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Rebecca
St. James :
"There's something for everyone on Transform," says
Grammy award-winning recording artist Rebecca St. James of
her latest album release. This prolific 23-year-old singer/songwriter,
who uses Christianity as the inspiration for her music, has
been providing soul-searching lyrics set to a backdrop of
catchy, accessible tunes since the age of 16.
With Transform,
Rebecca has moved one ambitious step further artistically,
which will inevitably widen her audience. Yet at the same
time, she remains faithful to her spiritual foundation and
to her fans. "I definitely see this album as a big, musical
leap for me; you could call it a transformation. It's different
than anything I've done before," she says. Working for
the first time with producer Matt Bronlewee (Natalie Imbruglia
, Jars of Clay, Jennifer Paige), and Dann Huff (Lonestar),
Rebecca used a compelling combination of the London Symphony
Orchestra, accompanied by rock guitars and drums. "We've
also done pop vocals, melodies and there's even some dance
oriented tracks. I've never done that before. I'm really excited
about this fresh direction I'm taking." Aptly titled
Transform, named for Rebecca's desire for her fans to become
more involved in their spiritual journey, Rebecca sees this
album as a catalyst for those on the path to finding faith.
And in my own life, I want to challenge other people to be
transformed. There's a verse in II Corinthians 3:18 that really
inspired me: 'And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect
the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness
with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who
is the Spirit.' Transformation is a lifelong process, it happens
every day, but I definitely feel that I am in a season in
my life where there is a lot of changing going on. Being the
oldest of seven kids, I have always felt a sense of leadership
and responsibility, so it doesn't bother me being a big sister
to younger members of my generation. I welcome it." Recalling
one of the high points of her career, she says, "It was
so unexpected for me to win the Grammy (for her fourth album
Pray). I mean, it's not every day you get nominated. It was
great sitting there with my family enjoying the night. When
they announced my name and album, it was a dream come true,"
she says. "It was great to get up there in front of Phil
Collins and Sting and Santana and be able to say why I do
what I do." With all of this family and industry support
behind her, Rebecca has recorded what she hopes will be a
breakthrough album. One of the standout tracks on Transform,
"Our Time," clearly evokes thoughts of the 2000
presidential elections. In an age of political and religious
apathy, Rebecca intends to push the envelope. "I want
to encourage my generation to stand up and make a difference,
and we can make a difference in many ways. Voting is one of
the most powerful tools we have to transform our world, and
I would like to see more of my generation taking this honor
and responsibility seriously. Even though I am an Australian
citizen and cannot vote in America, I still want to fuel the
fire of action. If we are ever going to see a transformation
in our culture, we must become involved in the world around
us." A modern woman with a strong moral fiber, Rebecca
doesn't just give lip service to the causes she supports.
"For The Love Of God" was inspired by her mission
trip to Romania last year where she hit the streets of downtown,
feeding the poor and homeless. And with the song "Vision,"
she explains, "It's basically saying, if I could just
see a glimpse of God and all his glory, my world would be
rocked." She may be a woman with a Bible, but she's not
hitting you over the head with it. Rebecca's messages and
values aren't preachy. They're down-to-earth advice for all
people who don't need to be part of the church-going public
to understand, but she definitely challenges people to seek
truth and take action. For example, the first radio single
"Don't Worry," simply reminds us of the futility
of the endless anxiety we all experience. "I still worry
about stuff even if it's not even an issue anymore,"
she laughs. "Don't Worry" is a reminder to us all
to keep the problems in our lives in perspective. As her live-concert
following continues to grow (she has fans of all ages at her
gigs), Rebecca hopes to continue to influence teens in a positive
way. "They're at an age where they're so influenced and
affected by what they listen to and what they watch, I want
to encourage them to make the right decisions," she says.
One subject
she takes very seriously is the media's attack on women. "The
fashion industry tells us we have to be as skinny as we can,
and if we don't measure up, then we're nothing. That kind
of thing leads to pain and hurt." Rebecca takes it so
seriously in fact that she has hosted several girls-only meetings
called "Beauty of the Heart," where the discussion
centers around inner-beauty as opposed to an outward ideal.
Rebecca's career is definitely on a roll. In addition to her
musical commitments, she is also on the soundtrack of an upcoming
movie, "Left Behind," which stars actors Kirk Cameron
and his wife Chelsea Noble. Rebecca was also asked to make
her first cameo appearance in the film, another career highlight
she says. "Well, it was more like being an extra,"
she says modestly. "But it was really cool. I've always
been a real dramatic person and really enjoyed that kind of
work." Through her palatable lyrics of hope and her message
of transforming, Rebecca St. James gears up to take her new
project, Transform, into new arenas to provide encouragement
and reassurance to listeners. Her faithful fans will be delighted
and her new audience will be inspired.
 _.:Rebecca
St. James Official Site
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