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Q&A-Singer-songwriter Chapman living in the "Moment"
11/23/2007 8:00 PM, Reuters
Deborah Evans Price
As Christian music's most awarded
artist -- with 51 Gospel Music Assn. Dove Awards and five
Grammy Awards to his credit -- Steven Curtis Chapman could well
afford to rest on his laurels, but complacency isn't in the
veteran singer-songwriter's vocabulary.
On October 23, longtime label home Sparrow Records released
"This Moment," Chapman's 16th studio album and his first new
project in three years.
In the midst of a fall tour, Chapman chatted with Billboard
about his new release and his 20th anniversary in Christian
music.
Q: When you went in to record "This Moment," what did you
want to say at this point in your career?
Chapman: "I wanted to be as honest as I've ever been about
everything -- about where I am personally, where I am in my
career. The message that came to the surface, the common
thread, was you really can't do anything about the future, and
you actually can't do anything about the past. Let it rest in
God's hands."
Q: After having won 51 Dove Awards, is there a lot of
pressure when you make a new album?
Chapman: "Honestly, there was a tremendous amount of
pressure, (but) not being put on me from record company people.
It was just what I imposed on myself. There were times where it
almost shut me down. I was so analytical. Verses of scripture
really inspire a lot of my music, and there's one verse in
particular, Revelation 1:19, that said, 'Write therefore the
things that are seen.' I felt like God was saying, 'Here's
really what you need to do -- just write about the things
you've seen."'
Q: How does it feel to be taking on a mentor role with new
artists?
Chapman: "I feel so honored. It kind of started with
Casting Crowns when I got the role of producing and mentoring
them and introducing them to the Christian music industry. Of
course, they took that little introduction and just went on to
pretty much rule and reign at Christian radio, retail and
everywhere else, which has been awesome. You gain so much
knowledge and wisdom through the years, and you get to pass
that on. It's a very, very cool role."
Q: Your sons Caleb and Will are on tour with you, playing
in your band. What kind of advice do you give them about the
business?
Chapman: "Music is where they would love to spend their
life. When you take your sons on tour when they are still in
high school, you know you are probably limiting your chances of
them getting real excited about going on and cracking textbooks
for four more years. The most important thing to me that I want
to convey to them is to follow God and to live their lives to
honor Him and whatever gifts He's given."
Q: What can you say about your Change for Orphans campaign?
Chapman: "We're collecting loose change, and in each of the
cities, we invite a family who are in the process of adopting
and need help financially to bring the child home. We bring
them onstage and give them the money that we've collected that
night by the people in that room. Every night, we've made over
$2,000. One night, we had $7,000. We have a matching anonymous
donor (who has) matched up to $2,000 every night when we raise
at least $2,000. It's really been a blessing."
Reuters/Billboard
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