The church has been the crucible for countless recording artists. Of course, not all who sing in the choir carry the spiritual theme over to their personal careers, but plenty do. In this case Kristine Alicia is the rule, not the exception.
Under the tutelage of her minister father (also a classical musician), Alicia and her five siblings grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, singing and playing the piano both at home and in church. It’s an upbringing that’s written all over the singer’s music. Breezy, Caribbean rhythms and textures permeate almost every song, most of which are low-tempo R&B/Reggae grooves. Blessed with a smoky contralto reminiscent of Toni Braxton and Sade, Alicia lends her silky island cadence to songs of worship and devotion. With lines like “Even if I hide from you / Your presences seems to find me” and “You are the king of my desire,” it’s sometimes difficult to tell whether Alicia is singing to God or lover.
Teenagers these days. When they’re not singing their hearts out in church, they’re off writing cautionary tales about teen pregnancy and girls with low self-esteem.
OK, so The Springs Band aren’t your average adolescents. Corn-fed and God-fearing, the group has already accomplished more than similar acts twice their age: A deal with CFC Nashville, an award for “Youth Artist of the Year” from ICM and shows alongside the likes of Ricky Skaggs and Sara Evans. Laugh if you will, but these teens are on a mission.
Prolific purveyors of tear-jerking country balladry, The Spring Band delivers a canon of stories sure to give you the sniffles – whether its bringing Cheerios to a family in need, or sharing quality time with their mamas. But the band truly excels when they kick piety to the side and act their age. The infectiously upbeat “Save The Drama For Your Mama” showcases some surprisingly scathing wit: “If I wanted to see a grown man cry, I’d watch Dr. Phil.”
Sometimes the best songs go unnoticed and OurStage has a lot of great songs. Scan through our current Pop charts, for example, and you will find some great content even in the 50-100 rankings. This playlist is a mix of catchy, melody-driven tunes. From soft rock to singer/songwriter and even some R&B influenced songs, these tunes will definitely have you singing along. Hear it for yourself!
