INTERVIEW
When Sheila Walsh’s album Say So was released earlier this year, CTasked this pioneer Christian rocker and new cohost of “The 700 Club” about her songs and where she’s headed musically.
On Writing Her Song “Trapeze”:
About 18 months ago I lost my voice just before a major tour. The day before the tour a throat specialist said, “You can’t even speak a word for months; we may have to operate, and you may never sing again.” Some Christians said, “God has done this to you because you think too much of yourself.” I went to a small cottage and fasted and prayed. I felt God showed me that my security was resting in what I do rather than who I am.
“Trapeze” is about how I’ve been so used to flying by myself, I didn’t even need a safety net; suddenly I found myself falling out of the sky. Then, when I thought it was too late, his hands came out and grabbed me.
On The Importance Of The Local Church:
It’s especially important for someone in itinerant ministry. We have a group of six elders and their wives who meet with us regularly and know everything about us—the good, the bad, and the ugly. They even know the things I pray I’ll never do but are potential temptations to me when I’m tired, fed up, or mad at my husband. The fact that they love and care for us has been absolutely key.
On The Evolution Of Her Sound:
The first album I ever made—a real low-budget thing—was very true to me at that time. I did all my vocals between midnight and 4:00 in the morning because that’s when we got the studio cheapest. And I loved it. Later, I think I was trying too hard to have an image that would relate to people.
When Steve Lorenz became my comanager, he asked, “Why do you speak so much between your songs in concert?” I realized my songs didn’t say much. He told me to go to a record store and buy every album I’ve ever loved and write down what touched me about it. So I threw everything I’d done out the window and started from scratch.
