Links...
Look for Everlife on the following Disney albums:
“I had a real problem with social anxiety. It was a big thing for me to get out on a stage in front of people and actually speak, let alone present the Gospel message. God has brought me through so much in the last few years with this that it's just an amazing testimony to how He can take you out of your shell and completely change who you are into who He wants you to be.” - Amber
MQ: What do you see the role of music as being in today's society? I mean, there is entertainment almost everywhere you go - cellphones, cable tv - all with a lot of different messages. What do you see the role of music as being and what message do you want to convey in your music?
Sarah: Music - I don't know who said it - but music is like a universal language. I guess a lot of people have said that before.
Julia: It speaks in so many different ways.
Sarah: It's not just lyrics - even just music. You hear something that sounds happy or your hear something that sounds sad - it's just everyone understands music, you know? It's all over the world. No matter if you're singing in English or if you're singing in Spanish, whatever it is. I think it's such a huge tool and so that's one thing that we want to make sure with the music and with the lyrics, that it always is a positive thing. And we've been able to hook up with Radio Disney, which has been incredible. And they're all about being positive - all about having joy - and that's what we're about too. But we're also about something deeper and knowing that there is a hope. Because so many kids that we meet that are teenagers - like kids our age or younger or older - are at a point in their lives where they're like, "We're just so confused about the whole God thing, about how it fits into life today," because there are so many other things to believe in and to look for and to kind of take your focus away. And we're just like, "Well, you know, we're teenagers, and we believe in God and that's what we're about. These are the things that we've been through and what we know." And that is what we want to share - personal experiences.
Amber: We're going from our life experiences because that's really the only thing that you can ... I mean you can sing about whatever you want, but when you're singing about something you've been through, then I think it translates better to the people that you're trying to minister to. And it's cool because I'll go out and talk about purity and modesty and just like respecting yourself. We've been able to do a lot of girls conferences which is pretty cool, but we've also met a lot of guys that have taken commitments to stay abstinent until they're married. That's just humongous, because being able to love yourself enough - to wait and respect yourself - is amazing. I think it's a great step toward knowing God a little better because of having that same kind of relationship with Him. And Sarah is always talking to girls about self-esteem and Julia, her thing is, "You guys just have to smile - because if you're smiling you can not be mad." You know? You have to take life's little moments and really enjoy them.
MQ: So, you're in Nashville now working with some good people. Who would you consider to be mentors in your life - people who have helped you -
Amber: Oh gosh...
Sarah: Oh my goodness -
MQ: - people you've looked to whether its on the musical side, spiritual side, or personal. Who would be some of your mentors?
Julia: Well, we grew up on DC Talk actually. We had a chance to meet Michael Tait a couple of months ago actually and he is such a mentor to us. Like, he's amazing on stage but offstage ...
Sarah: He's just so real.
Julia: - he's so encouraging. He's been such a source of guidance for us. It's very cool.
Sarah: It's cool like because Julia said, because when we were in Pennsylvania, we didn't really have a Christian radio station to listen to so all we had was DC Talk, Amy Grant, and Carman - and that's all we listened to.
Julia: That's all!all: laughing
Sarah: And so like meeting Tait and him being a mentor through our lives and then meeting him and being like, "Wow - you are such a real person and you know what life is about and you're so solid in your faith - it's just there." It is so refreshing to see that, you know?
Amber: Yeah, I think our producers - Kevin Cyka and Dan Needham...
Sarah: Oh my goodness. They're amazing!
Amber: - have taught us. They've been invaluable. There are so many people - the team that we have together - that we've prayed for is just ... and especially our parents too...
Julia: They're so supportive.
Amber: - they've been with us through everything. And then there's a guy named Darren Tyler who manages Kutless. We go to a Bible study that he has every Tuesday night and he's really helped us to really get into the Word and really study. And on the road that is so important because if you're not being poured into, you can't pour out.
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