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No need to hold your breath any longer—vocal
powerhouse Avalon is back with another album. Featuring
songs like "The Glory" and "Make It Last Forever,"
Oxygen touches on our
innate need for God. Michael Passons, Janna Long, Jody
McBrayer and Cherie Paliotta talked to Family
Christian Stores about the new album, their recent trips overseas
and the lessons God is teaching them.
FamilyChristian.com:
Oxygen
is a pretty unique name. How did you choose it?
Cherie:
Oxygen is the one thing that nobody will ever dispute over. Every
single person on the planet needs it and it's the one thing that
actually unifies every person on this planet. That's how we view
Christ in our lives.
Michael:
It's interesting that several songs on this record actually
mention the phrase "the air I breathe." It's more affirmation
that that should be the theme of things.
FamilyChristian.com:
Michael, one of your close friends, Jess Cates, wrote some
songs for the album, right?
Michael:
Jess' family are founding members of the church I belong to in
Franklin. They're pretty much the first people I'd ever met
[there]. They're a real musical family. All of his brothers and
sisters sing and he's had a real interest in songwriting since
I've known him. He would play the piano and kind of mimic me or
if I played something on Sunday mornings [he'd say], "Come teach
me that." We've been friends throughout the years and when he got
his publishing deal we all went out to celebrate. It just
happened that when we were doing Oxygen some songs came
across the table that had his name on them. I was excited to
[hear] how they sounded and even more excited that the group
liked them.
FamilyChristian.com:
Which ones did he write?
Michael:
"Make It Last Forever" and "I Don't Wanna Go."
FamilyChristian.com:
You received a little help from Aaron Neville on a song.
How did that come about?
Jody:
We released "Can't Live A Day" to mainstream radio last
year and it did really well on the Adult Contemporary chart. I
think that Aaron had heard that song and mentioned to somebody
[that] he was planning on doing a gospel record [and] he would
like to do something with Avalon. Somehow it got back to our
record company. We ended up doing "By Heart, By Soul"
[with him].
FamilyChristian.com:
All of you performed on the Child of the Promise tour. Did
you enjoy that?
Jody:
The tour was great. The cast was wonderful to travel with. We had
a wonderful time getting to know some people we haven't traveled
with before, going out again with some people we hadn't seen in
awhile and of course the musical itself was beautiful.
FamilyChristian.com:
Do you have any stories you could share from the tour?
Jody:
There are a couple of really good stories, especially with
Michael because he had to change clothes about 15 times a show so
you never quite knew how it was going to be.
Michael: I played a Roman soldier for one scene. I was
just backstage shootin' the breeze and thought, "I'm going to go
out and see where they are." Well, when I popped open the door to
the arena, my scene had already started. I didn't have my helmet
on so I [back] there and just slammed it on.
Of course my helmet is down [over my eyes] so I look like
Marvin Martian from Bugs Bunny. I run in front of the
wisemen and deliver my line but I'm cracking the wisemen up [so]
they can't speak because they can't see my eyes. I quickly get
off stage and make my re-entry and by that time I just pulled the
helmet off. That was one headdress fiasco.
Then I'm
the priest in the next scene. I run back, do the quickest change,
pull [the helmet] off [and put on] this priest hat that has
strings of yarn going over it. As I was going off stage it got
caught on the curtain and so there's no time because I have to be
up there. The yarn just flops down in my face.
Jody:
He's standing sideways, looking out the side of his eyes, and you
can see this piece of yarn going like this in his face. We're all
trying not to laugh.
Every night
when I would walk up on stage somehow duct tape would be stuck to
the floor so I would have to move really quickly like I was
surprised and my foot would get stuck on the duct tape. Cherie
and Janna are sitting down on the floor and their backs are to
the audience so they can laugh.
Cherie:
Not only that but he had to wear these shoes that were too big
for him. The very first couple of nights I see this white stuff
coming out of his shoes. He stuffed his shoes with toilet paper!
Jody:
The wardrobe lady did and she tried to paint it black so that we
couldn't see it. Of course she missed the part that was sticking
out. We used a real baby one night; that was a surprise. They
used Aaron Benward's little girl. I went out there to sing
and I had to take the baby from Mary and the hands were moving!
FamilyChristian.com:
Last year you took trips to El Salvador and Costa Rica. How did
that come about?
Janna:
There are actually two different organizations. We went to El
Salvador with World Vision. The other ministry is Big World. It
basically recruits teenagers and young people to go on a mission
trip and do street ministry and witnessing and drama.
FamilyChristian.com:
How many people did you have last time?
Janna:
[We had about] 250 people. It's neat to see kids that young
really wanting to get involved with ministry.
Jody:
They don't know each other really before they come. They fly to
Miami and go to a training camp for three days and get to know
each other. [Then] they break off into groups—usually it's about
eight or nine groups. They don't know each other but by the time
it's over they're friends for life.
The
interesting thing is none of these kids know how to speak the
language and so it is all done through drama and communication
through the arts. That is something that's very neat to see and
it works. We have interpreters [that] help present the plan of
salvation but people really do see the Gospel through the drama.
FamilyChristian.com:
How have those experiences affected you?
M ichael:
[We've learned] how fortunate we are as Americans to have the
blessings that we take for granted every day—clean water, good
shelter—the basics of life. The people that we come into contact
with in these other countries have so little that just the basics
are a blessing. It helps us to put things in perspective.
FamilyChristian.com:
Jody, your father passed away last fall. How have you been coping
with that?
Jody:
I don't think about it as much. I think that God created our
minds [in such a way] that we do have a place where we can tuck
things back or else we would go crazy. I think about my father
and I miss him but I worry more about my mom. That stuff is
natural. We've been very, very blessed and He's helped us through
it.
FamilyChristian.com:
If you could ask anyone in the group any question, what would it
be?
Michael:
I'd probably ask what everyone's first impression of the other
was. I know my first impression of Cherie. She was following us
to our concert in Chattanooga to see us and for us to meet her.
She was in the car behind us. We stop on the roadside and she's
in the backseat [of her car]. I go to the car and [it has] tinted
windows and she was looking like she was chauffeured somewhere.
[I thought], "Who is this chick [who] won't even take her
sunglasses off?" (laughs).
Jody:
She was so sweet. We sang at Lee University that night and
afterwards she was so sweet. She said, "You guys were great and
it'll be so great to be in the group." I just remember you being
so nice. We all got in the bus and were like, "She's awesome."
Cherie:
It was an overwhelming time so I didn't really make heads or
tails of anybody personally. The whole thing was just
overwhelming. I probably questioned for the first six months,
daily, am I doing the right thing? Is this really your will God?
I never
really had any formal audition [and] I didn't have a formal demo
tape. It was so unconventional and so God. Through the first six
months, it finally became very clear to me that this is exactly
where God wanted me to be.
FamilyChristian.com:
Cherie, you've been in the group for three years but sometimes
still considered the "new girl." What have you learned in the
past three years?
Cherie:
I think the biggest lesson that I've learned in being in this
group is to be in God's perfect will is better than anything.
Anything the world can offer you is nothing in comparison to what
God can offer you when you're following His will and seeking His
face, even when it doesn't feel comfortable. But even when things
are uncomfortable, I'd rather be uncomfortable where God wants me
to be than be comfortable in a place where God isn't.
Quick
Q&A
Full Name:
Jody Michael McBrayer
First Song
(& Age Written): "Rainbow Connection" (age 6)
Favorite Sports Team: Florida Gators
Read any good books lately? The Left Behind series
Favorite Bible Verse: Daniel 12:3
Family Facts: Wife-Stephanie
What Song do you wish you wrote: "I Will Always Love You"
Hobbies: Reading, being with my wife, water sports
If you weren't an artist, what would you be?
Teacher/producer
What is God teaching you now? Rest in Him (I recently lost
my father and I am truly finding comfort in Him).
If you could meet anyone, who would it be? Madonna - to
set her straight as far as God is concerned.
Favorite Board Game: Balderdash
Favorite Soda: Diet Coke
What was the first instrument you learned to play? Piano
Favorite Place: Maui, Hawaii
What do you hope to be doing in ten years? Much of the
same
Favorite comfort/pig out food: Homemade cheeseburgers and
fries
Favorite Cartoon: Anything Bugs Bunny
Must See TV: ER, Friends, Martha Stewart's
Living (just kidding!)
Most cherished possession: My father's Bible, photos of
family
Favorite Movie: Sabrina (the new version)
Dream Wheels: Aston-Martin
If you could be any kind of tree, what would you be? Palm
tree (someplace warm)
In your humble opinion, what is the best album ever? by
Anita Baker
What is in your CD player right now? Brand New Day
by Sting
What event from 1999 still influences you today? My
marriage
First question you will ask God when you get to Heaven? Why
do the people we love seem to leave us so quickly?
What question do you think He will ask you? Why weren't you
stronger with your witness?
What is the worst song you have ever written? I've only
written three-two were bad.
Chicken or Steak? Yes!
Full Name:
Michael Passons
First Song
(& Age Written): "King Khord" (age 10)
Favorite Sports Team: Tennessee Titans
Read any good books lately? Streams in the Desert
Favorite Bible Verse: Luke 1:37
Family Facts: Sister, brother, niece, nephew
What Song do you wish you wrote: "Happy Birthday"
Hobbies: Photography
If you weren't an artist, what would you be? Veterinarian
What is God teaching you now? To wait on Him with patience
If you could meet anyone, who would it be? Billy Graham
Favorite Board Game: Monopoly
Favorite Soda: Coke
What was the first instrument you learned to play? Piano
Favorite Place: The beach
What do you hope to be doing in ten years? Still active in
music
Favorite comfort/pig out food: Warm chocolate chip cookies
with vanilla ice cream
Favorite Cartoon: Bugs Bunny
Most cherished possession: Family photos
Favorite Movie: The Color Purple
Dream Wheels: Land Rover Defender
If you could be any kind of tree, what would you be? An
evergreen that grows on the beach
In your humble opinion, what is the best album ever? He
Touched Me by Elvis Presley
What is in your CD player right now? Don Henley, Vertical
Horizon,
Rachael Lampa
First question you will ask God when you get to Heaven? So
how many hairs are on my head?
What is the worst song you have ever written? "King Khord"
Chicken or Steak? Steak.
Full Name:
Jana Potter Long
First Song (& Age Written): "Seasons Come, Seasons Go"
(age 7)
Read any good books lately? The Left Behind Series
Favorite Bible Verse: Proverbs 3:5-6
Family Facts: Husband-Greg
What Song do you wish you wrote: "In Christ Alone"
Hobbies: Reading, shopping, traveling, horseback riding
If you weren't an artist, what would you be? Lawyer
What is God teaching you now? Only He can meet all my
needs
If you could meet anyone, who would it be? Aretha Franklin
Favorite Board Game: Taboo
Favorite Soda: Pepsi
What was the first instrument you learned to play? Piano
Favorite Place: Home
What do you hope to be doing in ten years? Singing, being
a great wife/mom
Favorite comfort/pig out food: Cheetos, chocolate
Favorite Cartoon: Bugs Bunny
Most cherished possession: Pictures of my life with family
and friends
Favorite Movie: Sleepless in Seattle
Dream Wheels: Black Mercedes convertible - 560 SL
If you could be any kind of tree, what would you be? Oak
In your humble opinion, what is the best album ever? Can't
pick one
What is in your CD player right now? Kevon Edmonds
(brother of Babyface)
What event from 1999 still influences you today? Getting
engaged
First question you will ask God when you get to Heaven?
What was the point of my heartache?
What question do you think He will ask you? Why didn't you
talk to me more?
Chicken or Steak? Depends on the steak. Filet=steak; Rib
eye=chicken
(Portions from
www.familychristian.com) |
