Michelle Tumes "Everywhere" / Editor's Currently Listening To
Friday, July 31st, 2009 at 1:20 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
Hi InTheTimes.com Girls!
Michelle Tumes is another one of those great, creative, ground-breaking Artists that have been playing in my music player. I'm currently listening to the single "Everywhere" from The Very Best of Michelle Tumes album ! "Everywhere" showcases a more Pop music sound from Michelle.
My fav lyrics? "He'll sit beside you make you understand / The last shall be first, the lame will stand / All your life, wherever you go, wherever you are / He's by your side, He's leading you through the dark"
Life is full of "why's", how awesome to know that we can come to God and He will 'sit beside you make you understand ' some of the great mysteries of your life. (see Jeremiah 29:11-14)
Some of the best times of my life are when I am sitting down, reading the Bible, and in an unexpected place of reading / studying, God reveals a "why" !!! Then, it's time to break out in praise and adoration for the Lord that 'is by my side, leading me through the dark ' !
If you haven't heard the single, click the link above to preview it for free !
Talk soon! RUTH
>>>Let's go shopping! Michelle has recorded a ton of songs! Make sure to click the links below to hear free audio samples of Michelle's music and to purchase your favs! You can buy hard copies of Michelle's albums, download individual songs, download the entire album, or buy used copies for a discounted price!
tags: michelle tumes, everywhere song dream very best of michelle tumes album, inthetimes.com in the times magazine editor's currently listening to, christian music review devotional, editor picks choices, tween pre-teen teen teenage teenager young adult girl magazine web site blog e-zine christian faith-based biblically-based
Melissa Greene Next Step Interview
Thursday, July 30th, 2009 at 12:00 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
ITT:Congrats on your sophomore solo album The Next Step ! Many people don't know too much about your debut solo album Then and There, tell the InTheTimes.com girls a little about how this project came to be. Why include a solo album in the midst of your successful career in groups such as Truth and Avalon ?
Melissa: I first made an independent CD, Then and There, back in 2002 before I was asked to be a part of Avalon. I have been able to sell and promote it the past 6 years, singing solo concerts at about 5-10 churches a year.
In late 2007, I was approached by Barry Landis, the President of a new Christian record label called Cosmos which is under Koch. He wanted to sign me to a deal, which basically means they will pay for and distribute the CD nationally / worldwide.
After much prayer and consulting Avalon and where we were as a ministry, we (my husband and I) knew this was God's timing !
ITT:So, now you've released The Next Step, how have you grown as a solo artist from project #1 to project #2 ? How have you taken your music to 'the next step' ?
Melissa: YES!!!! I have grown so much in the past 6 years. I love the first CD and still sing songs from it at Church's today. The idea behind that CD was to do familiar songs that I could sing with Choirs and Praise Teams. Which I still love to do! BUT this time I wanted people to get to know me. Who I am at home, in the car, at Church, as a mom, friend, etc. So that equals ecclectic! At any given time I could be listening to Praise & Worship to Country to R&B to Pop. I love music, especially music and Artists that move me. So that is what I wanted to do in making this CD, Next Step.
* BONUS VIDEO - Melissa vlogs about the Next Step album release !
ITT:People are used to seeing you now on tour with Avalon, which of course is a group concert setting. What can fans expect when they come to a Melissa Greene concert ?
Melissa: My solo concerts include all these styles, Avalon stuff you are familiar with, worship sets, new music and some of my old. We always have a lot of fun. I also always take time and share my testimony about what God has taken us through with my brother-in-law's death and what God is teaching me now.
ITT:Give the InTheTimes.com girls a behind the scenes idea of what it's like recording an album--how long does it typically take to complete one song, do you basically 'live' in the studio during this process, etc.
Melissa: Every CD is different, with Next Step I started recording in November 2007 and didn't finish my part until March 2008.
I was with Nathan, the first Producer, for about 4 days worth of vocals. Then Bernie Herms has a totally different approach, we worked for about 12 days, spread out over a couple of months because of his schedule.
I think maybe everyone assumes you just go in and sing the song down once and fix any problems. Making a great CD takes so much more than that. You have to take the time to record on a couple different mikes to see which will make that song sound the best for your voice. You have to arrange the vocals, then sing them. Then go back and arrange and sing the background vocals. Then you fix stuff ! Ha, it is a very fun, very tedious process !
>>>Let's go shopping! Make sure to click the links below to hear free audio samples of Melissa's music and to purchase your favs! You can buy hard copies of Melissa's albums, download individual songs, download the entire album, or buy used copies for a discounted price! More of Melissa's music, is available via her web site!
tags: melissa greene avalon truth christian music, celebrity behind the scenes interview, then and there next step album solo career, tween pre-teen teen teenage teenager young adult girl magazine web site blog e-zine christian faith-based biblically-based
Alli Rogers "The Day of Small Things" / Editor's Currently Listening To
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 at 12:00 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
Hi InTheTimes.com Girls!
I'm currently listening to the single "The Day of Small Things" by Alli Rogers from the album of the same name.
My fav lyrics? "But You've shown me that we're never alone and Your Spirit will stay by our side / So I won't despise / I won't despise the day / I won't despise the day of small things"
Look around in life... Everywhere you look, it seems as if the unrighteous are 'getting over'. Yes, even in 'Christian circles' sometimes it can seem this way...
It may seem like the more honest and Christ-like you become, the 'less breaks' you get in life. Meanwhile, people who are dishonest and unChrist-like seem to get all of the breaks...the best jobs, the cutest boys, popularity...
All of these "seems" are also called "small things". As the Lord tells us in the Bible, 'do not despise the days of small beginnings' (see Zechariah 4) Alli presents a great song based around this fact and a mantra that you will want to remember.
No matter how life seems at the time, remember that God is faithful and that the righteous will not be forsaken ! (see Psalm 37) Smile! For great is your reward on Earth and in Heaven ! (see Luke 18:29, Mark 10:29-31)
One reward is the gift of God's precious Holy Spirit. How awesome to go through life with God's Holy Spirit living inside of you guiding you and teaching you day by day ! (see John 14:15-31, John 16:1-16) It's just not safe to live without Him ! (lol, but seriously, it isn't)
Do not envy the unrighteous, instead praise God that you truly have His Holy Spirit operating inside of you, manifesting Himself through the good, smart, Godly decisions that you make day by day !
If you haven't heard the single, click the link above to preview it for free !
Many continued blessings to you ! RUTH
>>>Let's go shopping! Make sure to click the links below to hear free audio samples of Alli's music and to purchase your favs! You can buy hard copies of Alli's albums, download individual songs, download the entire album, or buy used copies for a discounted price!
tags: alli rogers dahlgren, the day of small things song album, inthetimes.com in the times magazine editor's currently listening to, christian music review devotional, editor picks choices, tween pre-teen teen teenage teenager young adult girl magazine web site blog e-zine christian faith-based biblically-based
