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Just because Margaret Becker waited a decade in between proper studio CDs doesn't mean she's spent a second resting on her laurels. Between 1999's What Kind of Love and the national release of Air last fall, the celebrated singer/songwriter worked on a variety of non-traditional projects, while continuing her partnership with World Vision and mentoring other artists. Never at a loss for words, the troubadour (who turns 50 in a few weeks) opened up about all those subjects and how she embraces community to combat loneliness.

What have you been up to over the past decade?

Margaret Becker: In 2001, I decided I wanted to concentrate more on writing books and doing some of the pet projects I always wanted to do along the way. I also wanted to explore musical projects and produce other artists, so I started taking some different tracks in life. I did a couple of compilation records with Máire Brennan and Joanne Hogg in a series called New Irish Hymns, which was lovely. From there, I recorded an all-acoustic record introducing new music and reworking older things. I also did a record on Psalms and just finished up a Christmas musical with David M. Edwards called Gift of Love coming out this year. I wrote two books—the latest one is Coming Up For Air—and there's a record called Air to coincide. And I've been doing some speaking gigs, as well as producing others like Ginny Owens and Rita Springer.

The always busy Becker spends little time on the couch

How are you able to stay so diverse?

Becker: I guess it's a little bit of ADD. I like to check out a lot of different things and apply them to lot of different disciplines. This has been a natural, really paralleled move with some nice synchronicity. The core of the last ten years was figuring it all out and deciding what is at the core of my music and the core of my life, which is to encourage and empower people. As a result of that, I realize there are a lot more ways to do that than just music, including the written word, the spoken word, and helping other artists find their core mission.

How have you evolved musically since your last traditional studio CD?

Becker: I think the thing that's drawn people to my music over the years has not really been the music itself but more the lyric content. It's honest and it's not tied up in a nice bow, which continues on this record. And I devour [new] music. I spend more money on iTunes than I care to tell you.

How much?

Becker: A lot. Well, last year I spent close to $800 on iTunes and that's just buying single songs! I'm also an XM listener. It exposes me to lots of different music, and there's nothing better than hearing bands who are pretty obscure and then seeing them get pretty much mainstream. I remember when Death Cab For Cutie just came out and I was turned onto them, and now everybody knows who they are.

Do you think your old fans will like this album? What about new ones?

Becker: I think there are a lot of hardcore listeners who are like the way I am with Joni Mitchell. If she put out a record and burped, I would go buy it because I have everything she's ever done. I'm very curious to watch her journey, and there are a lot of people [who do the same] with me. And there are new listeners that come about; people pick up on my music from MySpace or placements of music in different areas, and they wonder who that artist is—and it might not even be from Christian circles.

Are you disappointed that Christian radio doesn't introduce older artists to younger audiences?

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