10 Questions with ... Meredith Andrews

NAME:Meredith Andrews TITLE:Musician WEB:www.meredithandrews.com

Label:

Discography:
The Invitation (2009)

1) Can you give us a brief recap of your musical journey to Word Records?

I sang my first song in public at the age 6, began singing back-up and playing tambourine for my youth band when I was 12, which morphed into playing keys and leading worship. Then I went onto Liberty University where I was on a traveling ministry team called "Light" for my first two years and on our campus praise band my junior and senior years. After college, I went out on the road with a band touring my independent record "Mesmerized." Soon after, the Lord opened a door for me to join the worship staff at Harvest Bible Chapel outside of Chicago. While in Chicago, I met Jason Ingram at a Watermark concert and he invited me to Nashville to write. Jason introduced me to the amazing people at Word around March 2007, and I knew that these were the kind of people I wanted to partner in ministry with for a long time. All that to say, this has simply been a journey of God teaching me to be faithful in every season of my life and of him opening doors along the way.

2) What is the message you hope is conveyed through "The Invitation"?

Titus 3:4-5 says, "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done but because of his mercy." Many times we assume that we can only come to God if we have it all together, if we are perfect. But God does not desire our perfection. He only desires that we humbly come to him just as we are. He welcomes us. He invites us. He takes us in no matter what kind of burdens or baggage we may carry. We are called by name into this relationship with God, not based on what we have or have not done, but based on the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross. My hope is that as people listen to "The Invitation," they would have a higher view of God, sense him drawing them deeper into his presence and respond to his character and his promises by lifting up their hearts in worship to Jesus.

3) What's the story behind the latest single "The New Song We Sing"?

I wrote "The New Song We Sing" with my friends Jason Ingram and Keith Everette Smith, and it basically began with me trying to wrap my head around this thought of being reconciled to God. I was reading the back half of 2 Corinthians 5 and the first part of Romans 5, and "New Song" just came out of these passages as well as a couple others. When we think about how we were so far away but God has brought us near through the blood of Christ, that we have been brought from death to life, our truest response is to live no longer for ourselves but for him and to offer up a new song of worship from our hearts.

4) Do you have favorite song on the album?

"The River" is probably my favorite. It was the first song I wrote for the album and it came one day when the Lord gave me a fresh glimpse of how desperately we need him.It was like he showed me how broken I was, how broken the world around me was, and how the only cure for our brokenness is found in a Savior named Jesus. I wept as God handed me the song and reminded me that our healing and freedom are found in his river, in his cross, in his arms that are extended to each and every one of us.

5) Any funny, inspiring or interesting stories to tell from your visits to radio stations?

I recently visited WMHK/Columbia, SC, a station and staff I had visited before and was looking forward to seeing again. When I walked in the door, the first person I saw was a station volunteer, with a cockatiel perched on her shoulder. When I asked her about the pet bird she informed me that her family is involved in rescuing abandoned or abused animals, and the cockatiel was the most recent addition to their family. The conversation then turned to hunting as the daughter chimed in, decked out in her camo garb, and told of her outdoor adventures, the most recent being shooting a wild pig the day before. "Have you ever seen a pig's heart?" the young girl asked me. "Can't say that I have," I replied. The next thing I knew I was staring at a pig's heart in a Tupperware container located in the refrigerator between the lunch meat and the half and half. Apparently the heart of a pig is the closest in similarity to a human heart, but I was still a bit stunned to be looking at this organ that was just removed from the fridge. So not only did I have some great conversations at WMHK that day, but I got a surprise science lesson as well.

6) What does Summer 2009 hold for you?

Writing, recording, Saddleback Worship Conference, National Worship Leaders' Convention, a few festivals, a couple weddings and hopefully some wakeboarding in between.

7) As you were in the studio working on this new album, did you have any "ah-ha" moments when you thought, "Now we have something - and this is good!"?

When we were almost finished tracking the album, I was sitting in the studio listening to my husband Jacob laying down piano for "The River." When he reached the pre-chorus that says, "He invites us, hear Him call your name," the album title hit me like a ton of bricks, so much so that I jumped up from my chair with my hand in the air and shouted "The Invitation!" in the middle of the song. It was like the Lord gave me this picture of him welcoming each of us into a relationship with him regardless of our past or baggage or burdens or doubts. The invitation is for all of us, rich, poor, old, young, saint, and sinner, to come just as we are and be changed by this amazing God.

8) Which do you enjoy the more: the process or the performance? The studio or the stage?

Both outlets are completely different within themselves, and I enjoy the process of writing and creating as well as traveling and sharing from stage. For me, the creative process is always harder work than performing, and I feel like I pour blood, sweat and tears into songs and ideas in hopes of getting a point across that will inspire, challenge, grow and encourage the listener. Traveling and singing is the fun part, and I love the fact that I have the opportunity to share my heart from stage and remind people of God's promises that remain true no matter what we face.

9) If you could have any job outside music, what would it be and why?

I would definitely be working with underprivileged children or orphans. My major at Liberty was Family and Child Development, and my intentions were to graduate and move to Guatemala to work at an orphanage there. Obviously the Lord had other plans, but I will always use my music and the platform that God gives me to be an advocate for adoption and caring for the fatherless. The organization I have partnered with in doing so is called Hopegivers International. These kids have changed my life, and I will take every chance I get to be a voice for them. Visit hopegivers.org!

10) Do you have much time to listen to other artists' music? What are you listening to these days?

I've gotten to the point where I'll turn the radio off when I'm driving just for the sake of silence (boring, I know), but my recent favorites are Company of Thieves, Jenny Vick, Brandi Carlile, Sara Groves and the best summertime feel good music there is, Rascal Flatts.

1) Who would be your dream artist to record with (any genre)?

Delirious or Bon Jovi

2) Favorite city to visit?

Waikiki

3) Favorite or best meal while on the road?

NC barbecue, fried chicken, green beans, Brunswick stew, potatoes, hush puppies and sweet tea [Smile]

4) Any guilty musical pleasures?

Paramore, Goo Goo Dolls, Celine Dion, Karen Carpenter. Do these count?

5) If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you want with you and why?

A towel, a good book and my cell phone so I can call someone to rescue me when I'm tired of being stranded.