Calling It Christian

What are Christian artists supposed to create?
Is a Christian photographer supposed to take pictures of Jesus? (Highly improbable, though if anyone could do it it would be TMZ).
Is a Christian painter supposed to paint portraits of Jesus? (Wait what color was he?)
Is a Christian writer supposed to write about Jesus? (Done. Apostles did that already)
Is a Christian actor supposed to play Jesus? (Talk about starving for lack of work)
Is a Christian sculptor supposed to sculpt figures of Jesus? (Hey, buddy, what is this? I think Jesus wasn't as muscular as you made him there.)
What is a Christian artist?
We are humans. We are artists. We are Christians.
In that order. The first two you are born with, the latter you are born again with. If you try to flip that order, nobody will understand you except other Christians.
A Christian is a person. Just like any other person. Only they've chosen to believe they have a Savior, and exhibit Christ-like behavior. (Which is not exclusive, as there are many people who reflect this behavior who are not Christian.) The exhibiting Christ-like behavior part is much harder than it seems. We often fail miserably at it. And if we are honest with ourselves as well as others, it brings us back to being human, just like anyone else.
Freedom
As Christians we are free. And as artists, it is in that freedom we should create. We should create what we feel, and in that freedom we will be relevant, authentic, and transparent. As artists we need to be sure our work is top notch. Our standards are extremely high. Having the constant awareness that we can always be better. There is nothing wrong with calling yourself a Christian artist. For an artist who portrays/reflects Christ in their work, it's an extension of their new life.
There is, however, a growing segment of artists who are Christians separating themselves from the Christian label. Why are they doing this? For some, they don't want the baggage of what is viewed as Christian to influence other's opinions of their work. For others (myself included), it's a desire to be seen, heard, or read just as one would experience any other artist.
This is very similar to the cultural stance on Religion vs God. You will hear more complaints and accusations hurled at religion than you actually will hear about God. Religion is a flawed human system because we as humans are flawed.
Here's the real deal: the label, in this case the Christian label, is not the power. It's not what makes something good.
If you invite a friend to a Christian concert, and this friend has never been to church, there's a good chance Todd is going to say no. But if you simply asked Todd to check out a rock band you've heard good things about, well, you might just get Todd's attention.
If Todd goes and 1.) the band plays quality music, and 2.) there's something more to it that you can't put a finger on, then that's where the power is. It's not in the Christian label.
Unfortunately, we as humans feel comfortable with labels. If at your invitation Todd asked more about the band and what kind of music they play, you'd have to describe them in some way, indie, alternative, whatever. And by Todd knowing you, he might ask if they are a Christian band.Again with the labels making our simple invitation to check out a band more complex and exhaustive.
The cultural idea of what is Christian is often so far removed from Christ that anything with that label now hurts more than helps.
Take one of the popular chicken restaurants for example. The founder is a Christian. Truett Cathy. However, in the restaurant name, there is no reference to it being a Christian restaurant. No taglines under the logo that say Our Chickens are Baptized. It's just a franchise which has become very popular for the food they serve. Their customers go there because they like the food. Simple as that.

We must motivate ourselves to do our very best, and by our example lead others to do their best as well. -Truett Cathy

I never thought I'd quote a chicken salesmen, as I myself don't eat chicken. It is when we are creating and doing our best, maintaining high quality standards and constantly learning and growing that we make an impact, becoming relevant and influential.
Who Are You?
The key to relating to people is found in you. The key to people relating to your work is found in you. The more you know who you are, the more transparent you become. When you cultivate the characteristics that make you interesting as a person and impart them into your work, there becomes a oneness between who you are and what you create.
What you create is an extension of who you are. It doesn't always define who you are, but it does inform others about you.
It's time to strip the labels and show people who you really are. Share your opinion, speak through your work. As an artist, at the end of the day, your work should say more about you than any label ever could.

Clint Fisher is a bonafide Avocadophile and Music Geek Extraordinaire.
Clint is the original Mayor of Pinches Tacos, and aspires to be Eva Mendes' poolboy. He spends his days immersed in CSS and music, his nights in the Sons of Anarchy and Justified but is willing to put that all aside if Eva should call.

Music Appreciation - Tips for Parents Who Want Musically-Inclined Children

You have a lot of dreams for your child when they first come into the world, but there is one thing you want them to have above all else: an appreciation for music. Perhaps music has filled a big role in your life or has been something that helped you become successful in the world. You know the power of music on life and you want to make sure your child feels that power as well.
Whatever your reasons may be for wanting your child to be musically-inclined, there are some things you can do from the day they are born to help them develop that appreciation and love for music.
Model Your Love of Music
You can be the role model that shows your child firsthand how enjoyable and powerful music can be in daily life. If you listen to a lot of music or even put headphones over your stomach while pregnant, your child will hear music before they even enter the world.
You can then follow this up by listening to a variety of music in the home after giving birth. The child will grow used to hearing your music around the house and will have a natural sense of it being normal and enjoyable.
You can also use different types of music in the home to help the child adjust to a normal daytime schedule. If there is a time of day that they tend to get sleepy you can play upbeat, happy music to pep them up until it is a more appropriate time to sleep. Very soft, soothing music can be combined with a dark, comforting environment to help them sleep when you want them to sleep.
Your enjoyment of music can rub off on your child and it is never too early or too late to start introducing it in your home.
Exposure to Music
The child should also have a lot of exposure to music on their own as well. They should be encouraged to explore different ways to make their own music and to identify music that they really enjoy as they get older. When children are given the freedom to really explore music and see what they like on their own they really develop that love of music in their own personal way.
The best way to do this is to sign them up for childhood musical programs that allow children of all ages to experience music with a hands-on approach. This will likely start out with parent participation in the classes while the child is a baby but they should eventually be able to go on their own and explore music in a more personal manner.
These classes are great for growing children because they expose them to a variety of instruments and allow them hear a wide variety of music types. They start to see what they really like. They start to respond emotionally to the music and make a deeper connection to the tunes.
Musically-inclined children need to be exposed to music on a routine basis, but they also need the freedom to get their own hands on instruments and learn to make music of their own. If you can give this type of exposure to your child they can develop the deep appreciation and love for music that you want them to have.

REVIEW: Biffy Clyro "Only Revolutions"

First impressions about this band entered my mind before I even had the chance to check out this disc. Is this a solo artist? Is it a strange name? What is a Biffy Clyro, exactly? The only thing I knew about this band before I heard the first note was that they were from Scotland and they won a Best Live Band award from New Music Express (NME). I have several friends who are really into british music and had suggested I take a listen to see if I might like it.
The opening track is "The Captain". Within the first four bars of the song, I'm hooked. Immediately, I ponder if this is what they listen to at soccer matches in Europe. The lyrics and chorus are very anthemic. There's a quality to this song that invites any and everyone to sing-a-long. There's a kaleidoscopic vibe going with the keyboards, some lush bass licks and the singer's voice is thick with all things Scottish.
So now, while I'm enjoying this song, it opens up an even bigger array of questions. How many people are in this band? Is the whole album as good as the opening track? How do these guys pull off this music live? Can they recreate this in a live environment? The NME award immediately gives these guys street credentials, so I know they can carry a tune to a crowd.
"That Golden Rule" is the next song and its much faster than the intro. The guitar work is rapid fire, yet gets quiet during the verses. When the entire band is going full steam, it's a thunderous engine roaring. The reason this band appeals to my musical tastes is because they are using interesting guitar patterns, thought provoking lyrics and they are very keen to mix up their instrumentation and layering.
To think that this band is able to emit these lush sounds as just a trio is staggering. I'm hearing a wide variety of influences from Rush to hints of Muse. The start and stop antics of the band really help create the moods as you dig further into this album. Foo Fighters tapped these guys to open up for them on their new tour and in typical Dave Grohl fashion, they hit a bullseye.
Biffy Clyro is a band that we're going to be hearing about in future years. They've been touring in support of this record for several years and are just now getting some much needed publicity in the States. They've toured here with Cage The Elephant and are now playing to thousands with Foo Fighters and Motorhead. Without major radio airplay, they have their work cut out for them. If this band is going to break in the United States without a major radio push, it would be easier to do this now more than ever.
This band is not a one-trick pony. They bring a lot to the table that most bands ignore. Their musicianship is stellar and the way they interact with each other and the audience helps them cut their own niche as a people's type of band. I enjoy this band and this record for the "underdog" quality of it. These are fantastic songs that I never would have heard had my friends not badgered me about it. This is a rock record, make no doubt about it. But, this just isn't a typical record. They treat their listeners with respect and challenge with non-traditional styles of songcrafting. These songs aren't your typical 4/4-in-the-box variety. They push the envelope and treat us as forward thinkers with this album. If you like a good rock record and are looking for something new, this is your album.

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