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The maturity level of this album truly excites me. We know what we want to say, and its from our hearts, and it will bless people. No matter how many people buy it, we believe God will use it even beyond what we can imagine. -Melissa Greene
Avalon is: (l to r) Greg Long, Jody McBrayer, Janna Long, Melissa Greene
We recently had the privilege of interviewing Melissa and Jody of Avalon....
MQ: Do you have a mission statement?
Jody: Our mission statement has always been, of course, to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people through music. It sounds plain and simple but it is plain and simple. I think it's the way He meant it to be. So, that's our first priority. It's also been a big deal of ours to portray excellence in our music as well. I think if we're going to give God something, it needs to be excellent...it needs to be as flawless as it can be. Of course He's the only thing that is true perfection but we are obligated to give God our best and we try that. And we also have a desire to really...when we go into these situations....to try and be servants. It's tough because a lot of times we are the ones who are being served. Christian arists kind of get catered to a lot with people saying, 'Oh you're so great.' We just want to go into any concert or situation like this and say 'Look -whatever we can do to help you'...that's a big deal for us. So our mission statement is three fold: the cause of Christ - to further the Gospel, to do what we do with excellence, and to be servants - to be faithful to the ministry.
MQ: How would you describe your sound to someone who is not familiar with it?
Melissa: It's 'pop' music...which technically 'pop' music means whatever is popular at the time...but I think it's adult contemporary. We do a lot of strong ballads - we love singing ballads and that's sort of the heart of Avalon but we like to have fun too. It's contemporary.
Jody: I think it's probably...as far as Christian music is concerned...we talk to a lot of people, like, when we are shopping or something in a town and people will say, 'What are you here for?'
'Oh, we're here for a Christian concert - we do Christian music.'
'Oh Christian music!'
They think they know what it is...and you have to explain, 'Think about your favorite pop/R&B singer or whatever, it's sort of like that, but with a message.'
Melissa: Right...
Jody: So we try to explain it that way so they'll understand.
MQ: Yeah, you say Christian music and people think...
Jody: ...The Gaithers...everybody thinks, 'Gaithers...oh - old people'...
MQ: exactly...
Jody: (laughing) Not that that is bad, because we sing with them too...
all: laughing
Melissa: We love the Gaithers!
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