Natalie Grant is the first to admit she could easily be classified as a "Becky," the name Christian radio programmers coined years ago to describe their target demo: a woman in her 30s or 40s, married with kids, a typical soccer mom.
|
|
"It helps me to know the audience I'm truly singing to because I am that person," says Grant, who's married to writer/ producer Bernie Herms and has twin 3-year-old daughters, as well as another baby girl due in December.
Grant wants to empower her fans with her Aug. 24 Curb Records release, "Love Revolution." "The industry underestimates Becky," the four-time Gospel Music Assn. female vocalist of the year (2006-09) says. "They think that Becky just drives a minivan, takes the kids to school and has this happy, comfortable life. Becky is different today. Becky wants to change the world, and she believes that she can."
Grant's burning desire to make a difference informs her life and music. After seeing an episode of "Law & Order" that dealt with human trafficking, she launched the Home Foundation in 2005, a nonprofit organization that educates communities, builds shelters and orphanages, and provides medical equipment to aid victims.
"It's really grown beyond my wildest imagination," Grant says. "Our domestic shelter program is growing. I feel we are doing a really good job of educating our audience about the reality that slavery just doesn't happen across the world. It happens across the street."
Curb Records is partnering with Family Christian Stores so that each consumer who preorders "Love Revolution"-Grant's eighth studio album-will receive a free two-song CD featuring "Greatness of Our God" and "Your Great Name." "With each preorder, Family Christian Stores and the James Fund is making a donation back to the Home Foundation," Curb Records VP of marketing Jeff Tuerff says.
Consumers are also being directed to StartALoveRevolution.com, an interactive website that Tuerff says is "designed to expose Natalie's music, encourage others to start a love revolution by simply doing something such as donating clothes, visiting the elderly, feeding the homeless or helping your neighbor."
Click here to continue reading.
SOURCE: Billboard
Deborah Evans Price
