Monday, Nov 23, 2009

Profess Interview Series: Mary Mary

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This edition of the Profess Interview Series brings to you an exclusive conversation between C.E. Moore and Erica Campbell of Mary Mary. In our interview Erica talks about the duo’s recent American Music Award, what it means to her to be a light in the darkness, watching Desperate Housewives, and what it was like to meet Janet Jackson on the red carpet.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Mary Mary is a two-time Grammy award winning Platinum American gospel music duo, consisting of sisters Erica Campbell and Trecina ‘Tina’ Campbell. The duo are often credited along with Kirk Franklin for broadening the fan base of urban contemporary gospel in the 2000s by introducing elements of soul music, hip hop, funk and jazz. Mary Mary broke onto the music scene with their popular song Shackles (Praise You) which is considered one of the pioneering songs of urban contemporary gospel music.

The duo recently won an American Music Award for Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist.

To follow Mary Mary on Twitter: @TheRealMaryMary

To find out more about Mary Mary go to www.mary-mary.com and www.ilovemarymary.com

We’d like to thank the Erica Campbell for answering some of our burning questions. A very special thank you Mike Navarra of Sony Music for setting up the interview for us.

Posted by Profess Podcast at 3:35 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Friday, Nov 20, 2009

Profess Interview Series: Jared C. Wilson

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This edition of the Profess Interview Series brings to you an exclusive conversation between C.E. Moore, Matthew Robbins, and Jared C. Wilson, author of “Your Jesus Is Too Safe. In our interview Jared talks about his book, the least talked about aspects of Jesus as well as false versions, the spiritual landscape of his environment, and the dangers of idolizing Christian pastors.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Jared Wilson is the pastor of Middletown Church in Middletown Springs, Vermont, and a writer of articles, essay, and short stories appearing in various publications. His book Your Jesus is Too Safe is now available from Kregel Publications. Wilson's Bible study resource titled Abide: Practicing the Rhythms of the Kingdom in a Consumer Culture releases from Threads Media in Spring 2010.

To follow Jared on Twitter: @JaredCWilson

To find out more about Jared and his ministry go to www.jaredwilson.com and www.gospeldrivenchurch.com.

We’d like to thank the Jared C. Wilson for answering some of our burning questions.

Posted by Profess Podcast at 10:07 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Sunday, Nov 15, 2009

Profess Interview Series: Phil Wickham

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This edition of the Profess Interview Series brings to you an exclusive conversation between C.E. Moore, Joe Crabb, and artist Phil Wickham. In our interview Phil talks about his new album “Heaven & Earth,” his thoughts on Donald Miller’s “Searching for God Knows What” and Randy Alcorn’s “Heaven,” the difference between his acoustic shows and a show featuring a full band, and his love for the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Phil Wickham’s music has been called every flowery adjective in the thesaurus and some that may have even been made up. And while they are often accurate descriptors they are at the same time distracting. When hearing these buzz words it’s too easy to lump an artist into a meaningless equation consisting of two musical references, a vague genre title and a classic predecessor. Welcome to missing the point.

The point is that Wickham is at his core a humble and sincere artist who writes songs and worships God using the medium of music. It is with that brush that he paints images of a loving and creative God across the canvases of listeners’ hearts and minds.

We’d like to thank the Phil Wickham for answering some of our burning questions. A very special thank you to Errine Garnett of The M Collective for setting up the interview for us.

Posted by Profess Podcast at 3:03 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Friday, Nov 13, 2009

Profess Interview Series: Phil Hester

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This edition of the Profess Interview Series brings to you an exclusive conversation between C.E. Moore and comic book artist and author, Phil Hester. In our interview Phil talks about how he got his start in the industry, his latest title “Days Missing,” the idea behind the series, and when he decided to end the story the way he did.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Phil Hester is an Eisner Award-nominated artist.

Born in eastern Iowa, Phil went on to study at the University of Iowa. His pencilling credits include Swamp Thing, Brave New World, Flinch, Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Clerks: The Lost Scene, The Crow: Waking Nightmares, The Wretch (nominated for the 1997 Eisner Award for Best New Series), Aliens: Purge, and Green Arrow.

His most recent mini-series is ‘Days Missing’ with Archaia Comics.

To find out more about ‘Days Missing’ check out www.daysmissing.com or www.archaia.com

To follow Phil Hester on Twitter: @PhilHester

Check out Phil’s blog: www.shocktraumastudios.com

We’d like to thank the Phil Hester for answering some of our burning questions. A very special thank you to Mel Caylo of Archaia Comics for setting up the interview for us.

Posted by Profess Podcast at 7:07 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Wednesday, Nov 11, 2009

Profess Interview Series: Jaymes Reunion (Cameron Jaymes)

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This edition of the Profess Interview Series brings to you an exclusive conversation between C.E. Moore and Cameron Jaymes, lead singer of Jaymes Reunion. Cameron talks about the story behind the band’s name, the decision to release a second EP, some of his favorite songs as well as the story behind them, and themed movie weeks.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Pressing the cassette into his Walkman, Cameron Jaymes lay on his bed and waited for the sounds of Paul McCartney’s 1971 album “Ram” to come through the headphones.

“My piano is boldly outspoken,” the voice growled and cooed. “Cats and kittens, don’t get left behind.”

So it was that Jaymes no longer wanted to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers when he grew up. He wanted to be a musician.

“I just loved the way that music made me feel,” Jaymes says now. “It evoked a certain feeling in me, a sort of excitement.”

This kind of emotional response is exactly what he and his bandmates hope to evoke with “Everything You’ve Been Looking For,” the debut album for Jaymes Reunion fall of 2008.

The band name stems from the fact that whenever these musicians get together, it feels like a family reunion. On guitar is Braydon Nelson, who went to the Berklee School of Music and met thru Cameron’s older brother, Justin. Eric Watson, on bass, went to Jaymes’ church. Jeremy Taylor and Jared Byers, taking turns on percussion, met Jaymes out on the tour circuit.

“As we made the record I really connected with the guys,” Jaymes says. “It became this family reunion of musicians, for me, and a revolving collaborative of buddies I’ve made.”

Together, the members of Jaymes Reunion “want to encourage people, to give them the feeling I felt when I heard that Paul McCartney record for the first time,” Jaymes says. “I’m driven by the idea of connecting people with songs.”

Born in August 1984 in Bakersfield, Calif., Jaymes started singing while in elementary school. His mother enrolled him and his brother in an after-school choir program, but it wasn’t until he was 15 that Jaymes focused seriously on singing and songwriting, penning his first piece for a girl he wanted to impress.

By age 18 he’d already toured with a ska-punk band and was spending time figuring out his own sound. He shared it, poolside, with some music execs in West Hollywood during Grammy Week 2006, and that led Jaymes to sign with BEC Recordings a division of Tooth & Nail Records.

Reminiscent of that Paul McCartney record, Jaymes Reunion’s debut features soaring, solid vocals backed by marching drums, pop-rock keyboards and strumming guitar influenced by U2, Coldplay, Switchfoot and The Bee Gees. Jaymes’ favorite sound — the piano — features prominently.

“My greatest inspirations come from everyday life,” he says. “I want to give people songs that warm them and help them feel alive.”

To find out more about Jaymes Reunion check out www.myspace.com/jaymesreunion

To follow Jaymes Reunion on Twitter: @JaymesReunion

Check out Cameron’s friend’s songwriting blog: www.skyfidelity.tumblr.com

We’d like to thank the Cameron Jaymes for answering some of our burning questions. A very special thank you to Lori Isaacs for setting up the interview for us.

Posted by Profess Podcast at 11:04 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Monday, Nov 09, 2009

Profess Interview Series: Delirious (Martin Smith)

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This edition of the Profess Interview Series brings to you an exclusive conversation between C.E. Moore and Martin Smith, lead singer of Delirious. Martin talks about impending retirement, the band’s contribution to the worship genre, what’s next for some of their members, and some of the biggest moments they’ve experienced over the last 20 years.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Known as the forerunners of the modern worship movement and as one of the industry’s best live bands, Delirious? is saying “farewell.”

As their songs traveled across continents providing the soundtrack for Sunday morning church services, Delirious? was delivering its message to millions of fans through thousands of electrifying concerts in auditoriums, theatres and churches worldwide. And that message was always challenging its audiences to be “history makers,” which the band defines as people who look beyond their own needs to make a tangible difference in the lives of others.

“The Delirious? story was only ever about responding to whatever it was God was doing through music that abandoned itself to Him,” says the band members collectively as they call a close to the Delirious? journey while staying ever committed to be history makers in God’s story, carrying individually His soundtrack with them.

Over the last decade, Delirious? touring highlights have included closing for the Pope in front of a million people in Germany, playing in front of hundreds of thousands in India, headlining the 2004 Olympic Celebrations at the Omonia Square in Athens, Greece, touring with Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams and Matchbox 20, and headlining at SWR3’s Arena of Sound 2004 music festival, where more than 80,000 fans filled the Schlossplatz in Stuttgart, Germany.

Having released 14 albums and selling nearly three millions recordings, and with seven Top 40 general market UK chart singles and two Top 30 general market UK chart albums, Delirious? grew out of the UK “Cutting Edge” youth meetings in the early 1990s. Regarded internationally as the galvanizing force that changed the face of worship worldwide, Delirious? members currently have 22 songs on the CCLI charts. With its music being played and sold in over 100 countries, the band has also been honored with two Gospel Music Association International Awards.

Delirious? is lead vocalist Martin Smith, guitarist Stu G, keyboardist Tim Jupp, bassist Jon Thatcher and drummer Paul Evans, who took over for Delirious? founding member Stew Smith in 2008.

To find out more about Delirious check out www.delirious.org.uk


To follow Delirious on Twitter: @Delirious

We’d like to thank the Martin Smith for answering some of our burning questions. A very special thank you to Rick Hoganson for setting up the interview for us.

Posted by Profess Podcast at 10:28 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Monday, Nov 02, 2009

Profess Interview Series: Shane & Shane

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This edition of the Profess Interview Series brings to you an exclusive conversation between C.E. Moore and Shane Barnard of Shane & Shane. Shane talks about the new album “Everything is Different,” the belief that Jesus changes everything, his recent marriage to Bethany Dillon, and their upcoming Christmas tour. By the way, Shane was naked for a portion of this interview. (Just listen.)

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Shane & Shane has cemented its status as one of contemporary Christian music’s most consistent, compelling, and successful artists for nearly a decade. A staple on the fickle college circuit, the acoustic guitar-wielding duo has averaged 250-300 shows per year for most of its career. Between independent recordings, six studio releases, and a combo CD/DVD live project, its tally hovers around a half-million records sold. It would be easy to let these statistics overshadow the essential reason Shane & Shane has come so far in the first place. “The ministry of Shane & Shane is to just tell people about Jesus,” explains Shane Barnard with his characteristic Texan candor.

Among the most devotionally focused singer/songwriters of this generation, for Shane Barnard and Shane Everett, it all comes back to the creative source. “We always have a tendency to bring the scriptures into our songs,” Barnard explains. “It happens naturally for us. It’s not like we have a game plan, but we’ve always spent a lot of time in the Word of God. The Word of God is just so good - if you don’t mess with it - it’s hard to mess it up. I think this album, probably more than any other album we’ve done, is the Word of God set to music.”


Placing this musical inspiration into a context that their audience can embrace is a skill that both Shane Everett and Shane Barnard have learned to do at an exceptionally high level. The Shanes see it as a two-part process consisting of both craft and inspiration. Sometimes, they admit, putting the two parts of that process together can take a long, long time.

To find out more about Shane & Shane check out www.shaneandshane.com

To follow Shane & Shane on Twitter: @shaneandshane

We’d like to thank Shane Barnard for answering some of our burning questions. A very special thank you to Mandy Parsons of Savvy Media Solutions for setting up the interview for us.

Posted by Profess Podcast at 10:03 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT