicians as time permits.
Patience, Diligence, never give up. There are more bands and artists than ever before due to the Internet and affordability of musical equipment and computers. I still believe, however, that if you are truly called to it and stay committed, it will pay off. Maybe not as you intended or dreamed. But it will pay off.
um... Wouldn't that be me?