From My Mind To Your Eyes

The End of an Era

2010-10-08T00:32:00.002-05:00

Well, my friends. It is a sad day. Not really, in the grand scheme of things, but for those of us who have had so much fun on this blog, it is kinda sad. It's the end of an era. But a songwriter once wrote: the end's the beginning not the end.

I am closing down shop on this blog. It will stay up (at least for a good long while) but I am finding the idea of dedicating myself to the blog to be not as important as it was a few years ago.

I will still be blogging over at chrissligh.com, but I imagine most of the posts will be more direct and to the point. Though, knowing me I'm sure that at some point I'm gonna want to weigh in on some issue that will get a bunch people's undies twisted. Anyway...make sure you get a username over there and let's take our community over there. We have something special and I want many more people to join in our little community. We just need it all to be centralized over at chrissligh.com!

I, of course, will be on twitter constantly. That is the best way to communicate directly with me. I love that about twitter!

We had some good times here. Great times, actually. We got to know each other. We met a lot of anonymous idiots! We laughed. I cried (maybe you did, too)

But all good things come to an end.

So here's to this era.

Now let's toast the next era!

Way too long

2010-07-08T05:26:00.002-05:00

Hey guys...it has been a while. Sorry I haven't been more active. I've been crazy busy and the blog has suffered.

So...wanted to give an update on what is going on.

Just finished my album. It comes out September 14. The first single is "Only You Can Save" and it hits radio next Friday (July 17). I am super excited about the record, obviously, and will be posting a song by song exploration very soon.

I just finished producing Andrew Witt's album. Thanks to those of you who were involved financially. You don't know how much you helped. We literally couldn't have made as great an album without your help. If you haven't heard the songs yet, check out facebook.com/andrewwittmusic. The 2 EPs should be available for purchase by mid to late July.

I start this week on Brian Bortnick's record. I'm excited about this one, too. The songs are really good, interesting and different. Yet, very commercial. Brian is recording some of ya'lls favorites - like "I'm Ready" and "I Am". Can't wait for you guys to hear what we're cooking up on this album. It will be fantastic, I promise.

In August, I will be spending 8 days writing in Los Angeles. So, that will be awesome. Then I have a show in NM and then Sarah and I are taking a much much-needed vacation for 6-7 days. We need some rest and relaxation after a long year so far and with the baby coming. Gosh, I feel relaxed just thinking about that week of doing nothing!

Then in the fall I head out with Downhere for about 20 shows. I'll also be doing some spot dates on my own, so look for those dates to come up.

And hopefully we'll be doing a Christmas tour this year...we'll see what happens.

I'm excited to be working again. Last year was difficult. I feel useless/worthless when I'm not working hard. It's nice to feel useful again!

Life is Crazy!

2010-05-11T09:55:00.003-05:00

The last couple of months have been insanely busy. My record has been through flux and change and things came together, fell apart, got pieced back together again; arrangements have been combed over again and again to be as great as we think they can be; vocals have been recorded, re-recorded, then re-recorded again.

And now, finally, we are at the mix stage. The songs are being finished - albeit slowly, but they are being finished.

Literally the day I finished putting the final touches on my album, a guy named Brian Bortnick flew into town to start writing for his record, which I am producing for a new upstart label based in Portland, OR called BeePhonic Music. Brian is from Philly (born and raised in North Philly, so he's a stud). Brian's a veteran of the East Coast Music scene - played a lot of shows over his career as a mainstream rock artist. But more importantly, Brian is a really great guy with a really great story.

Brian is Jewish and grew up attending synagogue for the major holidays. When he was 8 his dad was a vending machine repairman and was on a job in North Philly and was attacked by 3 armed gunmen. Brian's dad attempted to save the girl working the register at the store and was killed. Come to find out, the girl he saved was actually in on the heist.

So, from a young age, Brian grew up struggling with hating the people who took his father from him.

As an adult he married a Christian girl and slowly, from her reading the Bible and different Christian books, he became interested in Christianity and slowly realized his need for Christ. After he became a believer, he slowly began to realize the need to forgive the men that took his father from him.

As we talked about his story, one thing he said really struck me hard. He told me, "You know, I grew up without my dad. But think about the families of the guys who killed my dad. They didn't have it easy. They didn't have their dads or brothers or sons for all that time."

I was blown away. I mean, only by the God's grace can anyone feel empathy for the people who killed your father!

So, I'm excited about Brian's album. It's vibey and cool and exciting to be a part of. His story is so vital (there are a couple of songs that deal with what has happened in his life) but the story for an artist is nothing if the music sucks. This music doesn't suck!!! We are going for an 80's pop/rock singer/songwriter vibe - you know: Bryan Adams, The Boss, Petty, Don Henley, John Cougar, etc. - but with a twist. While sounding vintage in a lot of ways, it will still sound really, really current. And the songs just feel good. You know when you hear a great 80's pop/rock song and even if you don't know it, it JUST FEELS GOOD. That's how this record feels to me. We are just listening to rough demos and I'm grinning from ear to ear because it just feels good.

This week, however, Andrew Witt is back in town to finish writing his record. Then over the weekend, he and I both have to fly out to do 2 shows, then we both get back Sunday. Sunday, we make final decisions on what songs will be on his record. Monday, we start recording over at the kindly Steve Bishir's studio with Mr. Jon Skaggs on drums! I'm really excited about this record, too! I have a feeling this record is going to be something special.

And I'd like to take a moment and say that Andrew is going through some tough financial times as a young guy trying to make a go of it. Some of you guys have graciously given sacrificially for Andrew. I am so thankful. If you are interested in helping Andrew, please let me know - he could use the help as he takes this next step of faith to move forward in his career!

I work on Andrew's record till the 24th, then I head out for 3 1/2 weeks of promo tour with the Word team! That is going to be fun! I get to see old radio friends, hopefully make new radio friends and just get to share my music in one way or another! I'm excited about that.

When I get back in June, Andrew will come back in to record vocals for his album! Then it's off to mix and master on that project.

The day we finish Andrew's record Brian will come in to start working on his record. That should last until early August.

Then in August, it's tentative, but there's a major label artist I'm working hard on pitching Steve Bishir and I to co-produce! Hopefully it works out!!!

Then September is a tour that is being finalized now (more on that soon!!!)will head out until the first week October and will pick up again for all of NOvember!

So, life is good.

But life is crazy.

An "I Love You" to the Jennifer Knapps

2010-04-15T10:12:00.004-05:00

Jennifer Knapp recently came out as being in a same-sex relationship in an interview with Christianity Today. Rumors had swirled around Jennifer for a really long time, and when she left the business in 2003 the whispers were that she was gay and that she had left to pursue a relationship with a significant other who happened to be another woman. Turns out all the rumors were justified.

In the interview, Jennifer talks about being a believer and a lesbian and feeling as though Scripture backs her up, using such outdate Old Testament laws as eating shellfish and being around a woman when she is menstruating to show that as believers we have double standards...we hold up one outdated law while letting go of others (2 Levitical laws - seriously, you weren't allowed to be around a woman menstruating...seems like God would want you to avoid the 3-4 days before menstruating, for the good of everyone...but I guess it had to do with some kind of picture of "unclean").

The problem is, sexual sins are talked about in the New Testament, too, when grace had come into the picture.

But this post is NOT meant to be a debate on whether or not homosexuality is wrong or right.

This post is meant to spur a discussion on what our reaction should be - not only to Jennifer, but to other believers who inevitably will begin to admit their sexuality as it becomes more and more socially acceptable.

The album I am furiously working on finishing has a theme. The theme is brokenness mirroring redemption. It can be broken down to this: when the world around us screws up, how do we react.

But I think that Christians, for the most part, "get" the fact that we can't expect unbelievers to live by the same set of rules as those of us who believe. I think most of us Christians understand (for the most part) that we need to love our co-workers as they are and pray that they come to salvation, that they possibly see a light in us that sparks a question that leads to the answer. And I think most of us understand that love is to be pure, not condescending. We are to love the broken and dirty with sin, because WE are broken and dirtied by sin. The only difference is that our sins have been covered by the blood of Christ.

But here's where we miss it, I think:

When a believer "falls", we treat them differently. To a certain extent I get why. We view other believers as "knowing the truth" so "living in sin" they KNOW they're doing wrong.

This goes so much further beyond Jennifer Knapp coming out. This goes to the Sunday School teacher in your church that has an affair. This goes to your son's friend who believes he might be gay. This goes to the child molester in your neighborhood who you realize happens to go to your church. This goes to the believers who fall in a very public way.

We are called to love because we were first loved. We are called to give because God gave to us. But for some reason we separate it in our heads to loving the world while waiting to pounce on other believers when the dirt comes out.

Ted Haggard fell in a huge way. His life will never be the same. He was making 6 figures or more as one of the most powerful pastors in America. He was and is an incredibly dynamic yet basically lost everything when he fell. And why? Because he lied to cover up his sins before coming clean, making the church look bad. We pounced on him like a tiger when the dirt started flying and a man's life will never be the same.

I just heard you say: "but there are consequences for sin". Yes. There are. BUT - the consequence for sin should NEVER be loss of communion with other believers. You can bring up Matthew 18: you confront the believer in sin, if he doesn't repent you go back with 2-3 other believer, and if he doesn't repent, then you treat them like they are unbelievers. So, basically we go back to where we started. We love the world because they don't know the truth. When a believer falls and doesn't repent Scripture tells us that we begin to treat them as the world again.

We love the sinner unconditionally, without consequences and without condescension. It is clear in Scripture that a true believer can not live in a constant state of sin. Honestly, I don't understand that, but Scripture says it, not me. I feel as though I live in a constant state of sin. I'm sick with it. I'm sick with self, I'm sick from pride, I'm sick of all the times of lied, I've struggled and I've tried to be all right. But I'm never all right. I fall and I fall again. I think too much of myself, I get angry at the stupid drivers in front of me, I treat my wife without the respect and love she deserves. Granted I'm not doing one of those things all the time, but in a day my sin adds up.

And so does yours.

Is Jennifer Knapp gay and a believer? She says she believes and she says she's gay. it is not my place to make the judgement - ultimately her salvation/sanctification is between her and God alone. I hope there are people in her life he gently confront her in love and tug at her heart, trying to pull her closer to the picture of a believer we see in Scripture. But ultimately I believe we have to take a person's word at face value.

What the point of this whole post is this: calling believers to step up and love. A lyric on my new record says this:

We are, we are
We are all broken people
But we've been set free and loved
We are, we are
We are the chosen people forgiven much
So where's our love?

Another lyric says this:

I wanna love because you loved
I wanna give because you gave

We're all messed up. As believers, we're dirty and broken and ugly and trashy and nasty...yet God loved us first. How can we do anything but do what Jesus told us are his greatest commandments: Love Him with all our hearts and love people.

So to the Jennifer Knapps of our world; to the fallen and the broken and messed up people whether they believe or not, I say this: I love you. Without condescension. Without judgement. I love you.

Because God loved me in my filth.

Update on recording

2010-03-24T12:28:00.003-05:00

Recording has gone well.

The first 8 songs were worked on starting 3-4 weeks ago with my buddy Steve Bishir. We got those done very quickly.

We then began work on the final 6 songs, 5 with Pete Kipley and 1 (entitled "One") with Steve and me again.

6 songs have lead vocals completed. We have moved vocals over to my home studio now for the last 3 that Steve and I are working on, as well as the many background vocals and double and triple vocals I'm laying down on this record, plus on Modern Liturgy (which will be part of the pre-release package - this used to be known as Requiem, btw). So hopefully a lot of that will be completed in the next week or so.

We already have had one string session. We brought in an 8 piece string section (4 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos). We have put strings on Modern Liturgy, Beginning Not the End, Broken (beautiful), and Scars. I did the string arrangements this time around: my buddy Don Chapman is buried underneath Easter stuff, so with a little help from a copyist and the string contractor, I put together the arrangements...and man I'm excited about how everything sounds. Modern Liturgy sounds ridiculous.

So, what is left?

Well, as said before, I still have 3 lead vocals to do for the songs that Steve and I are working on. Then April 4 I'll be going out to Pete's studio/house in San Diego to cut the vocals on the 5 songs he's working on. I also have to lay down the vocals for Modern Liturgy, which is exciting.

I'll be going down in April to North Greenville College (my alma mater) to record my old choir on Modern Liturgy. I'm excited about that and it's a cool opportunity for them. Since Modern Liturgy has that classical element to it, it's great and natural to use those guys.

We'll have one more string session for One, Still You Love Me, and In the Weak.

Then it's on to mix.

Looks like F. Reid Shippen will be doing 7 songs and Steve Bishir and I will be mixing the other 7! And I will be mixing (with some thoughts from Steve) Modern Liturgy.

So, we're coming into the home stretch for this record!

Hopefully within the next 4-6 weeks you will hear the first single from this record on a radio station near you!

The Double Edged Sword of American Idol

2010-02-28T17:01:00.007-05:00

I think that most Idols that you talk to would tell you they wish they'd never done American Idol. In fact, I was just talking to an Idol Friday who said the same thing. I think that most of that feeling is naivety in what Idol can and will do for you. Perhaps some of that feeling comes from the stigma that is with the term "american Idol". I don't know. It's a double-edged sword.

I'm somewhere in between, I think.

I had labels interested and had won national vocal and songwriting contests before Idol. I think that getting signed was around the corner from me...in fact I know it was. But Idol simply took things to another level for me. It's a double-edged sword.

It opened up doors with labels because 35 million saw me on tv. But on the other hand it was the same labels I'd worked with before Idol. I had 11 labels at one point interested. But in the "real world", beyond the labels, beyond everything else, there's a stigma at radio (CCM, pop, etc) with Idols; there's a stigma with concert venues (again, both churches and mainstream venues) and there's a stigma with the consumers. In other words, Idol opens up doors to have a chance. But because of what past Idols have done the chance becomes slimmer, if that makes sense.

For instance, for the genre I chose to go into, as a new artist selling 60,000 albums, it is remarkable. 3rd-best selling new artist since 2008. I mean, every new artist in my genre would kill to have that combined with a top 5 single. But because of being on Idol, the uninformed look at those sales as a failure. Whereas when faced with the actual facts, I have to be excited about my career! But I have people tell me all the time that it must suck to be as much of a failure as I am. Haha...it's a double-edged sword.

Would I have sold 60k on my debut without Idol? Hmmm...maybe...but let's be honest probably not. From research I've done, for the average new CCM artist a top 5 single on a debut album (rare, very rare) is worth 20-30k. The 2nd single is where the new artist's debut record is made or broken. Usually the 2nd single is worth 2-3 times in sales what the first single was. Sometimes more. So, if a 2nd single goes top 5 following a top 5 1st single, a new artist should sell an additional 40-80k. I sold 60k off 1 top 5 single, a top 15 single and 2 singles that promotion was pulled for before they got off the ground (because of getting out of my deal with Brash) - you could easily call those 2 flops, though it is more complex than that. My point: Idol FOR SURE helped my sales. Brand recognition right off the bat.

But when I started touring, I was told by my booking agent that many promoters wouldn't work with me because they had been burned in working with other Idols before me. Lack of sales, lack of promotion, lack of success at radio, diva-esque attitudes all played a huge role in that. I had to go out and prove that the Christian market was truly where I was called to be; I had to prove that I could sell tickets; I had prove I didn't have an attitude; and I had to prove I wasn't the same as those before me. Since I began touring, I have averaged about 400 tickets a night when I headline (obviously sometimes much, much more, sometimes much, much less - I played a show last year on the acoustic tour to 9 people...who ALL came to see the opener - haha). And it continues to grow. Idol allowed people to come to shows right off the bat. But promoters wouldn't book a sure thing. Double-edged sword.

Even my top 5 single "Empty Me" was subject to the double-edged sword. There were many stations that wouldn't play the song at first because I was an Idol. To put it in perspective: Chris Tomlin's single off their new record was on all reporting stations within 6 weeks of coming out. "Empty Me" got it's last add 16 months after we went to radio. We were lucky to get a top 5. The fact it was up for song of the year at the Dove's was only because it had tested so well with the stations that played it over a year's time. The song worked because I'd come from Idol But it took so long to catch on because I came from Idol. LOL..the double-edged sword.

All that to say this: I am eternally grateful for what Idol has done for me. But I have made a tough decision to remove Idol from my life. In talking about promoting the new album with my new label I have made it clear that I want no mention of Idol in any of my promo materials. With venues we are beginning to make it clear that in promoting shows, Idol is to have little to do with promoting the shows. I am removing Idol's effect from my career. I've paid homage to what Idol has done for me. Now, it is time to move on as Chris Sligh the artist. Not Former American Idol Chris Sligh. Idol didn't give my talent to me. It didn't develop my talent. It didn't get me my new record deal - my last record's success and my artistry did. It gave me a chance that I was able to take advantage of...nothing more, nothing less.

Even in commenting on American Idol it's a double-edged sword. Most people see that my commenting is tongue-in-cheek and as a fan. Still, others view my comments as disrespectful to the thing that "made me". Most see that my comments about contestants comes as a fan who happens to have "been there, done that". Still others view what I do as jerk-ey and insensitive to the feelings of a bunch of kids who will never read my comments. Haha...it's a double-edged sword.

With all of this in mind, it seems a bit hypocritical to be tweeting about Idol and Idols as much as I do. So, as of today, I am making a conscious decision to delete Idol from my publishing life as well. I will not be commenting on Idol any longer. I think that this is the season to stop: it's so horrible that I can't imagine that I will have ANYTHING to say but negative...and I am simply trying to control how much negative I have a part in. Well, I may throw a comment in every now and then...but not en force like it has been in the past.

So, Idol is a double-edged sword...but it won't be with me any more. I'll end with this:

American Idol, thanks for the joy you've given me for the last 3 years, both in my career and seeing how other's succeed. But I've got to let you go now. Time to move on! Good luck to you in the future...you are loved.

The Anatomy of Broken

2010-01-24T12:24:00.003-05:00

So, for over a year the planned name for this second album has been "All the Angles". I think I've even mentioned that title several times here on the record.

Well, yesterday, I was making a disc of all the songs that will be on the record and as I was listening through the songs, I realized there was a common theme throughout the entire album. Nearly every song spoke in some way of being broken. In fact I think there are 6 or 7 songs that actually have the word "broken" in the lyrics at some point. But it's not just saying "I'm broken" or "you're broken"...it's looking at brokenness in every way possible.

For instance, "Only You Can Save" tells of loving the broken because God loved us first. "In the Weak" speaks of reaching out to the broken because God lives in the broken. "Our Love" talks about the fact that we are all broken people because of the sin condition, so why would we not love the world around us, when we have been forgiven much. A new song called "Scars" takes a Brennan Manning quote that says "God will not look you over for medals, diplomas, or honors, but for scars" and talks about the fact that it is our scars that speak to grace. And so on...nearly every song speaks of brokenness.

So the new title of the record is "The Anatomy of Broken"

I'm so pumped for you guys to hear everything on this record!

Lyrics to the New Songs

2010-01-20T10:23:00.002-05:00

Our Love (Chris Sligh)

So where did we go wrong that it's common place

For the world to think we stand for hate

One too many picket sign

Has deflected one too many times

The fact that all our lives were simply meant to give away

Oh, we're all messed up

Oh, but isn't that the point of love?

We are, we are

We are all broken people

But we've been set free and loved

We are, we are

We are the chosen people

Forgiven much

So where's our love?

We come into this mess, sin upon our heads

Born equals in a race that ends only with death

But we've been running in reverse

Since love conquered death's dark curse

Shouldn't we reflect His love to a world hung by a thread?

Oh, we're all messed up

Oh, but isn't that the point of love?

Chorus

Gotta give, oh

Gotta give, oh, gotta give all our love

Gotta give, oh

Gotta give all our love to a lost and dying world

Chorus

So reach out, there's someone you know

That has never seen God's love

Reach out, someone you love

Feels like they've never been enough

Reach out, the untouchables

The un-reachables, the never-thought-ofs

Are in need, they're in need

They're in need of our love...

Sunny (Chris Sligh)

Well, you bring the wings and I'll bring the flightplan

Cuz you're an angel and I am just a man

But I've been a better man since you got here

And life is better, too, cuz my world revolves around you

Clouds are gone and skies are blue

There's nothing to bring us down, whoa...

Things are looking sunny

Things are looking sunny since I found you

All of your skin looks good touching my skin

You're so pretty, I just fell in love again

It's love at each sight, over and over

My heels are over head, now it's me revolving round you

Chorus

Everything's bright, everything clean

Everything's like my favorite dreams

Cuz my favorite dream is you

The turn of your head, the flick of your wrist

Everything about you, you don't need a list

To know my favorite dream is you, you, you, you...

Chorus

Spring Tour

2010-01-17T15:13:00.003-05:00

We're putting together our Spring Tour and would love your help. We have quite a few dates coming together right now, but are trying to fill out a tour and want to go where the fans are, not just where we have gone before.

So, here's the deal....

The Spring Tour is going to be a virtual smorgasbord of what I think is cool music.

Opening up the show will be my good friend Andrew Witt.

Then (if everything gets taken care of contract-wise - I'm about 95% sure he'll be coming out) will be one of my favorite new artists, Danyew. This guy's music is incredible. And I've heard his live show will blow you away.

Following him will be a new band called Satellites & Sirens. Cool synthy pop/rock. Great guys.

Then we have a comedian called Brother Preacher. Look him up on YouTube. Hilarious.

Then I will close out the night.

Sound like a fun tour? Does to me...

So, here's how we need your help:

In the comments section below, leave me your hometown (where you live, not where you were born...lol), the church that you go to and a list of a couple of other churches in your area that are known for doing shows. We want to come to you. So help us do that with just a little information.

It's been almost a month

2010-01-03T18:38:00.002-05:00

Figured it was time to let you guys know what's going on.

The deal is still waiting to be finalized. Gosh this thing has taken forever...I mean, it makes sense when you look at when it has been done - everyone has taken vacations while negotiating this deal, we finally get it done and then Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays happen. Haha...it's almost laughable how many breaks have come along during this negotiation. It is almost as if God is simply trying to teach me patience through this whole process. I mean, think about it: Originally, I was supposed to start recording January of 2009. It's only God's grace that I haven't gone insane.

However, to look at the bright side: the album I would've made in January of last year would NOT have been as good as the album is now. I think it would've been a good to really good album. But over the last year, the project has taken focus, I've figured out what I think I'm supposed to say, how I want to say it musically...and the songs are just better than they were then. Really, almost half the album has been written SINCE we started negotiating this deal. The album is a completely different thing than it was in May or June.

The Record Company I'm signing with has what many consider to be the best radio department in the CCM business. They've broken several acts in the last couple of years and have had great success with newer artists at radio. I am PUMPED to see what they do with my singles.

2010 is going to be busy for me, but not as busy out in the public as the last couple of years have been. We will be recording as soon as the deal is finished and will probably spend 3-4 months working on the record this time. The single, though, should come out in March or early April. I'm doing a small tour in March and April - probably 15-20 dates in 2 weeks spurts - with Andrew Witt, Satellites & Sirens, Dr. Preacher (a very funny comedian) and possibly Danyew! I'll have more on that tour to come.

Also, this year I have several tv and film possibilities coming up. My agents have been working hard and once I have more definite info I'll give it to you, but there are some cool things about to happen in that arena.

The summer will be a busy time of writing. I'm planning on being out in L.A. for part of the summer, writing with a ton of writers out there, and of course I'll be writing with a bunch of people here in Nashville. Since the album will probably be done at that point, I'll be able to relax a little leading into the album release and the Back to School Tour III.

So, the album will come out in early September, I think....obviously nothings definite until it's definite, but according to when the single will hopefully come out vs when the album will be done, etc...I'd guess early September. Just in time for the 3rd Annual Back To School tour.

The 3rd Annual Back to School Tour will go out in September/October again, then we will be doing a cool acoustic tour in November and then (hopefully) my 1st Chris Sligh Christmas tour in December. We'll probably only do 7-10 dates, but it will be cool to play some Christmas music.

So...that's how the next year is looking!

Another Song on Hold

2009-12-07T12:44:00.003-05:00

"Till Somebody Loves You" has been put on hold by one of the bigger male country artist (who btw is up for a Grammy this year). Can't say who it is, but it's a big enough artist that I'm PUMPED that he might record the song!

The writing thing keeps going pretty well...let's hope this one gets cut. After 2 straight high profile holds and then passes ("love is Strong Enough" & "Wouldn't Change a Thing"), it'd be nice to see this one go all the way! Cross your fingers and pray!

Pre-production

2009-12-03T02:48:00.002-05:00

On Monday, I woke up bright and early and packed up a bunch of my guitars, amps, pedals and my computer and headed over to Steve Bishir's studio, where Jon Skaggs, Clint Milburn, Tommy Lee and I set up and spent 3 days recording rough demos of all the songs that will be on the record. The plan, as we went was to work out arrangements, rework arrangements as needed, and simply start to work through a pile of ideas of parts that everyone could play.

I was both excited and nervous as I headed in with MY band. It's unusual in this business to use your own players....in fact a lot of actual bands don't actually play on their albums...they hire session players to record for them. Obviously, when we play live it feels like we're really tight...but you never really know until you get into a room, play through songs and then listen back. Any nervousness I had has been wiped away. These guys are remarkable and after almost 2 years on the road together, we ended up being very tight as we listened back on tape. That's a good feeling. To play with guys that have become your friends and listen back and realize that, man, this sounds really good!

Anyway, we did a basic set up: all of us in one room, me playing electric guitar; Clint, of course, playing electric guitar (our amps were in isolation booths off to the side of the live room); Tommy on bass through a direct box straight into the system; and Jon on drums with just 4 mics set up (2 overheads, 1 on kick, 1 on snare). These aren't the real recording that will end up on the record, obviously...the goal was really just to get to hear how everything sounds and to come up with basic parts, as I said before.

On Monday, we took most of the morning getting everything set up and getting basic sounds. By about 11:30 we finally started working on our first song. One by one over Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, we went through the 14 songs that would make up the album, plus the 2 songs that we plan on recording for iTunes exclusives...

I can't begin to tell you guys how excited I am about how everything is sounding. As we went through all the songs and worked out arrangements, I was so happy with several things:

1) The songs stand up. Sometimes when I demo something on my own, it just doesn't translate when you get real players playing it. I program stuff and play what's in my head...but when you get it out to other people, they don't have the affection for the song that I did. Maybe they just don't get it. Maybe they just don't like it. Maybe the song just stinks to begin with. But for some reason it doesn't work. Every song I thought worked ended up working with everyone playing.

2) We're not settling for "stock" parts and arrangements. The mantra throughout the whole 3 days was don't think like session players. Session players are the guys who play on most Christian records. Incredibly talented and perhaps WAY more talented than my guys (though I could argue they aren't). However, they play on different records every day of every week. Eventually, they develop a "thing" that they do and you know (for the most part) what you're getting with a certain player. As we worked this week, we really tried to treat the songs as a band would treat them...not how a session player would treat them. I know it sounds nominal, but the difference is phenomenal. My goal with this record is to create a record that stands up 20 years from now. Obviously, I want success on radio now...but I think you can make records that have radio hits while at the same time doing something interesting and different. And a lot of that comes back to how the players arrange their parts: how the drummer approaches his parts; how the bass player gets in the groove; how the guitar players parts interact with the rhythm section. Obviously we're just getting parts worked out, but what was encouraging was how the guys caught what I was going for immediately...

3) We have radio songs. Nothing is guaranteed with radio, obviously. But as we worked out arrangements, we were all struck with how commercial songs like "Only You Can Save", "In the Weak", "I'm Ready" and "One" ended up turning out. Even the demos just sounded like radio waiting to happen. That is exciting! We need radio to sell records...we need to sell records to get people to come out to shows (and THAT is the most important thing, of course!)

4) The diversity of this album is cool. The album has an overall "Sound"...probably most described as synthy pop rock. But we throw in some surprises. There's some acoustic stuff. Bells make an appearance. Choir pops up. String sections ranging from single cellos to quartets to a full string section will be on several songs. A banjo will probably be played on at least one song. Lots of little synth parts. I mean...I think this record is going to be so much ear candy it won't be funny! You will want to listen to this album on headphones!

So...all that to say: I'm pumped. I can't wait until we actually record these songs and you get this album in your hand and ears!!!

Till Somebody Loves You

2009-11-24T16:10:00.001-05:00

Head over to myspace.com/chrisslighsongwriting to check out a new song I wrote with my friends Bryan Simpson and Wade Kirby. I like it a lot...it's called "Till Somebody Loves You".

Track by Track of For Your Entertainment

2009-11-23T01:03:00.003-05:00

This is a track by track synopsis of the album...I'll give each song a grade on a scale of 1-10 and then the reasons why...then the overall grade.

1) Music Again 6/10
This song was written by The Darkness front man Justin Hawkins. Kinda silly lyric. "You make me wanna listen to music again". Hey, pop music is filled with stupid lyrics... In this case it sounds like Adam is harping every run and vocal trick that Justin did in the demo. However, the song sounds really good. And really Adam tones down the Broadway-ness that bothered me in his Idol run. I think this is a fun song. Thus 6/10. Not groundbreaking or revolutionary but fun. Entertaining.

2) For Your Entertainment 6.5/10
Interesting track...Dr. Luke and Claude Kelly. Sounds a bit like "I Kissed a Girl"...I really like the track a lot. Adam's voice is toned down and popped out, which is a good thing for pop music. The bridge has him doing some of his trademark squeels. Not my favorite thing, but impressive. As a pop hook, the song isn't that catchy or hooky. I'll be surprised if it's a big hit, but it could be simply off of the sound of the track alone. And his voice does sound good.

3) Whataya Want From Me 8.5/10
Pink donated this track. Sounds like a Pink song. Written with hitmaker Max Martin. This sounds really good. So far this is the highlight. I like the way the track sounds and the lyrics are typical Pink-type wanna be deep. And I mean that as a compliment...I actually enjoy Pink's writing a lot. Adam does some crazy vocal stuff at the end that kinda ruins it for me, but overall very strong. Nice song.

4) Strut 5/10
Written by Adam with Greg Wells (produced Katy Perry & One Republic) and Idol judge Kara DioGuardi. Um...what to say about this song. The track is kind of cool. Trying to be riffy rock, but the production and lyric takes it to this really poppy place that reeks of not rock. The lyric is beyond assinine. And I think I'm being kind with that assessment. The bridge is musically interesting...really the coolest part of the song. Then back to the wanna be riffy rock. Not a lot of good about this song. Pretty weak.

5) Soaked 9/10
Written by the lead singer of one of my favorite bands of all time: Muse's Matthew Bellamy. Really interesting Muse-ish intro. Adam's voice doesn't sound as cool as Matthew's...but then few do. He's trying hard to cop Matthew's vocals from the demo. This is the over the top retro pop/rock ballad that people are wanting from Adam after his time on Idol. Very baroque-type chord progressions that you expect from Muse. THIS is the song I want to hear Adam sing more of. Definitely the highlight so far in the album. His vocals are in check throughout this one...really really great performance.

6) Sure Fire Winners 5.5/10
Interesting club-like intro. Interesting production by Rob Cavallo. I like the sound of this but the song is just so-so. Adam is trying really hard to sell this song with an interesting vocal, but the song just isn't a great song. Feels lyrically and sounds like a wanna be "We are the Champions" type song. I really hope I never hear this at a football game. If you're downloading highlights only, leave this one off the list. It has it's interesting seconds, but is overall a loser.

7) A Loaded Smile 6.8/10
Written by hitmaker Linda Perry (producer of Pink's big records, Gwen Stefani, many more). I really like the moody/ethereal intro to this one. Very cool synth/guitar stuff. The chorus doesn't really lift or hook for me. It's an interesting song but as an enjoyable piece of pop music, it misses just a little bit. Beautiful song, though. Not a highlight, but FOR SURE not a low light. Good song. Adam's falsetto is quite nice on this one.

8. If I Had You 7/10
Another Max Martin creation. Max's tracks are always cool. But this one is very much style over substance. The chorus is catchy as crap, though. Very hooky, catchy chorus, though...so that makes up for what I think are weak choruses. The lyrics are typically stupid pop lyrics. Oh well...it's pop music. Maybe down the road Adam can write from his heart instead of trying consistently for pop anthems... The bridge is weak. Bridge's can make or break a song for me...in this case it pushed the grade a little lower, unfortunately. but man that chorus is ridiculously catchy. Disco beat plus catchy melodic chorus makes up for a lot of ills.

9. Pick You Up 6.2/10
This song came from Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo with additional writing from Greg Wells and Adam Lambert. This song is lyrically kinda stupid. Musically, it goes between really great and just okay. The chorus is kind of cool. The verses are so-so. Adam's voice sounds really really good on this song. But the song is just...so-so. I really want to like it better...maybe with time it'll grow on me...

10. Fever 7.2/10
This was a Lady Gaga creation. The synth work on the verses is really interesting. The track sounds really good. Adam is really going Broadway on these vocals. Not my favorite vocal of his on the record. But the song is pretty cool, actually. I really like the song itself and the way it sounds. And the lyric is kind of an interesting take on pop. Very cool, actually. But the vocals just grate on me on this song.

11. Sleepwalker 8/10
Ryan Tedder wrote this with a couple of big Nashville writers. I'm a big fan of Tedder's writing and production. Wow...vocally Adam sounds A LOT like Ryan Tedder on this one. You know, as good a singer as Adam is, I'm surprised at how many songwriter's vocal tics he adopts on these songs. This is an interesting song and, as always Tedder's tracks sound great. The synth pad he is using sounds a little dated, but that may have been a deliberate choice. Side note: Tedder's songs are obvious...he has such a style of his own. I have to admit that I think he's a pop genius. Call me a sell out, I don't care. I like Tedder's songwriting. I really like this song overall...not a highlight but strong. The guitar solo on the bridge and outro was a little over the top silly 80's for me without having the pinache of, say, Brian May...so that loses some points...

12. Aftermath 8/10
Adam wrote this with Ferras and a couple of other songwriters. Actually a really strong song. This gives me pause and gives me hope that as a songwriter, Adam will be able to find his own voice and write lyrics that say or mean something. Granted the other songwriters may have driven the boat on this, but overall this is a really strong song. Howard Benson's production on this one is one of the best on the record, especially as a rock record. Good song, good performance. This one actually rocks about as hard as pop/rock is allowed to rock (i.e., Daughtry & Nickelback). Big guitars on this one, toned down synth stuff...good sounding song.

13. Broken Open 7/10
Written by Adam, Greg Wells and a songwriting acquaintance of mine Kidd Bogart. Bogart actually did a few songs with Blake Lewis on the Idol tour, so I met him a few times...good guy. Anyway...the song. Really, really cool intro to the track. Very ethereal instrumentation. At the top of the song, his voice is soaked in reverb...nice programming on the first verse. Sounds like they're really trying to cop a Madonna type feel...or maybe ethereal/world music Sting. Actually interesting. One of the more interesting tracks on the record. There's some interesting samples and glitch editing on this song. Not a super strong song, but it gets points for being one of the most interesting on the record.

The album also includes a bonus track of his 2012 song Time For Miracles. I won't review that. it would take down the average. Not a fan of that song.

Anyway, overall I thought the album was relatively strong. One of the better post-Idol debuts for sure. I am looking forward to Adam's next album, if 19E doesn't pull its usual hit and run. Hopefully next time around, Adam is able to write more of the record and develop as an actual artist, not simply a puppet singing other people's songs. I think the listener wants to hear what Adam has to say...well, maybe.

So, my overall grade is: 7/10 (averaging all the song grades together)...I'd say that's about right. Strong, decent effort, but I'm looking forward to growth on his next record.

Here's the Deal...

2009-11-20T16:27:00.003-05:00

Well, the deal is finally done. We got everything worked out with everyone involved and are finally moved on to the long form. So, unless something crazy happens in the long form phase (which rarely if ever happens) then within a couple of weeks, this deal will be done officially, official announcements and press releases will be made and within a few weeks I'll be in a warm, cozy recording studio working on album #2...tentatively titled "All the Angles". For that I am very excited.

The album will still have 14 song plus musical interludes. Some songs have changed...here is the tentative track listing:

1. Intro/Naive
2. Losing My Faith
3. Only You Can Save
4. In the Weak
5. Taking It Back
6. Catching Up
7. Still You Love Me
8. Chasing Down a Name
9. Beginning/End
10. I'm Ready
11. Love is the Answer
12. One
13. Always You
14. Broken/Beautiful

Of the songs on there, the ones I don't think you've heard yet are Taking It Back, Still You Love Me, Love is the Answer and One. Taking It Back was written with Jason Walker and talks about being away from home as much as I am and how it affects relationship. Still You Love Me is song I wrote with Rebecca St. James that ended up not working for her record so I snatched it. It's one of my favorites on the record. I'm really excited about that song. We haven't talked about it yet, but my wish list includes getting Rebecca to come and do vocals on the songs with me (fingers crossed!). Love is the Answer was written with Jon Skaggs. We were just trying to write a cool but different rocker. And finally is One. One is a song I wrote with a guy from Atlanta named Travon Potts. It's really pop and really kinda cool...I'm excited about this one. Similar to the feel of Only You Can Save music wise. Lyrically it's a call for unity, forgiveness and love within the church.

Anyway, more news as it comes!

ETA: Hey I threw One up on myspace.com/chrisslighproductions 2nd song.

Much Needed

2009-10-31T12:25:00.003-05:00

Well, we got home at noon on Monday after driving through the night from Enid, OK. We unloaded all of our crap and I proceeded to fall into bed and take a nap to make up for the hour and a half sleep driving all night in the van. I ended up sleeping for 6 hours. Guess I needed it.

On Tuesday I jumped right back into things...maybe a little too fast. Mitch and I caught up over lunch then I went straight to a writing session with a worship leader named Jon Abel. We wrote for a couple of hours and then he headed off and Sarah and I caught up on some tv shows we'd DVR'd during my absence. Glee is incredible. Mad Men is marvelous. And Survivor this year is really good. That's the basics.

Wednesday I went over and sang a couple of demos for a couple of writers named Wade Kirby and Bryan Simpson. One of the songs I co-wrote with them...called "Till Somebody Loves You". Really cool kinda Bryan Adams-esque lyric with a cool country tune. Then I sang a really cool song the two guys wrote together called "Everytime". It was really fun to sing on demos...but by the end of that 2 hour session I was tired. Just still lagging from the tour.

On Thursday morning, we headed to Mt. Vernon, IL to play a one-off show for a church there. The show went great. The crowd was surprisingly really into it. Sometimes smaller towns seem to have a harder time when we rock out, but for the most part the people were really into it! We combined new and old songs, playing the 3 new songs we debuted on the Back to School Tour II plus songs from our regular set list. It was a fun time...my voice barely held up...I think the 2 months on the tour and not enough sleep over the 2 days off didn't give my voice the chance to get back into 90 minute show shape.

So anyway, we got back yesterday afternoon and Jon Skaggs and I went and saw a movie together. Good fun.

Hopefully rest happens asap. Shows not until next weekend, so I've got some time!

Back to School

2009-10-22T12:46:00.003-05:00

Well, Back to School Tour Volume II is coming to an end. By the end we'll have played for over 15k people, played 25 shows put over 10k miles on the vuses and spent 2 months not getting enough sleep, trying to sleep in our sunks (by the way, we imagine that our vans are buses and our seats are bunks...so we call them vuses and sunks).

This tour has been awesome in a lot of respects. The Orlando show was unbelievable. It was incredible to be able to step away from the microphone and hear 1200 people singing "Empty Me" at the top of their lungs. I think Orlando was my favorite show, simply because with 1200 people stuffed into a room designed to hold 700 chairs...sooo much energy. They sang "Only You Can Save" louder than I could have ever imagined.

This tour has been fun. Aaron and I have gotten to know each other much better and have become friends. Everyone on tour has become so close. Having Meredith out was a lot of fun...she's out with Smitty now, so Lanae is back, it'll be good to see her again.

Anyway, overall this tour has been everything I hoped the 2nd year of it would be. Ultimately, we grew. More people this year. Bigger artists on the tour. More artists on the tour. We're just building this thing year by year.

Next year will be even bigger!

Blake Lewis "Heartbreak On Vinyl"

2009-09-30T10:57:00.003-05:00

Hey guys, you can listen to all of Blake Lewis's new album "Heartbreak on Vinyl" HERE

Take a listen. I'm about half way through the album and it sounds really, really good. He's singing better than ever, the beatboxing is at a minimum and the tracks sounds great! THIS is the album he needed to make the first time around. Yes! My boy is rocking it!

Where I Am At

2009-09-24T14:46:00.002-05:00

So, I've received some questions pertaining to my deal...

So, I thought I'd let everyone know where I'm at. My explanation will contain some technical stuff, but it shouldn't be too hard to understand.

In May, after I left Brash (I asked out of my deal and they granted my request), I immediately started dealing with a major label (Christian major label tied in with a mainstream major label). Negotiations take more time than even I was prepared for. The reason why Idol contestant's signings are negotiated so quickly is that we negotiate for everyone before the season even starts...so once it's time to sign, there are no more negotiations. Brash was a small label, so our negotiations went extremely quickly (less than 2 weeks). So, I wasn't prepared that, when signing with a major, you are dealing with a behemoth that takes forever to do anything. It is seemingly impossible for a large label to do anything quickly because everything has to go through multiple and various channels.

So...

We have the deal negotiated. The thing that we finally hung up on was publishing. My publishing is with Brentwood-benson/Universal (BB/U). The way my deal works, on outside writes I split 50/50 with BB/U (a basic publishing deal). On songs I record, I get 75/25 (called a co-pub). The way the 75/25 works is that I own my writer's share (I can't give that up) and then own half of the publishing share on those songs I record. What the new label is asking for is the share of the publishing that I own, so basically, songs I record instead of being 50/50 would become 50 me/25 BB/U / 25 to the new label.

This is a lot to give up, especially for someone who writes all the songs on their own albums. But after discussing and thinking things through, it's an okay compromise to make: if the major label does what it should, I'll sell WAY more records than if I simply put out a record on my own. It's give and take...so we agreed to that compromise. We actually agreed to that compromise about 7 weeks ago.

The hang up right now is we are figuring out who will account for said monies. The new label doesn't feel like they should have to do it. BB/U doesn't feel like they should have to do it. So, we're stuck between 2 behemoths not budging and have been for way too long. Eventually, someone will budge and the deal will FINALLY be done. We're hoping it's within the next couple of weeks...but we've been hoping for that for a while.

So, the deal is completely done...with the exception of who is accounting for the 25% of songs I record on my album. It's funny the silly things that deals get stuck on. We worked through hundreds of detailed points in a few short weeks and get stuck on something this simple. It is funny, but frustrating. So...hopefully this will be done as soon as possible.

I just wrote the song that I feel like completes the album yesterday. So the songs are ready and rearing to go. So....we'll see when we can finally get in the studio. As far as I know, it'll be as soon as the tour is over...finally.

That's where I am at.

Phil Wickham

2009-09-23T02:02:00.003-05:00

All right, so I've talked about Phil Wickham before. He is one of my favorite artists and is simply incredible. Great songwriter. Great singer. Great everything. Right now, he has a deal on his website where you can download his new record 2 months before it's out in stores, plus you get an acoustic version of his record now, too. Plus you get the CD in the mail on release date and a t-shirt. All for $25. I just spent money on it. You should, too. Great, great record.

www.philwickham.com

In retrospect

2009-09-23T00:37:00.003-05:00

So, now that the fervor for this last blog has kinda died, I'd like to say this:

In mentioning what was going on with the Idols from my season, I was honest with what was going on, or my knowledge of what was going on with them. But, in living with the blog for the last days, I could see how it came across as condescending to their accomplishments after the show. I never want to push myself up by putting others down. It wasn't my intention with this blog but a few people pointed it out to me, and looking through that lens I can definitely see how it could come across that way.

My season of Idol will never get the props it deserves because it was completely thrown under the bus by Idol and 19E and because none of our season had the runaway success of a Kelly, Carrie or Chris. I know each of these people are innately talented...some just as miraculously good singers and others as more well-rounded musicians (i.e., ability to write, play an instrument, etc.). Others were blessed with other skills outside of just music, but never got the chance to showcase those.

I wish that some of my class of Idols had followed some of the advice I laid out. I truly believe there are 2 or 3 artists who never got the chance they should have. Not because they didn't work or didn't want to work. But I think they simply didn't know how to navigate some of these waters. Neither did I. I knew more than most, but I was lucky enough to have A-level management from the time in the midst of the tour that I got released from my Idol contract. And I have learned soooo much from them...

In my original post, I was trying to set up to this season's Idols, "Look, you probably know my name simply because of Idol, but you don't know that success isn't measured just by record sales anymore...let me lay out how I've been successful to let you know how you can be successful, too." It was never about patting myself on the back. It was never to brag to outside people about what I've done.

This isn't an apology, just an admission that I can see that I didn't give my season the props they deserved.

To the Idols: A Realistic look at your career prospects

2009-09-19T16:41:00.014-05:00

ETA: A lot of people have asked me why I wrote this blog. Honestly, I didn't realize that it was going to get as much interest as it already has by outsiders. I figured my blog readers would read it and I'd try to pass it on to the other top 10 Idols from this year through some of the guys I'd met from this season. The reason I wrote it is because I genuinely want for the Idols to read it, heed it and do well. Not everyone is trying for a career in the fashion I'm pointing out here...if the Idols want to do Broadway or acting or anything other than being a pop (inclusive of rock, r&b, etc) performer, this article/blog entry isn't for them....but if they are, this article has information I know to be invaluable. Some of it is info that I personally have not had to follow: when I moved to Nashville 8 days after tour ended, I had major management (for my genre) and a record deal basically in place (in the final negotiation stages). I also had a publishing deal in place (the company that got my Flatts' cut) and a booking agent picked out (and each of these cogs in the machine brought money to the table). I used my tour time to put all of these pieces in place. So, I haven't lived every single piece of it...and each situation is going to be different. But the basic premise involved with this article is true: if you work hard, you can and should be successful.

Secondly, this post aims at the top 10 members who have not been signed to 19E. We all know that those who have won or come in 2nd have failed, but they did have all the opportunities in the world coming off of Idol. My post is to the unsigned, lower ranking Idols.

On to the article...

So, American Idol Season 8 is officially finished. Last tour date done. People are moving home and for the next several years will try to move on. I believe that this season of Idol was one of the most talented, but if History repeats itself the majority of these Idols will do nothing in music and will be washes within 3 or 4 years. Not trying to be mean, just being real.

From my season of Idol, Jordin Sparks has an actual career. Blake probably should've but doesn't - though he does have a chance to connect in the dance world with his new music. ETA: I've been told that Melinda's first album was quite critically acclaimed and she is currently writing for her next record - sounds good. Lakisha just had a baby, but not much going on on the music front. Chris Richardson is writing a lot, but hasn't released more than a single so far. Phil has a chance to connect in the Christian market, but nothing is guaranteed. Sanjaya is...well, Sanjaya. Haley is in Texas doing something - not exactly sure if it involves music. Gina is putting together some new music, finally, 2 years later. And then there's me.

ETA: Someone brought up Jared Cotter (went home top 16 night my season) who had a big hit with Jay Sean called "Down". Props to him...my post was focusing on the top 10 of each season, but in reality, this success would put him to the top of our season - plus he has the hosting gig...Jared was one of those that was going to be successful no matter what - he got what Idol was and he got who he was.

If you look at Season 7, the odds are about the same. You've got Cook and Archuletta who are doing reasonably well. Then Castro who is signed to a major label. Michael Johns and Brooke have records out and have seen some chart success. Carly is now the frontwoman for Evanescence part 3.0. And the rest are trying to get something going.

So, how is it that the fat, not-so-great-looking guy who came in 10th place is the 2nd or 3rd most successful from his season and top 5 most successful over Season 6 & 7? The difference is pure drive and ambition and work ethic. I haven't had luck on my side. I haven't had a major label behind me yet (though that is about to happen). I haven't had 19E's help AT ALL. I have simply worked my tail off, been pro-active and worked on becoming better at my craft. Not that other people haven't worked...sure they've worked...but not on the right things in my estimation...and they've had an unrealistic view of what Idol can and will do for them.

Idol does not break new artists. It is a marketing machine for 19E to break their artists. They don't care about the ones who get away unless they make really really good (i.e., Jennifer Hudson and...well, that's it). It may sound cold, but the point of this is to rattle your brain and make you realize what is about to happen in your life.

So, my message to Season 8. You're not going to be successful. You're not going to be millionaires (with the exception of MAYBE Kris and Adam). You are going to struggle. No one will care about you. Those fans who've been asking for your autograph all tour long - 98% of them don't give a flying poo about you once next season of Idol starts. They're not going to buy your album when you put it out 2 years late. Chances are you'll never feel the rush of playing in front 10,000 people who care about you again. Your star is waning and remarkably quickly.

In other words, your days of being a star are over. But that's all right - so are mine. And I'm one of the most successful for my season of Idol. I'm not a star. Chances are I never again will be.

But here's what's awesome. I'm not a star. Few people know my name anymore. But I get to do music for a living. And I make a healthy living doing it. It's hard work. The late nights and early mornings sure do suck after a while. At 31 I wish I didn't have to travel in a van any more. But I did 137 shows last year. And that paid my bills and I even had some left over. And this year I'll do a few more shows than that. And that pays my bills with a little left over. And my writing career is helping me put money away. So...for those of us Idols who few care about any longer, there is hope.

Let me explain what needs to happen for you in the next few months.

First off: surround yourself with people who will be real with you. People who will tell you your music sucks, if it sucks. People who will tell you when you're being an idiot. People who will keep you grounded. But these same people also need to be the people whose shoulder you can cry on, who will encourage you when you do well and who will cheer for you. Your mom and dad are going to think everything you do is great, so they don't count. Get a manager who is someone who knows music and will challenge you when it's not quite good enough. Put together a team that loves you, cares for you...but will kick your butt when it needs to be kicked.

Secondly: Leave home and live WAY below your means. Move to a music city. L.A., New York or Nashville. Move there immediately. Don't wait for a record deal, because chances are you'll never have a record deal. Oh and when you move, get a crappy apartment that is cheap, cheap, cheap. You're not a rock star. You're a wanna be who happens to be more famous than most wanna bes are. Get a part time job with flexible hours that will help pay your bills...your tour savings will fly out of your bank account faster than you realize. $200k or whatever looks like a lot of money until you have to spend it. You need to finance your lifestyle and though a few gigs will pay big bucks most won't. So live WAY below your means. $200k now doesn't mean you will make remotely close to that next year.

Thirdly: Start booking yourself. CAA isn't going to book you. They don't care about you. Your deal with them is only because they have a deal with Idol. They care about the $100k gigs that Adam and Kris are getting right now. You're not going to get those. So, don't keep waiting for CAA to book you. They won't. Period. So, this is what you do: within the next 3 months pick 15 towns or cities within 5 hours of where you are and search the internet for their bar/music venues. Once you've found a couple in each town, pick up the phone and call them. Tell them who you are, tell them you're calling for yourself and that you want to play a show there in the next couple of months. Once you've put together a show in each of those 15 cities, you have yourself a tour. You won't make much money, so do it cheap...if you play an instrument go out solo. If you don't play, take out 1 player who can do what you want to do, and get him to work for cheap. Just so you have an idea, most of the time you should be able to get good players that will start with you for $100-150/show. You need merch to sell. You won't have music product yet - at least not new - so you need to have an array of GREAT t-shirts and gear. Cool designs that incorporate who you are as an artist. Don't get your mom to do the designs. Don't get your friends to make the t-shirts for cheap. Spend tour money on this stuff...it will pay back in spades. Cool gear = sales = people wearing your name on their chest = building a fan base. Once you've got shows booked and gear, get in a rental car and rock.

Fourthly: learn the freaking music business. Buy a book. Buy several books. Get Donald Passman's book All You Need to Know About the Music Business. Read it 3 times. Some of the info is dated, but it will genuinely help you understand why record labels are hurting and why you probably don't need a record label. Part of learning the music business is figuring out where you fit. I had mainstream major label deals offered, but studied and thought hard and figured out that the place I fit best in Christian music. For you it might be pop (though it should be understood that few artists - even major label artists - start off by jumping into the pop world...they usually start in smaller genre and work their way over to pop) or r&b...but study and figure out where your place is. If you're a white r&b dude, make sure there's a catch...there's already Robin Thicke... how is what you do different? We don't need another Robin Thicke or Justin Timberlake. If you try to be like them you'll always be considered simply a cheap American Idol rip off of said artists. And honestly that is the worst thing you can be - a cheap Idol take on something else.

Fifthly: once you've moved to a music town, find people to jam and write with. You may not be a writer now, but you have a voice and you need to be able to speak with your voice. What does that mean? find people who are better writers than you, write with them, even if it's a matter of you simply finding a melody that fits your voice...oh, and if they write the majority of the song, offer to give them more credit than just the normal 50%. People who know you'll take care of them will work hard to help you be better. At this point that is what you need more than anything else: people who will work hard to make you better.

Sixthly: Work, work, work, work, work. Period. You have to work. Nothing and I do mean nothing is going to be given to you. 19E is not going to come back around. They're done with you. The music business, for the most part, will treat you like an outsider. And they should. You are just a game show contestant who still needs to prove why you should be here. They don't know you've worked for years in clubs or worked as a songwriter or developed your piano skills amazingly - all they know is that you're a game show contestant who is more famous than them for doing nothing other than making it on a tv show. So, go out and prove to them why you belong by working harder than they do to be better.

Seventhly: Get into a studio and get music down asap. Even if it's just an EP. However, walk the wire of finding the balance between getting music out and shooting yourself in the foot. If you don't have the songs, don't record music just to have it. You will kill your career. But, on the other hand, you need to get music out asap. So...write good songs or find good songs quickly.

Eighthly: Be proactive. I've said it before, but it's important to get: nothing is going to be given to you. If you get a record deal now, you deserve it. Why? Because you will have had to work for it. You will have gotten it because you worked not because Idol worked. this is about you, now. You have the power to be successful. You are talented. You have a skill set that should be shared with the world. But you have to seize the reins of your career and do something with your skills.

ETA: I saw this somewhere else and knew my post was missing something -

Ninthly (and finally): Freaking love what you do. When you don't love this anymore, when the pain of travel and the hurt from non-success hurts more than the joy you feel when you rock people live, quit. Go get a "real job". Love what you do. Do what you love. Period.

Back to School

2009-09-13T13:20:00.003-05:00

Back to School Tour Version 2.0 is under way. And so far (2 shows in) it's been great.

Not just saying this: you want to see this tour. Everyone is rocking it. Lanae was out for the first 2 shows and she rocked it. Meredith is on for the next few shows. She'll rock it. Andrew is literally blowing people away. Just rocking it. People are blown away that this young kid -unsigned, mind you - is as good as he is. It's pretty awesome for me to watch people react to him. It's impressive. Aaron is, of course, great, playing songs from all 3 of his albums. The songs from his new album seem to go over great. And of course "My Savior My God" still blows people away.

My set is going great. I start off with 3 new songs (well, 2 new songs and a rewritten old song): "Naive" (rewritten! and more rocking!), "In the Weak" and "Only You Can Save". The first two shows may be a fluke, but "Only You Can Save" is going over incredibly well. The whole audience is singing along with the chorus, and it's pretty incredible for me to hear a new song being sung like that! My set list ultimately looks like this:

Intro/Naive

In the Weak

Only You Can Save

Something Beautiful

Somewhere

Let You Know

Empty Me

35 minutes of rock and roll (well, we hope!).

Anyway, after Aaron's set, we have a short worship time to end the concert. I don't want to give too much away, but this time is really, really cool and really, really special. Maybe simply because it's so different, we've received more comments on this than anything else...but it really is a cool, special time.

So...come out and see my 2nd annual Back to School Tour! Go to chrissligh.com for more info on where the tour is hitting close by you.

Only You Can Save

2009-08-30T00:54:00.002-05:00

Hey guys, I just wrote this song...and I'm really pumped about it. It feels like one of those special ones. I don't know if it's a huge single or anything, but message-wise, it's exactly what I want to say...go over to myspace.com/chrisslighproductions and listen to the first song up: "Only You Can Save"

Here are the lyrics...

Only You Can Save

words and music by Chris Sligh

I saw a man today, his whole world across his back

A living monument opposed to my success

I tried to look into his eyes as his shuffled past my car

Sweat beading on his skin, his clothes and hair a mess

As the light turned green and I pulled away, he slowly disappeared

Just a memory of another chance I failed to show your love here

I wanna love because you loved

I wanna give because you gave

I wanna reach my hand out to the lost

'Cause I know your hand will save

Yeah, only you can save...

Sometimes I have to wonder if I really want to know

The struggle and the pain that others feel

Do I want to hear the stories I see echoed in their eyes

Or is this love I say that I'm reflecting even real

As the light turns on inside my head and I slowly disappear

I steel myself cuz what you call for me is to show your love here...

I wanna love because you loved

I wanna give because you gave

I wanna reach my hands out to the lost

'Cause I know your hand will save

I wanna love just like you loved

I wanna give just like you gave

I wanna reach out with your hands

'Cause only you can save

Yeah, only you can save...

Only you can save...

So let me be your hands...

So let me be your eyes...

Help me understand

That I'm your hands and feet hidden behind this frail human disguise...

chorus

Wouldn't Change a Thing

2009-08-26T18:15:00.003-05:00

Well, you remember I let you guys hear a song called "Wouldn't Change a Thing" recently. Well, today we got the news that one of the biggest solo artists in Country music put it on hold! Hopefully, we'll follow up "Here Comes Goodbye" with another hit!

Exciting news!!!

Also, I recently did a session for some of my country songs and got 5 done. 1 of the rough demos is up on myspace.com/chrisslighsongwriting.

It should be the first one up...called "I'm Yours".

Back...Back in the Saddle Agiiii-hin

2009-08-26T15:39:00.002-05:00

Sorry if the blog has felt neglected. Pretty much everything has been neglected, I guess. Just go nothing going on at the moment. A few shows here and there, but still waiting for this record deal to finally be done. Who knew a major label deal could possibly take this long. These are the guys that have been doing it for 50 years...you'd think they'd know how to get it done fast, huh? LOL...

Anyway...life is good. Follow on twitter..I do pop up there a little more often just b/c of the amount of words needed to put something together over there!

All right...new discussion!

Andrew Witt/Rough Draft

2009-08-06T21:26:00.002-05:00

Well, some of you may have realized through my twitters that Rough Draft has broken up. Andrew (lead singer) recently came into town to start writing for their full length record and the more we talked and assimilated the information we had at hand - what labels were saying, what we both saw as strengths and weakness, etc. - and finally Andrew came to the decision that it was going to better to leave the band and go solo. It was a tough decision, but ultimately, I believe, the right one.

Andrew is 18 years old and is literally one of the most talented, awesomely creative kids I've ever been around. He has great song writing skills, as well as good instincts about what feels right in a co-writing session. He has a great voice that is literally progressing by the day and is a fine musician. I think he has a long and fruitful career ahead of him.

Anyway, all that to say that, this week, Andrew has been in town writing for a full length album that we will (hopefully) begin recording before the end of the year. I am PUMPED about the music we've been turning out. I don't have anything for you guys to hear yet, but know this: his record is going to be incredible.

Paula has left Idol...

2009-08-05T01:18:00.002-05:00

I posted this over at twitter...thought I would post it over here with a little more comment...

Paula quit American Idol. I think probably more out of frustration than anything else...but she's gone and Fox has confirmed that she is gone. Ugly situation. I would imagine that Paula's move was of desperation, trying to get more money. But what I think she didn't realize is that Fox views Idol as bigger than anyone. Bigger than contestants. Bigger than judges (though the deal with Simon proves they value Simon a great deal). Bigger than Ryan.

I wrote up a jokey version of what I thought the conversation probably looked like over at twitter...here it is:

Paula: "If you don't pay me 1/10 of what you're paying Simon I'll walk...no, I'll dance away! I'll even choreograph it to be joyful!"

Fox: "Okay. Make sure to make a video of it and put it on youtube. Btw, we own youtube, too, so we'll be making money off u there, too."

Paula: {takes drink from coke cup, sighs as she stands up and claps her seal clap, single tears drip from each eye} Brilliant performance!

Fox: No, we're serious. We own youtube. And the video of you dancing away from Idol will seriously make us money."

Paula: {now frantic} Wait, you mean you're actually GOING to let ME leave?

FOX: {long dramatic pause}{in high-pitched voice} awk-weeeeeeerd.

I think that both Paula and Fox are making a huge mistake. Fox needs Paula...I think they underestimate the chemistry of the original 3 judges...and Paula needs Fox...I mean seriously did you guys see the Bravo series? She needs Idol.

I love Paula. The judges have nothing to do with the contestants with the exception of Paula. Paula actually cares for the contestants. She sees us as more than advertising dollars. And that was refreshing. To echo what Phil Stacey wrote in an earlier blog, I feel for the future contestants who don't get Paula's love.

Brad Paisley's American Saturday Night

2009-07-23T12:54:00.002-05:00

This album is incredible. It's funny that for the writing that I do, I don't listen to a ton of country music. There's the more pop artists like Keith Urban and of course Flatts. But for the most part, I don't listen to a ton of "real" country music.

Brad Paisley's music is more traditional "twangy" country. But, man, his songs are so freaking good, it's just nearly impossible not to love his stuff...at least for me. I'm a sucker for good songwriting. I study it, learn and try to emulate as much as I can. Brad's albums are just clinics on great, emotional but not sappy songwriting. He also has a wittiness that unparalleled in most people's songwriting.

So check out this album...

Standouts: "Then", "The Pants", "You Do the Math" and "Anything Like Me"

Wouldn't Change a Thing

2009-07-21T21:53:00.003-05:00

Hey guys, head over to myspace.com/chrisslighsongwriting and check out the new song "Wouldn't Change a Thing". I really love this song...maybe because usually when I'm writing country music, it's more writing a story about someone else. This one is straight from my heart to Sarah.

I remember the hard times and am so thankful to have a wife that stuck by me when I was nothing and no one else believe in me. This song is for her. I think someone will make this a big hit on the country side. But ultimately, this is for Sarah.

What's Goin' On...

2009-07-11T01:26:00.003-05:00

So, the last month and a half has been....well, odd. Weird. Different. Tough.

When I left Brash, I knew where I was going to go for my next record deal. I knew that was where I wanted to be and they wanted me to be there. And I still believe both of those things to be true. I just didn't know it was going to take so freaking long.

When Brash and I broke up, I was 2 weeks away from starting this record. Now, a month after I was supposed to start, well, I feel like I'm about to go stark-raving mad. I've never had so much creative energy just bundled up ready to pop out.

We have cut the album to 14 songs, plus a few instrumental interludes. Those 14 songs are in my opinion...well, incredible. Those that know me get that I'm not saying that in a cocky sort of way. I'm saying it in this sense: I truly believe that this album is the best work I have ever done. And I truly believe it may probably be the best work I'll ever do. So much pain and struggle has gone into making this album that I can't imagine ever topping this emotionally. And music, if done right, is 95% emotion. I'm warning you...if this album turns out how I think and hope and it will - how I hear it in my head - it's all downhill from here.

I am so ready to finally get in the studio and birth these songs into what they are meant to be. I'm pumped to get in the studio with some of my best friends and hash out arrangements and making sure every single note, every single beat, every single sound is exactly what it needs to be.

I think I told you guys this before, but this album will be branded as a band album. The credits will read:

Chris Sligh is...

Chris Sligh: lead vocals, keys, guitar

Clint Milburn: guitar, bgv's

Tommy Lee: bass, bgv's

Jon Skaggs: drums, percussion, loops, bgv's

So, obviously I'm excited about that. My band is making a record with me.

I'm excited to bring in guys like Jason Walker to do some piano stuff; Don Chapman will be coming in to do some strings stuff (this album will have a lot of strings); Blair Masters will hopefully come and do some keys stuff (he played on my last record); looks like Brown will be producing 3-4 songs.

The short of it is this: I'm pumped to make this record. I'm hoping to start by the end of the month. The songs are done. The guys are ready to rock. This project needs to be in your hands as soon as possible.

This album has been and I know will be life changing.

I hope it is for you, too.

In the Weak

2009-06-17T08:43:00.002-05:00

Check out myspace.com/chrisslighproductions - new song up called "In the Weak". I am really excited about this song. I wrote it with Meredith Andrews and it's going to be a perfect segue for me to talk about Compassion International in shows...plus I think the song ended up just really cool.

It's the first song when you navigate to the page...

I'm Ready

2009-06-11T09:34:00.002-05:00

An older song that has been around for a long while, will be on the next album, I'm about 99.9% sure. Especially with the arrangement I've worked on...everyone seems to be excited about this one...

Check out the demo at myspace.com/chrisslighproductions

Yesterday...

2009-06-08T11:17:00.004-05:00

...life changed for me. Not really sure why. Not really sure how. But I woke up yesterday and it finally clicked.

I was an athlete my whole life. I played basketball at a pretty good level in high school and college. Ran track. Tied the DOD high school record for the 200m my junior year. I was athletic. Then life after college happened. I don't make excuses. I ate the same as I always did - a lot - but without all the exercise to go along with it, weight gain happened.

Now, here I am at 31. I took a stab at health a year ago. But it didn't take. I think in processing it now, it was because I was doing it for everyone else. I wanted everyone to go "Wow, he lost weight". I've never been good at doing what other people want me to do. Just my character for some reason.

But yesterday I woke and it finally clicked. I don't care if I lose weight. I just want to be athletic again. Obviously weight loss will probably happen if I'm becoming athletic. But I want to enjoy athletic things again. I want to go play basketball and be able to play more than 15 minutes. I just want to enjoy more than music again. I've worked really hard to be great at what I do...still working. But I'm ready to focus on other things now.

Like health.

So I woke up yesterday. And I copied my dad. In his late 30's my dad was fat. He just decided one day he wanted to play basketball again. So, one day, he just went out and ran as far as he possibly could before he collapsed. Then he walked back home. First day, he ran less than a quarter of a mile. Within a year, he was running 5-6 miles a day 3-4 times a week. And he got skinny. But more importantly, he played basketball again. With me.

So, I'm starting a diet. Not rigorous. From all I've read lately, it's about doing things in steps. I'm limiting myself to 2k or less calories a day. Plus exercise.

Yesterday, I ran 1/3 of a mile and walked back home. Embarrassing? Yeah. But only to myself. Today I ran almost a half mile and walked back home. And I should note that I'm running up and down hills here. I'm tired.

But it's a good tired. 'Cuz this is for me now. Not anyone else.

Genius

2009-06-03T17:47:00.000-05:00

Chris Sligh songwriting

2009-06-03T15:18:00.001-05:00

Hey guys,

I've created a new myspace - /chrisslighsongwriting where I'll post new song demos as I write stuff that isn't necessarily for me.

I thought it be a cool thing to do to differentiate Chris Sligh productions and Chris Sligh artist stuff...

Requiem Update

2009-06-02T14:27:00.004-05:00

So some of you have asked for an update on Requiem....here it is...

In talking with management and publishing, we decided to hold off on Requiem as a solo project right now. Everyone feels like it's a bigger thing than just an add on to an album. It took me a while to come around to that, but that thinking did allow me to dream a little bit and come up with a bigger plan and a bigger idea...an idea that we are following through with some meetings.

The idea is to now expand Requiem to be a multi-artist album in the vein of City on A Hill or My Utmost For His Highest. The album would be 12 or so songs (including the 6 from Requiem), all based on liturgical texts. Requiem would most likely end the album. The 6 songs that are Requiem will feature several different artists, obviously including me.

For the first 6 or so songs of the record, we would go to different artists who catch the vision for this project and have them write songs based on other texts, or write songs straight from the texts. Each song will likely feature more than one artist, even if an artist writes the song for themselves....this will be a community record.

The vision I have for this record is to approach the idea of writing worship music that is deeper both musically and lyrically than the normal "every day" worship music. Plus basing it off of liturgical texts in the first place kind of gives it a different angle to begin with.

I had a meeting yesterday with a major producer who is becoming a friend. We talked about the idea and he is excited about the whole thing. We're getting together on Saturday to actually listen to the whole Requiem a couple of times, then talk about the project in this light and in light of him hearing the music.

I really believe in this project and could see it being like that City on a Hill kind of thing...so hopefully we can start to see some project in the near future. I have a feeling that with the right team around it, that it won't be a hard sell to some major artists and if the artists are on board, the labels should be easier (it's never easy LOL) to get on board.

Updates!

2009-05-24T22:31:00.002-05:00

So it is about 99.9% sure that my next label home will be a major label. Not just any major label...one in particular, but until the deal is finalized I'd feel more comfortable waiting to tell you guys specifics. However, I want to let you guys know what's going on...

The morning that I was granted my wish to be released from my deal with Brash, about 10 minutes after the release phone call, I was on the phone with the President of a major label talking about signing there. The next morning we (Mitch & I) had a meeting with him, the VP of A&R and the VP of Marketing and we just talked about the direction of the record and we gave them the songs.

That was Friday a week ago. This last week, everyone had time to live with the music and I got to talk with the President of the company on Friday afternoon this week and all cylinders are firing on getting this deal up and running and having new music recorded and into your hands as fast as possible.

Obviously, deals are negotiations and negotiations can go wrong from time to time, but I am pretty sure that everyone involved (I know it's the case on my end of things) really wants this to work out and work out quickly! We're really hoping to have a single out by the time the Back To School Tour II happens.

Speaking of...

Back to School is going out August 27 to November 1 with Aaron Shust and I co-headlining and Rough Draft and a soon-to-be-announced guest opening. It's only May and we already have close to 30 shows on the books for the tour!!! We are working to have over 40 and as many as 60! I'm so pumped about this tour it's not even funny!

So anyway...all is good on Sligh front! Just wanna make sure you guys are updated through the highs and lows!

If you missed it...

2009-05-21T09:55:00.002-05:00

If you missed my twitter stream last night...here it is along with what I was talking about...

Show start

All right Slighterers, let's rock!

Show open with all the top 13 in white, singing "So What"

Yay! Let's wear white, sing a song about divorce a make it as dumb as possible with really bad dance moves!!!

As Ryan announced the awards section

Yay! Really long really stupid awards section!!!

After Nick/Norman won the award for best male...

Norman!!!!!!!!

As Norman sang his song AGAIN....LOL

Oh my gosh ...he is so freaking genius!!!!!!!

That guy needs to be making movies yesterday....

As Queen Latifah takes the stage with Lil Round in a form-fitting body suit

Um...what is Queen wearing? Note2self..just b/c it's a slimming black Chris Sligh should never wear a form-fitting body suit. Even w/ spanxx

Don't get me wrong Queen Latifah is a true multi platform artist...but man what not to wear! For the bigger boned of us out there a warning!

As Jason Mraz takes the stage with the top 13

Jason Mraz is literally 1 of the best singers I've ever been around..we wrote out at Hanson's ranch last yr & he srsly put on a clinic

As Black Eyed Peas performed their new single "Boom Boom Pow"

What a strange performance. That is it. Some things were meant to only be on record..this might be 1 of them. Still processing.

As Ryan asked Bikini girl what was new, when all of us could clearly see what was new...

Ty Ryan for saying what we're all thinking!

Kara comes out behind Bikini girl and Bikini girl has no freaking clue what's going on...

Thiis might be the best finale evah!!!!

My initial joy over Kara's performance turns to possible horror when she strips off her dress to reveal a bikini...wow...

I'm not sure if I find Kara's performance/stripping entertaining or pathetic. Still processing. Brain might explode!

During Allison's performance with Cyndi Lauper...

Allison sounds great as always...Time hasn't been too kind to Cyndi's voice..after time

As Danny Gokey takes the stage, eventually with Lionel Ritchie...

Hello Gokey!

As always Danny rocked it

As Adam takes the stage wearing domed shoulders, eventually with KISS....

Dude is freaking rock star...I wish I had the guts to wear that outfit...domed shoulders & all

As KISS came down from the ceiling and rocked....

This just makes me want a diet dr pepper

As Carlos Santana rocked with the Cowbell on "Black Magic Woman" intro....

I need more cowbell! MORE freaking cowbell! Noooooooowwwwwwww!!!!!

As the top 13 joins Carlos on stage all wearing matching outfits...

I'm glad everyone is wearing clothes to match Carlos's guitar

I wouldn't have been able to process the performance otherwise.

As Steve Martin takes the stage with Michael and Caw-Caw Girl (LOL Meagan)....

Little known truth: Steve Martin is a world-renowned banjo player

Another little-known truth: Michael Sarver is a world-renowned scrabble player

As Rod Stewart starts "Maggie May"...

Maggie May!!!! Yes!!! One of the best mandolin based songs ever right behind "These 8 Strings Make My Fingers Bleed"

As Tatiana wins and they show a video of her telling off all the "record execs" who told her she had to sleep with them to get her album made...

Um...every guy who said I have to sleep with them?!!! What?!!! What the crap is happening right now?!!!

As Tatiana tries to rush the stage with security chasing her...

My brain just exploded! TY Tatiana!!!

As Queen takes the stage behind Kris and Adam's "Champions"...

It's freaking Queen yo! I'm freaking out right now!!! Queen!!!!

After Kris's win leaves him speechless....

I don't think there's ever been an idol more surprised at winning...wow...congrats to him!

Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed the recap...

Twitter, etc.

2009-05-20T00:02:00.003-05:00

It's interesting how twitter has changed things...I feel like it's so much easier to keep people up to date with twitter than doing a blog post here...it's silly, but how I feel...

So I'll try to keep up here, but you probably at least want to get a twitter account to keep up with day-in, day-out stuff.

I'm excited about the future and what's coming up...label I'm meeting with loves the new music, so that's a good sign...hopefully will have a deal on the table ASAP. We'll see!

I can't wait to unleash this album on everyone!

To the Future

2009-05-16T00:07:00.002-05:00

So, if you've kept up with my twitter (@ ChrisSligh) you know that I am no longer with Brash Music. I wanted to take a little time to quickly bring everyone up to date with what is going on.

Officially, Brash decided not to exercise the option to make my 2nd and final album on my deal. This was a decision that ultimately was a mutual decision, though Brash had the final decision. You see a lot of people who come out of record deals and claim it was mutual...I'm pretty sure they're not always mutual...in fact I have a couple of friends who were dropped that said at the time it was mutual, but if you asked them now, they'd admit that - though they weren't exactly surprised or necessarily upset with the new - they were dropped. In this case, I assure you, that though Brash had the ultimate decision, it had come to the place that both of us were ready for a decision.

Now, some may ask me how it could come to this, when they read my glowing words about Brash in the recent Christianity Today article. Everything I said about Brash in that article was remarkably true. The guys at Brash are incredible men who have integrity and are genuinely trying to make the record business better. My opinion of them has not changed through any of this.

Ultimately, what it came down to was that we disagreed on a very basic level on how this 2nd record should be treated. From what I can understand they liked the songs, so it wasn't that. It was how I wanted to treat the record and how I wanted to the record the record as well as the campaign I wanted to use in promoting the record. Also we disagreed on the co-production of the record and how much a co-producer should be used.

It's strange that something that seems so small on paper was so large in real life. But both of us were at a place where we weren't willing to budge on certain points - unfortunately the points we wouldn't budge on happened to be the exact same ones.

So...the next label will soon be announced. And the album will be recorded very soon. Hopefully we'll have a single out by the fall tour.

So, there are mixed emotions involved...ultimately parting ways was the best thing to happen. But it also stinks because I'm parting ways with great guys. But I look to the future with hope and excitement...

More to come...

Jaded? Not I...

2009-05-13T14:23:00.004-05:00

Some people have wondered why I have struggled with Jade...no worries...it's all good. No Jaded-ness here. I can't go into details, nor do I want to, but I have a clear vision for the next album. A clear artistic vision and some people involved with the process have, over the last couple of weeks, decided to peek their head into the process and start to confuse the vision. That leads to frustration, which leads to anger which leads to being jaded...it's the story of the music business. I tried to put myself into a situation with all the people around me from management to band to label that would shelter me from the jade, but it still has crept in. Thankfully, I'm at a place of peace. More later...

However, I am in the midst of putting up some new demos! So you guys can start to digest some of the new music! Head over to myspace.com/chrisslighproductions and check it out! Do remember that these are ROUGH demos...they will sound better and different in the final version (this is more for the people who weren't around for the first time we did this...)

The Doves

2009-04-24T12:48:00.002-05:00

This week was a fun - albeit very busy - week.

Sunday, we got back from the Natalie tour dates at about 8:30am. I got a little sleep that afternoon then had to go to soundcheck for the Songwriter's showcase, which has always been my favorite part of the GMA week. All the biggest songs of the year are performed by their songwriter (s) and each writer tells the story of how the song came about.

Tony Wood and I performed "Empty Me" both telling about how the song came to be.

Monday it was up bright and early. Rough Draft was in town (by the way, if you haven't gotten their album yet, you need to - it really is incredible) all this week and I helped them meet with labels. Anyway, we had a meeting bright and early Monday morning and then I hung out until I had some interviews later in the day.

I had decided a while back that I really want to enjoy GMA week. So many artists you talk to dread this week and think the whole thing is pointless or cheesy. I love it and want to continue to love it. It's a great time to see people you only see once a year a lot of times. So I cut my interviews this year down to just an afternoon. If there's stuff we miss, there's stuff we miss. So we did like 6 hours of interviews on Monday and that was it!

Monday night, we went to the ASCAP dinner. How much fun was that?!! So many big-name artists and writers were there...it was so cool. Sarah and I sat at the table with Sanctus Real and got to hang out with Jeremy Camp, Mac Powell (Sarah and I got a picture with Mac and his wife Amy...so cool!), Matthew West and so many more. Larnelle Harris was there! He sang a tribute to Dave Clark, a writer who just got his 25th number 1! And I thought it was awesome having 1 #1.

Anyway, overall this week it's been really interesting to see the marked difference between last year and this. Last year I felt like the little kid jumping up and down going "Look at me! Look at me!" This year, it's fun to have had some success as an artist that other people seem to have recognized, as well as the Rascal Flatts cut! I mean, so many people who I never would've guessed would've known about the song came up to congratulate - it has been really crazy. I guess I didn't even know what a big deal this has been. I guess it still hasn't really sunk in yet.

Anyway, Tuesday I met with 6 labels with Rough Draft. Some really great meetings, some not so great meetings...but overall a lot of initial interest in the band. The EP turned out so great and I'm so proud of the guys and what they've accomplished. I can't imagine they won't get signed with as hard working as they are and as talented as they are.

My parent came in Tuesday night so we went and got some Red Lobster (my parents favorite restaurant - they don't have it Germany). It was great to spend some time with them!

Wednesday I slept in a little later - I didn't have anything until 2:45pm, when I had to go for the rehearsal/sound check for the Doves. That lasted way too long then it was off to a radio interview with Rough Draft over at Total Axxess. Now that was fun. Wally is seriously one of my favorite people in the business and easily one of my favorite DJs. He is just real and funny and knows what he's talking about.

From there, I went to a Doves party and my place with friends and family and Rough Draft even made an appearance (albeit unplanned). That was fun.

Yesterday was up bright and early to pack for this weekend plus I had to be at the Opry House at 11:00am. And couldn't leave until after the doves...sheesh. All day. But I had so much fun.

Remedy Drive are awesome. We hung out a few times during the long day. I shared a dressing room with the Afters and Tenth Ave North. That was fun. The Tenth Ave North guys are great guys...congrats to them for winning New Artist.

Anyway, that's kinda my week.

Nice Little Birthday Present

2009-04-13T15:37:00.001-05:00

"Here Comes Goodbye" is number one on every major chart. On Billboard and Radio and Records, it jumped 6 spots to number 1!

My first number 1!!!

31

2009-04-13T02:21:00.002-05:00

Today I turn 31. Wow. 31.

My dad had 2 kids by the time he was 31.

Paul McCartney sold 100 million records and had literally conquered the world by the age of 31. Oh, yeah, and his band had broken up already by the time he was 31.

Bono had made his most successful record (Joshua Tree) and was working on releasing his (and U2's) greatest artistic achievement (Achtung Baby) by the age of 31.

Jimi Hendrix had changed his name, changed the world of music and overdosed before he ever came close to 31.

Stevie Wonder had been signed for almost 20 years by the time he reached 31. The 70's brought Stevie unbelievable success and his albums changed the landscape of R&B music. And he didn't turn 31 until 1981. Sick.

I could continue to go on...but the point is this...I've been incredibly blessed thus far. But I have so much to do! And I'm excited to see what the future holds.

Here's to 31!

American Idol Generationals Reunion!

2009-04-07T11:13:00.002-05:00

This week, I'm out in Los Angeles writing. Wrote yesterday with Lindy Robbins and Jess Cates who have written some HUGE songs for people like Nick Lachay, Backstreet Boys, Faith Hill, and many more. We wrote a KILLER song to pitch...I think it'll definitely get cut!

Anyway, the title of the blog...what's that about?

Well, some of you may know that Danny Gokey and I have become friends...not close or anything, but friends via phone calls and texts. When I found out I was coming out to L.A., I let Danny know and we decided to get together if his schedule allowed. American Idol is notorious for not letting the contestants know what's going on till the last minute, so our plans to get together Sunday night were thwarted. But last night, he called me as I was finishing up my writing session and told me he had some time to hang out!

So I went to Rickey Minor's studio and picked him and we headed over to a nice Italian restaurant and ate.

Meanwhile, on the way to pick up Danny, I called Jason Castro to say hello and found out he's living in the L.A. area now working on writing his album. I won't steal his thunder but congrats to Jason on his success. Anyway, he asked if he could join Danny and I and when I asked Danny it was of course okay, so Jason met us at the restaurant.

We spent the next 3 1/2 hours just talking getting to know each other, and building a friendship between the 3 of us. All of us are believers so it was awesome just talking about faith and what God was doing in us and about our experience with Idol.

Seriously - I don't say this lightly - I think God has some big things for Danny. Maybe it's not selling millions and millions of records, maybe it is. But his heart is to use his foundation - Sophia's Heart - to change people's lives is contagious.

Jason is doing great, too. He's writing like crazy and is excited about what's happening for his career. Again, there's not much else I can say at this point, nor should I say...but know that Jason is doing great!

Hopefully I'll get to hang out with the guys again before I leave on Saturday.

I Am & Barely

2009-03-20T22:52:00.003-05:00

So Lori heard the first single off the next album at my concert tonight so I thought I'd put it up for everyone to hear. Didn't want the blogger girls to be left out.

Also, I put up a demo of one of the songs we wrote for Gina's eventually-coming project. Clint Lagerberg, Gina and I wrote this one...I think it turned out pretty fantastic. It's called "Barely"

myspace.com/chrisslighproductions

Here Comes Goodbye...

2009-03-18T17:56:00.001-05:00

....broke the record last week for a debut country song on iTunes. It sold over 125k first week out!

Sweet!

Kelly Clarkson - All I Ever Wanted

2009-03-10T12:01:00.003-05:00

Just bought Kelly's new album.

And man is it good. You must buy it immediately or you shall cease to be relevant.

Here Comes...well, Here Comes Goodbye

2009-03-10T10:32:00.003-05:00

You can now buy the single on iTunes! As well, as the video!

Go buy it! Listen to it! Enjoy!

The Next record

2009-03-05T10:48:00.003-05:00

So the last few weeks have been vital and incredible for finally honing in on a vibe/direction for the next album.

A few months ago, I wrote for the first time with Don Chaffer, who is the lead singer of a band called Waterdeep. Waterdeep is highly considered within the industry as being one of the most artful bands in the business and Don is well known for his production and songwriting skills, especially within his own band's music (his wife is the other lead singer in Waterdeep).

We talked to several producers about co-producing with me, including my friend Adam Smith (who is an incredible songwriter/producer/mixer - he's mixing the Rough Draft stuff right now). We talked about Brown producing part of it as well as several other respected guys in the industry.

My goal for this record is to establish that I'm more than just that chubby guy from American Idol. My goal is to establish that Chris Sligh is an artist, not just a singer. I really want to establish that my songwriting is as or more important than my singing. That my production head space is as vital to my career as my voice is.

Running Back to You was the best album I could make at the time. It was full of songs we felt were the best ones I had written. Working with Brown Bannister was one of the greatest experiences someone in the music business could ever have. And honestly, I still feel that it is and was an incredible debut record. Not a lot of people get to make a record like mine their first time out...so I was blessed.

This time around, though, the gauntlet is thrown. It is time to make an album that can live up to anything I've ever dreamed of making or being a part of.

So many people aspire to make good records. I'm trying, with this album, to make the greatest album ever. Obviously, the odds are against me meeting my goal. However, as artists, I think we should aim for the stars. I want for my record to be something that U2 or Coldplay or {insert an artist} would be proud to have made. That's my goal.

So, this week we took another step towards trying to meet my goal. We went into the studio and jammed to write songs. The guys in my band aren't necessarily "songwriters" in the sense that they don't do a lot of sitting down and just songwriting. But they are some of the most creative people I know...plus Don Chaffer was there and he brings to the table both creativity from the point of pop sensibilities plus off the wall crazy creativity, too.

The thing that was cool about the writing session on Monday & Tuesday was that if I sit at home and just write from an acoustic guitar, I really am only able to bring a certain thing to the table. I can try and come close to writing something rocking, but ultimately it needs the band to fill it out. What we did in the studio was jam and put together songs with ideas that I never could've come up with on my own, or even with just me and Don in my studio writing. 5 heads come up with cooler and different stuff than 2 heads.

The stuff we wrote in the studio exceeded my expectations by a thousand miles. We wrote upbeat rocking stuff. We wrote rocking weird stuff (if you know music this will make sense - one song, we wrote the chorus in 7/4 time). We wrote emotional piano ballad stuff along the lines of some Coldplay stuff. We wrote some really cool down ballad-y stuff...I mean in 8 songs we wrote exactly what my album needed.

Now over the next few weeks, I'll be spending time writing lyrics and melodies over the musical pieces we wrote. And I'm pumped about it...I feel like these musical pieces give me the opportunities to write some really different stuff than I've ever written.

So...less about those songs specifically and more to the general album...

It looks like there will be 14 songs on the record. We are breaking the album up into 2 sections. The first 4 songs will be "THE SINGLES"; the next 10 songs will be "THE ALBUM". And the credits will be delineated in that way.

Someone asked if this album will be more like RBTY or TACOSB. I guess a little of both and a little of neither. The singles are going to be mixed like singles and will sound like radio...perhaps even more than RBTY. The album, however, is going to be very artistic. Think a U2 or Coldplay record from a sonic standpoint.

From a song standpoint, the singles will be straight down the middle CCM. They are already written and ready to go. In fact, I'll go ahead and give you the titles:

1. I Am

2. To the World

3. I'm Ready

4. You Are

The last 10 songs will be chosen from about 25 so far...maybe more depending on what I write between now and then. There are a few that I'm pretty sure will be there, but you never know.

My point of this post is that I'm pumped about the new album. I'm pumped for you guys to hear, though it'll probably be next March or April or something like that. But I'm pumped about this record!

Writing Today

2009-03-03T00:08:00.002-05:00

So, today, I spent 10 hours writing for the new album.

Don Chaffer, who is co-producing the album with Derek Webb and me, came into town from Kansas City for a couple of days to plan the album and to write with me for the record. We got the idea to get my live band in a studio with Don and I to jam and hopefully write the music to a few songs over a couple of days. If nothing else, we might get some snippets that could be morphed later into songs.

So, Jon Skaggs, Tommy Lee, Clint Milburn, Don and I went into a little studio off of Music Row called House of David and spent the day jamming and writing.

We ended up writing the music for 4 songs! 3 of them I'm pretty sure will be on the next record...it all depends on how the turn out once lyrics and melodies are on the music bed we wrote (which I'll be working on over the next couple of weeks).

Tomorrow, Derek will be joining us to write - so hopefully some cool stuff will come out of that!

VOTE VOTE VOTE

2009-02-25T22:59:00.002-05:00

Not for American Idol.

For me!!!!

I'm nominated for New Artist of the Year at the Dove Awards and this year, everyone in the world can have a hand in voting! You, my friends (and cyber acquaintances) can vote for me, and I am asking you to.

Go to gospelmusichannel.com and look for the Dove Award voting and then vote for me for New Artist of the Year!

Do it and do it often!

Thanks! Let's get a victory together.

Busy Busy Busy

2009-02-23T23:55:00.003-05:00

So, life has been busy. Understatement. For sure.

I need to do better of staying in touch.

I've been writing. A lot. In March I've already got 12 writing sessions on top of about 10 shows. Plus I'm writing for my record....which is going really well, by the way.

I had about 20 songs written for the next record plus Requiem. Over the last few weeks, we were deciding who would co-produce album #2 with me. We talked with several different guys but finally came to 2 guys who will co-produce with me: Derek Webb and Don Chaffer. Derek is a solo artist who used to be part of the band Caedmon's Call. Don is the lead singer of the band Waterdeep. Don is also the guy who wrote the song "You are So Good to Me" that was a big worship hit for Third Day a while back.

Both of these guys have a huge rep for being true artists, so I think my goal of making a more artistic record has become much closer to a reality. I'm really excited about them working on my record!

Um..what else?

I guess not much else...just lots of writing!

Requiem

2009-02-05T14:06:00.002-05:00

So - a while back I told you guys about the Requiem I had written. A little explanation...

When I studied classical music in college, I really became entranced by composers. I wanted to be a composer. In a way, I guess am, though my compositions are different than classical composers. But when I studied those composers, I found that nearly all of them wrote Requiem masses. The reason why they did this was they were normally hired by rich people who, when a friend or family member died, would honor the dead by paying famous composers to write a great musical piece using the text from the Requiem Mass.

Over those years, I studied and sang many performances of Requiem masses and have always thought it would be cool to write one of my own. Now, that I'm in the pop/rock category, I thought it would be even cooler to write a pop/rock Requiem.

So, I took the Latin text, found several different translations and proceeded to either write songs based on the text or wrote songs using the text directly. The text is simply Scripture or adaptations of Scripture, so it was cool to dig in and try to write songs that both fit my theological place in life now and stayed true to the text.

Catholic doctrine is different in some places than what I believe, so the one text that pretty specifically spoke of Purgatory, I wrote a song based on the ideas of the text, instead of quoting the text directly.

The real recordings will have chamber orchestra and boy's choir, and they will of course sound better than the demos...but the demos I did a while back ended up very nice, I think.

Anyway, I've put the entire Requiem up over at myspace.com/chrisslighproductions.

Go, listen and let me know what you think...

Here Comes the Charts!

2009-01-30T18:23:00.003-05:00

Hot Shot Debut, most increased plays and most added!

62 adds!

Gained over 46k plays!

Crazy!!!

This is not even a full week of plays people! I think radio likes this song!

The Story behind the music: "Here Comes Goodbye"

2009-01-22T19:03:00.006-05:00

Clint Lagerberg is literally the smartest, most incredible writer I've ever had the chance to write with - and over the last year, I've gotten to write with a lot of really, really great writers. And, no, I'm not just saying that because Clint cowrote the song that just got cut by Rascal Flatts. I was saying that long before Flatts ever put our song on hold and even longer before Flatts released the song as their first single for their upcoming album Unstoppable (due April 7).

Clint was my cowriter on Empty Me the first single from my record Running Back to You that came out almost a year ago now. When we wrote together the first time, I was blown away by his discipline and his attention, not to every detail but every detail that mattered.

In April of last year, Clint and I had a writing session on the books. When I got to his house in Spring Hill, he told me about this new program he had devised to try and get a cut on the Rascal Flatts album, which he knew was looking for songs at the time. He had gone through every Flatts song and come up with an entire album's worth of titles. With each title, he had a basic idea for the song, a line or two for each one, and a feel (up-tempo, ballad, etc.) for each one. Genius.

The one that I gravitated toward was a title "Here Comes Goodbye". Clint had the idea that a guy hears his lover coming up the driveway and slowly figures out that she's saying goodbye. The line he had written down was "here comes goodbye."

With those elements as a GREAT starting point, we sat down and spent the next couple of hours trying to figure out how to word it. Clint had the first line: "I can hear the truck tires coming up the gravel road". For the next line we wanted to give the feeling that something was wrong. It took us nearly an hour of throwing things around (and getting on rabbit trails talking about music) before we settled on "and it's not like her to drive that slow with nothing on the radio". We thought maybe it should be about a sad song on the radio. We threw out female artist's names with lines like "...with Loretta on the radio" and "...and Martina's on the radio". Finally we settled on nothing being on the radio.

We then wanted to create the sense that with each footstep, with each sound, the dread is building up in the protagonist's mind. We tossed around and tossed out several ideas before landing on "footsteps on the front porch, now I hear my doorbell; she usually comes right in, now I can tell". How better to paint a picture of something being wrong than the fact that your girlfriend/significant other usually comes in but she's now ringing the door bell. And suddenly our guy knows that he and her are through.

The line "Here comes goodbye" is a great line, but we struggled with where to go. We spent close to an hour going back and forth with different approaches. Once we know goodbye is here, how do we paint a picture of heartbreak? After a while, I remember suggesting we treat goodbye like an animate object, and then treat other things that come with break up like animate objects. It became "...here comes the last time, here comes the start of every sleepless night, the first of every tear I'm gonna cry...here comes the pain." Those 4 lines took us forever, but once we had them we knew we had something special.

We ended the chorus with taking it almost into the future: "Here comes me wishing things hadn't ever changed and she was right here in my arms tonight...here comes goodbye." As we wrote it, I remember singing through what we had and getting chills, thinking that this song was approaching love lost in a way that I hadn't seen before. Like I said, Clint is a genius.

Clint has a great project/demo studio in his house, with lots of toys (guitars, keys, etc.). I was playing piano and he was playing acoustic. And we had written an entire treatment of the verse music that was really good, but somehow wasn't kicking our butts like the chorus music was. I mean, we would sing through the chorus and get chills...the verse didn't really do the same thing.

I had to leave because my parents were in town, and Clint was going to have me lay down the piano part to have so we didn't forget it. His daughter, Abby, was downstairs and was being really quiet...with 5 year olds, when they're quiet it usually means trouble, so Clint went to go check on her. As he went downstairs, I began messing around with a piano part that I had had in my bank for a while, just messing around. Clint came back up (Abby is an angel, and was just playing quietly) and I remember telling him that next time we got together we should write a song to this piano riff. He listened for a little bit, then told me to try it with the verse lyric. And boom! It fit like a glove. We threw out the old verse music and I laid down what is now the opening haunting piano riff at the beginning of the song.

After I laid down the part, I left and hung out with my parents. The next morning, Clint called me and said, "Man, I think I just wrote the 2nd verse last night without you." I was a little disappointed at first, 'cause I LOVE the chase of finding the right thing to say in the second verse. But my disappointment soon turned to elation, when he read me this lyric:

"I can hear her say I love you like it was yesterday

And I could see it written on her face that she had never felt this way

One day I thought I'd see her with her daddy by her side

And violins would play 'Here Comes the Bride'

But...here comes goodbye..."

We were both silent for a second and then I cleared the lump from my throat and said, "Dude, we just wrote our first big hit, didn't we?"

The next day, we got together and wrote the bridge. The day after that Sean McConnell (a good friend of Clint's and another amazing singer/songwriter - google him NOW) came into Clint's studio and sang the demo. The morning after that, Clint and I turned it into our publishers. And later that day I got a call from my publisher saying that Joe Don Rooney (Flatts' guitar player) had heard the song, loved it and put it on hold! I flipped out...once I figured out what it meant to have a song on hold.

Then, came the long, long wait. Finally at the beginning of November, my publisher called me and told me that Dann Huff (the producer) had called saying, "We just cut the crap out of your song!" I knew what that meant! And I was elated!

Now, lots of songs get cut for huge projects like this. But not all of them make the record. So, we weren't in the clear yet. Last week, my publisher called me and said, "I just talked to Dann Huff and asked him if our song had made the record." At this point, my heart started to pound, because my publisher sounded very sad. She sighed. "He said that he wasn't sure if it was gonna make the record." She paused and my heart sank. Then she continued, "But he said we'll know by Thursday if it's the first or second single!!!" And I was in shock.

Then on Wednesday, I was driving to Atlanta for a show and got the phone call from my publisher again..."It's the first single!" And I almost drove off the road.

Hear the song here

2009-01-20T19:06:00.003-05:00

Click Here

You can hear Rascal Flatts' song "Here Comes Goodbye" that I wrote with my good friend Clint Lagerberg.

Life Moves On...

2009-01-19T00:32:00.001-05:00

Well, as exciting as last week was, it's time for life to move on. The Flatts' single comes out this week and officially goes for adds next week, so it will be cool to hear the song on the radio. I've got a few shows coming up this month, but for the most part am free.

I finish up with Rough Draft tomorrow (hopefully - the guys have been sitting around for a while waiting to be done). We're done with vocals and all tracking, now it's just adding weird sound effects and guitar stuff. This project is gonna be cool.

Still writing for the next album, too. I think I've found the person who is going to coproduce the album with me...more on that once all the deals are in place. But I'm excited about the follow up to RBTY.

Anyway, the show with Risa went awesome. Thanks to her for thinking of me. I think we're gonna make this an annual thing...kinda like the picnic...which we WILL be having again this year. So plan on coming!

NOW, it's official

2009-01-16T20:40:00.002-05:00

Well, I made a little boo boo by announcing this 2 days too early...apparently everyone is superstitious and until the label announces the single, so my announcing preceding the label announcement is poo pood. But anyway here it is...

Rascal Flatts has recorded "Here Comes Goodbye", a song I wrote with my good friend Clint Lagerberg (who cowrote "Empty Me" with Tony Wood and me).

We finished the song in April last year on a Monday. The demo was recorded on Tuesday and Rascal Flatt's label heard it and put it on hold on Wednesday. Since then we've been waiting around to find out what was happening.

It was the last song they decided to record and from what we've heard, the producer and label (and the band themselves) feels strongly that this song is going to be a good thing for Rascal Flatts. So good, in fact, that the song is officially the band's first single. It goes to radio outlets on Monday. The official add date is Jan 26, I believe. So, listen for my/their song on radios around the world very, very soon!

This is a huge deal! I can't believe this is happening!

Please buy the song when it hits iTunes and buy the record when it comes out April 7!

Rough Draft

2009-01-15T13:40:00.002-05:00

So, I've been working for the last couple of weeks with a band out of Colorado called Rough Draft. I'm really excited about this band. I met them out at the GMA Seminar in the Rockies and was impressed with their performance there. I talked with them a little bit back then, and asked to hear more music. Then, in September, we played a couple of shows with them out in Colorado and I was very impressed with their live show. So, I offered to produce them basically for free.

So, since the 5th, the band and their road manager Greg have been staying with Sarah and me, working on a 7-song EP that I think is going to be pretty incredible. The songs range from the rocking single "Calling Me Back to You" to the song the band wrote for their work with Compassion (simply called "Compassion Song") to one of the coolest songs I've ever had the chance to work on "Here I Am" (uses full band plus tympani, cymbal swells, tambourine, a HUGE bass drum, shakers, and various percussion plus massive gang vocals to end the song).

I think that you guys are going to LOVE this band and this EP. I feel strongly that this band is going to be signed and is going to be a major player in Christian music in the next few years. I also think they have the chops to cross over to the mainstream, if the right record label is involved.

Anyway, just wanted to let you guys know about this band. You'll probably get to see them on the Back to School Tour part deux this fall.

Teaser

2009-01-14T02:13:00.004-05:00

Well, a while back, I told you guys that a successful country group had put my song "Here Comes Goodbye" on hold. That was in April of last year. 9 moths have come and gone. In October I found out that the song had in fact been recorded by said group (who will be left unnamed at this juncture). They recorded the song, but there were no guarantees that the song would make the album. Nashville is weird about overcutting and literally artists will not decide what songs go on their albums until the day that it is due at the manufacturers. So, I've tried to keep my hopes down just in case everything didn't go through.

However, I received word yesterday that not only will it be on the album of said artist, it will be a single, with a good probability of being the 1st single!

So, look to hear my song on country radio very very soon!

Empty Me: Video

2009-01-10T23:21:00.002-05:00

I asked. You submitted. Time passed. You asked. Now I sumbit.

Arise: The Video

2009-01-09T16:34:00.001-05:00

This is probably my most serious moment as an artist.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

2009-01-04T18:13:00.002-05:00

I wrote a twitter about this movie, but I wanted to expand a little more.

Sarah and I went and saw this film yesterday, and I don't think I've ever been affected like I was by this film. I'm the type of person who is rarely moved by a movie or tv show. My wife jokes that I have a stone heart. I just am not an emotional person - competitive, yes; emotional - not so much, especially with film. I've seen a lot of movies, both good and bad and the stories have been told - for the most part - many times before. Some tell it better than others, but for the most part, it's rare a story takes you by surprise.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is one of those surprises.

Sure, we all know it's based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald story about the life of a man who is born old and dies young. Interesting...not too many stories like that. My interest was piqued when I heard about the story. Then I read an interview where Brad Pitt talked about Eric Roth's treatment of the story being summed up in "youth is wasted on the young". Okay, my interest is even more piqued.

When I put together that David Fincher (director of 3 of my favorite films - Se7en, Fight Club and The Game) directed the film and Eric Roth (screenwriter of Forrest Gump) had written the screenplay, my excitement grew for the film. It was looking like it could have the makings of a great film. Plus Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett (as well as Julia Ormond) are not too shabby as actors.

But, we've all seen the films that looked like they had EVERYTHING going for them that fell flat on their face (Gigli anyone?) Well, earlier in this post and with my twitter, I've probably given away how I thought it worked out.

First off, David Fincher has created a beautiful film. Every scene is perfectly lit and perfectly shot. Each filter of light, each scene is perfectly staged and every piece of this film fits. But plenty of films are beautiful to look at but fail in other ways.

The actors are incredible. I don't know that I've ever seen Brad Pitt act this well since maybe the mid-90s. He is subtle, funny, overt when he needs to be and always seems to catch the motivation for each scene. Cate Blanchett is, well, always great...I don't know that I've ever seen a film of hers that I didn't think she was fantastic in. The film used a new brand of special effects with this film instead of makeup to make the actors look both young and old. So when you see Cate Blanchett as an old lady, it is actually her, not an old lady playing Cate Blanchett. When Brad Pitt is an old man stuck in the body of a child, it is actually Brad Pitt not a child playing Brad Pitt. And it is convincing.

Ultimately, though all those other things are great, it's the script that wins here. Eric Roth created a script that is reminiscent of Forrest Gump (the story is told from the present time, narrated by the main character and is split up into vignettes where sections of the story are told) The script is filled with great characters, each one with a convincing backstory and enough time on screen to make a splash - from the tug boat captain that hires a young (stuck in an old body) Benjamin to his first job to the father that gives up Benjamin as a baby only to return to his life later on to the first real love of Benjamin's life (a woman he meets during his time in Russia).

The story is well-told, the script is tight (even though the film is close to 3 hours) and it is entirely effective. I had tears several times through the film and when I left the theater, it took a good 20 min for me to gain complete control of my emotions. The movie is that good. I've mulled over scenes again and again.

I can tell you whole-heartedly to see this movie.

4.9 out of 5 stars

Heart Broken

2009-01-04T13:06:00.003-05:00

I've been a Colts fan since my sophomore year of college. The moment Peyton Manning was drafted by the Colts, I finally had a reason to believe that one of my closest college friends - who was also a fan of Ball State University - wasn't completely crazy. Peyton was a Tennessee boy, so when he went to Indianapolis, I had to believe that it was okay to move my allegiance from the 49ers of my childhood (Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Roger Craig, Tom Rathman, etc) to the Indy of my adulthood.

Sure they went 3-13 Peyton's first year and it was tough watching Peyton get his rear end handed to him Sunday after Sunday. But it was something to build on. He and Marvin Harrison seemed like a good team and Aaron Whisler and I were happy to cheer on the then hapless Colts.

Over the years, Peyton has proved that he is the best quarterback in the game. Tom Brady is good, don't get me wrong - I hate him and the Pats, but he's a good QB. Favre holds all the records, but the dude has played a bazillion years and to go along with all the good records, he also holds the record for most incompletions and most interceptions. I'll take Peyton's 95 career passer rating over Favre's 4 interceptions week 17. Some people says it's arguable; I say it's laughable to think anything else - Peyton is the best QB ever in the history of the NFL.

And he has a Super Bowl ring to go with the stats.

But dangit! Why can't they ever just win a freaking easy playoff game?!! It's the Chargers and they are freaking 8 and freaking 8. They lost 8 games this year. Granted all 8 losses were by a total of like 34 points, but still! They LOST 8 GAMES!!! I want to cheer my Colts...my once hapless, now consistently playoff hapless...to the Super Bowl. I wanted a Manning-Manning Super Bowl and I wanted to watch those stinking Giants go down in a ball of fire as my boy passed for a Super Bowl record 17 touchdowns. I know...that's more than 4 per quarter, but I could see it happen. Peyton is the man.

So, I'm heart broken. I'll still watch the playoffs. I'll have to cheer for someone else. Probably some crappy team like the Steelers or maybe the other, less talented Manning. Maybe Tennessee, since I am a Nashville boy now. Now that I think about it, yeah, I'll cheer the Titans on.

But Peyton, I want you to know, I'm not angry with you. I'm just disappointed with you. I know, I know...it was the defense that gave up stupid stupid long runs to Darren Sproles, a pygmy who somehow runs over guys 4 times his size...I get it. But you shoulda thrown 17 touchdowns so that the pygmy didn't matter.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T15:16:00.000-05:00

Sorry I've been disconnected...been busy and have family in town.

But I wanted to take a moment to say thanks and merry Christmas. You guys have made my year awesome!

Peace and love!

Chris

On the Road...again

2008-12-01T12:47:00.002-05:00

I'm sitting in the green room of our first Christmas show here in Louisville, KY. We were picked up at 5:30 this morning in Nashville. Early mornings are not fun, people. Especially when...well, let me tell the story.

We had a great time over Thanksgiving...we went to Greenville and saw family, hung out with friends that we haven't seen in a while, etc. It was great. We were going to go to Seacoast on Sunday, but then figured out that with leaving at 5:30, we were going to have to pay for another day with dogs' kennel stay, so we decided to leave in time to pick them up last night.

We gave ourselves six and a half hours to get to Nashville, what is normally a five and a half hour drive. Then, we lost an hour and a half on I-40. It narrowed down to 1 lane for literally a quarter of a mile. A quarter of a mile cost us an hour and a half.

Then traffic was pretty incredibly high volume. That slowed us down. All in all, it took us almost 8 hours to get home. That kinda sucked. We didn't go to Seacoast and we didn't get the dogs...lose-lose.

We stayed up washing all my clothes and getting the merch ready for the tour, etc. and finally got to bed about 11:30pm. 4:30 of sleep later it was up and to the buses downtown and off to Louisville, where I'm sitting now.

So...

The Christmas EP is out this week. It'll only be at shows. So, contact those members who are going to shows and have them pick one up for you! It's the 4 songs that I let you hear the demos for earlier...all mixed and mastered! They sound really good! In fact, it's encouraged my label and management to be okay with me producing the next album.

Speaking of that...this year has been pretty remarkable for a new artist: January and the beginning of February were spent finishing the album. Mid-February, I finished mixing the album 1 day and drove out with Jon Skaggs to start the promo/radio tour the next. That lasted till April. Then GMA week. Then, more promo. Then the first leg of the tour. Then vacation. Then touring, touring, touring!

This year will end with me playing 117 real shows. On top of that I've made about 150 appearances on tv, radio, websites, interviews, etc. That's the ones I can count. I feel like there've been more that I just didn't keep track of. I'm tired, to be honest. But I think the NewSong Christmas tour is going to be pretty restful, even though we're playing almost every night! At least I get to sleep on a bus every night instead of trying to lay down in a van!

Next year...well, next year is looking to be pretty crazy.

In January, I'll record the majority of the 2nd album. What?!!! I know I haven't even let you guys know about this yet! I have 13 songs that we're going to record, plus the Requiem and there may be more later! But we feel like we need to be ready to release in September of 2009 if we HAVE to, even though we probably won't release it till some time in early to mid 2010. So, I'll be hitting the studio the first 2 weeks of January to track the songs.

Then the next 2 weeks, in between weekend shows, I'll be producing a band out of Colorado called Rough Draft. We're gonna be doing an EP of 6 songs or so to try and help them get signed. I'm excited...I really like their stuff and I think they have a great possibility to be great.

Then in February to the beginning of March I'll be hitting the road on a headlining tour with Meredith Andrews and possibly Phil Stacey (depending on his schedule with recording his new album and such).

Then in March I hit the road with Natalie Grant. We're doing 35 or so shows through April and into May a little bit. That'll be fun. We're doing 1500-2500 seat places and I'll be going on right before Natalie every night, doing a 35 min set! So, that'll be really fun!

Then in May, I'm working on a couple of bands with major labels...I'll be producing them hopefully around that time.

In June throughout the summer, I'll be headlining the faith nights at about 35 minor and major league baseball parks before games. I'll probably have an opener, though I'm not sure who that will be. And that will be booked around festivals all summer long.

Then in Sept - Oct, I'll be hitting the Back to School tour again! I'm excited about that. This time, we have a lot more time to organize and we'll make it an actual tour with an opener or two and it should be really cool.

Somewhere in there, I'll be finishing recording the Christmas album, doing auditions for tv/film (we just signed with a new agent in NY) and producing as many acts as I can.

Next year is going to be busy, busy, busy.

So, all that to say this: thanks so much for helping me have the year I've had. It's been really great and you guys have had much to do with my success this year!

I'm back

2008-11-17T22:58:00.002-05:00

So, I've been conspicuously away from the blog for 12 days.

Hey, no biggie...I'm back.

The Stripped Tour went well. I'm hoping to make this a yearly thing. It was a lot of fun - Jon Skaggs, Jason Walker and I bonded and became closer and truly had a great time.

All the shows were cool and I think the story-telling/stripped down arrangements work really well. I still am in love with the rock show we normally do, but once a year I think it will be cool to do a stripped down thing.

This weekend, I do the gig in memory of Kelsey in Virginia. She was the girl that passed away in a car accident on the way to our gig in Fredricksburg, VA a while back. Obviously a sad situation.

I sent the family an mp3 of my song "Faith Begins" and told them the story of how that song came to be: I was in a band called the Chris Sligh band back in 2001-2003. Joseph Bunn was my keyboard player for the whole time. The band broke up when all of the guys went to college and at that point I started Half Past Forever with 2 new guys and 2 guys from CSB. Like 3 months later, Joseph was on his way back up to school at North Greenville (where I finished up) and apparently fell asleep at the wheel. His car went off the road, he was thrown from the vehicle and was killed. It was the first person close to me that I dealt with the death of, and I just could not understand why this was happening. For the first time, I was struggling with questions with God and as I worked through all that stuff, I wrote "Faith Begins" (which is on myspace.com/chrisslighproductions). The family has asked that I sing the song this weekend, so the band is working it up.

Anyway, life is good.

Archuletta

2008-11-05T12:31:00.002-05:00

I just listened to Archie's entire album streaming on the Z100 website.

I gotta say, they knocked it out of the park with this album. My concerns on him being a Rick Astley clone are now completely gone. The dude sounds GREAT singing really good pop songs. There's nothing ground-breaking here, but the pop songs are well-written and he sounds really, really good.

The guy deserves major props. Er, well the songwriters and producers do, too.

Hail to the Chief

2008-11-05T00:10:00.001-05:00

I congratulate Barack Obama for his win tonight.

God is in control, and though some might disagree with certain beliefs he holds, let's not forget that God isn't surprised by this.

I believe Obama could make a great president.

Join me in praying for him!

Video Reminder

2008-10-29T07:58:00.001-05:00

Just a reminder that your videos are due November 2nd!

If you have a Halloween party or something of that sort this weekend, use it as a great way to get a funny video of you in a costume singing "Empty Me"!

Now, get those videos in!

Video Extension

2008-10-23T18:38:00.004-05:00

Hey guys, over the past few weeks, we've received enough video submissions to make a great video...but I feel like I've kinda failed in keeping everyone's attention on this. So, we'll extend the deadline for the videos for another week or so till the Nov 2nd! That way you can get in some Halloween stuff!

Also, we're changing the requirement slightly. We'd love for you guys to make a video for the whole song, if you're up for it! if not, just go by the alphabet (I'll reprint it below) like before. If you have time and courage, film yourself doing several different things for different parts of the song! The more you film, the better chance of you being featured for more time in the video!

So, go make a video!

A-C - 0:00-0:35 (start of song until "to see how it gets in the blood")

D-F - 0:30-1:05 ("I've tasted my share" until "Empty Me" of 1st chorus)

G-I - 1:00 - 1:35 (full 1st chorus)

J-L - 1:30 - 2:05 (full 2nd verse - "I've seen just enough...")

M-O - 2:00 - 2:35 (full 2nd chorus plus 1st "everything is a lesser thing" from bridge)

P-R - 2:30-3:05 (full bridge - starts with "everything is a lesser thing" - plus guitar solo - DO A CRAZY AIR GUITAR SOLO!)

S-V - 3:00-3:35 (quiet chorus until 1st "empty me of me so I can be" of last chorus)

W-Z - 3:30-4:05 (first "empty me of me so I can be" of last chorus until the end of the song - MAKE SURE TO MAKE THOSE HIGH NOTES AT THE END LOOK AS PAINFUL AS POSSIBLE!)

Empty Me: VIDEO!!!

2008-10-21T19:40:00.002-05:00

Hey guys,

So we need your videos in ASAP! We've gotten a few in already but we need more, more, more.

So, even if you did a 30 second clip, you can do something else for the whole video if you like!

So, go and make a video!

Another couple of Christmas tunes

2008-10-19T02:04:00.005-05:00

I just put all 4 Christmas tunes from the EP over at myspace.com/chrisslighproductions! Go checka-check 'em out!

By the way, the EP should be out by the beginning of December. Just in time for my stint on the NewSong Christmas tour. It will only be available nationally on iTunes and in concert. On iTunes, I think it'll be $2.99 and in concert, you get it free with the purchase of Running Back to You.

So, you've heard all the songs in demo form....are you guys excited to hear the final versions? I go into the studio this week to record drums and then, with some newly acquired recording gear, will be finishing up in my home studio! Then it's off to mix then to master, then from my studio to your ears!

Gina Glocksen

2008-10-16T23:01:00.002-05:00

So, this week, Gina Glocksen is in town, staying with Sarah and me. I've been on Gina for months to come into town to write songs for her record...she finally had time when I had time and she came Monday night.

Tuesday morning we wrote with Jason Walker. We got a great 70's vibing modern pop song that is really cool. Then, Jason came up with a cool piano riff that Gina and I took after Jason left and made a great song. Both songs are great, but the second one we wrote is freaking awesome! It's just nice pop piano ballad, but the words are pretty awesome...she really dug inside and wrote some great stuff from life experience.

Wednesday, we wrote with a new friend of mine, Adam Smith. Adam is, in my humble opinion, one of the most talented people I've worked with in Nashville....or ever. He is a great musician who knows music and loves music and has a ton of knowledge of how to get great sounds and write great songs using those sounds. We wrote a KILLER song with Adam. Really cool synthy pop rock.

I think you guys are gonna be blown away with the stuff Gina is doing. It's edgy, different and rocking - but rocking with autonomy...in other words, it's not JUST big guitars. It's got cool keyboards and interesting stuff going on with the guitars instead of just stacking a bunch of guitars in order to "rock".

Anyway...today, we wrote with Jeff Spence, who wrote "When Did You Go" with me. Gina recorded that song, too (and she sounds GREAT on it!). She loved "When Did You Go" so it was natural to get Jeff over to write, too. We wrote another killer pop rock song. It's a party song and it sounds great!

Tomorrow, we are writing with Clint Lagerberg, who of course wrote "Empty Me" and "Here Comes Goodbye" with me. I expect that I'll have another song or two to talk about!

So, look for new music from Gina Glocksen very soon.

What Child

2008-10-10T07:24:00.004-05:00

Moved all the mp3 over to myspace.com/chrisslighproductions...

Go listen to all 4 Christmas songs!

New Music

2008-10-04T18:32:00.003-05:00

So, I wanted to give some real quick thoughts on some new music I've been listening to lately.

First off, Downhere's "Ending is Beginning" is seriously wearing a hole in my iPod (if that were at all possible). I've listened to it a ton and I'm more impressed now than I was when I originally posted about it. You have got to get this album, then tell a friend to - after they've bought Running Back to You - buy this album.

Secondly, Ben Folds' new album Way to Normal came out this week. Be warned...there's a Parental Warning. Apparently, Ben's recent divorce and remarriage unleashed his ascerbic wit, and from an artistic standpoint, amazing creativity. He's always been a favorite of mine, but this stands up with any work he's done in the past, if not surpasses it. It is a GREAT album. Not perfect and there is some language to deal with, but if you can deal with objectionable elements, this album is his best easily since Rocking the Suburbs.

Thirdly, I'm still chewing on Bebo Norman's new self-titled album. It's good. On first listen, I thought it was his best in a long time. It definitely holds up better than his last album. But the more I listen to it, the more I kinda feel like it's uni-dimensional. The songs are well-written. The production is competent. But after listening a couple of times, you've got it. Or at least I feel like I got it. I'm a huge Bebo fan. But this album may need a little more time in my ears for me to just LOVE it. It's a good to very good album. I don't know that it's great yet. More to come on that.

Fourthly, I'm in love with Darius Rucker's second solo album. You may remember him as Hootie. Hear this album and he'll just be Darius. Great country music. That's right, I said country music. Haha...check this album out. For sure.

Lastly, I'm really enjoying Kings of Leon's Because of the Times. This ethereal garage rock album (yes, I put those words together) is fantastic. It's probably not for everyone...there's a lot to dig into...but if you can dig it is GREAT. I like their past stuff, but this one especially is great. It's kind of earlier U2 meets Nirvana meets southern rock. Weird mixture, but it ends up really great.

Sales Report

2008-10-04T18:25:00.002-05:00

By the way, guys, I haven't given a sales report in a while.

2 weeks ago was the first week we dipped under 1k sold (983) in the over 4 months that the album has been out, and this last week it popped back over 1k...so, slow but steady.

For the year, we're at a little over 33k. The label and management thinks that by the end of the year, we'll be at 50k! And "Arise" isn't expected to make significant headway until after Christmas! When "Arise" takes off (hopefully) and then the third single comes out, it will (again, hopefully) continue to drive sales. By the time, the 2nd album comes out, I think it's comfortable to say 100k will be a great goal and 150k isn't out of reach!

Also, we're still neck and neck with Tenth Ave North for best-selling new artist in the Christian genre.

Empty Me: the Video

2008-09-30T10:28:00.003-05:00

So, for a while, we've been trying to figure out what to do for a video on "Empty Me. The song is a special song to me, and as we've been out on the road, we've seen how special it is to so many people, that I knew the treatment of the video needed to be something cool and special. We've finally figured out how to do it.

You, my friends, can star in my first music video!

We want for you to video yourself in an interesting situation (in front of the White House, in the airport or on a plane - be creative) lip-syncing to "Empty Me". It doesn't matter the quality of the video: use your cell phone, or use professional quality stuff, if you have it! Just make sure you have the actual song playing either through headphones or over a sound system to make sure your lip syncing lines up with the actual song.

First off....because we want to make it as easy as possible for you guys, we are asking (depending on what letter your last name starts with) you to do 35-second clips of the song. Secondly, we're doing this because it will make file sizes smaller. So...you can totally do the whole song if you'd like to, but it might make more sense for you to do a couple or three 35 second clips.

So, here's the breakdown of names and what 35 second clips you'll do:

A-C - 0:00-0:35 (start of song until "to see how it gets in the blood")

D-F - 0:30-1:05 ("I've tasted my share" until "Empty Me" of 1st chorus)

G-I - 1:00 - 1:35 (full 1st chorus)

J-L - 1:30 - 2:05 (full 2nd verse - "I've seen just enough...")

M-O - 2:00 - 2:35 (full 2nd chorus plus 1st "everything is a lesser thing" from bridge)

P-R - 2:30-3:05 (full bridge - starts with "everything is a lesser thing" - plus guitar solo - DO A CRAZY AIR GUITAR SOLO!)

S-V - 3:00-3:35 (quiet chorus until 1st "empty me of me so I can be" of last chorus)

W-Z - 3:30-4:05 (first "empty me of me so I can be" of last chorus until the end of the song - MAKE SURE TO MAKE THOSE HIGH NOTES AT THE END LOOK AS PAINFUL AS POSSIBLE!)

So...the key to this is going to be your creativity...do crazy things and you WILL end up featured in my first video!

To send it, you will need to use a website called yousendit.com. The site is pretty self explanatory...you simply upload your file and send it this email address: emptymevideo@gmail.com.

You need to have your video submission in by October 24 to be in the video!

Now, get to work and thanks for your help in this...I think it's gonna be pretty awesome!

Colorado, Colorado!

2008-09-29T01:37:00.002-05:00

We spent 3 days in CO. Actually, I'm still here...leave bright and early tomorrow morning. I'm an idiot and still awake. Been suffering from insomnia lately. Not sure why. Just can't sleep. Feel like crap all the time, but still can't sleep. Hopefully that passes soon. I've been told that sleeping pills are an artist's best friend...I might have to go to the doctor to see. I'm so freaking tired, but can't sleep. Got so much on my mind, trying to process.

So, what's been up?

Let's see...of course, I did the Requiem. Been listening to that a lot, trying to figure out ways to make it better. Also been discussing out how to get the Requiem out there. I thought I might like to put it at the end of the next album, but I'm second guessing that. The next album is kind of going in a very poppy direction ("Hands Up" and "Love Remains" prime examples) and I'm not sure Requiem will fit on that record, even separated at the end of the album. So, we've talked briefly about possibly releasing Requiem as a separate EP on it's own. I mean, it's 6 songs, 26 minutes...maybe throw a couple more sacred songs on there and it's a good sell...maybe something to tide everyone over till the next album...which may be a while. Anyway...that's one thing on my mind.

So, not sure if any of you ever read or heard about a novel I was writing long before Idol happened called Locks, Stocks and Sylvia Romero. Well, it has sat untouched for almost 2 years now. I recently started working on it again. (For those that don't know) The novel is probably going to end up more like a novella. It's kinda like a bit like a Chuck Palahniuk novel (Fight Club) or like a novelized version of a Coen Brothers movie. It's zany, weird, character-driven, funny and, in the end, will (hopefully) have gravity to it. Before Idol I had written 12 chapters (short chapters, but I digress), so I recently started working on chapter 13. Soon, chapter 14 will come. So...that's been on my mind.

I'm still working on the screenplay idea I talked about a while back. In fact, October is a slower month for me, show-wise, so I'm going to spend a good deal of time working on the script. I have finished the treatment and the scene outline both...so it should be easier to work on a script now. I think this script has real potential to be really funny. We'll see...

In October, it looks like I'll be meeting with some new agents for the acting side of things. My management and I think that tv/film could be a great avenue to put me in...but we need an agent to work for me. CAA was the agency I was with, but as I started to book shows, we realized quickly that they simply didn't catch the vision for what I wanted to do, so we moved over to Third Coast Agency for my personal booking. They are so great and they've worked their tails off for me...but they don't have a theatrical/movie/tv side. So, we're looking at some agencies for that.

In October, Gina will be coming into town to stay with Sarah and me for 5 days. We'll be spending every day in writing sessions with some of the guys I've written with over the last few months. Gina's finally beginning to work on a record. I'm hoping to be able to produce some of her record, too...so we'll see what happens with that.

We're still working hard on the tour for next year. We're looking at a 5 artist co-headlining tour. 5 artists that are up and comers will go out together, and change off every night who closes the night. If we can work it out, it's gonna be cool. Really cool.

In November, of course, we have the Chris Sligh STRIPPED tour. If you can make one of these shows, make sure to make it...they're gonna be cool. Jason, Jon and I will be doing a stripped down acoustic show that I think has the possibility to be really, really cool.

The day after Thanksgiving, I start out on the NewSong Christmas tour. It's NewSong, Rush of Fools, Ayesha Woods and me! Should be great. I'll be sleeping on a bus again! Thank God! I'm so tired of driving in a van or SUV! That tour is 15 dates up until Dec. 21.

So, because of the tour, I'll be going into the studio in October to record a Christmas song or 2 to sell out on the road. So...another thing on my mind.

So, life is busy. But life is good.

And, we're back to where we started. I'm in Colorado. And it is freaking beautiful. How anyone could believe this just exploded into being, I don't know. I look at Colorado and know that there must be a Creator.

Downhere - Ending Is Beginning

2008-09-23T10:28:00.001-05:00

You must, must, must check out this album.

Downhere is a Canadian band transplanted to Nashville. They're one of my favorite bands ever...one of my biggest influences. You'll hear that immediately when you hear this album. It just came out today and it is their best work yet.

I was up till after midnight listening to it this morning! It's melodic pop/rock with inspirational, well-written, non-cheesy lyrics. If you like Chris Sligh, you will LOVE this album.

Go now and you can thank me later!

State of the Union

2008-09-23T09:47:00.003-05:00

Well, the Chris Sligh First Annual Back to School tour is coming to a close. We've had some really, really good nights. We've had some okay nights. We made some brilliant decisions, we made a few rookie decisions. But...overall the B2S tour has been a HUGE success.

It will end up being 30 shows. We've averaged about 350 a night, overall (about 250 on ticketed nights - some shows were given free). We had some really big nights, attendance-wise. We had a couple of nights that were less than 100.

What I have to remind myself is that I'm a new artist. I'm on my first headlining tour...though I'd love to see thousands of people flock to the shows, I simply have to be patient as I build this thing from the ground up. However, management and booking and my whole team is extremely encouraged by how well this little experimental tour went. We definitely will be having the 2nd annual Back to School tour next year!

One rookie mistake we made was putting the tour in August and September. Apparently, the Christian music industry has a couple of dead times - Christmas (unless you're on a big Christmas tour - more on that later) and August. Oops. Little did I know. So, I booked 21 shows in August - 17 of those headlining shows! Haha...rookie mistake.

Another rookie mistake was taking crazy-butt drives between shows. Kansas City to Greenville, SC?!!! Stupid! We will try to keep those shows to a minimum. When I get no sleep, my voice sounds like poop!

Overall, though, the band played GREAT every night. We had Jason Walker out for about half the shows and he killed it every night! We got tighter in friendships and that was great.

So...what's going on in the near future.

Well...first of all, October is a slow month show-wise. But I am writing a ton. Along with the 7 shows on the books right now, I have 8 writing sessions, and will be adding more. I have about 20 songs that I've written that have not yet been demo-ed, so I'll be, hopefully, getting a lot of demo work done.

November is filling up. We have the Chris Sligh STRIPPED tour, with me, Jon Skaggs and Jason Walker that is up to 10 shows now. We also will have a couple of full band shows.

One exciting bit of news is this: I'll be going out on the NewSong Christmas tour! It's NewSong (of course), Rush of Fools, me and special guest Ayesha Woods. We'll be doing 15 shows starting the day after Thanksgiving until December 21! Yay!!! I get to sleep on a bus again! No driving ourselves! Roadies!!! YAY!!!

Seriously, though, it's gonna be awesome...more on those dates later!

Also, it looks as though in January through March I'll be on a massive tour for like 35-40 dates...we're still working on details, but if it works out...this tour is going to be awesome!

Then, in March-June, I'm working on building my own tour to own, featuring myself and 3-4 other up and coming artists. Not sure how this will work yet, but if it works out like I have it in my brain, it's going to be cool.

Masterworks

2008-09-18T21:03:00.002-05:00

So, I've been a little vacant from the blog. There's no reason to send out search parties or anything. Just very busy.

Even when I'm home, I'm working a lot. Though, I have taken some time to catch up on some of my favorite tv shows, as well as discovering some new stuff.

However, the real reason I've been absent from the blog is I've been working on songs for the next album. Specifically, a song set called Requiem that I think will be at the end of my next album.

When I was in college and studied music, one thing that almost every composer of note worked on was a Requiem mass. Schubert, Verdi, Mozart, Beethoven...the list goes on. All of them worked on Requiem masses. In the 20th century composers like Rutter have composed their own - more modern, albeit - versions of the Requiem. So, in college I always had my sights set on composing my own Requiem.

As I've become a composer of sorts in the pop/rock genre, I have been mulling for a while over the idea of composing a pop/rock Requiem set in English instead of Latin and combine it with classical elements.

So, I took the Latin text, found the best translation of the text and then either adapted the text to being a lyric or wrote a song based on the text. I've spent about 3 months mulling over how to pull it off, and then actually started writing the songs about a month ago. When I got home, last week, I went to work in earnest on the project.

The hardest part was trying to figure out how to adapt the text. The Latin text is all Scripture, so sometimes it worked well to simply use the text. But sometimes the text was obscure Scriptural references to angels and crazy-named places in Palestine...obviously the average listener isn't going to get the references....so, taking the ideas, breaking them down to their basic concepts and then forming a song around them, well, it was difficult.

But...today I finished the basic demos for the song set. The 9-part text turned into 6 songs. When they get produced they'll have boys choir, a chamber orchestra, full band, a full choir in places, and much more. It's going to be a massive production. But it's gonna be really, really cool!

I can't wait for you all to hear it!

Chris Sligh Stripped

2008-09-11T19:07:00.001-05:00

So, I'm doing a mini-tour in November called the Chris Sligh stripped tour with special guest Jason Walker.

We'll be going out as an acoustic 3-piece, with Jon Skaggs on percussion/drums, Walker on keys, and me on acoustic guitar...should be fun!

We've got 8 shows up on myspace...check 'em out!

Michael Gungor Band

2008-09-10T16:44:00.003-05:00

A new album came out yesterday that you need to check out!

Michael Gungor Band's "Ancient Skies".

He's actually a long-time indie artist who wrote the title track a while back and it was cut by Israel and New Breed and was nominated for a Dove Award. The album is a mixture of U2, Coldplay, John Mayer and more with great inspirational lyrics.

I think you'll love it.

A year has passed

2008-09-09T23:04:00.002-05:00

I spent a little time tonight going back and watching old videos from the Idol tour last year. The tour this year is coming to a close, so a year later...wow, how life is different.

I remember the tight pants I was made to wear for "Thanks for the Memories". Not cool. Chubby guys and tight jeans. Not cool. But Gina and I had so much fun with that song.

And the Boy Band. Wow. That was awesome every night. I know we weren't the tightest band. That wasn't the point. The point was that when we got to the "Nah-nah-nah-nah's" on "Hey Jude" every night, we had every single person in that stadium in our hands! I don't know if I'll ever experience that again...10k people singing along with me...hopefully, but you never know...if not, at least I got to experience it once.

Doing "Typical" every night was so awesome. I know most people didn't know the song and there were times on the tour I wish I'd done a different song. But to sing one of my favorite songs ever in front of that many people was great.

I miss my castmates. I miss being in the green room every day with them. I miss talking about useless information and getting on the bus for a few hours every night heading to the next city. I miss Blake and his craziness. I miss Sanjaya and his young messiness, his silliness. I miss Rich and his kindness. I miss Phil and his baldness (though I did just hang out with Phil last night). I lived for almost a year with those guys...and though we're still friends, I don't know if it'll ever be the same.

I miss the girls, too, don't get me wrong...Gina was one of my best friends...but it was different...the guys were together a lot.

My season got the short end of the stick in a lot of ways, I think. But here I am a year later doing what I do, my management and label are pumped at how things are going and I'm building something. Life is good.

A year has passed.

Like a virgin

2008-09-08T16:23:00.003-05:00

I'd like to take a minute to say that I think that Russel Brand is HILARIOUS. I think his brand (not a play on words here) of humor is hilarious. What I saw of the VMA's last night, he was the highlight of the night...he's funny. Really funny.

However, I would like to give props to my girl Jordin Sparks for standing up for what she believes. For those who didn't see it, Brand made fun of the fad in Hollywood to wear purity rings. Jordin came out and said something to the effect of: not everyone, guy or girl, wants to be a slut...and that's okay. I'm assuming that she doesn't mean that simply having sex before marriage implies slut-dom...but the thought behind what she said is great!

Hey, personal choice is personal choice, but I can say for certain, I am incredibly happy that I waited until I was married to have sex. And I think my wife would say that same for herself.

There's no judgement here: everybody has baggage to deal with. Premarital sex is no worse than the next person's baggage...but it's nice to see Jordin take a stand on one of the biggest broadcast's of the year.

Hearts go out

2008-09-02T22:36:00.002-05:00

On Friday night, we played a fun, fantastic show in Fredricksburg, VA. The show was used as a fundraiser for the Christian school there and in return we had over 900 kids and parents show up to support the school. All profits went to the school...so it was really cool to help out the school.

I was struggling with sickness all week, but we went out and rocked it! And the crowd was INCREDIBLE. It hadn't been since Blake performing on tour that I'd heard so many little girls scream that loud. It was crazy. And the boys put on a great show. My voice was cracking in and out, but it's nice to have the band steady behind me.

It was a great show.

After the show, about 400 people stuck around for autographs and pictures. I was wasted. I went back to our green room to get some rest before we packed up. As I sat in the little conference room that was acting as our green room, I heard sobs and whimpers coming from what sounded like teenage girls down the hall.

I wandered down to see if whoever was crying was okay. As I asked, an adult came up and whispered that a senior girl was driving to the concert and had been in a two-car accident and was killed instantly.

My world nearly caved in. I can not imagine what that family and church and school are going through. My heart breaks with every thought for the family.

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is in control. But sometimes it's hard to reconcile how God is okay with taking a girl so full of promise, so great by all accounts. It echoes the sentiments we all felt with Amanda leaving us far too early. I don't understand it.

Call it naivety. Call it faith. But I choose to believe that God is in control, somehow. I don't think God was surprised by this, nor do I feel He finds pleasure in our pain. Yet, he uses our pain to build our faith and His kingdom.

But sometimes I can't help but wonder why.

But, ultimately, my questions are irrelevant. My deeper thoughts on God and faith mean nothing. All that matters is that a family is hurting. Deeply. And my heart...I don't think I'm going too far out on a limb to say, our hearts...go out to them.

Please keep the family and friends in prayer.

Her name was Kelsey Orndorff.

Daylight is coming/here

2008-08-26T14:02:00.003-05:00

Remedy Drive's new album Daylight Is Coming is out today.

Please support these guys (if you like the music, of course). They're a great band, and Jason Walker wrote with them and has gotten to know them and really thinks they're great guys.

I'm hoping to do some shows with them at some point...I really like them.

David Cook

2008-08-19T16:42:00.003-05:00

I hung out and wrote with Luke Menard today.

He told me a story that I got his permission put on here.

Luke Menard found out he had cancer the week of the finale. 2-3 days before David Cook performed in the finale, trying to win Idol, he took time to come to Luke's hospital room in L.A. I can tell you from experience that the final 2 don't have time to use the restroom, nonetheless break away to see a friend in the hospital. So, that sacrifice alone says a lot about the dude.

But this story blew me away:

Luke recently did a fundraising concert to help pay for his mounting medical bills. So, his hometown put on a concert to help pay for said bills, and Luke performed. David Cook sent a signed guitar as a donation to be sold in the auction. Nice enough, right.

Then, as the concert/auction/fundraiser was starting, David called and told Luke to let the audience know that whatever they bought the guitar for, he would match personally dollar for dollar. And he did.

Now, David didn't pay off Luke's bills...he still needs help...but that act of sacrifice was pretty incredible, and, to me, says what kind of guy David is.

Hey, in my first EW blog I questioned if he came across as cocky. But, speaking as someone who is misread a great deal, I have a feeling David is misread also.

So...just a little story.

Coming Up!

2008-08-19T10:54:00.003-05:00

So, it was great to see Risa and Candy this weekend! Seriously, we've gotta get to Little Rock because it is not fair that you have to drive so far to come and see me.

But then, Carmen has driven way further...so, you know what, Risa, quit your complaining! LOL

Seriously, though...Candy and Risa, thanks for coming out...it means the world to me.

So, coming up is some cool stuff:

Thursday, is Bowling Green...that's gonne be a cool show. I think some of management and booking are gonna be there. Plus, they have sold a buncha tickets already, supposedly! So, it should be a big ol' great show! And...Jason Walker is going out with us for like 10 days! This will be the first show he'll be playing with us.

Then Friday we travel to KC, MO! I'm pumped! I haven't been to KC in about 10 years...it'll be cool to see friends again! So, we'll hang out on Friday night, then Saturday is the KC Royals game. I'm doing an acoustic opening set in front of Natalie Grant...so that'll be awesome. Plus, I get to go to a Royals game. I used to go see Bo Jackson and George Brett play! It'll be cool to go see the Royals again.

Then Sunday, I play a church in Lenexa, KS. We are playing at Lenexa Baptist Church. I'll do a coupla songs in the morning service, then a show for the evening service that night at 5pm. Then as soon as we finish, we load up and drive 14 hours to Greenville, SC. Fun!

I have to be there at 10am to do chapel for North Greenville University. Then that night at 7pm we do a show for the students. So, that'll be fun!

Then, while Clint has to go back and practice with another artist he's playing with in October, the rest of us get 2 days off in Greenville! It'll be great to see old friends and my brother!

So, that's what's upcoming!

Empty Me to Arise

2008-08-14T00:07:00.001-05:00

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later.

Empty Me finally fell. Back to #8.

Hey, it had an incredible run, but great songs coming up the charts and the fact that I've been on for almost 6 months takes it's toll.

However, I am proud to announce that, though "Arise" has gone to CHR stations (more rocking stations), it will hit AC (where Empty Me has lived) on August 29!

So, be excited. One single down....1 to go...after that, let's hope we get 2 more...'cause that'd be great.

David Archuleta - "Crush"

2008-08-06T17:10:00.003-05:00

Okay...

So, all season long, I had my doubts about Archuleta. I thought he had a fine voice, all right, but I just thought he was boring on the show. On top of that I had real concerns of how he would fit into the landscape of today's music culture.

I just listened to his debut single "Crush".

My initial thoughts are that it is a fine song and any concerns I had about his fitting into today's music business, have been relieved in spades. He sounds great and I think this is a genuine contender for a hit single!

If you've known me for any certain amount of time, you'll know I have no problem admitting when I was wrong. On Archie, I was wrong.

And, honestly, I'm glad I was. I wish him all the luck in the world.

Number 7

2008-08-04T20:10:00.000-05:00

We moved up once more, probably the final time, this week to Number 7.

Yeah!

Remedy Drive

2008-08-03T18:30:00.002-05:00

I try to keep my music recommendations to a minimum so that when I do tell you that something is great, that you believe that I'm serious.

Remedy Drive is one such band that you should take me seriously on. They're a new band for Word Records and they are one of the best new bands I've heard in a while. To me, they're a mixture of Switchfoot, piano-based groups like Keane, Coldplay and Jack's Mannequin, with some Relient K influence in there, too.

They're a brothers group that is incredible and Ian Eskilin produced this record to a tee.

Check it out August 26.

Back To School!

2008-08-03T09:46:00.002-05:00

The Back to School tour just did it's first 3 shows in Southern Illinois, and they went great! We saw great-sized attendances and the show went great.

Here's our set list:

Intro/Hands Up

Loaded Gun/Eleanor Rigby

Somewhere/Living on a Prayer

Cry Tonight

In a Moment

Something Beautiful

Arise

Broken (beautiful)

Something/I'm Clean

City of Blinding Lights

Potential/Interlude/Empty Me

How Long

Let You Know

Vessel

So, it's an exciting time! Thanks to all who came out for the first 3 shows. We have a bunch more to come!

An Alog Heart

2008-07-30T22:29:00.004-05:00

A fan gave me David Cook's album Analog Heart from 2006 a while back. It got tossed into a bin after a show and I didn't find it until today as I was unpacking stuff to repack for the tour dates upcoming. Anyway, I finally got to listen to it.

I was David Cook fan while he was on the show. This album, if I weren't a fan wouldn't do anything for me to become a fan, if I'm being honest. The albums sounds great, but I wish they had spent more time on the vocals...David Cook proved this year he's a fantastic vocalist, and unfortunately, there are many times on here that isn't shown.

However, with that said, this album actually makes me even more excited about his upcoming album. Why? Didn't I just say Analog Heart wasn't incredible? Yes...but overall you can hear his ear for a great song (though the songs weren't all that great here, they were awful close), great arrangements and good production. The thing about indie albums is that it's tough to find an indie that puts everything together right...on this one, David put together a great album with good songs, and really good production (for the style of music he was going for). I'm not sure who produced the album or who played on it, but everything sounds really, really good.

So, for those who haven't heard it: you're not missing a lot - in fact, I think that, for once, 19 entertainment got it right, in forcing people to wait for the "real thing". But trust me (and tons of others who have heard it) in saying that David Cook is a star and he shows great promise of it on this album.

I hear he's working with Rob Cavallo...that's freaking awesome! Rob produced the Green Day records, the Black Parade album for My Chemical Romance and, most importantly to me: Goo. Rob produced the greatest Goo Goo Dolls albums...if he can pull the same vocal performances from David that he's pulled from tons of other singers, then this album is going to be a winner.

I've learned my lessons on predicting how many albums someone might sell...so I'll save it. But I will say this: I think David Cook has every tool he needs to be a best-selling artist. Doesn't mean he'll be it, but he has the tools, and that's a start! Now, let's hope his label continues to pour money into radio promotions!

ETA: So we're clear: I am a David Cook fan. I like his music and this his songwriting shows incredible promise here. I think that this album is in the 95th percentile for local indie artists I've ever heard (and I've heard a lot). So, please don't read into this as me trying to bash David Cook or that I'm jealous...I am doing neither! Thanks for checking out the blog.

Up another...

2008-07-28T21:23:00.003-05:00

Empty Me moves up to #8 this week!

Just be warned though that it may not go much higher...the stations who added 6 months ago when the single first came out are slowly coming off of it, so we'll be losing plays steadily until we drop out of the top 15. So...we had a great run and we got in a top 10 single!

Just confirming for you...just looked at the R&R Charts and I'm #8 on the main Christian AC chart, and #9 on the Indicator chart, which is the secondary chart!

Just some little stats: of the 82 stations that are counted, I'm only on 55 of them...yet, I still am in the top 10. Apparently, the stations that are playing the song are playing it like crazy! Thank goodness!

Just a note, though. On the main AC chart, it's my first week without a bullet. In other words, even though I moved up on the chart, I actually lost plays compared to last week. Don't get me wrong: I'm hoping it continues to move up the chart, but chances are we've had our run! And it's been a good one!

Finally...

2008-07-27T17:03:00.004-05:00

I've got a new song up on myspace.com/chrisslighproductions.

Just a rough demo. The song is the first one on there...called "Finally...." It's the first song I've ever written with my good friend Don Chapman. We cowrote most of the music then I wrote the words.

I'm pretty positive this will be on the next album.

Finally…
Words by Chris Sligh 
Music by Chris Sligh & Don Chapman

I am just light cast on a curtain 
Traveling light, still heavy of hurting 
A speck of a second of day 
A soap bubble floating away
I’m just a guest, passing through slowly
I’ll never find rest, there’s no one that knows me
I’m just a thought, passing on 
A steam burst that’s here and then gone   

Felt the sun rising
Just on the horizon 
And with it the graceful skies came dancing over me 
Favorite childhood games 
Memories feel the same
Life in a flash flies by with light that sets me free I am not of this world 
Ooh…. I am not of this world - I can’t see

Follow the light, like pouring rain
It washes over me the same
Wiping every stain 
Running down streets, echoed light
Pouring down, chase away the night  
And suddenly it’s right

I’m home; I’m home 
Finally home - home 
I’m home; I’m home 
Finally home - home  

Instrumental

I’m home;  I’m home

I am just light cast on a curtain 
Traveling light, still heavy of hurting 
A speck of a second of day 
A soap bubble floating away

Oh, by the way, it's 7 and a half minutes long.