INSPIRING ARTISTES ASPIRING CHRISTIAN MUSIC ARTISTES SHOULD UNDERSTUDY



 

I started out in the mainstream music industry, what we Christians like to call secular music industry. I've always loved unusual music. Even as a born again Christian I was listening to Florence + The machine, Daughter, Bjork, Lana Del Rey, name it. I used to watch iConcerts on DSTV a lot. I listened to lots of hip hop artistes like Blu &Exile, Kendrick Lamar before he got mainstream success. I'm still a huge fan of his. I'm still a huge fan of J. Cole. I can't even begin to mention all the artistes I've listened to in the past. Some songs I heard but never knew the artistes who made them. I still watch FTV just for the music.

So many people are going to ask me how I did it even as a Christian with all those deep and soul-toxic lyrics. Well, I'm an expert in selective listening. I just listen to the music without the lyrics. But I've always wondered how Christians who have a taste for the kind of music I love do it because I realise not everybody can listen to music as selectively as I do.

So, I started searching for Christian music with the same kind of sound I relate to. It was a difficult search because those I found didn't meet my standards in terms of quality of production and delivery. I came across Lecrae but unfortunately it was one of his earlier songs when he was still struggling so I wrote him off. Even when I heard he had won some Grammy awards, I still didn't take him seriously.

Fast forward to 2015, this dude has my respect! I'm like, whaaaat??? What have I been missing out on?! And then I got to discover Andy Mineo, Trip Lee (Who's a pastor by the way), KB, Tadashi and I noticed they all had something in common... Reach Records.

So, I visited their website www.reachrecords.com  and checked out the artistes on the label and read through their inspiring stories. I think you all should check them out and follow their music. They're amazing!

I have a dream that someday gospel hip hop is going to be big in Africa. I'll make a case for gospel hip hop in another post but for now enjoy  SAY I WON'T - LECRAE FT ANDY MINEO

(These brothers are so cool though.. whoever says Christians can't be cool?)



Photo credit: Google.com


Best wishes
Jesam.