Mela Kamin – What I Say in between Songs

Amy Grant’s newest album “Somewhere Down the Road” released today. I had already listened on her website the past few weeks and fallen in love with “Better Than a Hallelujah” and the catchy duet “Overnight” with Amy’s beautifully-voiced daughter, Sarah. Now, I just nabbed it on iTunes.
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I’m happy to see Amy is still putting out new music. She feels matriarchal for someone in this very far-flung, extended Christian music family.
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Though we’ve never met, I do feel slightly connected in a Kevin Bacon-ish way. My co-writer & Producer, Dan Needham was the drummer for Amy’s Behind the Eyes album and part of her tour band. A group picture hangs in his studio (near the Amy, Smitty & Chris Tomlin records). And, Sarah Hart co-wrote “Better Than a Hallelujah.” I met Sarah and saw her perform last year at a songwriter’s night at Tin Roof in Nashville, that my other Producer, Carl Herrgesell invited me to sing at.
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Now, for my real-live experience with Amy:
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My Mom, Aunt, cousin & I went to see Amy at the Wisconsin State Fair in the nineties. I was in college getting a degree in journalism at the time. I was busy planning moving on and moving out of my small-town existence. I had absolutely no dreams of becoming a Christian singer, or any type of singer, for that matter. And, I wasn’t attending church then either – hadn’t read my Bible in ages. My Aunt & cousin were the “religious” ones who brought us.
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Now, to be fair, Amy had crossed over by this time and was well-known enough that even I knew some of her pop songs. It wasn’t like we were going to a Christian concert – it was Amy Grant – and we knew what to expect … sort of.
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I remember the way Amy put the whole enormous crowd at ease, got us up dancing and clapping and then had us sitting in awe as she effortlessly sang from her heart in her unique folk/country/gospel way. We were far from the stage, yet felt connected. I didn’t know all the songs, but somehow it still felt familiar.
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What I hear in this new music is that same comforting voice, that’s filled with experience, depth and topped with that breathy control that is no small task to deliver.
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I became a fan of hers at that concert, bought the music and the necklace I’m wearing in this picture. Yes, I still have it thanks to the “save-it” gene that was passed down by my Mom.
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I never would’ve imagined that one day, I’d find my way back to church, find my voice and decide to pursue music – Christian music. Is it because of Amy’s impact on me that day? I don’t know.
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I do know that God has a way of using experiences and sometimes even music to crack open the hardened places of our hearts. He knew the plans He had for me.
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I pray Amy’s music continues to impact others – for those that know Christ deeply, and those, like me, who just knew about Him, but didn’t yet have a real relationship with Him. I’m grateful to Amy that she shares her relationship outwardly through her music, even when she’s come under attack for life and musical changes.
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You never know who’s listening.
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What’s a concert experience you remember?

So, what’s it like being independent? For me, being independent (as a singer/songwriter) means I can work when it fits into my schedule – a great benefit for a busy Mom of 3.

• It can also mean I likely won’t be played on the major radio stations.
• It means I probably won’t play at the big festivals.
• It means no one knows this is what I do, unless I tell them.

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But, it means I’m in control of the music I make and my career.
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It means I can have my professional photographer husband shoot my cover and he and my designer friend can work on the insert together. It means my husband and I can start a ministry to impact others. It means, we get to decide what our merchandise will look like and we control my calendar.
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Somebody might think I have a group of people working for me behind the scenes. Let me set the record straight … I’m independent, which means no label, no team – just me, my husband and three kids. It’s a fantastic team and my family, friends and ministries like IndieHeaven have helped immensely, but when it comes down to the details of “selling” this artist, that rests squarely on my shoulders.
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I realize the great fortune I have to be able to work at something I love to do and I’m passionate about. Still, envy and pride get in my way and I sometimes wish I could have the tough stuff done for me. Doing all the work for the business side of things is necessary, but can honestly suck the passion right out of me for the music I’m making.
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Like, this week when I’m redoing 100s of CDs, because of a printing problem on the insert. That means, I’m physically taking the shrink wrap off, opening each case, removing the insert, replacing it with the new one and boxing them back up. Not hard work – just work.
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So, for my fans, independent means putting out this CD was like starting a new business in my thirties – one that I had no experience in before – it’s a dream come true that I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to share. It’s an adventure that I’m making up as I go along and I’m so thrilled to have you cheering me on.
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It also means when you buy a CD from me, you can be sure, my “team” and I have done the little things to make it just right.
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What does being independent mean to you?

The Olympics are over and have started to become just a faint memory to most people.
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Greg & I had the great fortune to be at the Opening Ceremonies in Vancouver with some friends & clients of his.
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We saw Simon Aamann become the first gold medalist of the 2010 Olympic Games – when he won the ski jump. He was just a few feet from us and he looked my way when I shouted his name about as loudly as I could. Yep. I’m sly & bold like that.
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You can see more of our photos here.
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Being there live made the whole idea of the Olympics so much more exciting for our family. We could point out where we were just days before. My husband could tell us what it was like walking around in Athlete’s Village, to cover two different torch relays, or to capture Whistler from a helicopter.
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The thing about the Olympics is they inspire us to watch, to be aware, to cheer our team on, find out how each athlete did in his/her respective event … we stay up late, gather around the TV and scream, hold our breath, shriek, gasp, laugh and, if you’re like me – cry.
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I’m sure many workplace watercooler talks were peppered with trivia and highlights, people running around like Bob Costas clones, sharing the latest on this or that event. The Olympics provided us all with an experience we could share in. They spotlight the very best athletes our country has to offer and it’s a fun diversion from our lives.
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But, now that they’re over, who are we cheering for and giving our attention to?
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I bet most of us didn’t know much about the athletes until we saw them compete and heard their stories, read articles about them and googled them. And, living in Minnesota, there were tons of stories, as our state was well represented in Vancouver through the hockey and curling teams, not to mention the downhill darling, Lindsay Vonn, who hails from a neighboring city.
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But, as we come down off the high of watching Olympic competition, I wonder how much different our relationships would be if we gave as much attention and encouragement to our own team … our children, our parents, our neighbors, our friends.
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Can you imagine focusing each day on finding out how someone on your team is doing?
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I’ll be the first to admit that I can get very wrapped up in my own life, stuck inside in the cold Winter, and I don’t know what’s been happening in the lives of my friends and neighbors.
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But, I’m challenged by the command that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. Does that mean, we just wave when we’re out checking the mail? Or, does it mean, knocking on the door or picking up the phone and finding out if there’s a need you can fill, a prayer you can say, a word of encouragement you can offer. Does it mean inviting people into your home and into your lives so you can invest in them?
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When you ask someone how they’re doing, are you exchanging an obligatory pleasantry, or really inviting a response? Are we taking the time to stop, to listen, to observe, to notice, to be present in someone else’s life?
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If we did, I would venture to guess that our relationships would start to look very different … more like God created them to be … and dare I say, become worthy of a medal – not of gold, silver or bronze, but of much greater worth … one that says …
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well done, good and faithful servant.
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Here’s the core of my team – my sweet, sassy, spirited kids – all with Olympic-sized personalities:
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How do you stay connected to your team? I’d love to hear your thoughts.