2 of 2

Before, when I first met people, my goal was to make them my best friend, but I never followed up. My brother told me once that I was always really good at making first impressions. That's okay if there's follow-up, but I would always hit a city and be gone the next day. I could make my mark, smile and know I didn't have to follow up. That started affecting my personal life. I'd swing through my town and say "hey" to everybody with a big smile, knowing I didn't have to get any deeper because I'd be gone the next week. I've since realized what commitment needs to go into a relationship—and how that affects how I love my wife right now.

You've also made a lot of changes with your music, starting with using producers other than Ed Cash for the new record. How did he feel about that?

Norman It was easy because Ed and I are such good friends, and it was the best thing for both of us. Ed and I described it as kind of like breaking up with a girlfriend in the sense that you've already been broken up and know that eventually they're going to date someone else. He was like "I knew this day would come. You need to go stretch your wings and see what else is out there."

Your lyrics are so straightforward on Try instead of more poetic, as on previous projects. Why?

Norman I think I'm less afraid to just say what I mean to say. There were a lot of times in my life, especially as a younger man, where I would come in with something I wanted to say but never really went there. I think I had an ability to circle an issue more than really getting to the heart of an issue. I don't ever want to lose the poetic part of writing songs, but now I feel like I'm not as afraid to say what I really think about things.

In some older songs, all I really wanted to say was I was "pissed off," but it came out as me kind of going around the issue and just sounding confused. I think it has less to do with being married and more to do with getting older. Now I'm willing to say things outright. The best-case scenario is that I'll find a balance between those two things—the poetry and the straightforwardness—and paint a picture, one that paints a little bit more clearly what I'm trying to say rather than something ambiguous and mysterious.

How did you link up with Jason Morant and Bethany Dillon for the Try tour?

Norman I honestly picked them because I loved their songwriting. They are the type of songwriters that make me jealous. Bethany's writing songs as a 15-year-old that I'll probably never write! And Jason as a 23-year-old's doing the same kind of thing. The biggest attraction for me was how I respected them as songwriters. Jason is playing electric guitar in my band and sings with me the whole time and I imagine Bethany will come up as well, besides just both of their opening spots. I haven't done a full band tour in two years, so that will give songs like "Stand" and "Disappear" the chance to get bigger. There'll be a whole section in the middle of the show when I'm on guitar alone and I'll probably talk a bit more than I should. But I promise it will be a good deal!

For more about Bebo Norman, check out his artist page on our site for biographical information and reviews. You can click here to read a review from his latest album, Try. Visit Christianbook.com to hear sound clips and buy Bebo Norman's music

first page |  2 of 2