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10 Questions with ... Kerrie Roberts
April 28, 2014
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Discography
- 2010 No Matter What
- 2013 Time For The Show
1. Brief History / Synopsis
I was born in Newark, OH and I'm the baby of the family. Besides OH, I've lived in AL, FL, NY and now currently in TN. I'm still at the point of learning to love TN while my heart is in FL where my parents and older brother and sister live with their families. Dad is still in full time ministry (he has been for 40 years) with my mama by his side all the way. The way my family lives and loves, and growing up in the church has been the greatest influence in shaping who I am, how I view the world and the people in it.
2. What does a normal day at home look like for you?
There is no such thing as a normal day for me. There's no set schedule and I wouldn't have it any other way! Some days are writing days, some are in the studio recording, while other days are spent traveling, or a day of an event.
But I can describe a day that happens often enough that I love..... wake up, down the stairs and put on a kettle of water while I make a smoothie in my Nutribullet (the Nutribullet is one of my best friends). Drink my smoothie (usually kale, banana, almond milk, maca powder and flax seed) and make some tea. Then I drink my tea and listen to a podcast, either a Ted Talk or my Pimsleur "How to learn Portuguese," Ravi Zacharias or something on NPR while I get ready for my day. Then I head out the door headed towards somewhere where I'm going to create. Being in Nashville, this is usually someone's house where we're writing or to the studio to record.
Then once I'm home I will cook. I LOVE to cook and my husband and I will have dinner together (with phones OFF!!!!!!).
Sleep happens a million hours later after emails are returned, everything is clean and I've wasted a sufficient amount of time on Pinterest gathering recipes.
I usually fall asleep listening to the Bible App (only the NIV version, I enjoy that reader's voice the best).
3. What's the song that you just can't get out of your head right now?
I'm awful at picking favorite or making a list with any sort of ranking. I will say though I am still addicted and have been for a while to "The Great I Am." The lyrics go straight to my heart and the bridge is so powerful. I love making the statement and singing with all I have about the power of the King of Majesty!
I'm also in constant enjoyment of Pharrell's "Happy" (because I can't listen to it without dancing) and Avicii's "Hey Brother" (the lyric KILLS me...in a good way... I think of my family "What if I'm far from home? Oh, brother I will hear you call. What if I lose it all? Oh, sister I will help you out! Oh, if the sky comes falling down for you, there's nothing in this world I wouldn't do."
4. How much do you travel, what are the challenges? How do you juggle life on the road with wanting to be home?
Travel for me varies. The longest I've been away is 31 days straight (besides my "other life" as a background singer for Engelbert Humperdinck where I was away for 2 months). Mostly I'm out for the weekends and that works out great. Kyle (my husband) and I don't have little ones, so I can pretty much pack up and go without any worries for anyone else, except for the plants dying. He travels as well for work, so we just make the most of the time we do have together.
Challenges for me are making the right decisions in what to invest in when I'm home. What relationships can I honestly build? How deep can my roots really grow? When you add to that my constant homesickness for FL and you've got a very interesting whirlwind of questions. :)
5. What's the biggest "God moment" that you've ever experienced, personal or professional?
Oh goodness... I grew up in the church and God has been involved in so many major parts of my life. I don't know how to name a "biggest moment." I can name a HUGE moment, something that changed my life pretty much in every way.
On a rainy day in September of 2013 I was in my suburban looking for houses with five other people. I wasn't driving and the driver lost control on a narrow road with no shoulder. We had been in and out of the vehicle so many times that day and weren't headed very far, and somehow I had forgotten to put on my seatbelt.
The suburban went in the ditch and bounced back on the road. We spun, turned and flipped. Everything was fast but in slow motion at the same time. I felt like I was in a dryer. The last thing I remember is my hands moving in front of my face as I went into the crash position.
I woke up crawling in the road among the glass. I was thinking that I need to get out of the road so I wouldn't get hit by a passing car. The back of my head felt like it was on fire. I made it back to the grass and was so confused. Where was everyone else? I hadn't realized yet that I had flown through the window....the tiny side window at the back of the suburban.
More than 3 out of 4 people who are ejected during a crash, die. I suffered a concussion and contusion and a few bruises, but NO broken bones and NOT EVEN ONE stitch.
I had just gotten back from a long haul to and from Iowa. Sitting next to me was my blanket and pillow. The blanket and pillow flew out of the window with me.
I'm not sure, because no one saw it happen, but I believe that I landed on that pillow and blanket. I didn't have any mud on me, and barely a leaf in my hair.
All the years of my family praying for my safety were answered on that day. I had a nurse get in my face in the ER and say over and over, "You just won the lottery! Do you understand?!"
It changed my perspective on everything. I FELT that everyday was a gift. I dealt with fear in a way that I had never experienced before. Getting in a car was terrifying. I broke down crying in a volunteer/stranger's car when we passed an accident. I dealt with (and on occasion still deal with) dizziness and headaches. But it's like I have a second chance. God still wants me on this planet and I'm going to be about His business.
Also, I had a little down time on my hands while recovering and started researching diet and that ended in a full revolution on the way that I eat and in turn, on my perspective of a lot of things in life.
What I know is that my life was spared. I'm so thankful for the chance to still be here. I feel like death knocked on my door and God said, "not yet." I'm overwhelmingly thankful. There aren't words to explain the depth of it.
6. What's the last book you read?
LOVE this question! A few weeks ago, a co-writer suggested that I read "Lean In," by Sheryl Sandberg. There was a lot about it that I liked. There was of course unbiblical views on gender roles/identity and all of that. But the basic gist is that you shouldn't hold back because you're a woman, and you shouldn't be held back either. I believe there are situations in this country where women experience discrimination and there are so many situations in other countries where women are denied basic rights based on their sex alone. The solution is like a lot of other issues...point it out, spread the word and make it everyone's issue, so that we all care about it. Honestly the only discrimination I've ever experienced because I was a girl, was in Christian radio. Only in that I've had singles come out during times when program managers "weren't playing females." Now I understand there was a logic to it, that there was a belief that females just weren't being well received, but my thought still was that maybe those SONGS just weren't well received, maybe it wasn't because they were female. Just my thoughts folks! :)
But I'm so thankful that this discrimination is one I can barely speak into from experience. I've never felt less or been treated less because I'm a woman, and that makes me all the more passionate to be a voice to the voiceless ones that are living under it every day.
I also just finished "Good Eating," by Stephen H. Webb. It's a history of religion and diet. Very interesting and while some of the theology wasn't in my opinion completely sound, my biggest takeaway was one tiny point that he made in that when we ask God for a blessing over our food we should think about the story of our plate. What are we asking to be blessed? Are we being responsible in all our choices? I love that thought. And I love applying it to every part of my life, my food and all products I buy. We're truly called to be good stewards of this earth.
7. How & when did you became a believer? What caused you to want to serve God in full time ministry?
I grew up in my mother's arms while she stood on the church platform singing, followed by my father preaching. I don't remember ever having a day that Jesus wasn't a part of. Now as I grew older, there were moments where I had to make a decision to make this faith my own and not just a family tradition.
As far as serving in "full time ministry," I really don't think of myself that way. Watching my mom and dad and the way they have served congregations, the 24/7 on call support and week after week of new messages, that's just not what I do. The way I always answer that question is that I believe we're all called to serve God full time, whatever our vocation is. I've been blessed enough that I get to do that through music.
8. What's going on now regarding music and recording?
My most current project is underway and we're looking towards a fall release. The current single out now is called "Come Back to Life."
The song came out of a time when several people that were close to me were dealing with depression. It just seemed to be coming up a lot in conversation. Then one of my good friends had a someone very close to them commit suicide and everyone was in shock. No one had a clue about his struggle.
I started researching, and I'm still trying to better understand this struggle. And as with most things, this turned into a song.
There is no easy answer. But I do believe we need to talk about this more and encourage those that are contemplating suicide or dealing with depression to speak out without fear of being shamed.
And when it comes down to it, the only real hope I can offer is Jesus. I want to spread the message that even while you might feel dead inside already, there is a power available to you that can bring you back to life. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is still available to us now.
Romans 8:11 "And if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he that raised up the Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you."
9. What organization/service group are you affiliated with?
I'm affiliated with Food for the Hungry. I love that part of their moto is about going to the "hardest places." Their mission is to reach out to the parts of the world that haven't seen help yet. Food for the Hungry doesn't show up and give out charity, they show up with a long term plan to enable a community to change. They provide education, spiritual guidance, training, and resources. It's unbelievable what a difference can be made just with the "simple" message of washing your hands.
10. Person you'd most like to have a discussion with, living or dead.....Deities are excused from this question
I'd love to be able to talk to my grandparents. I have one living grandmother, but the rest have already passed. We've always lived so far away from them and they all passed away when I was too young to know what I wanted to ask. I wish I could know my grandfather's war stories (he was a paratropper in WW2). I wish they could come over and teach me all about how to garden as they did.
Bonus Questions
1. Favorite Bible Verse....life verse.
For me it changes.... but one that seems to stick around is Philippians 4:6-8, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." I need this to help me with perspective, keep my mind and mood in check and help me realize what is and what isn't important, or worth my physical or mental energy.
Also, a verse that is really dear to me in this particular season is Ecclesiastes 11:6, "Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well."
2. Funniest or most embarrassing moment on the road?
Well, I guess falling off the stage is pretty bad....but it was in the dark and after my set, and I landed flat on my back. For the rest of the tour, Grunden (he works with Big Daddy Weave) would put tape on the edge of the stage spelling out, "Kerrie, stop here."
I've had lots of technical problem as well... from tracks messing up to mics that just stop working. At one point I just put the mic down, opened up my arms and sang as loud as I could.
I don't know, for some reason it doesn't bother me much. "The show must go on!!"
3. What artist or pastor has had the greatest impact on you?
You could probably guess...it's my parents!!! Mom and Dad have been in full time ministry for 40 years. Within that time I've seen them love and care for people through death, loss, happiness, births and anything and everything you can imagine. They love laugh and share and support. There is no limit to the time they will invest or the patience they exercise. I strive to love that way. I know the empathy I have for those I meet on the road is in great part to having had experienced ministry in the way I have my whole life. I've had the priviledge to see and now live out, that it is only by serving that you can lead. And I want to lead everyone I can into the light, truth and peace of the love of Jesus.
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