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10 Questions with ... Hannah Kerr
January 16, 2017
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1. Brief history, synopsis.
I am 20 years old and I was born in Buffalo, New York. My parents are great Christian leaders and always model what it looks like to live a life for Christ, so I had an awesome childhood. They were the worship leaders at my hometown church, so I was exposed to worship music at a very young age. I think that's why I fell in love with it. I have two older brothers who are my best friends and best role models. I signed my record deal on my high school graduation day, so I've been a signed artist and writer for about two years. I currently live in Nashville, Tennessee and attend Belmont University.
2. You are releasing a new single "Radiate" to Christian radio the end of January. Can you give us some background on the song?
I cannot wait for Radiate to hit radio this month! I'm so excited about this song and the life I'm hoping to see it have on the radio this year. I wrote it with my oldest brother Josh, and Jordan Reynolds. It honestly felt like one of those songs that wrote itself. I had the idea for "Radiate" for a long time, because I love the idea that the light we shine is a reflection of the Lord. He is the One who makes us radiate for His glory, and our lives should be simply a reflection of the love, joy, and light that He provides. We had so much fun writing a fun and upbeat song that still has a serious meaning, and that people can relate to. God can take our worst moment and make it into something that is beautiful and a testament to His goodness and glory.
3. You have toured this past year with some major artists, Casting Crowns, Matt Maher & Building 429. So what is it like to share the stage with such incredible artists?
It's honestly surreal for a new artist like me to be touring with such well-known and established artists, especially people that I've looked up to my whole life! These past two years have been ones of learning and growth, because I've been able to soak up the wisdom and experience of Casting Crowns, Matt Maher and Building 429. The things that I've learned from them are priceless and they've all been amazing mentors and friends to me. That's really the most incredible feeling as a new artist.
4. Since you are a student at Belmont University in the Worship and Ministry programs, how do you juggle touring, recording, songwriting and studying? What are the biggest challenges?
It is definitely NOT easy to take on school and my music ministry, but I don't do it because I want my life to be easy. I'm doing both because I truly believe that the Lord has called me to do both, even if it's difficult at times. When I feel like I can't get through the day or what I have to offer isn't enough, I just remember that God has given me these opportunities to serve Him and learn more about Him. I feel incredibly grateful. I try to manage my time well and work efficiently on school work, and I also try hard to do my work even if I'm on the road. Airplanes and tour buses have become my regular classroom setting, but I'm okay with that! I'm blessed to be a student and an artist, so I wouldn't have it any other way. Each enhances the other and it's cool to see my school work build up my songwriting and knowledge of the Lord and His will.
5. Funniest or most embarrassing moment on the road?
I was on tour with Matt Maher last fall and I was the first opener, so my set was kind of the "guinea pig set" for lighting and sound stuff. One time during a show when I had tons of friends and family in the audience, the building lost all its power in the middle of my first song! It was one of those moments where I felt like I was stuck in a nightmare and it was so embarrassing. The cool thing about it was that I felt like the Lord gave me peace in that moment, and I decided to just walk down in the middle of the church to sing my songs with no microphone and just a guitar. It ended up being one of my favorite shows of the whole tour!
6. Your album "Overflow" will officially release this Spring. Would you give us the "stories behind some of the songs" and tell us how they are impacting audiences?
I can't wait for the world to hear "Overflow." This album is a product of three years of learning, failing, questioning and falling deeper in love with my Savior. He has given me songs of worship, declaration, and even songs to sing over myself when I feel hopeless or alone. My prayer is that these songs can do the same for whoever listens to them as well.
I wrote "Your Love Defends Me" with Matt Maher, who is one of my heroes, and we used my favorite Bible verse Isaiah 12:2 to write it. Even when we feel like we're defenseless and alone, the Lord-the God of Angels Armies-promises to defend and protect us. He alone is our salvation and our hope, and that's what Matt and I were trying to capture in that song.
"Never Leave Your Side" is a song that I wrote with Meredith Andrews and Jacob Sooter. The inspiration for that came from the many women's and girl's conferences I've done these past two years. Girls will tell me heartbreaking stories about their lives, and so many of them admit to feeling far from God and disappointed with people around them. This song is written for them and the chorus is what I believe God says to them and all of us when we feel distant and disappointed. He will never leave us or forsake us in our darkest nights and our best days.
"Be Still and Know" is a special song for me because I wrote it for my best friend who was having a financial crisis. She was so upset and stressed and I felt so burdened for her. The best way I knew to comfort her was to write a song based from the Scripture that I felt Jesus impressed on my heart, Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God...". It's been so cool to see people react to "Be Still and Know," because I felt like that song was so personal for my best friend and me, but it really is something that so many of us need to hear. In the face of hard circumstances, we just need to quiet our hearts, be still and know that the Lord is God.
7. Mark Miller, the producer for Casting Crowns and front man for Sawyer Brown, produced "Overflow." What was it like working with him?
Working with Mark is everything I hoped it would be and so much more. He has guided me through the process of making an album, while still allowing me to have a lot of say about how I want things to sound. We make a really good team and I truly believe that he makes me a better artist.
8. What Artist has had the greatest impact on you?
I love worship leaders and all of the artists who are in the CCM genre, so it's super hard for me to choose just one who has had the greatest impact on me. I grew up listening to Bethany Dillon, Casting Crowns and Steven Curtis Chapman, and their music is what drew me to Christian music in the first place. I love how all of them sing songs that really matter and aren't just fluff to fill space. They say so many important things in just a few words, and their songs are all meaningful and rich. I model so much of my songwriting from Mark Hall (Casting Crowns) and Bethany Dillon, as they've definitely influenced who I am today.
9. What's the last book you read?
The last book I read was "Love Does" by Bob Goff. If you haven't read this book, you HAVE TO. Bob basically tells stories about his crazy and awesome life, and explains how God has called us to love BIG and love well. Love isn't about just telling someone you love them, but showing them that you do. After all, that's what Christ has done for us! This book gave me a new perspective on love and life in general. You have to just go out on a limb sometimes and step outside your comfort zone, because oftentimes that's when God can use us best.
10. Person you'd most like to have a discussion with, living or dead. Deities are excused from this question.
I would love to have a discussion or even write with Amanda Cook. She's one of the worship leaders from Bethel Church, and her songwriting is absolutely incredible. We think similarly, because when I listen to her songs I always think "that's exactly what I've always thought but didn't know how to express it!" I feel like she gives a voice to things in my heart that I want to say to the Lord but don't know how. I know it would be incredible to just talk to her and ask her questions about songwriting and her relationship with God.
Bonus Questions
1. Favorite Bible verse?
My favorite verse is Isaiah 12:2. It says, "Surely God is my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the LORD Himself, is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation." Everything about that verse is in tune with my heart when I think about how I view God and what He's done for me. I constantly need to be reminded that the Lord casts out all fear and that I can trust Him. He defends me, supports me, stays with me and has given me salvation. These realizations always lead me to worship Him.
2. How & when did you become a believer?
I became a believer when I was five years old, but it wasn't until I was about 14 that I really owned my faith. I had heard about God and believed in Him from a very young age, but I went on a missions trip in high school, and it was that week that I decided to really dive in head first with Jesus and get to know Him in a relational way. I was baptized that summer and ever since then I've been walking with Him and trying to learn everything I can about who He is and what He's done for me.
3. What's the biggest "God moment" you've ever experienced? Personally or professionally, when has God shown up in a powerful way.
My favorite thing about God is that He's present and shows up in unexpected and beautiful ways. One of the ways that I feel most connected to the Lord is through worship and music. When I was on that missions trip in high school, there was a moment when we were singing "Jesus Paid It All" where I felt the Holy Spirit in the most real and tangible way. I was singing "Oh, praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead," and for the first time I truly understood what Jesus had done for me. It was like a light bulb in my heart went off and opened up a totally new perspective. When that happened, and it sounds crazy but it's true, it was like I was no longer in a room with 200 other students, but instead in a room with hundreds of thousands of angels singing along with the worship. It was one of those moments that I can't explain but was so real I can still feel it every time I think about it.
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