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 Sue Smith
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Sue Smith: Writing About Jesus |
 By: Allison Lynn |
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Allison Lynn Bio For many years, Allison Lynn led an eclectic career singing all kinds of music, from music theatre to jazz to gospel to big band. But in 2005, Allison felt at a crossroads in her career. She started to pray for guidance. That summer, she attended Ben Speer's Stamps-Baxter School of Music in Nashville, TN, and God touched her life in a deep and profound way. She returned to her home in Toronto, ON, and started a gospel music ministry, singing at churches, festivals, and special events. Within months, God was calling again, and Allison and her husband, Gerald Flemming, decided to make the move to Nashville. After many months of legal work, Allison was awarded an 01 (Artist) Visa, allowing her to live and work in the United States for a 3 year period. Whether singing a fully staged concert, or leading a sing-along in a small inner-city church, Allison Lynn brings a message of God's unconditional love and faithfulness for all to hear.Allison's new CD,REAL BIG FAN is rooted in Southern Gospel, with a twist of jazz. Produced by Aaron Minick, the songs are a mix of gospel classics, originals by Allison and her husband, Gerald, and new songs by Daryl Williams, Joel Lindsey, and Wayne Haun.Allison writes the blog, ADVENTURES OF A STARVING ARTIST and is currently accepting bookings for 2008.
www.allisonlynn.com
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In Nashville, we have a saying: "It all begins with a song." Nowhere is that more true than in Gospel music. The Book of Psalms is full of the songs of David. On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus and the Apostles sang a hymn at the end of the meal. The Bible contains countless references to music, musicians, and musical instruments. And over the last two centuries, how many lives have been changed by a great hymn? Today, we allow Christian music to flood our churches, concert halls, radios and CD players. We love the artists and their fabulous voices. But where does the song come from? Where does it all begin? Sue Smith is one of the anointed writers who has dedicated her life and talent to putting the Gospel in song. Sue has written hit songs for such Southern Gospel artists as The Booth Brothers, Karen Peck and New River, The Perrys, and Ernie Haase and Signature Sound. But Sue has also taken on the mantle of teacher and mentor. Each October, Sue welcomes Christian songwriters from across North America to Write About Jesus - a three day workshop dedicated to improving the craft of Christian songwriting. Sue is one of Christian music's most prominent writers, yet she is always accessible and eager to share her knowledge and experience. I couldn't wait to ask her about her love for the songwriter and the song.
SUE SMITH: Well, the language melodically and lyrically is different for every genre of Christian music. Southern Gospel is very much like a sermon or a Sunday school lesson. I have to credit Joel Lindsey for that analogy! But I believe it is true. It doesn't try to be edgy or hip or cool. It's down to earth, truthful, Biblically sound, and overtly evangelical. AL: "Over and Over", recorded by Jeff and Sheri Easter, was a huge song. I was at a Gaither concert where Bill Gaither invited the whole audience to sing along on the chorus, acapella. I don't know if you were at any of those concerts, but what's it like to hear a song you wrote sung by thousands of people? SS: I have been at a Gaither Homecoming event where Bill did that. It was a huge thrill. Any time you hear an artist sing one of your songs, it's exciting. But when you hear a fan or a crowd or congregation sing something you've written, that is really an amazing feeling. It's very humbling to think that someone would like something and feel that it ministered to them enough that they would remember it and want to sing along. AL: Your songs are recorded by such a range of people - everyone from Janet Paschal to the Crabb Family. Do you think about who will sing the song as you're writing it? SS: Sometimes we do as we're writing the song. I co-write just about everything I write, and so who the song will fit is almost always a discussion in the writing room. But generally, I try not to make something too specific so that if the artist or group I've targeted doesn't want the song, it still can find a home some place else. The most important thing is to write from a place of truth for yourself. If you do that, the song will be better than if you're just trying to put words in someone else's mouth about something you think they feel or believe. AL: You've recently entered the world of blogging. What is the focus of your blog and why did you want to start blogging? SS: My blog is called "Writing About Writing About Jesus." Most days I just write about the life of a full-time songwriter. I talk about the fun and the inspiration as well as the frustrations and disappointments. Sometimes I talk about where ideas come from and what I am still learning about the craft of writing. I write in general terms about my co-writing sessions. Of course, since I have 6 grandchildren, stories about them often find their way into my blog as well! AL: Many songs are popular for a short time, but very few get to be labeled "classics." Which of your songs would you like to be sung forever? SS: I can't imagine that really. Seems like we will be way too busy singing "Amazing Grace" and "How Great Thou Art" and a whole list of songs by Fanny Crosby, Charles Wesley, Dottie Rambo, Bill Gaither and a whole bunch of others before we'd get around to something I've written! There are a few songs that are very personal for me, songs that are written to Jesus, and I love to think that I'll get to sing those to Him in Heaven someday. "My Passion" is one of those. It says:
You alone are my passion forever, AL: In 2005, I was fortunate enough to attend your amazing worshop, Write About Jesus. I'd actually heard about it from Joel Lindsey that summer and was able to make the trip from Ontario to Missouri that fall. I was a fairly new writer at the time and I was just amazed to meet this incredible group of people who were so committed to writing music for Jesus. I was also amazed that you had people there from all over North America, and from all genres of Christian music. What inspired you to start Write About Jesus? SS: When I was trying to get my foot in the door in Christian music, I didn't even know there were songwriting workshops and seminars you could attend to learn how to write better songs. But Dave Clark, who is now the head of Canaan Records, took the time to write with me and teach me about the craft. I can never repay him, but I can do my part to open the door for the next generation of writers. Write About Jesus is all about that. It's also about raising the bar in writing better and better Southern Gospel songs. People sometimes wonder why all the professional songwriters who come to teach at Write About Jesus would help the writers who will become their competition for cuts on cd's. The truth is if you love great songs, you just have to help people who have the potential to write them. AL: Who comes to Write About Jesus and what could a first-timer expect? SS: We have people who are in their 60's and kids who are in high school, people who have already had cuts on label projects, and people who have never written a complete song. Mainly I think we attract people who are passionate about serving Jesus and passionate about writing. Whenever someone new calls and inquires about the workshop, we tell them to expect it to be intense but welcoming. Although we have a songwriting competition with a great package of prizes for the winners, we discourage people from focusing on the competition. We tell them that if they will come and focus on the classes and learning and networking and building relationships, they will have already won. That is absolutely true. Our biggest success stories are about people who never actually won our competition. Several of them have gone on to sign staff writing deals and get cuts. AL: Write About Jesus has created a real community of songwriters. We meet online and at songwriter events, and many successful collaborations have come from the workshop. Did you expect this to happen? SS: I had an idea of what the workshop would be when I started it. I just had no idea of what God planned for it to be. It is so much about the friendships and relationships that have grown out of it. Throughout the year we share so much through our discussion board and blogging community, so when October rolls around, the workshop is really half workshop, half family reunion. God's idea for the workshop was so much bigger and better than what I envisioned! AL: Do you have any new songs coming out that people can keep an eye out for? SS: "When Jesus Saves" and "Don't Get Me Started" are on the new Gold City project. "I Have Faith" and "The Only One" are on Mike and Kelly Bowling's new cd. "Big Mighty God" and "Take My Life" are on the Mike LeFevre Quartet cd. "God's Been Good," the title cut on the new Legacy Five cd, is a song Belinda Smith and I wrote. I have three songs that will be on the new Ernie Haase & Signature Sound dvd this fall. They are "Are You Enjoying the Show," "Good Heart," and "Sundays Were Made For These."
He Erased It - The Hoppers The ones with the asterisks were #1's. To find out more about Write About Jesus, please visit www.writeaboutjesus.com Sue’s blog can be found at http://www.writeaboutjesus.com/Sues_Blog/Blog/Blog.html
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