Associate Editor Troy Lilly chats with Micah Stampley, whose new album, One Voice, hit stores on October 18th…

Troy: Thanks for joining me man. How are you?

Micah: I’m well, Troy.

Troy: Great, great. Shall we jump right in?

Micah: Sure.

Troy: What makes the “Micah Stampley sound” different from others in gospel?

Micah: I have many peers who grew up like I did – in the church – and we had other influences outside of the church. I tend to embrace those influences differently than some of my peers. I spend a lot of time in prayer asking God for something different. My heart is always to have music that is not one-time wonder material, but music that will last forever.

When I first heard the song “Take My Life” (which people call “Holiness”), it was originally a Christian rock song, very grungy with distorted guitars screaming. And the lyrics and the notes just hit me in a different way, so I went home and started playing it on my keyboard and what I came out with was more intimate, more worshipful. It sounded like a prayer to me. Then my interpretation hit like crazy. That just let me know that God was honoring my prayer that he would give me a staple sound.

Troy: Awesome. So, if you could only describe your new album, One Voice, in one word, what it would it be?

Micah: Multicultural.

Troy: Ok, now feel free to expound…

Micah: You told me “one word!” (laughter)

Troy: I know, I know … but I knew you’d have a lot more to share. (laughter)

Micah: Well I did one cover song on from a CCM band called Desperation Band. The song is called “Overcome” and it’s a big song in the CCM world. At our church in Houston, the congregation looked like a bag of Skittles, and I just feel that’s what heaven looks like. My sound has really emerged into this oneness.

I grew up in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC)…

Troy: Me too!

Micah: Everything was a sin. I used to ride my school bus in junior high and I would hear all these songs and chord progressions that I never heard before… you know Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors…”

Troy: Yeah.

Micah: I would hear all that stuff– Michael Jackson, and Prince singing “Purple Rain.” I would be like “oh, I like this stuff.” (laughter) I developed a different ear. So, I think that One Voice represents my interpretations of the different sounds I’ve heard since I was a kid.

I have this one pop tune, “Call of Love,” that kind of puts you in the mindset of the Black Eyed Peas joint, “I Got a Feeling.” It has that same vibe to it man. When Matthew Knowles heard it, he said “this sounds like a theme song for some big humanitarian movement.”

We have a few songs on this record like that, like the title cut, “One Voice,” and it’s just that whole global sound. When we sing that song live, people in the audience grab each other’s hand and swing back and forth like it’s “We Are the World.” It’s crazy, but really cool to see it happen.

And you know I gotta have my praise and worship stuff on there…

Troy: Of course!

Micah: …Stuff where I’m at a level 10. I’ve gotta have that “War Cry” and “Holy Visitation,” but that type of song on this record is the one called “Hosanna.” And, man, I promise you that song is probably the next “War Cry.” This may even be stronger!

Troy: Wow, even with the three reprises on “War Cry?” Because I remember you kept coming back each time we thought it was done.

Micah: Yeah, the people wouldn’t let “War Cry” go. This time, we don’t have any reprises, but what’s happening when I sing “Hosanna” live… the audience hijacks my song every time! But that’s a good sign. It’s a strong record.

Troy: Great. So tell me about the lead single, “Heaven on Earth,” since that’s the first thing people are hearing from this new project.

Micah: Not sure if you’re familiar with David and Nicole Binion…

Troy: Yes, I am…

Micah: Well, David wrote that song with some of his colleagues and I heard it when he visited our church in Houston. And I was just done! I was just weeping, and I said, “I have to record this song.” Then, I heard that Israel [Houghton] was going to record it. But when he put out his album, I didn’t see it on there. So I said “Uh, it’s mine!” (laughter)

David and Nicole told me to please record it. And that song has really been a blessing to me. Because if you think about the message of that song – heaven on earth – it’s a declaration, literally giving God permission to duplicate himself in us on the earth, because he created us from the earth.

Troy: You’ve mentioned before that you wife, Heidi, frequently writes with you on your projects…

Micah: My wife and I write most of my projects together. We have a couple songs on each record that we write individually, but the best songs are the ones we write together. God has just given us this ability to merge all these different influences and sounds together, and this is what we present to you guys, which comes from a place of pain, of victory and defeat, ups and downs.

Troy: How much did she contribute to One Voice?

Micah: Oh my God! Heidi wrote her butt off on this record!

Troy: (Laughter)

Micah: On most of the songs that we wrote together, I wrote the music and she penned the lyrics. There are a few songs on there where we switched places. But God really used her lyrically on this album.

There’s one song I did at the AIM Convention this summer, called “Desperate People.” And if you grew in church like me, you’re sick of the ritualistic mumbo-jumbo.

Troy: Yes.

Micah: The song says (singing), “I’ve seen the God of wonders work miracles in me, those with gifts and talents who spoke prophetically. I want the mantles of Elijah, Paul and Timothy; I want to see that power at work inside of me. I’m tired of the status quo, gotta be more than this. Gotta be more, gotta be more, gotta be more than this.”

Troy: Wow.

Micah: The lyrics of this song really pull at people’s heart and people are running to us saying ”this is what I’ve been trying to say forever.” I ministered that song in Nigeria and they literally cried out to God on the floor. It’s really refreshing.

Troy: Do you feel like this new album is your most defining work so far?

Micah: To be honest, Troy, I do think this is my best work to date from a musical and lyrical standpoint.

Troy: So to go back to your early career, you won the Stellar Awards Star Search in 2004. What happened after you won that competition? Was it a positive experience, average or other?

Micah: It was definitely a huge, positive experience for me. It was my introduction to the industry as an artist. After that, I got a call from Marcus Dawson, Bishop T.D. Jakes’s road musician, who had heard me prior to the Stellar event. He had been telling Bishop Jakes about me and Bishop finally told Marcus, “Ok, let’s invite him, but he if he messes up, it’s off with your head!” (laughter)

Troy: (Laughter)

Micah: So they called me in ’04 and I was invited that February to the Potter’s House. The power of God hit that place so hard during the second service that Bishop [Jakes] couldn’t even preach. That’s how heavy it was! And he offered me a recording contract on the spot.

Troy: Just like that?

Micah: Yes. Ever since then it has been nonstop. I’ve traveled with him across the world… to Africa, Australia, you name it. He provided the platform for my ministry and pushed me out there. I’m so grateful to Bishop, and he and I still text and talk. We still have a great relationship.

Troy: Well, the reason I asked you that is because we have more mainstream gospel competitions now. And most singers aren’t fortunate enough to have a “Bishop Jakes” as a friend and mentor – or business partner.

Micah: Right.

Troy: Do you feel authentic artists can be launched through shows or competitions like Sunday Best, where contestants have to sign contracts and agreements often before they sing a single note?

Micah: I don’t! I’m so glad you asked me that because I’ve never had an opportunity to answer a question like that or even speak of it. I don’t think that’s a wise thing to do. Now, I believe in the platform, yes, but I do not believe that artists should be forced to sign agreements when they don’t even have legal representation.

Troy: Ok.

Micah: I’m a minister and I’m a worshipper – people get that from my music – but I know how to handle business. I was negotiating one contract for an entire year before I signed it. I don’t take any of that lightly.

I think they need to understand what they’re signing and not just be gifted, because you can be a household name… and poor, broke and hungry. That’s not God’s will. But artists can easily be taken advantage of because they’re so caught up in the hype that they neglect the business side. My wife and I talk to a lot of artists who ask us for guidance and counsel. They wonder how we’re prospering in spite of vying against the major companies for airplay on the radio, and shelf space in the retail store.

God has blessed us because we made an effort to understand that side of the business. And even beyond that, you have to know where you’re going as an artist whether you are traditional, contemporary, praise or worship and any other style.

Troy: I’m glad you finally got a chance to express that.

Micah: Yes.

Troy: With that being said, tell me about your partnership with Music World Gospel. Frankly, are you in charge or is Matthew Knowles in charge?

Micah: It’s my record company that has entered into a joint venture with Music World. I never signed a deal with Music World as an artist. It’s not necessarily a distribution deal, but we use their channels to distribute. However, we still have the option to go through other channels as we are our own label.

Troy: So basically, you’re in charge? (Laughter)

Micah: (Laughter) I own my work, we own the masters together, but it’s a good thing for us. I want to be that example to show other artists that, ‘hey, you can do this.’ Sit down and read, ask questions and understand before you sign that dotted line.

Troy: Good, good advice. Do you plan to introduce any new artists on your Interface label? Is there anyone we should be looking out for?

Micah: Be on the lookout for Joey Oscar. He’s a drummer and he’s got this global sound. But if I told you it was a drum album, you wouldn’t listen. It’s an instrumental record. But he’s also my drummer and a phenomenal producer. And… he’s married to my wife’s sister, so he is also my brother-in-law.

Troy: Oh! Awesome, keeping it in the family…

Micah: Yeah, but he is incredible.

Troy: I’m excited to hear it. I want to thank you for sharing with me today, from the One Voice record – which I love – to some of the great advice you gave for folks trying to break navigate wisely through the industry. It’s appreciated.

Micah: You’re welcome, and thanks to you as well man.

*     *     *

Check out our full album review of Micah Stampley’s One Voice right here.

And be sure to listen to snippets/buy it right here–

Purchase or Pass is the new series from Mia Paylor, GospelPundit.com’s newest contributing writer (click here to read about her).  Here, in her first post, she comes clean. Go on, Mia.  Tell ‘em what you did…

*     *     *

I have a confession to make. I never purchased or listened to the gospel CD’s released by Michelle Williams, Dave Hollister, Heather Headley… notice the trend? I admit that I normally don’t purchase projects released by those I think are “I can’t make it financially with secular music so I’ll just make money off of church folk” gospel artists. It’s not that I believe secular artists aren’t saved and don’t desire to see souls saved. I just don’t want to hear what I’m thinking was motivated by money…not ministry.

So, you know what I didn’t do when I heard that Jason Champion, former member of the R&B duo, Men at Large, released Reflections through EMI Gospel. That’s RIGHT! I didn’t buy it! My fellow R&B connoisseurs remember Men at Large or, at the very least, you remember their hit, “So Alone”. I sure do…cause that was my JAAAM!

But, while listening to Bonnerfide Radio recently, I heard Jason’s song, “Find a Reason”…and I LOVED it! Through this guitar-laced jam (with what I swear are some Prince elements from the Purple Rain era), Jason declares that in spite of what we face in life, we must always find reasons to do what God calls us to do. I found myself listening to that song over and over again until I finally told myself I needed to download it…because I was DONE fast-forwarding halfway through that 2 hour podcast just to listen to it! Then, after previewing all the tracks, I knew I had to download the whole CD. And I’m GLAD I DID!

I have not stopped listening to it. The lyrics are completely Christian and relatable. The production was handled by greats such as Warryn Campbell and Gerald Haddon. The R&B vibe is consistent throughout the entire CD. “Always” (with its millennium disco vibe) and “Friend of Mine” (with its base driven groove) keep me dancing! And, most importantly, I felt Jason’s heart in every song…which prompted me to dig up his story. I learned that God released Jason from Men at Large and, shortly thereafter, he began recording and touring with Kirk Franklin. He’s a family man with a powerful testimony and a heart for ministry. His wife, Paula, is featured singing beautifully on “For Better or For Worse”.

I’m now a changed woman! No more passing on purchasing a gospel CD simply because the artist just hopped off of the secular bandwagon seemingly because they were too broke to stay there! Instead, I’ll do a bit of research…try to get a feel for their true motive for recording the project by reading bios and interviews…listen to their song clips to see if my Spirit-man connects with them. Then, I’ll decide to purchase or pass.

So, Jason, PLEASE forgive me! Accept this heartfelt editorial as a penance for doing you sooo wrong! I withheld a blessing from myself and, most importantly, you…because you deserve every cent I paid for it.

I won’t be making this mistake again. What about you?

*     *     *

Okay, so I guess I’ll confess, too.  When Mia told me she was writing on Jason Champion, I was SoOooO excited because I had JUST discovered the full album, myself.  I had heard tracks from it before, and I loved his voice and the music, but never listened all the way through!

IT IS INCREDIBLE.  Definitely my favorite album of the past 30 days– even though it’s 2 years old.

So, I stand with Mia on this one.  Do yourself a favor, if you have not already done so, BUY THIS ALBUM.  At least, take a listen to see if you wanna do it.  Click here to listen to snippets and to make a purchase.

Tell me–

(1) Whatd’ya think of what Mia had to say?  Didn’t she do a great job?!

(2) Did you Purchase or Pass on Jason Champion’s project?  What are your thoughts on the album?

Ok, buddies… back with the conclusion of my two-part interview with the incomparable Kim Burrell.

If you missed the Part One, what are you waiting for?!  Click here to catch up.

If you’re ready, let’s jump right back to it where we left off.  Here’s Part Two of my talk with Kim Burrell…

*     *     *

EJ:  I wanna skip over, real quick, to talk about one of my favorite facets of your artistry– your arrangements.  I spoke with Jerard Woods and he talked about how you gathered them around a piano at your house and taught these incredible parts for the Live In Concert album.  When I interviewed Melonie Daniels, she talked about how incredible you are to work with in that regard.

My wife and I went to your Lincoln Center Christmas event in December…

KB:  Really?

EJ:  Oh, yes!  You presented some of the most jaw-dropping arrangements of Christmas standards I’ve ever heard, like on “Little Drummer Boy” and “This Christmas” with Jason Nelson…

KB:  Awwwww!

EJ:  How fun is arranging music for you, in comparison to the actual singing of songs?

KB:  *laughs*  It would be right at the top of the list!  When I tell ya, I love it!  Especially when I have GREAT singers to work with.  And I mean that, it makes it a lot easier to convey what I’m saying because they get it.  Jerard Woods is not only one of my favorite singers, he’s one of my favorite people.  I love him.  He’s my guy.

Melonie plays a part in my life… *laughs*… I like to call her “sister” because we both like to laugh quite a bit.  We’re both very silly around each other and she’s an incredible, INCREDIBLE vocalist.  And that girl’s mind, when it comes down to singing and even arranging, herself, it is nothing less than genius.

EJ:  Absolutely.

KB:  I love arranging.  Arranging is one of my favorite things to do.  I love to sing, don’t get me wrong, because singing is one of my most creative times.  But to arrange other people’s songs is fun because I get a chance to experience my gift.  I don’t necessarily know the level of the gift until I hear it in its complete form… until I hear it all out.

But when I hear it all out, it’s like WHEW! My God!  Especially if there’s some great people singing it.

EJ:  Speaking of that Lincoln Center event, and I blogged about this back then–  my wife and I went, sat among a bunch of folks who probably didn’t know much about you, but perhaps just had season tickets to the Jazz at Lincoln Center series… my wife sat there and screamed out “that’s alRIGHT Kim!”

KB:  Oh, was that her?! *laughing*  You know, the very last show, we had CHURCH.

EJ:  Did you?

KB:  Oh, it was ridiculous!  We got loud up in there and I told them “some of y’all may be feeling a little warm… we know what it is, it’s the HOLY GHOST!”

EJ:  *laughing*

KB:  Oh, we lost it.  I don’t care where I am.  You know, the first couple of shows, I had to try to be nice, know my limitations… But I thought about it and said “Lord, there is no way you’re gonna open for me a door like this and I not be who I’m supposed to be.”

EJ:  Right.

KB:  Honey, I went there.  I lost it.  So, you know I’m coming in having church this year because we’re going back.  I’m doing it again.

EJ:  I’m going to have to be there for that.  It was unreal. Are you doing a Christmas album from that?  I heard talk about that.

KB:  I was gonna do it.  You know, I still have the material from it and I’ve not quite listened to it yet.  It was like a trial run because it wasn’t everything I wanted it to be.  It was nice, I enjoyed it.  But, at the degree and level that I want?  I may release it as a DVD.

EJ:  NICE!

KB:  But it was not something that I felt was CD-ready.  I could’ve cleaned it up, and I planned to, so I could release it, but nah… not right now.

EJ:  I wanna ask you about something that remains a hot topic of debate in gospel– associations and collaborations with secular artists.  You’ve been outspoken about your friendships with mainstream artists like Chaka Khan, Omarion and countless others.  And you’ve recorded with some mainstream artists as well.  Yet you have peers in gospel, some of whom you’ve even recorded with, who are just as outspoken about NOT fraternizing with people in hip-hop or R&B.

What is the responsibility of the gospel artist in reaching artists in other genres, if there even IS one?

KB:  The Bible is the truth for me.  And it said “go into the highways and hedges and compel men to come, that My house might be filled.”  It did not say “go and compel Christian men.”

EJ:  Wow.

KB:  Let me get my Bible because I want to quote it exactly… *pauses to grab her Bible*… Luke, Chapter 14, verse 23… and I hope this doesn’t get me in trouble because I’m here in my office and I’ve got this Bible, the one that I pray and cry in.  That’s VERY not safe right now, because we will end up on the phone for 3 hours.

EJ:  Ummm… we can do that.  I’ll take it all.  You can even call and leave voicemail messages with a good word in ‘em.

KB:  *laughing* See, it’s in RED– “unto the SERVANT, go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled.”

Let me tell you something.  THIS is a priority.  If Jesus said it, it’s priority.  And if we’re going to ever, EVER preach and teach and compel, I don’t plan to EVER do it just in the house of God, with people who are commanded to do the same thing as I am.

EJ:  RIGHT!

KB:  Why in the world would we not communicate with people… and people say “why can’t you just minister to them and call it a day?”  I do.

I called Tyrese the other day– he’s in Austria right now and he’s finishing up his movie.  Right before he went to Austria, I called him because he was heavy on spirit, because of my interaction with him, and having dinner with him and spending time with him in L.A.

EJ:  You haven’t been eating with the tax collectors, have you?

KB:  What?  Oh, yeeeeees.  And boy, was the meal good!

EJ:  *laughing*

KB:  *laughs*

EJ:  But that’s the type of interaction I believe that Christ calls us to.  It’s so weird to me that we wanna sing and preach to each other exclusively, as if we’re presenting some new revelation each time.  It’s one thing to remind one another of the Gospel daily, but we’re almost so busy EVANGELIZING Christians.

KB:  That’s right.  And STILL not helping each other.  Because we’re falling in front of each other, and we’re falling WITH each other.

EJ:  Uh-oh.

KB:  Some are leaving church together, getting drunk together, men AND women, whatever the gender… doing everything under the sun.  But judgmental of things with which they have not been acquainted, things that are unfamiliar territory for them.  They don’t know how to encounter it, so it becomes a “no-no.”

When people have only done what they’ve been taught, and they’ve not experienced it or asked God about it, they’ll be judgmental.  But my commission, my priority is to do what the Lord has called me to do.  And I’ve been successful with that.

EJ:  Amen.

KB:  I’ve had PLENTY of opportunities because of it.  Like Tyrese, I mentioned calling him.  He was just waking up and he said in his tired voice, “hey Lovely,” (that’s what he calls me) and I said “hey, when you wake up, call me because you’re in my spirit and I need to pray with you.”  He said “I’ll do it, give me ten minutes.”

He called back in five and I shared some things with him and prayed with him.  Do you not know, my friend, that he said “Kim, I’ve got 103,000 people following me on Twitter right now and I’m letting them know that what you’ve done for me, that you just prayed for me.  And I’m starting a Twitter page for you right now.” 

He grabbed whatever pictures he had of me and set something up… within maybe 5 hours, I had over 2,000 people following me. [Editor's Note: You can follow her at http://www.twitter.com/kimburrelllove.]

EJ:  Yep.

KB:  You mean to tell me that I’m not supposed to reach out and have dealings with them?  They say “well, you’re doing music… you have to represent…” I REPRESENT GOD.

You’re tellin’ me that every person in the Armed Forces, that’s saved and loves Jesus Christ, knowing that they might have to go and MURDER somebody if they go to Iraq, they’re going to hell?  They’re not doing the work of the Lord?

EJ:  Right.

KB:  So, I’m not into debates with people because folks always have their own idea about what it is that folks should and should not be doing.  And those who are usually pointing the finger are talking to the wrong people.

And listen, those people found ME.  I was walking in the store, 15 years ago or so, and Chaka Khan called MY cell phone.  I don’t know how she got it.  She called me.  Same thing with Stevie.  I left that message for so long on my machine…

EJ: *laughs*

KB:  But he called me and we’ve been very close for 13 years.  We talk about everything.  But the deal is that these people need an outlet, they need somebody that they can trust.  They know they can’t talk to each other, just like we can’t in church.

We know we can’t go to some of these artists– I KNOW I can’t!  I know several artists I can’t go to right now and trust them with my personal business.  Baby, it’ll be all over the place!

EJ:  *laughing hard*

KB:  With stuff ADDED depending on how they feel about me, with their grinnin’ selves.  Don’t get me started, maaaan.

EJ:  Oh my!

KB:  I don’t get started on that junk.  I’m out here doing work.  I have more comfort with people in the world than I do with them.  Because they’ll come right out and tell you– “if Jesus Christ comes back, I ain’t going.”  And it gives me an opportunity to tell them why I know that they CAN, and deal with their situation.

Rather than church folks sayin’ “oh, I know He’s alright!  High-five your neighbor!”  They ain’t about to say “high-five your neighbor, although I fornicated last night” or “high-five your neighbor, although I committed adultery”… “high-five your neighbor although I’m an alcoholic, and a homosexual and a pervert.”

They ain’t gonna say that.

EJ:  Right.

KB:  But, you know, I love everybody.  I love Jesus.  I love doing this– it is what I do.  I do the work of the Lord.  It happens to come in the form of an album or two once in a while, concerts, and all kinds of stuff that the Lord is blessing me to do.  This ain’t about Kim Burrell.

I haven’t known how to wake up and be about Kim Burrell since I was about 27.  I stopped trying to be about Kim Burrell, especially after I had my son when I was about 31.  I am not about Kim Burrell anymore.  I’ve forgotten how to be about her.

EJ:  Beautiful.

KB:  And when God shows up and gives me favor to go shopping every once in a while, He lets me know “you may not be about Kim Burrell anymore, but I am.”  So, I do that.

EJ:  Nice.  Couple more questions… I’ve asked several people who they’d most like to record with and many of them have said either Stevie Wonder or Kim Burrell.  Now, you’ve already recorded with Stevie Wonder and you are Kim Burrell– so how do YOU answer that question?

KB:  Prince.

EJ:  PRINCE?!  I was not expecting that.

KB:  I wanna record with Prince.  There’s still a sound… I feel the presence of God.  There’s a sound to come out of Prince through submission to the Holy Spirit.  Not just to God, because he has a regard for Jehovah, for God.

But I’m talking about a SOUND to come out of Prince.  I feel like every time I say it, God is shooting it to him.  Not for the benefit of Burrell to do a recording.  We can do it and keep it in the house as far as I’m concerned.  I just wanna record with the man and sit with him because God has invested something in Prince that NOBODY in the world has.

And because of that, he has a worship inside of him that is second to none.  There is an album that he did within the last 5 or 6 years, and one of the songs… honey, when I tell you there is a sound on there that came very close to the Holy Spirit of God… and I know he’s been tapping in on that because of his encounters with God.

EJ:  I believe that.

KB:  But there is still something that is to come out of him that I want to experience, and I’d love to do a recording with him because I want to experience that moment.  I want the Spirit of God to flow through him to write and say some things to God that can change some people’s lives, and change how people worship.

I believe that Prince has an element inside of him that can change the way worship is heard.

EJ:  Hmmmm.  I pray that it happens.

KB:  I do, too.

EJ:  Okay, last question: of all the albums you’ve released, which one is your favorite?

KB:  *takes a long pause* I haven’t done it yet.

EJ:  Hmm.  Fair enough.  Well, then, I’m waitin’ for that!

KB:  Me too. *chuckles*

EJ:  I wanna thank you so much for chatting with me.  It has meant a lot to me and I’ve really enjoyed it.

KB:  Thank you.  I love you, my brother.

EJ:  I love you so much.  Thanks.  And I’ll be in touch.

KB:  Please do.  God Bless you, sweetheart.  We’ll talk soon.

EJ:  Alright, bye-bye.

*     *     *

That, ladies and gents, was my chat with Kim Burrell.

There was SO much more to it, but some of it was just for me– she carries the Word of God in her and she is an encourager, a servant, a minister… I was tremendously blessed by this woman of God.

Another video to bless ya… Kim on TBN singing “I Believe”:

Sooooooooo, what do you think about all that she had to say???