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.

Do you feel as though there aren't enough writers using Scripture in their songs?

Agnew: I think we're starting to see more. You definitely see it with Shane & Shane, who did a whole album of Psalms. And you see some who are digging back into the old hymns, like Bart Millard from MercyMe. I definitely think the Bible should be put in the forefront of what we're doing. I'm not criticizing the way other people write. I trust they're studying and letting God teach them, and then they're just putting what they learn into their own words.

I think for a while Christian music seemed a little shallow, even though there were some great songs. If I think about what songs have impacted me the most, even though they may not have been my favorite style of music, I'd have to mention "Crucified with Christ" by Phillips, Craig & Dean. We have to trust that Christian artists know the Lord and are digging back into the Word to write lyrics.

Your songs are very in-your-face in the way they present truth. Have you ever felt this might be a turnoff for some?

Agnew: I wrestle with people who listen to songs and say they're great but they're not going to connect with a lot of people. "Isaiah 6," isn't a very heart-tugging, emotional song—it's Scripture. I suppose it's a little more difficult to connect to, and I guess I could've written songs that were more emotional or personable. But that's not where God has me. He has different roles for each of us as musicians. A lot of artists are strong encouragers in the body of Christian music. Then we have Switchfoot and Stacie Orrico who are going to the mainstream side of things. And me, I'm one of the teachers. I'm one who comes alongside and says, "Let's be challenged." So we all play our part, and that's what makes us the body of Christ.

Switching gears a bit, you relate your adoption story in your song "New Name." Was the fact that you were adopted a big deal growing up?

Agnew: That's part of who I am. It didn't really matter to me when I was a kid. I had my family. They got me in a different way than most people, but it never really crossed my mind. I guess it became more of an issue as I got older. I realized how valuable it was that my family adopted me, because when I was a baby, someone didn't accept me, and they left me, unable to fend for myself, without a home, family, or future. But my family chose me and included me in their lives and raised me as their own.

Was there ever a curiosity to find who your biological parents were?

Agnew: For me, that's not my family. My parents are my parents, and I never really struggled with that. It's not as though my life is lacking anything. I'm where I'm supposed to be, and I'm really satisfied in that.

Moving to the spiritual significance of adoption, how has that helped you view your own relationship with God?

Agnew: One thing I understand better is that salvation is not about performance. It's difficult to accept that our salvation is not up to us. I finally came to terms with that through my own adoption and viewing my salvation as an adoption. You know, I didn't have anything to offer the parents who adopted me. They chose me because of who they are. I didn't have anything for Christ to offer me salvation. He chose me because of who he is. There's a peace and a freedom found in that.

Without being able to offer anything, we were chosen. That's a huge thing. So when people ask me how that changed my life, that is my life. I'm a product of that. That one decision has shaped who I am. I don't resemble my parents in appearance, but I definitely do in how I deal with things. My strengths, my weaknesses, my spiritual foundation are all due to that family.

For more about Todd Agnew, visit our site's artist page. Click here to read our review of his latest, Reflection of Something. To listen to sound clips and buy his music, visit Christianbook.com.

© Andree Farias, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

Click here for more interviews.

Click here to view our music review archives.

Visit the artist pages for related interviews and reviews.

				Try an Issue of Today's Christian Woman Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Today's Christian Woman coming, honor your invoice for just $17.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Today's Christian Woman as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Sign up now for the Christian Music Today weekly newsletter:    RSS Feed   RSS Help