Just As I Am
Todd Agnew never expected to become a best-selling rock star, and despite the success of his debut, he still has no aspirations to become one. He just wants to be accepted for who he is.
by Andree Farias | posted 9/19/2005
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Singer/songwriter Todd Agnew made waves in 2003 with his sleeper hit debut, Grace Like Rain, an album he says was a breeze to make. But it wasn't as easy when it came time to record his follow-up, Reflection of Something (Ardent/Epic), because with great success comes great expectations. Agnew grappled about creating another album that would simply please the masses. Foremost, he wanted to please God, a theme that plays heavily in his music, which draws heavily from Scripture and paints a very rugged picture of the gospel. In this friendly conversation with Christian Music Today, he talks about the process of writing and recording for the new album as well as the subject of adoption—a topic he knows well.
Grace Like Rain did exceptionally well, surpassing everyone's expectations. How has that prepared you for your new album? Has the bar been set high?
Todd Agnew Definitely. My first album was recorded as an indie record. I wasn't trying to do the industry thing. It was an accident. So when it came to record the second album, I went into the studio knowing I was supposed to produce a record that lived up to or surpassed the first one. And, fortunately, I think it did.
Of course, I also felt the tension to live up to other big bands and artists who released albums during my rookie year: Jeremy Camp, Casting Crowns, Warren Barfield. I definitely struggled with that. But people in my life—my mentors and the producer of this new record—said, "Todd, you didn't worry about any of that the first time. You trusted the Lord. He taught you things, and you put what you learned into songs. You recorded the songs you enjoyed, and people connected." That reminded me that my success isn't up to me. I didn't come here to be successful in the first place. I'm just here to be obedient.
Was there ever a pressure to write a second "This Fragile Breath" or a sequel to "Grace Like Rain"?
Agnew My team is amazing. My label is 100 percent behind me. One of the cool things about Ardent Records is that everyone there either has been an artist or engineer. They're not just business people. And it was a huge blessing to have them say, "It's your second album. Go make it a good one!" They didn't look over my shoulder.
And that shows in the way your record sounds. It seems as though you're moving into a more American-rock-roots direction. Was that intentional?
Agnew I don't know. There are songs on this new album that fans of the first one will connect to. But during the making of the album, I just enjoyed the music we were making.
You know, I think it's an important time in Christian music. We have a lot of creative artists coming forward, like Mute Math and Mat Kearney. And I believe the market is there for Christian music to expand and start making good music. Now people just have to support it and buy it so we all don't go hungry. It's time for Christian music to not just be a sound, but Christians making music.
Though you have taken an artistic leap with your music, one thing that hasn't changed is your knack for writing songs based on passages of Scripture. You do so more than the average Christian musician. Why?
Agnew The Bible has always been a huge part of my life, so it's just naturally where I go for truth and inspiration. On this record, I was struggling to write "hit songs" and to live up to the expectations of the last album. But the Lord showed me that what he has me say is more important than what I have to say. I can have all types of agendas, but my words are just ideas; his Word changes people. So I went back to the basics. I didn't realize it'd be as powerful as it turned out to be.
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