Anthony Evans

The third time around is a familiar one for Anthony Evans fans. After all, The Bridge might have a couple original tunes, but at the core of it all lies popular worship tracks. The reason for going that direction has multiple answers and Evans answers all of those and more in today’s featured interview.

Soul-Audio: The Bridge is an album that transcends through so many places so it’s almost a proper title musically, not just lyrically. Were you aiming for that?

Anthony Evans: Not specifically, I was aiming at making sure that I recorded my heart. It just so happened that the songs and the sonics lined up. I actually love that it wasn’t planned. It seems more authentic that way.

SA: Is authenticity a core goal for you as an artist?

Anthony: Yes, my goal as an artist, better yet a Christian artist, is to be authentic. In Christian music if you aren’t authentic then people will never see what God has done in your life. They will end up seeing what you have done in your life. That model of ministry doesn’t last. In my opinion, careers that aren’t built on authenticity will eventually fall apart. It’s hard to hold something like this together on your own. Authenticity is surrendering your and my desire to make everyone think that everything’s okay.

SA: What other values are most important to you as an artist?

Anthony: Connection is one of the most important things to me. I don’t want an audience to just remember the music. That is important, but I want them to walk away thinking, ‘I feel like I know him now.’ I don’t want to come off as just an artist. I want them to know and feel like I wanted to be there.

SA: Why put out an album like this at this stage of your career?

Anthony: I was heartbroken and couldn’t write any songs. I got to a point where I wanted to stop trying to figure God out in my songs and change my perspective to worship. Worship is the place where I try to remain while God reveals to me what He’s already got figured out.

SA: Was it hard to go through that writer’s block? How frustrated were you in that moment?

Anthony: It was hard but I just let it be. That’s how this latest record came along. I just sat back and said “Okay God, I have no idea what to say so I’ll worship You.” Now it’s really amazing to watch people reconnect with songs that they already know.

SA: How was it working with Nathan Nockels?

Anthony: We started as friends. That dynamic makes the record making experience amazing. He is a great-hearted man and that comes through in every dynamic of his production.

SA: How did you first meet him?

Anthony: Nathan and I met a few years ago. His wife is friends with my sister and we just hit it off. I believe in him more than anyone I’ve worked with in the past and that belief isn’t just based upon musical ability. When you get to know someone you can see their heart. Nathan has a great heart, which makes me what to have him involved in my ministry.

SA: Can you take us behind the originals on the album? I’d love to hear the background stories behind “Meaningless.”

Anthony: I disguised my dream in the disguise of ministry. I had my desires at the forefront of my career. Over the last few years I realized that if I’m chasing this dream outside of Christ then I’m ultimately going to end up empty-handed. If He’s not at the center of my desires I’m going to end up with a whole bunch of nothing. That is where the lyric of “Meaningless” came from.

SA: What about “The Way You Love Me?”

Anthony: My heart was broken this past year by someone who called him/herself a friend and then stole from me. I also went through a broken engagement. Just when I thought that God was leaving me was when I realized that if I look closely I could see him loving me. This song is about the God who can take our messes and make them into miracles.

SA: How did you choose the specific songs to go on the album around those two originals?

Anthony: I just picked my favorites. I wanted to have fun making this so I just ran in the studio and said “Let’s do this today!”

SA: Are there common threads in the songs that you like most and the songs that you chose? Do you see anything that brings them together?

Anthony: The common thread that runs through all the songs is not necessarily external. The thread for me is that I had to choose to worship. What brings these songs together is that I had to sing them not out of experience but out of faith. I stood behind that mic with a broken heart and had to trust that God was going to do what He said. That’s what brought the songs together for me… worshipping in spite of my feelings.

SA: Is there a hope that this album becomes a ‘bridge’ of sorts for people to discover who you are and your other albums?

Anthony: Now that I see that it is going that direction, I would love for it to become a tool by which we as Christians get to know each other better.

SA: Can you tell us about the deal with EMI Gospel? What drew you there and what did they offer you that appeals to you as an artist?

Anthony: They saw my work ethic and believed in me. That is what initially drew me to them. When a label believes in an artist that makes all the difference in the world. What appeals to me about them was their desire to work with me where I was. They saw what I was doing and wanted to jump on board and ride the direction the ship was already going.

SA: What tangibly is coming up?

Anthony: It seems like there is a lot of tour dates. There are a lot of dates. I love getting a chance to connect with my supporters. So that’s what I’ve got going - traveling all summer!

• www.anthony-evans.com
• www.myspace.com/anthonyevansmusic

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