Kathleen Carnali "More Popular Than Christ" / Editor's Currently Listening To
Friday, November 28th, 2008 at 11:26 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
Hi InTheTimes.com Girls!
Kathleen Carnali's single "More Popular Than Christ" from the Dangerous Prayer album is on mega-repeat !
My fav lyrics? Kathleen is such an amazing songwriter, so it's hard to spotlight just a bit of the song, but "But God's ways are not our own / You can't tag along JESUS / While you're on the throne / Dear brother, dear sister / If only I could give you just this advice / I pray you don't long to be / More popular than Christ"
Everyone wants to be liked, no matter how small or large your sphere of influence is. However, it is so very important to remember that in our pursuit of popularity, that we don't 'long to be more popular than Christ'
For the Christian, this probably will not come in the form of directly verbally blaspheming the LORD. However, for the Christian, it may mean, intentionally shying away from things that we know are wrong, to appease popularity. 'Just letting things go' because it's 'easier and less controversial' for us that way.
And yes, even among other Christians we can 'long to be more popular than Christ' For example, if we're scared to speak up against sin within the Church / the Body of Christ, because we might be labeled "judgemental" or "legalistic" or "a snob" by others who consider themselves to be Christians.
Daily, we need to do a heart-check and make sure that the LORD God truly is #1 in our life, great thought-provoking song by Kathleen Carnali! If you haven't heard the single, click the link above to preview it for free!
Talk Soon, RUTH
tags: kathleen carnali, more popular than christ, dangerous prayer, editor's currently listening to
Michelle Tumes Interview
Thursday, November 27th, 2008 at 8:19 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
ITT:Above all, what is the goal of your music / concerts--why you do what
you do, what you hope your songs will communicate to the listeners, etc. ?
Michelle: The goal of my concerts is to provide an environment where the audience can really connect with God on a personal level. I have started playing with stringed instruments and a band. We've also developed some images that will hopefully inspire people to apply the songs to their own situation.
ITT:Give InTheTimes.com girls a little insight on the songwriting process for you--how long
have you been writing, is there a specific type of song that you prefer to write or that you feel you are gifted to write, etc. ?
Michelle: The songwriting process for me ranges from a picture in my head that somehow evokes a musical theme or just sitting at the piano and playing something over and over again. If I am inspired away from the piano, I have to remember the idea and work it out later. A lot of times this occurs late at night which sometimes makes it difficult to sleep! Overall, my faith in God is the foundation of everything I write; that has to resonate within me first.
ITT:Any advice / encouragement for InTheTimes.com girls who desire to be a professional singer like yourself?
Michelle: Practice, practice! Also, be willing to be faithful in the little things. For example, if you are asked to sing for three people, then go for it! Be willing to help out and serve in worship. Always be mindful that God gave you a gift and always focus on the heart of the song.
>>>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, celebrity interview
Sara Groves / "O Holy Night" Stories Behind the Songs
Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 at 8:47 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
Sara:I've always dreamed of doing a Christmas album! Christmas music was such a part of life growing up. We had a huge stack of records that only got played for one month of the year. I wanted to convey the story of Christ, that's been told so many times with as much artistry and creativity as possible, because it bears repeating.
Star Of Wonder This is an invocation. I want this album to be the embodiment of peace – peace of this Good News. The angel’s message is a major theme throughout the album, and “Star of Wonder” is a line from “We Three Kings”.
To Be With You It’s about my family Christmas. I’d finished the album, but the piece that was missing was a song about what my family does, so this is my sentimental snapshot. It’s about a gathering at my grandma’s house. At one point, it mentions everybody in my immediate family.
Silent Night My family does advent the whole month of December leading up to Christmas, and it’s a very special time for us. I set out to find my favorite sacred songs, and this was at the top of the list. This arrangement is pretty straightforward. It’s not a rewrite or a rearrangement. It’s such a beautiful song. Ben Shive (Sara's Producer) did such an incredible job with it. The production has a really peaceful feel.
Peace Peace I wrote “Peace Peace” with my band on our bus. One of my favorite lines from any Christmas song is from “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem” where is says that “all our hopes and fears are met in Him tonight.” Our peace comes in a child who meets all of our hopes and all of our fears. Peace is hard to find – impossible to find – outside of that context. This song was based on that idea.
O Holy Night This song is usually sung by huge singers who can knock it out of the park. Because I’m not a singer’s singer, I made it more of a singer-songwriter thing. I wanted to take “O Holy Night” from the big anthemic versions that we’re used to hearing and put it in a singer-songwriter landscape where you can really focus on the lyrics. Some of my favorite lines to pull out are “So He appears and the soul felt its worth.” I meditate on that all year round. This is also one of the few Christmas songs that speaks about social justice. It says “truly He taught us to love one another” and tells us that “the slave is our brother, and in His name all oppression shall cease.” I’ve always loved that verse, and it resonates with me.
Toy Packaging Toy packaging is my pet peeve. It’s just a fun song about how “my self-esteem is in the can, trying to open the store-bought man.” They twisty-tie and rivet everything to pieces of cardboard. It’s definitely my pet peeve. It’s just a fun song about that.
It’s True I originally wrote it for a Blood: Water Mission Christmas benefit, and I wanted to re-record it. In a post-modern world, the story of Christ can seem bizarre. I think that people deep down wish that God was the lover of our souls who came down from on high and left the prince who came to save us. Sometimes it can seem like a fairy tale. This song just says that it’s true. The thing that you hope is true really is.
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear I hadn’t really thought about this song, but the lyrics jumped off the page to me. My family has had a really hard year. We’ve had some death and pain. The second verse of this song talks about “over our sad plains the angels sing.” It talks about how they come to sing about Christ, and “still through broken skies they come.” I was in tears reading the lyrics. It goes back to the theme of peace. You’re not traveling alone. You’re not laboring in vain. You’re not carrying this hardship for no reason. Over this, God still has His way. This turned out to be one of my favorite moments on the album.
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas This just feels like Christmas to me. I love the line that says, “Through the years we all will be together.” That’s another theme. Outside of the Bethlehem, a big part of what Christmas is – what I think God always intended – is a time when we connect and get together.
A Cradle In Bethlehem This is a song that I’ve wanted to do forever, and it’s my dad’s favorite song. He used to sing it in church. It’s not a song that you hear a lot, but it’s a beautiful picture. John Catchings plays cello on it. He’s played on every album that I’ve ever made, so this song has the piano-cello moment that I always love.
Angels We Have Heard On High This has kind of a mariachi band very quietly in the chorus. I kept the verses the same, but the chorus is a group sing-along. There are several moments on the album where a whole group of friends gathered around the microphone and sang together. This is one of those group-sing moments.
Go Tell It On The Mountain This is the album’s benediction. Again, this is just friends and family around the mic. We were on the porch around a microphone.
>>>Let's go shopping! Sara has recorded a ton of songs! Make sure to click the links below to hear free audio samples of Sara's music and to purchase your favs! You can buy hard copies of Sara's albums, download individual songs, download the entire album, or buy used copies for a discounted price!
tags: sara groves, o holy night stories behind the songs
Alisa Childers "Wake Me Up" / Editor's Currently Listening To
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008 at 12 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
Hi InTheTimes.com Girls!
Alisa Childers single "Wake Me Up" is currently on mega-repeat! This is a great solo indie debut album by the ZOEgirl artist formally known as Alisa Girard. Alisa and her husband, drummer extraordinaire Mike Childers, did most of the production work themselves in their home studio, TimeKeyper Studio , very cool. If you're an indie artist looking for a professional studio to record in, contact them!
My fav lyrics? "I don't always know why You do things the way that You do them / But You know what's best for me / And everyday You live to prove it"
How cool to know that even when life is confusing, God is in control ! And yes, everyday His providence is proven, as the mysteries of the "why's" of life are revealed.
If you haven't heard the single, click the link above to preview it for free!
Talk Soon! RUTH
tags: alisa girard childers, wake me up, zoegirl, zoe girl, editor's currently listening to
Kathleen Carnali Interview
Monday, November 24th, 2008 at 12 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
ITT:When did your love of music start?
Kathleen: My love of music began when I was old enough to sit at a piano bench. I would play the piano for hours and make up songs.
I also began dance lessons when I was just
2 1/2 years old and started teaching and choreographing by 12. It was then that I began to sing as well.
ITT:When / how did you decide that you wanted to sing / write professionally?
Kathleen: It's funny because I didn't really decide, it kind of just happened. When I was 14 I became the singer for a foundation that helps keep inner-city kids off of the streets. Then at 15
I was asked to be the singer for another large foundation which teaches kids to say no to drugs and violence. For that foundation, we recorded a CD and I traveled often singing in schools and at national conventions, it was quite an experience!
From there, more doors opened where I was able to sing the National Anthem and do Half Time shows for national sporting events like the Boston Red Sox, Celtics, Harlem Globe Trotters, and more.
I was also blessed to be a part of a group of singers from my high school and get to sing a solo at Carnegie Hall and the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia!
However, once I heard the full Gospel of Jesus Christ at the age of 18, I truly knew why God had entrusted me with such a gift. All of my past experiences were just preparations for the ministry He had planned for me ahead of time.
ITT:Give InTheTimes.com girls a little insight on the songwriting process for you--how long
have you been writing, is there a specific type of song that you prefer to write or that you feel you are gifted to write, etc. ?
Kathleen: I began to write music when I was just a little girl, mostly piano pieces. However, when I was around 10 years old, my little sister was born. So I began to write songs and lullaby's for her, with both music and words. I continued to write when ever I was inspired.
Because my taste of music is so eclectic,
I have written within many styles of music. But what is always constant in my writing, is reverence to our Lord. My favorite songs are those that lift up the Name of Jesus and encourage and inspire people to go deeper with God.
ITT:Above all, what is the goal of your music / concerts--why you do what
you do, what you hope your songs will communicate to the listeners, etc. ?
Kathleen: My number one desire is to bring Jesus to people and to encourage people to bring Jesus to the world. God has given me music and the stage as a platform to lift up His Name and to worship Him fully, in Spirit and in Truth. The Bible says that when we lift up the Name of Jesus, all men will be drawn unto Him. I want people to know how valued and treasured they are in the eyes of God. Enough so, that He allowed His Son to suffer the torment of the cross for the payment of our sins. Because His sacrifice is our atonement, anyone can be made new!
>>>Let's go shopping! Make sure to click the links below to hear free audio samples of Kathleen's music and to purchase your favs! You can buy hard copies of Kathleen's albums, download individual songs, download the entire album, or buy used copies for a discounted price!
