At this year’s Creation Northwest Festival in July, I had the chance to sit down for a few minutes with Christian singer and songwriter, Chris August.

The festival is just one stop on a long tour of concerts for August. From Enumclaw, Wash., (the home of Creation NW), his next stop was Lake Stevens, Wash., then down to Santa Ana, Calif. then over to Overland Park, Kansas and on it goes. He’s busy, but it doesn’t seem to faze him.

Chris August

Despite the intellectual-looking glasses, the 29-year-old isn’t the least bit pretentious. He’s artsy and smiles more than he shows in his professional photos.

On his left arm is a tattoo of a Celtic symbol meaning “no beginning, no end.” On his right, is an illustration of God’s hands coming from the clouds and grabbing a pile of dirt. It’s inspired by The David Crowder Band’s song, “Wholly Yours.” The lyrics of that song read:

I am full of earth, you are heaven’s worth. I am stained with dirt, prone to depravity.

You are everything that is bright and clean, the antonym of me.

The final line of the song is, “I am full of earth and dirt and You.”

In April of this year, August was the recipient of three awards from the 42nd Annual Dove Awards. He won “New Artist of the Year” and “Male Vocalist of the Year” as well as one in the category for “Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year” for his debut album, No Far Away. Not bad for a guy with no formal musical training.

I ask him how a guy with no training can go on to win awards. He shakes his head and says that he doesn’t really know, but he tries to explain anyway.

For his 15th birthday, Chris was given the choice to pick out a small, cheap keyboard from which he taught himself how to play. That, and the little book, “You Can Play Piano,” that came with it. This was also the same year that he dedicated his life to Christ.

So, this was the start of big changes for August. In addition to learning more about being a Christian, he also learned how to be a musician and songwriter. He began to help lead worship with his youth group and picked up guitar playing as well.

By age 22, Chris released his first self-produced independent album. Only months later, singer/songwriter Ryan Cabrera had received a copy of it and decided that he wanted to work with Chris.

Within two weeks August had signed a contract with Geffen Records and moved from Garland, Texas to Los Angeles, Calif. Soon, he went on tour opening for Ashlee Simpson.

“What is the difference performing for a secular concert versus a Christian concert?” I ask. “The fan interaction,” he says. “At a secular concert, the fans are focused on you only. At a Christian concert, the focus is more on God.”

Chris’ biography explains that while on the road, he missed being involved in a church and playing Christian songs. “I had been back for a year when I realized how long it had been since Ihad written a Christian song. Sure I had worked on some inspiring type of music whileon Geffen, but nothing overtly Christian. I wanted to write a song that was a rededicationof my music and my life to Jesus. On January 18, 2009 I wrote ‘Starry Night.’ Little did Iknow this song would change my life.”

His indie release of that song got the attention of Word Records and the start of the studio release of No Far Away began. He began to write about 60 songs in 3 months and was teamed up with Ed Cash. Ed liked his music, but one day, he told August that he thought the album needed a personal song. That night, Chris wrote the first lines of 7×70 which is about his parents’ divorce and family break up.

“As the lyrics started to come to mind, so did all the memories of my past that I hadn’t thought about in years. Some lines bringing smiles and some bringing another set of pains that I needed to forgive. It was through this song that I was able to forgive and be healed of that pain.”

Sample lyrics of 7×70:

I’ve been living in this house here since the day that I was born.

These walls have seen me happy, but most of all they’ve seen me torn.

They’ve heard the screaming matches that made a family fall apart.

They’ve had a front row seat to the breaking of my heart.

7 times 70 times, I’ll do what it takes to make it right

I thought the pain was here to stay, but forgiveness made a way.

So, August is a deep thinker. But he isn’t all-serious. “What makes you different from other artists?” I ask. “I’m non-preachy and I’m kinda goofy. I love sports and candy.” He isn’t kidding either. In fact, he treated the Creation folks to a live version of his “Candy Wrap” song that tells about his love for sweets. His website features a new video of the song with August decked out with candy necklaces and rings and he literally steals an all-day sucker from a baby.

On Chris’ official website, you can sample the songs Starry Nights, 7×70, You and I, and Battle. The lyrics to all the songs on the album are listed there as well. If you like what you hear, you can purchase the songs at the same site.

Originally posted here.

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Janice and Sonia Lee, or “Jayesslee,” have a total YouTube upload view of 30 million. For them, music is the medium of choice for evangelism.

The online popularity of the Korean-Australian twin sisters has resulted in performances in their home country, Australia, as well as in China, across the U.S., and other countries.

On July 29, they will visit Washington D.C. to perform in Fresh Concert with the Korean Church Coalition for North Korea Freedom. They hope that through their music, more prayer warriors can be raised for the North.

The sisters said, “North Korea is a nation that God is highlighting to our church. We have had numerous mission groups visit our church with presentations of the persecution in that nation. We have watched documentaries and read testimonial books written by people who have escaped the country after being interrogated for years. Time and time again, we have been challenged by their faith. There is no doubt that God is stirring a revival in that nation and we pray for it to be soon.”

Singing for Jesus

Janice and Sonia uploaded their first YouTube video in 2008. Since then they have gained millions of fans, with a total upload view of some 30 million. Among the tours and concerts they’ve done, they say China is very memorable.

“[The] producers allowed us to sing Amazing Grace live on set. We were able to worship on national television in China.  What an unforgettable experience.”

But Jayesslee say their most memorable concert was in their hometown in Sydney, Australia. “[Our] closest friends and family heard us play live for the first time. We were on stage with YouTube celebrities such as KevJumba, RyanHiga and Andrew Garcia.”

Knowing Jesus

Although they were raised as Christians, Janice and Sonia say that they came to know Jesus in a personal way when they were in high school. At the time, their mother had been afflicted with cancer for seven years.

“[It] was difficult for us to understand the goodness of God for most of our lives. However, it was the way that God radically changed our mum through her sickness that sparked a curiosity to know who Jesus really was. In year 9, God met us during a time of prayer at a church camp and we’ve had a relationship with Him ever since,” they said.

At the time, they recall how their father stood by their mother. “For years, he gave up his job and hobbies to be next to our mum. He nursed her and did his best to fulfill his role as a husband and a dad.”

Today their father is remarried. “[We] now live with our dad, step mum and step brother. They are both amazing people and we are so thankful and blessed to be a family.”

Secular songs

Jayesslee sings both Christian and secular songs online. They have gotten some flack for this, but they say that when they choose secular songs they make sure the lyrics are wholesome and not explicit.

“By singing only Christian songs, our influence is limited to listeners who are Christians. As much as we love to empower fellow believers, our aim is to relate to our non-believing audience as well. We sing every song as worship to God.”

They have, because of this, had the experience where non-Christians have approached them to ask about their faith. This is because they first established common ground through carefully chosen secular songs.

Encounter with God

The Lee sisters say they aren’t sure how long they’ll be singing, but hope to do so for as long as possible. More important for them, however, is being able to share the gospel with “as many people as possible.”

They said they hope someday that they can hold concerts at stadiums, “where people would come to experience more than just a performance but an encounter with God. We’d like to leave an impact upon this generation that keeps them talking about the goodness of God, like the legacy that our mum has left behind.”

Popular Jayeslee songs

Secrets

Dare You To Move

Breakeven

The Christmas Song

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The Army is investigating an alleged incident where a group of soldiers were punished because they would not attend a Christian concert held at a Virginia military base.

Fort Eustis spokesman Rick Haverinen confirmed the investigation is ongoing, but did not comment on details. Col. Thomas Collins of the Pentagon said it is contrary to Army policy to force religious beliefs on soldiers, the AP said.

Pvt. Anthony Smith, 21, said that last May when he was stationed at the Newport News base he and other soldiers refused to attend a concert, and as a result were made to stay in their barracks and clean up, the AP said.

According to Smith, a sergeant told some 200 men who were in their barracks that they could choose either to go to the concert or stay in their barracks. Some 80 to 100 chose to remain, the AP said.

However instead of being allowed to have personal time they were placed on lockdown. While in barracks Smith said the soldiers were not allowed to use their personal computers nor cell phones. Some 20 of them, including Muslims, did not go to the concert because of their religious beliefs, the AP said.

Smith, 21, who is now with the National Guard in Phoenix, AZ, said the event was part of the “Commanding General’s Spiritual Fitness Concerts.” Smith was based in Virginia for seven months before his current post, the AP said.

The incident was reported by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation who said that a number of soldiers came to them about the incident. MRRF president Mikey Weinstein said, “Whenever we see this egregious, unconstitutional religious tyranny our job is to fight it,” the AP said.

Lauren Barlow, band member was surprised to hear that some soldiers were forced to go to the concert and in a tweet message said, “That’s horrible. We never knew that. We thought they had a choice. If we would have known we would have said something,” Truthout said.

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Expect something different with the first Life and Faith Tour, produced by veteran concert promoter Ronnie Jackson, NBC13 said.

More than simply another concert, Life and Faith Tour is a whole day, major event with leading Christian celebrities that will have four different shows going on simultaneously, similar to Disney World, NBC13 said.

For music lovers, Jackson has gathered Amy Grant, MercyMe, Point of Grace, Aaron Shust, Shenandoah and others to perform 30 minutes each of their music (Amy Grant and MercyMe will perform for one hour each) on the main stage, NBC13 said.

Another stage will feature Christian comedians and gospel performers. For book lovers, face-off time with 20 leading Christian authors will be had in the authors’ tent.  Finally for children, there will be a space for inflatable rides and characters from VeggieTales, NBC13 said.

Jackson, who is from Kenbridge, Va., lives in North Carolina. He had been planning this family event for three years. “People will go to something like this before they’ll go to church with you,” he told NBC13.

He sees this event as a chance to use his 30 years of experience in concerts promotion to do something meaningful.

The tour has already played in Richmond (June 19), and is slated for Rockingham N.C. (July 10), and Atlanta (July 24), NBC13 said.

The tours will all be at NASCAR tracks which permit room for some 70,000 people and has space for free parking. Jackson calls it a perfect fit, NBC13 says.

Jackson’s company, CivicTix which owns the tour, will give Habitat for Humanity a house for every sellout show. Also, those who purchase their tickets online may donate $10 of the cost to any charity they wish that is on the tour’s website (http://www.lifeandfaithtour.com), NBC13 said.

“The whole point of this tour is giving back,” Jackson told NBC13.

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