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More of our recent conversation with the hope-driven Candi Pearson-Shelton.
Suite: These kinds of things ( Part One of our Interview covered, among other things, the loss of Candi's brother Rick to Leukemia) often make us wonder about our own legacy. What impression would you most like to leave behind? Candi: Something I will never forget as long as I live was said of my brother at his funeral, which was indescribable, by the way! God was so glorified! Rick’s roommate, and also one of the pastors of the church where Rick served as Creative Arts Pastor, spoke about his personal experiences with Rick. One of the things he kept reiterating throughout his talk was that Rick “loved well”. That phrase runs over and over in my mind, and I think it sums up everything I would want said of me, whether it be about my profession, my family, my friends, my God… I think it all boils down to love… and if someone were able to say that I “loved well”, I think I will have succeeded in this life. Suite: Candi, do you see your music as a calling? Candi: That’s hard territory for me, because the word “calling” has been so abused, in my opinion. I guess I feel more like I am called, as is everyone else who knows the Lord, to know Him in His glory, and to make Him in His glory known (Isa. 43:7, 10). One of the biggest ways God has gifted me to do that is through music. So I guess I do feel like it’s a calling because I think I would be disobedient if I didn’t do it. But I also know that God’s calling can be very specific sometimes, other times more open. I do not feel that He has specifically called me to be a ‘lead worshipper’ or a church singer. That is part of what He gives me to do, but the more generic term “music” seems to be more suited to what He has gifted me to do- whether that’s in the church or in a club, writing songs, or singing jingles… it’s all about the connection between people and God, and that can happen in the music specifically or in a more relational way between me and people. That’s how I look at my calling- God wants me to know Him and show other people, too, and He gave me this amazing medium with which to do it. Suite: What would you most want your music to accomplish in the hearts of listeners? Candi: Plain and simple- to cause them to think! I want them to hear my music and have to sit with it later, because it’s not something that easily moves along. I hope that whoever they are, wherever they stand with God, they are drawn to take a second listen because the words beg them to. I am SO COMPLETELY TIRED of the infinite amount of songs being written today about a pair of shoes, or a car, or an outfit, or sexual position!!! I just feel like creators of music are responsible to say something, and we have almost completely banished any material with intellectual thought. By doing so, it’s like we’ve told listeners, “Hey, you can tune out… this is just trance time for you. Whatever you do, don’t think!” I hope that my songs always have something to say… something that will cause people to linger for a while, hopefully because something is being planted in the heart. Visit Candi's website for more information, of click here to read the Suite review of Candi's "Haunted by Eden." And much thanks to Candi for her willing spirit!
The copyright of the article Candi Pearson-Shelton, Part 2 in Christian Music is owned by Kevan Breitinger. Permission to republish Candi Pearson-Shelton, Part 2 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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