10 Questions with ... Chris August

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Earlier this summer, Chris August released his first new studio work in over three years, titled "Seasons," a fresh, soulful-even experimental-collection of songs, all self-performed and self-produced. Eight years after breaking into the Christian format with his No.1-charting debut single "Starry Night," August's first indie single release "Nothing's Beyond Broken" impacts radio this Friday, August 3rd.

1. What is your career path that's brought you to where you currently are as an artist?

My path was centered around writing and producing. I put together a makeshift studio when I was 15 and started writing and producing songs. My artistry has always been centered around that. My songs with my production.

2. At what point during your artist career did you decide to go into the CCM direction?

I honestly was at a place that I wasn't really interested in being an artist anymore. My plan was to play at my church on the weekends and produce/write music for other artists during the week. As I started to get back involved in church, I decided one night I was going to re-dedicate my life and music to Christ. I wrote a song called "Starry Night" that same night to represent what I was feeling. I produced it and put it out as an indie release in early 2009. That record somehow made it's way to Nashville, and then the phone started ringing. After a handful of meetings, I was signed to a Christian label and was working on a record.

3. You play a variety of different instruments. What was the easiest for you to pick up?

My main two instruments are piano and guitar. I started with piano and that one has always been a little easier for me. Even when I play guitar, I'm thinking piano. It helps the music theory.

4. Earlier this year, you ended your nearly decade-long career with Word Entertainment (now Curb-Word). What was the feeling you felt the most as that chapter came to a close?

Excited. It's been awhile since I was an indie artist and I'm ready to test out a handful of ideas. Now, I have the ability to do that.

5. If you could go back and release one song from your past projects that was never officially released as a radio single, what would it be?

"The Upside of Down." I think [record label] missed the boat on that one. I've always thought it was a hit.

6. How would you describe the transition from being signed to one of Christian music's largest labels to operating 100% independently?

It's a lot of work! I'm obviously not operating on their budgets either, so I'm having to find creative ways to get things done. It's a lot of fun, though, and I enjoy the challenge.

7. Throughout this past transitional year in particular, what have you learned most about yourself?

I'm very dedicated to doing what I do. I had to ask myself if this is what I want to keep on doing. I knew it was going to be more difficult. Every time the thought came up in my mind, there was no way I was going to stop. I just kept working harder. I didn't know how to use PhotoShop, but I needed a record cover. I got on YouTube, learned the program and designed the cover. I'm willing to do whatever it takes. There can't be any pride issues or "I'm too good to do that"s as an independent artist. I've definitely learned that.

8. Your recent, self-released EP, "Seasons" is surely autobiographically-titled, right? Can you expound on why?

Well, I had written a song "Seasons" for my wife and wasn't really planning on titling the record with it. Once I was finishing the album, I was trying to figure out what to call it and that one just made sense on so many levels. It seemed I was in a different season of so many things in life that I had to go with that.

9. What's the most important song to you from the EP? Why and how so?

That's a hard one to answer. Probably "Nothing's Beyond Broken." The meaning comes from a place that hits close to home for me. In 2010, I wrote and released a song called "7x70," about coming from a broken home. It was a song about forgiveness and healing. After my dad heard, it he told me that God can take something that's broken and make it better than it was. I loved what he said so much that I would say it every night before I sang that song. I knew at some point, I would take that idea and turn it into a new song. Nothing's beyond broken. 1 John 3:8 says, "The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil." The original greek is also translated as "undo the works of the devil." The goal of God undoing the works of the devil is to change me from a sinner to a son of God.

10. Who were/are some of the artists/albums you're listening to as you've been working on new and upcoming songs?

PJ Morton was probably the main artist I was listening to. I wrote the song "Lips" directly after listening to his latest "Gumbo" record for the first time. He inspires me in a big way. John Mayer is always on that list. I've probably listened to his records more than anything else in my life.