ELEV8 Magazine MAR / APRIL 2016 | Page 40

can identify with, because of the greatness of God, we’ve made it! Can you share more about the album? Eternal, the debut album has been widely supported, and well received. We have been so excited to release these songs. Some of the tracks were co-written with some of my closest friends, the original pieces help us be very confident in what God has given us to share with the world. Candidate Conversation with Jarmel Evans reveals the Lord’s faithful to complete what He starts (Phil. 1:6). How’d it all begin? About 5 years ago, I made the transition from worship leader to worship artist. Is there a difference between the two? Absolutely, yet they’re one in the same. I will always be a worship leader at heart, with a mission to dive right pass the semantics and reach Heaven. “My primary responsibility is to make sure people reach God.” “We have to go up...get into His presence. I don’t care about anything else!” What would you say is at the heart of ministry for Jarmel Evans and Worship Forever? A passion to reinstate the authenticity of what it means to worship God in or through music. I say this because it seems as though, the “artistry” of music has taken over. As a result, the impact seems to rest more on presentation, and personal notoriety rather than authentic worship experiences. “The one thing that people can count on, is my passion to pursue God while singing, I mean it!” Can you share more about the new release? (singing I made it...) The name of that song is Great & Mighty. It is the very first song sang out with Worship Forever. That song has literally carried this ministry, even as it was composed the spirit behind it, was to share we serve a great God, and because of His greatness we have been able to make it. It’s a testimony that people “It’s energetic, and uninhibited, taking Worship to another dimension and perspective.” What’s the writing process like? It’s my favorite, I love to create. I listen to a lot of music but one of my favorite groups is Bethel Worship. I love their spontaneity, and ability to convey the moment, which makes the place erupt with praise. I can hear a track and begin to write over it, or a melody will come to mind and I’ll share it with my producers and then we build upon the foundation. But it all comes from my heart, and the moment at that time. For instance, None Like You, was birth during a stroll down the Metro, and it is one of the most sought after songs. What genre do you consider your music? We like to call it Urban Pop Worship, because it encompasses all of those entities. It’s able to translate, and transmit into all those different spectrums, and is relatable with all people. The sounds, approach and flair we use on the backend of our songs, is not necessarily the church cord approach. However, I did not set out to be different, my only desire was to sing what was in my heart, and what I heard musically. Who has inspired and influenced Jarmel Evans? Bethel Worship, anything HillSong, from the start to current projects, even their kid’s albums. Definitely, Fred Hammond, Dedrick Haddon, Vashawn Mitchell, and the Elevation band are my greatest influences. But something I’ve never shared before is I am a huge fan of Donnie Hathaway. My all time favorite song is “Someday, We Will All Be Free.” For some reason I just want that to be a Gospel song, and my favorite worship song is "Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart." Do you have any other talents or interests? I have a few areas that I occupy, there’s the ministry side of preaching that comes periodically, and I love it. I also enjoy teaching a lot. But there’s so many great things that are happening. You’re getting a lot of exclusive information right now.