Christine Evans is an up-and-coming new Christian artist out of Canada. With a folk/pop sound, she has recently released her sophomore album, Push. I had a chance to chat with Christine in order to get to know her a little better...

Background Info

Date of Birth: May 25, 1990
Hometown: Victoria, British Columbia
Albums:Take Me Home (2005) & Push (2006)

Favorites:

• Food: Raspberries
• Place to Visit: New York City

• Scripture Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:18 - "We fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
• Movie:Love Actually
• Book:Awake and Dreaming
• Music Group: Delirious?
• Pet Peeve: "Being Behind someone that can't find their wallet in their mega-unorganized bag."

Q&A with Christine

Tell me a little about where you grew up in Canada. What makes it so special to you?
I grew up in Victoria, BC. One of the things that I really miss about it when I go away to school on the East coast is the ocean and the mountains. The smell of the salt air is like nothing else I?ve encountered on the planet and it?s hard to go from having the Pacific Ocean as your backyard and being surrounded by mountain ranges to taxi cabs and street cars outside your window.

You attend a boarding school in New Jersey, Blair Academy. How do you like studying so far from home? How do you cope with missing your family? How has the school helped you in your songwriting?
Boarding school has been an amazing experience for me.

It was difficult to take the first leap, but now that I have adjusted I wouldn?t have it any other way. I find that I really appreciate my family and my home much more now that I have perspective being away at school and I really love the close-knit community of teachers and peers.

What does it mean to you to be a Christian artist?
I believe that music is a wonderful way to communicate and inspire my listeners. Sometimes my message is about struggles and sometimes my message is about joy, but in all of these I hope that the spiritual message comes through as well.

How is God reflected in your music?
A lot of my music has to do with standing up for yourself and what you believe in. For me, this strength comes from God?s spirit and I hope that through my music others can find God?s strength also.

What do you want other Christian teens, and even non-Christian teens, to come away with from your music?
I think it?s important for people to see that everyone has struggles in their lives because sometimes we think that we?re the only one?s being challenged. Knowing that we all have struggles creates fellowship in a way. We?re all limping through life in one way or another and we could all use a helping hand or a comforting embrace to help us along the way.

Where do you find the inspiration for your music?
I find inspiration through things that I see or just questions that are running through my head about life and about being human and sometimes about longing to be something more than just human. Sometimes when I?ve finished writing a song, it feels like I didn?t even really write it at all. Sometimes it feels like such a stream of consciousness that I have no doubt that God?s spirit inspired the song. There?s never an end to all of the questions that life poses and their will never be sufficient answers. All I can do is to keep searching for truth.

Of all your own songs, do you have a favorite? Which song is it? Why is it your favorite?
I would have to say that ?Give it Up? is probably my favourite song. This song follows an ongoing theme of mine which is the transient state of our existence. This world is passing and so are we from this world, so it?s important not to hold on too tightly to things that are only temporary.

?A Nation Redeemed? is a fairly political song. What inspired it? What message did you want to portray to others?
It can be so frustrating to see how many backwards and destructive things we have in our modern society. We are making a mess of this planet that was graciously given to us and I am fearful of what the repercussions may be. It is so easy to become distracted by things that give us temporary comfort and consolation that it becomes easy to lose sight of bigger things. My only goal was nothing more than to make people stop and think about some of these things ? even if only for 3 and a half minutes.

You are an Artist Ambassador for Kids Help Phone. Why did you choose this charity? How do you continue to give back? Why do you think giving is so important?
I chose Kids Help Phone because in a busy world where it?s easy to forget about the pain and struggles that kids face, it?s important to have a safe place for kids to turn to. I could not do what I do if I wasn?t giving back in some way or another, because that?s the only thing that makes it all worth it in the end. So far, I?ve been raising money by giving a dollar from each CD to KHP and also selling wristbands -- all the proceeds going towards KHP. I feel honored to represent kids my age and to offer my own personal experiences and struggles through my music with the hopes of connecting and inspiring.

What is next for you?
Right now I?m working on some new recordings to release a US album in the spring of 2007 and just seeing where that takes me. I?ve quickly learned not to worry too much about my future and what will because of my music career because God?s plan is the only plan that matters and His will for my life will guide me ? I?m just along for the ride.