VANCOUVER, Wash. (WordNews.org) April 14, 2012 – It’s a question music artists are asked all the time: Whom do they listen to?
Sandi Patty, who’s received the most awards for a female recording artist, takes no time answering: Adele and Natalie Grant.
“I just downloaded Adele’s project,” Sandi told WordNews.org. “I tend to really be drawn to a well-rounded artist. She is a singer. She’s a songwriter. She’s introspective. She puts the passion of her heart on paper and there’s just so many things about her that I really appreciate.”
Then, she speaks of her friend, Natalie Grant, whom she has frequently sung with.
“Natalie Grant is another one I’m crazy about. She’s a Christian artist. She, in my opinion, is the finest female singer in our generation. She’s incredible. She is versatile and heartfelt and she’s really terrific. I’m just pleased to be a mentor and friend to her.”
The two sang together at Women of Faith events.
Sandi admits her youngest son doesn’t listen to his mom’s records.
“He listens to a lot of heavy rock stuff, but with the stipulation that he can cite their lyrics,” she said.
And if they’re not appropriate, he can’t listen, at least when he’s with her.
“I’m not as concerned about the style of music as I am about the lyrics and the message,” Sandi said. “There are some kids out there playing some really loud, amazing music that are trying to impact a generation. My son is one of those that are being impacted now and I’m grateful for that.”
Sandi said Christian music has changed since she broke in in the late 1970s.
“It’s definitely not the same industry nor is any of the record industry the same anywhere,” she said. “But I think one of the biggest ways that it has changed is there is such a wide variety of music under the ‘Christian music.’”
She goes on to explain.
“Christian music is the only genre of music that when you say ‘Christian music,’ it does not describe the style of music. It’s really describing the message of the music,” Sandi said. “You can say, ‘This is jazz,’ ‘This is R&B,’ or ‘adult contemporary.’ That all describes the styles. But when you say, ‘Christian music,’ there can be many different styles under that.”
Having a wide variety of Christian music is a good thing, she said.
“In all honesty, that’s going to be the first attraction for the listener,” Sandi said. “They’re going to gravitate toward their musical style. There’s going to be people that will go to a hardcore show that clearly will not come to mine. But vice versa is true.”
It’s the message that makes the difference.
“When you have an opportunity to take a very powerful force – that is music – and accompany it with life-changing lyrics, you really have something amazing on your hands.”

Come back next Saturday for the next installment of Saturdays with Sandi Patty

Related:

Saturdays with Sandi Patty: The gift of reconnecting (Part 1)

Saturdays with Sandi Patty: Entering a new season (Part 2 in a series)