Your Country's Right Here: Chris August Adds Soul to 'The Upside of Down'
posted in: Country • Music News
Chris August still can’t quite believe that a skateboarding accident almost ended it all. Instead, this week he’s celebrating the release of his highly anticipated sophomore album The Upside of Down.
The accident that resulted in a serious head injury was the latest roadblock that almost ended August’s career before it began. August had fought his way up from what he calls “a broken family,” to a record contract and a large dose of success in the Los Angeles music industry. Industry turmoil threatened to stall his career, but he released a debut album that went to #1 and won multiple awards. Just before the release of his much-anticipated sophomore album, he was hospitalized with a serious head injury from the skateboarding accident. Although he still suffers from the injury and is susceptible to pneumonia, heat exhaustion, and other maladies, he returned to work just months after the injury.
“I love it,” he said of what brought him back on the road so quickly. “It’s a huge passion of mine. As long as I can
remember, I loved playing shows, meeting people, and hearing people’s stories and I want to always do that. That’s the whole point of making music ” connecting with people. I am so honored if they want to hang out with me.”
That down-to-earth style is one reason that August chose to leave what was a promising, high-profile Los Angeles-based career that included working with everyone from Babyface to Jessica and Ashlee Simpson. When his contract with Geffen Records fell apart due to label restructuring, August returned to his Garland, Texas home and made the decision to stop working in secular music. His work in Christian contemporary music developed into the release of his 2010 album No Far Away.
“It’s an interesting thing because I didn’t necessarily grow up in church. I started to go to church in high school and it’s something [that] literally changed my life,” he said. “When I left Dallas and went to L.A. and was signed to a big label, I was working with amazing producers. I was sitting down with Babyface and that was like a dream come true. I couldn’t believe it. But I saw myself becoming a man I didn’t want to be. I was skateboarding around Philly and I heard a Christian song and it reminded me of who I used to be. That’s when I decided to move back to Texas and rededicate myself to Christian music.”
His debut single “Starry Night,” hit #1 on Billboard’s Christian/AC chart. He also won three major honors at the Dove Awards ” “New Artist of the Year,” “Male Vocalist of the Year,” and “Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year” for No Far Away.
Although he would make more of a splash if he was recording more secular music, August has no desire to leave the path he’s on.
“Some people straddle both,” he said. “”For me the whole reason I got into Christian music industry is because this is my faith and it’s important to me to make a blatantly Christian record and make it the best way I could.”
For August that means soulful, roots sounds something akin to John Mayer‘s music. That’s a natural step for August when you consider he grew up as a fan of such singers as Boyz II Men, The Beach Boys, and Chuck Berry. A combination of timing, connection, and talent led to August assembling an A-team to work on the sophomore release and create his vision of a soulful sound that is reminiscent of Sara Bareilles and John Mayer.
“No one in Christian music is doing that kind of sound,” August said. “That’s why I wanted to do it.”
Another point that sets August apart from many other entertainers in the industry is his concert style.
“I noticed when I got into the Christian industry that a lot of the shows have very serious pitches in the middle of them. They’d show videos of kids in Africa and charities, and it seemed like every show was a benefit show,” he said. “We can do benefits for people and we should. I love them. But I wanted to have a concert where people could forget about the problems of the world and enjoy the music. I want them to kick back a bit and enjoy life!”
That is just what August is doing.
Find out more about Chris August, his music, and his tour dates on his official website.
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