[by Deborah Evans-Price]
Few artists in any genre of music possess a more compelling voice than
Nicol Sponberg. Warm and rich with a husky texture than imbues any lyric
with an extra measure of emotional intensity, Sponberg has always been a
"singer's singer" who has distinguished herself both as a solo artist and as
a founding member of the award-winning trio Selah.
Truly great artists, however, are more than great voices. They have a way
of incorporating life's experience into their work in a way that profoundly
impacts others. As she heads into the next phase of her life and career,
Sponberg is drawing from a rich palette of experience. The
singer-songwriter-wife added another hyphenate last year when she became a mother to daughter Summer. It was a busy year that also saw Sponberg hit the mainstream AC charts with the hit "Crazy in Love."
"It's the most amazing thing because I was just being a mom, that's what
I was focusing on and then "Crazy In Love" hit mainstream AC radio," says
Sponberg. "We would hear about it going up the charts and I couldn't have
been more shocked because usually you break your back, you go out and do the promo and radio tour and I wasn't doing any of that."
Sponberg penned the song about her husband Greg. "It's just a fun song,
the kind you roll down the windows and play really loud in your car," she
says. "I think everybody can relate to that feeling when you are just so
nuts about the person that you love. Greg and I met in February of 2003 and
got married nine and a half weeks later. So we had this whirlwind courtship.
It was like the most intense and exciting time in my life. The song
captures that feeling."
In the music industry, where hit songs are usually carefully massaged up
the charts by promotion people, it's nice to see that a hit can still happen
organically. There are some songs that rise on their own merit and "Crazy in
Love" was one of those records. To Sponberg, the chart success was
especially meaningful. "It was so wonderful because it felt like it was a
confirmation that things were going in the right direction," she says of
leaving Selah to focus on a ministry with her husband. "It felt like we'd
taken the right step as a family and God was taking care of this other
stuff."
"Crazy in Love" was culled from Sponberg's 2004 Curb Records album
"Resurrection," and in light of the single's reception, Curb is re-issuing
this gem. In addition to the powerful title tune and such engaging songs as
"Jacob's Well" and "The Spirit in Me," the newly released project features
two new bonus tracks---an upbeat remix of "Resurrection" and the lovely
piano/vocal "Love Will Bring You Home."
"Chris Eaton is an amazing songwriter and he wrote it with Brian White
and Don Poythress," Sponberg says. "When you hear a song as just piano and vocal, and it stands on it's own, that's a pretty good song. It just
touched me. That song reminded me of just how when you feel God come over you with His love, that's what brings you home, that's what brings you back to the truth."
Sponberg wrote the title track after running into an old friend. "She was
just an amazing Christian girl and really a mentor to me during college,"
says Sponberg. "I had seen her 10 years after school at a wedding of a
friend and you wouldn't have even recognized her. There was this edge to
her. She was distraught because things had happened in her life which were
totally out of her control. Some of her friends asked 'Why can't you be
cheerful?" She said 'I can't.'
"She was at a point where she was devastated. She was just in the place
where you can't make yourself feel joy. God just has to come and resurrect
you because you have nothing left to give. That's what was going through my
mind when I was co-writing the lyrics, just being in that place of emotional
lifelessness, where you know that you have hope only because of God. He can resurrect it."
"Resurrection" is filled with songs that reverberate with life
experience-the high and lows, the times of confidence and the quaking
moments of doubt. Soothing tracks such as "Anything and Everything" remind listeners where to turn in times of turmoil. "It's got kind of relaxed
groove," says Sponberg, "but the lyric makes me think of when you are in a
time of transition. You have your choice to run away or run to God and find
out He is anything and everything."
For Nicol Sponberg, God has always been her compass. Growing up in Africa
in a missionary family, she saw God's grace and provision early in life.
After moving to Nashville to pursue a career in music, she landed a record
deal in what might seem like a music business cliché. She was waiting tables
at a popular Music City restaurant frequented by Mike Curb and his family.
She got to know the music mogul and his daughters as good customers, not
even knowing what he did for a living. Someone tipped cousin Benson Curb to the fact that their favorite waitress was an aspiring singer. He loved
Nicol's tape and soon after, she was shocked to get a call from Mike
offering her a deal.
Since then she's released two acclaimed solo projects and spent eight
years performing with her brother Todd Smith and Allan Hall as Selah.
Marriage and motherhood provided a transition back to solo status and these
days Sponberg is reveling in her new direction. "Being a mom is the most
important thing," she says. "You see life through a different lens."
In addition to performing select dates this summer, Sponberg is also
working on her next project, a worship album. "There's nothing wrong with
singing pop songs or a love song and I'll continue to do that too," says
Sponberg, "but the main focus is going to be having ministry together with
my husband."
Musically, she's looking forward to sharing some of her favorite worship
songs on the next record. "This worship record means a lot me," she says.
"After I left the group I'd been with for eight years and got married to
someone I'd known for nine and a half weeks, that was a huge transition.
Sometimes it felt like I was going to sit in a chair and the legs were
missing. These songs meant so much to me. They were like a lifeline for me
during that time. So I hope in the future to be able to continue to sing
songs that will bring comfort to people who are going through times of
uncertainty or distress."
"Psalms 5:12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield." "Psalms 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." "Psalms 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."
No matter what is going on in the world...God is still the answer. God is on your side, that makes you and God the majority in all attacks against you, your family, your finances, or your health!
It is our example of real Godly love that is our strongest witness. God is love. God's love is what draws people out of darkness to the light.
"Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;" "Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour." "2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." "1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." "1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world."
God bless you Nicol ღ
Your servant and brother in Christ, Pastor Rick "†"
Hope 2009 is starting out your best year ever. Also hoping you'll consider one of our songs for your next recording session. Take care, Dale / Pathways
Start 2009 released from what holds you back. Just as it was for Paul and Silas, it is still the same for us this day, it is when we praise God and pray that we are freed and others who are around us are freed as well.
"Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed."
Go into the new year a conqueror!
"Romans 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."
“ For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. ”
- Isaiah 9:6-7 KJV
Christmas blessings with joy and peace be to you and your family, Nicol : )
I met you tonight at the concert in the park...just wanted to give you an update! After I talked with you, I was led to another group of young kids, like 12-14...4 girls who were vietnamese and a chinese boy. They were so excited and kept saying thank you after they prayed with me. I was so excited to come and meet you after so many years of your ministry being a part of my life. As I was standing there in the back, young kids were coming up to the funnel stand...I said "God, why has it been so long since I've prayed with someone?" and the Holy Spirit said "what are you waiting for"...I had nothing to say, no response, no excuse...and when I turned around there were two beautiful young girls standing right behind me in line. All in all, I had the great privilege of praying with 12 teens tonight at your meeting!!! I felt an overwhelming Joy and Gratitude,that I haven't had in months. Thank you for your ministry,I pray we stay in touch. The email I wrote in the card is changed,it is now @gmail. com instead of aol. com
MERRY CHRISTMAS - Jesus Christ is the Reason for the Season!
"Matthew 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." "1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" "1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ," "Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
We have much to rejoice about during the Christmas time. The angel told Joseph that Jesus would save us from our sins. Paul taught Timothy that Jesus is the only mediator between God and us. Paul declared that God has appointed us to receive salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. And especially this time of year we should not let the world hinder us from proclaiming the Gospel of Christ to all. We can not let the influence of the world make us ashamed of speaking the Gospel of Christ. Jesus & salvation is the reason for true rejoicing this Christmas season.
My sweet sister, I desperately need your prayers about my biology exam next Monday, November 3rd. It's not easy, but I would like God to help me completely and fully understand the chemical foundations for cells, cell structure and function, ground rules of metabolism (maybe), energy-acquiring pathways, and possibly energy-releasing pathways. God bless and I love you so much. Thank you so much.
