Andrew Peterson:

• AP in Columbia, SC on Tue 10 Nov 2009
• AP in Little Rock, AR on Mon 23 Nov 2009

Jeremy Casella:

• JC in Charlottesville, VA on Sat 3 Oct 2009
• JC in Ellicott City, MD on Sun 4 Oct 2009
• JC in Bluffton, IN on Sun 11 Oct 2009

More soon.

Details forthcoming about when each of the artists will perform and on what stages.

• Derek’s The Ringing Bell at #11, making him four-for-four in getting his solo albums on their list.
• Jeremy’s Recovery at #4, which is too low, in my opinion, but I haven’t heard #3 or #1.
• Caedmon’s Call’s Overdressed at #2, which has Andy O and Derek involved in the whole music scene and Randall on the songwriting end.

I personally would have Recovery up there at the top, but that’s just because it’s such a breakthrough in sound for Jeremy, a truly unique work of art in a “Christian music marketplace” seemingly content in making homages to other folks. [Which isn't to say that such homages can't be a lot of fun, because The Ringing Bell certainly is. It deserves the lauding that Paste and others have given it.]

This time next year, I fully expect that we’ll be having much the same discussion, with two of the Andy’s with new projects due to release and rumblings that Osenga might put out one himself, a new record [and an EP of duets with Sandra!] coming from Derek, and what all else, I don’t know just yet. Should be music for your ears…

I wrote about my life on [Recovery]. I drew from personal loss, failure and the longing for something better than the condition I find myself in. I’ve found that most everyone can relate to that sort of subject matter so the new music is finding an audience even if it doesn’t fit nicely into pre-conceived categories and assumptions of what an artist who is a believer in the Gospel should be.

The most difficult part of being an independent artist is getting press coverage for your material. Marketing in general is just a difficult thing for me. I think it’s more about financial resources than it is about the lyrical content of the songs.

Yeeeep.

Artists tend to say for other people what they can’t say for themselves. Music is a spiritual language that we all understand. Not everybody can speak it but everyone understands it. I want my songs to be meaningful to people, so I feel a responsibility to make good art and give them something that’s at least worth the time it took to create it.

[My apologies to Jeremy for taking so long to post this. It's been one of those weeks/months.]

[Thanks to Jeremy for the tip.]

Mental note: you have a Casella interview that you have yet to publish.

Jenni: When did you realize that without a doubt, you were meant to be a singer-songwriter?

Jeremy: There was a time when I wanted to pursue some other things, but I realized coming into my early 30’s that there’s really nothing more I could do as well. I’ve always loved music and it’s always felt natural to interact with the world around me using music. You want to spend your life and your time doing something that you feel is the best use of your abilities. As I’ve gotten older, music has become more and more of a passion.

Jenni: I think your calling becomes pretty clear, and something about your 30’s makes it especially clear.

Jeremy: Actually, a couple years ago I was freaking out a little bit about some of my label troubles and I met a guy in Dallas and shared my disappointments with him. He asked me how old I was and I said, ‘about 27.’ He said, ‘Don’t worry because your real work in life begins in your 30’s, and your 20’s are just a primer.’ When I turned 30 about a year ago I really found that to be true. It has given me hope that my 30’s will be productive, a new chapter. I’m glad to leave my 20’s behind – it was a very difficult time, for me anyway. Half the time you’re wondering what you’re doing with yourself. Even though I’m in my early 30’s, I feel like I’m settling into my life’s work in some way.

I’m finding that myself … as I draw close to 30, I’m I’m hitting my stride professionally [and with my hobbies, too].

The whole thing is a good read. Check it out.