CMP: The P. in Soul P. stands for “Plasma,” right? What does that mean? Why did you choose that name? Soul P.: Well, without Plasma, you can’t live. It’s a part of your blood. You would die if you didn’t have any plasma in your body. And God is like my soul plasma. Without Christ in my soul, I’m dead. Then what I have for the world is soul plasma, which is God through this music. CMP: How did you get your start in music? Soul P.: I was always writing and rocking when I was really young. I would freestyle on the corner with my homeboys and we would just beatbox the whole time. […read more]

CMP: How old are you? Robert Pierre: I just turned 14 in October. I’m in eighth grade. CMP: Where are you from? Robert: I was born in Chicago, but I guess I would say I’m from Florida because I have basically lived there for most of my life. CMP: Have you always wanted to work in music? Robert: Well, my family has been really musical and that’s what really helped my voice to be good. It all happened when we had this chapel service at my school and Al Denson was singing there. He said, “Whoever is the best singer, get up here.” He was calling them out of the crowd. […read more]

CMP: Where are you guys from? EA: Chris Peevy: I live in a small town north of Atlanta called Pachulia, Ga. We all live in separate small towns scattered north of Atlanta. I have been living in this small town my whole life. I can’t wait to move out of here. Nowhere far away, it’s just that my wife is a teacher and we’re trying to find a place closer to where she’s working. I’m a big family guy; I can’t move too far away from our family. […read more]

Everyone knows the adage about books and their covers. Take Lacey Mosley, for instance. The diminutive vocalist for up-and-coming rock band Flyleaf has a voice that fills arenas and shares the stage with the hardest and heaviest mainstream music has to offer. Don’t be fooled by the style of music or gripping lyrics; at its heart, Flyleaf is a worship band. Here, Mosley takes a break from Flyleaf’s crazy schedule to give us a peek behind the cover of a band that defies expectation. […read more]

Alyssa, Lauren and Rebecca Barlow are not just a rocking threesome, but priceless role models for girls and young women across the United States. Although the sisters are old enough to date, they are taking the road less traveled, waiting for God to bring their spouses to them. CMP: At what point did God make purity a subject of passion for you? Barlow: Before any of us turned 16, God began challenging us to ask him if dating was really his plan for us. We studied, read books and prayed, and God really impressed upon us that dating wasn’t his plan for us. We felt called not to just abstain from premarital sex, but to remain pure and guard our hearts, saving them for our future spouses. […read more]

Fans of professional wrestling—specifically WWE’s “Cyber Sunday” and “RAW”—have most likely heard blasting through the TV speakers the aggressive, blistering metal of “Game On.”

It’s not necessarily an earthshaking revelation on its own, but eyebrows might shift upward knowing “Game On” was recorded by veteran Christian hard rockers Disciple. As one might expect, the album that contains “Game On” (Scars Remain) is easily Disciple’s most successful. After just one week it doubled the total sales of the band’s previous album and hit No. 1 on Billboard’s “Heatseekers” chart. So we took some time to talk with vocalist Kevin Young about the impact of “Game On” in concert and in the media.  […read more]

Ever feel like a corked-up carbonated beverage that just fell off the top shelf and is about to explode? Kathy Troccoli has. Yet despite her personal setbacks, Troccoli has drawn on these experiences to help women find solace during tough times.

“Because I share some things I have gone through, such as bulimia, depression and financial stuff, I have seen it open women up,” she says. “Women feel so bound to not be able to share what they have been going through, whether it has been closeted addictions, child abuse or an abortion. There is a lot of shame and it can feel like they are carrying this weight of the world on their shoulders without being able to unload.” […read more]

If ever Nic Gonzales gets a touch of the blues, all the lead singer and founder of Salvador has to do is take his mind back to the band’s last appearance at a Billy Graham Crusade, where the group performed in front of 100,000 or so worshipers and spiritual seekers.

“We absolutely love being part of people coming to Christ,” says the 29-year-old songwriter with the booming voice and ear for hooks. “That’s not a time I’m going to get discouraged.”
Huh? Discouraged? […read more]

“For me, it’s all about ministry … music is simply a tool,” says worship leader Matt Papa. Having led worship since he was 12, the now 23-year-old fills his first project with renditions of classics such as “In Christ Alone” and “I Surrender All,” Psalms-based tunes (“95” and “23”) and original praise songs. Musically, the project would fit right in at a church service with a pleasant combination of not-too-complicated instrumentation and a few sonic flourishes. […read more]

The album’s title offers a hint at the concept behind Spur58’s national debut: the apathy of many Christians. Also part of the alternative piano-pop mix is corporate worship and personal narrative. (“Kyle’s Lament” was co-written by a friend whose father died of cancer and “Calling You” was inspired by the adoption of lead singer Aaron Ivey’s son, Deacon). And in case you were wondering, these five Texans snagged their band name from a street sign in Sugarland, Texas. […read more]

Though originally reluctant to make a living as a recording artist, this husband and father of two has been playing piano since age 8 and helping to lead worship since age 15. Also a member of Desperation Band (the modern worship group from the Colorado Springs, Colo. based New Life Church), Jared Anderson fills his first solo album with new versions of the band’s songs, pop-rock originals and laid-back worship tunes. He says his songs are an outpouring of his desire to worship and be more like God. […read more]

After more than a decade, the Third Day guys have composed 10 albums (including their brand new Christmas disc), collected millions of fans (who call themselves “Gomers”), built five marriages and produced 14 children among them. What do Mac Powell, Tai Anderson, David Carr, Mark Lee and Brad Avery do to make their music and marriages prosper? Well, they definitely don’t sing to their wives to charm their way out of a tight spot! Find out why as Anderson answers your questions. […read more]

Although he’s not the type to enjoy such grand labels, Jonny Lang is an iconoclast, breaking stereotypes and expectations over the course of his entire career. Take, for instance, the stereotype of the musical prodigy. Instead of playing piano concertos, Lang was effortlessly grinding out world-class blues guitar riffs at 13 years of age. Clearly not a grizzled, 45-year-old man from Back Porch, Miss., this scruffy, blond kid only sang like it.

Then, topping the Billboard New Artist music charts at age 15, Lang had all the flash of a short-lived novelty act. But again he defied the standard. A decade later, having been mentored by blues gurus B.B. King and Albert Lee, Lang offers up a fourth project that again breaks the mold. Turn Around bursts with hook-filled gospel, funk and blues-rock, peppered with soulful, acoustic pop. They are the quieter songs that reveal the story of a man whose image may be very different from what fans expect. […read more]

The three teens of power pop-punk act Jonas Brothers have plenty to boast about. They’ve got a big-time record deal, chart action on MTV’s “Total Request Live” and a tour with teen queens Aly & AJ. But rather than dwell on these legitimate bragging rights or plug their new CD, It’s About Time, the brothers would much rather talk sports, family stories and their underlying spiritual goals during a combined phone call from their New Jersey home.

“I work out any chance I can get,” says 17-year-old singer-keyboardist-guitarist Joseph, who has just come in from a morning run and is purportedly dating the AJ half of Aly & AJ. “Not because I love the pain, but because I love to start the day refreshed. It gives me energy and focus for the day.” […read more]

Robert Randolph is, above all things, known for his mastery of the pedal steel guitar. In fact, his standout performances have earned him shared stages with guitar legends Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, as well as a spot opening for Dave Matthews Band. One could argue that when it comes to guitar, Randolph has done it all, which begs the question: What uncharted territory is left to pursue? It turns out for Randolph and the Family Band, the answer is to not reach farther for the next new thing, but deeper. […read more]

A teen girl approaches Skillet members John and Korey Cooper one night after a concert. She is no doubt wondering how the couple will respond to her story: Her father had an affair with his secretary and left his family; she couldn’t deal. After razor-cutting herself regularly, she finally attempted suicide. When she tried to seek help from her youth pastor, he merely told her parents she had been smoking. The Coopers are disgusted. “There are so many massive issues in this girl’s life,” John Cooper says. “She has tried to kill herself! Is smoking really the biggest deal right now?” […read more]

Blanton and bandmates Ben Davis (bass, vocals) and Garrett Goodwin (drums) have observed feelings of inferiority and despair in today’s teens and 20-somethings, especially. Traveling around the country from coast to coast has afforded the threesome opportunities to meet mounds of hurting people longing for healing and restoration. And as society continues to push the nonstop sensory overload of ideas of physical and relational perfection, the void for those who are struggling seems to grow greater. With the consistent rise of technology and mass media influence, it’s a trend the guys don’t see slowing down anytime soon. […read more]

Exclusive excepts from Bethany Dillion’s recent travel journal. June 2, 2006, On the flight from Chicago to Delhi, India: I could burst into a million weepy, wimpy, excited pieces right now. I’m on a flight to India! I’m going to India. The next two weeks of my life aren’t going to be spent on a road or in the middle of a cornfield in Ohio, not on a bus full of friends, not anywhere familiar … I don’t even know what to expect. […read more]

Christian artists weigh in on the writings that transformed their faith. Hear from Krystal Meyers, Sara Groves, Warren Barfield, Matthew West, Nichole Nordeman, Michael W. SMith, Trevor McNevan of FM Static and Thousand Foot Krutch, Chris Rice, Ginny Owens Cindy Morgan and Matt Hammitt of Sanctus Real.

After your done reading the article, come on back CMWired.com and tell everyone what books have impacted you! […read more]

While Cynthia Clawson hasn’t been a household name in the Christian music scene for a while, Selah vocalist Allan Hall can’t stop talking about how cool it was to work with her on the group’s recent project, Bless the Broken Road—The Duets Album.

In fact, Hall even admits that he followed her from city to city to hear her sing during his college days because he was so impressed with her vocal talent. Funnily enough, fellow Selah member Todd Smith even remembers how Hall would ask him to tag along for the fun. “I saw her once, and it was amazing,” Smith says. “I didn’t need to go again after that,” he adds, laughing. “But Allan sure did.” […read more]