Paul Colman started off as a solo artist in his native Australia before forming the Paul Colman Trio. The band moved to America, released two albums (with Essential Records), had five radio hits and earned a Dove Award for New Artist of the Year in 2003. But the band wasn't making much money, and all that time on the road was brutal on family life. So the trio broke up last year, and Colman returned to his solo roots, recently releasing Let It Go (Inpop). Colman talked with Christian Music Today about life as a solo artist in a new country, the challenges his family faced, and his new album.

Growing up in Australia, who were your earliest Christian musical influences?

Paul Colman: My dad was involved with Christian music in Australia in the '70s, so I grew up hearing it. When I was 19, I got to open for Larry Norman and be in his band. It was an incredible moment. Larry Norman was my hero, my idol, and I loved his music. Barry McGuire wrote "Bullfrogs and Butterflies" in my home. Leon Patillo had dinner at our house. That was my introduction to Christian music and they were my earliest influences.

How did you decide to come to the US from Australia?

Colman: I wanted to play on the stages of the world and visit every country I could, singing my music to different cultures. The largest market for the world in music is America. I figured if we based ourselves in America and got the group signed to an American label, it would be easier to reach the rest of the world.

What changes were the hardest to get used to when you came to the US?

Colman: Little things like the food, the metric system and the weather are things you miss. It's been financially tough. We have two of everything, a home and a car in Australia and also here. Health care is expensive here. The hardest thing has been the impact on my family. It's been difficult for my wife. I took her away from all her friends. Sometimes I ask myself, "What am I doing to my wife and kids, dragging them around the world? Is this what I'm meant to be doing?" It's not the glamorous life that people think it is. It's a much easier life to have a 9-to-5 job and live in one place.

Having said all that, I feel blessed to be a person who can travel the world doing what I love. This life keeps me from being complacent about what I'm doing. If I didn't have a wife and kids, I'd do this for no money and sleep on the floor. I just get concerned for my family. If it gets too tough on my wife, I'll have to make some pretty big decisions. My dad was a full-time actor who was very popular in England. At 37, he gave it up for his family. In the end, most of his contemporaries ended up losing their marriages for their careers. I won't do that. So, it is tough in some ways, but what's tougher is to live knowing you never gave it a go.

Is your family in the US right now?

Colman: My wife and our two little girls live here, but we go home for Australian summer every year. I normally come back a few weeks early to get everything sorted out. We don't always have the same place to live in. Right now, we don't have a place. My family is coming from the other side of the earth so I can pursue my dream, and I have to get this worked out. I'm staying with a friend until I find a place.

Did the traveling lifestyle play a part in why the Paul Colman Trio broke up?

Colman: The family side of it was a huge part of the decision to break up. We traveled four to five days a week. Despite our success, we weren't making much money, which meant we had to travel even more. When people get paid $10,000 a show, maybe they can do only one show a week and get by. But, when you get paid $3,000 and there are three of you, plus the employees traveling with you and all of your families to feed, that $3,000 doesn't go far. We had to be away a lot and it was insanity. It wasn't working. The drummer, Phil, came to us and said he couldn't do it anymore because it was too crazy being away from his kids and wife. It was crazy, not just for him, but for me, too.

Are you guys still on good terms?

Colman: Yeah. A band is like a marriage. You get to see the bad sides and good sides of each other. You've got similar dreams. It's almost impossible when it ends to not feel some hurt. But, if either of them called me and needed help, I'd be there.

When the group broke up, was it an easy decision to go solo?

Colman: Once I felt like I couldn't do it anymore, I did a lot of thinking. I realized my number one passion in life is my family, my wife and kids, aside from God. My second passion was connecting with people and influencing them with God's love through music. I wondered how to follow my dreams with music, yet spend more time with my family. The obvious answer was to do it on my own. When the checks come in, I wouldn't have to split them. So, even if it's not much money, it would probably be enough to sustain my family. If I could afford it, I'd take a band, but if not, I'd take an acoustic guitar. So, the decision to go solo wasn't tough, but breaking up the band was.

How do you like being a solo artist again?

Colman: I enjoy the flexibility. The best part is that I am home more with my family. I enjoy being able to bring home some money to pay the bills. I enjoyed making a record where I could have whoever I wanted to play whatever I wanted.

You worked with newsboys frontman Peter Furler on this CD. How did you decide to sign with his label, Inpop?

Colman: I've known Peter and Wes Campbell, the Newsboys' manager, about five years. I was about to sign with another label. But, because of my relationship with Peter and Wes, who own Inpop together, I thought I'd discuss it with them. Peter told me the best was yet to come from me and he loved me and believed in me. I nearly broke down. It also helps that they know what it's like to come from Australia, adjust to a new lifestyle and deal with all that comes with it. When I told them I needed to go home for ten weeks so my wife and I could reconnect with family, they totally understood. I am very thankful.

What inspired you to write the song "I Owe it All" on your new album, Let it Go?

Colman: The song talks about letting go, about how it seems too good to be true that all I have to do is let it go, lay this burden down. I was sitting at a table in my house last April trying desperately to write a hit song, and it wasn't coming out. I felt like I heard Jesus whisper in my ear to let it go, stop trying and tell him how I felt about him. Out came that song. It's my favorite song on the record to play.

What did you have to let go of?

Colman: I had to let go of my own life. That's the short answer. In this record, I had to let go of doing all the songwriting. I thought I shouldn't let professional songwriters in because I wouldn't have enough control. But, I had to let go, let these people in and see what happened. Once I let people in, the songs started to get better. Jason Ingram was incredible. I don't know where I'd be without such a brilliant songwriter and collaborator. From the whole collaborative process, I learned that it's better to be a small part of something great than a large part of something else.

Were you really thinking of leaving America when you wrote "Last Night in America"?

Colman: I started that song on December 22, 2001. It was my last night in America for that year. It was soon after 9/11 and I wondered if there would be so much terrorism that there wouldn't be an America, or if there'd be a third world war. I thought that my own flight could be hijacked, that maybe it would be my last night on earth. I felt a great deal of uncertainty. All of those questions went into those songs.

Are there differences between the Australian and American Christian music scenes?

Colman: Yeah, you have a scene! We have some fragmented stuff, but there just isn't a market for Christian music. Australia isn't a Christian nation. Plus, there aren't professional promoters. You hire a guy who is an electrician who does promoting on the side. He only has so much time to invest. In America, you have professionals and a market that can sustain Christian musicians.

What is most challenging about being a Christian singer right now?

Colman: I'm trying to make a living and support my family, besides fulfilling my visions. You've got to write music that's commercial to make some money. I don't dumb my music down, but you have to write a certain way and still pour out what is on your heart.

For more about Paul Colman, visit our artist page, where you'll also find our review of his album, Let it Go. To hear sound clips and buy his music, visit Christianbook.com.

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