A Sobering Awakening
Natalie Grant's new CD indicates not just a sonic reinvention, but her own awakening to the horrors of human trafficking worldwide. And now she's trying to do something about it.
by Russ Breimeier | posted 5/23/2005
 1 of 3
In the five-plus years since Natalie Grant debuted as a solo artist, she's developed respect as one of Christian music's best female vocalists. Recently, Grant began yearning for something more, discontent to simply remain a pretty face with a pretty voice and pretty songs. Then God called her out of her comfort zone, resulting in a new approach to songwriting and a new sound altogether. But God really rocked her comfort zone one evening while she watched an episode of Law & Order that addressed the issue of child sex trafficking. Once awakened to the harsh realities of that issue, Grant decided to try to make a difference, to do what she could to help stop the atrocities. To that end, she formed her own foundation to raise awareness and to combat the problem. We recently sat down with Grant, who was all too eager to share more with us about her recent awakenings—artistic and otherwise.
Natalie hangs out with children who were rescued from Bombay's red-light district
The title of your new album is Awaken, and that word currently has a double meaning for you, right? Let's start with the inspiration behind the musical component.
Natalie Grant It was my deep desire to not make mediocre music. I've learned that you can be a great singer, but if you don't have great songs, you just don't stand the test of time. So-so singers with strong songwriting make a more lasting impact.
I remember this radio guy who once tried to compliment me by saying how he could always count on me for happy, feel-good songs …
Kind of like Christian radio ads …
Grant "Happy, safe, and encouraging for the whole family!" Exactly. It left me thinking, My goodness, is this really all I am? At the end of my career, am I just going to be the girl who sang happy songs? It really sat with me badly and bothered me for days on end.
I started talking to my husband [producer Bernie Herms] about it, and he said that ultimately it's something that needs to come from me. If I want to connect with my audience, I need to draw deeper within. I feel confident in my ability to sing, but I felt the need to have my art reflect the same kind of dedication and excellence.
So I worked on my writing and ended up with songs like "The Real Me" and "Home" that really surprised me. Is that me? Did I write that? For the first time I felt with all my heart that I was going to have music that would still matter ten years from now, and that really excites me.
Which track on the album are you most proud of?
Grant "Home," by far, as a songwriter and also the production. I just love the epic feel of it—the story it tells—and the way the rock and pop come together. I'm very happy with my husband's work on this disc, because he kept it very sensitive but helped me from sounding too overproduced, which is something I've long suffered in my career. I also love the way "Make Me Over" and "The Real Me" turned out.
Your style has really evolved from the usual adult contemporary. There are times where you sound more like Alanis Morrisette and Nichole Nordeman than Celine Dion and Avalon. Were you afraid that you might alienate your fan base?
Grant I was a little concerned—scared that some of the soccer moms wouldn't embrace the change. Though I knew I was going to win some new fans by surprising people who would have never picked up a Natalie Grant record before.
But it's not been like that at all—at least not from what I've heard. The fans seem to have grown with me, and that's been very freeing. It's been really exciting to see them respond, "Oh my gosh, this is your best record! Instead of songs I listen to on the way to daycare, these are songs that speak to me in the dark moments of my life." So I think I've learned that even people who say they just love pop music are still searching for depth in their songs.
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try 3 Issues of Christianity Today Free!
|
 |
|
Subscribe to Christianity Today and get 3 free trial issues. No credit card required.
Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only.
If you decide you want to keep Christianity Today coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive nine more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The three trial issues are yours to keep, regardless.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| 
