ELEV8 Magazine MAR / APRIL 2016 | Page 46

F Latice Crawford rom the moment she opened her mouth, the anointing permeated the atmosphere. She possesses what others desire, the hand of God on her life. Her's isn't a journey without its fair share of mishaps and misfortunes, yet, we'd expect nothing less from a vessel chosen by God. Latice Crawford is undoubtedly stronger in her personage, and her relationship with God. She stopped by to share more with us about her upcoming EP Diary of a Church Girl. Please tell us where you've been. LC: I've been here, I guess when people don't see you at the regularly scheduled events they think y o u ' v e d r o p p e d o f f t h e r a d a r. B u t I've been working, repackaging, and rebranding myself, so people can get the real Latice Crawford. What do you think distinguishes artistry from ministry? LC: I think artistry is what we do on the stage, ministry is what we do after we get off the stage. I share all the time this is my job, b e i n g a n a r t i s t . . . a s i n g e r, t h a t ' s my occupation, but when I get off the stage, what I'm able to do with the finances from singing, becomes the ministry part. The part that allows me to assist in changing someone's l i f e i s m i n i s t r y, t o m e t h a t d i s t i n guishes the two. I believe you can be both, at the same time, one is c o n t i n g e n t o f t h e o t h e r. We b e l i e v e y o u a r e m o r e m i n i s t r y t h a n a r t i s t r y, i n t h a t , t h e r e ' s n o t a great deal of performance with you, rather you minister unto the people and that's refreshing, and rewarding all at the same time. We a r e e x c i t e d a b o u t t h e n e w Sophomore project can you share more about it? The title of the new EP is called Diary of a Church Girl. It d e f i n i t e l y, f o r m e r e p r e s e n t s a b r i d g e f o r t h e b e l i e v e r, a n d t h e n o n e b e l i e v e r. I s a y t h a t b e c a u s e it's very transparent. Lots of people were saying where's Latice, I was taking the time to find my sound, and to figure out w h a t I w a n t e d t o s a y, a n d h o w I wanted to say it. What it would look like, and sound like, those where areas I really focused on to be as true to myself as I could be. Something that's always bothered me in the church was the testimonies were always about the great things that were happening... the houses, and cars but what about the darker moments? When are we going to talk about God healing our hearts, and healing our minds? That's what this album is about, it's about those moments. The human journey of finding God in whatever state we find ourselves, and the security that is in Him, is w h a t t h i s a l b u m e n c o m p a s s e s . We need to let the world know we go through the same stuff, the same kinds of situations, yet, we have a different source. While the world is relying on t h e i r o w n i n g e n u i t y, w e h a v e GOD. When can we hear the new music? The ne w sing le Author dropped March 11th, and the EP is scheduled for release later this Spring. Can you tell us about your new signature look? I did not cut my hair as a fashion statement, but to stand with a woma n r e c o v e r i n g f r o m C a n c e r. I met her and we shared stories. She thought I was brave, after l e a r n i n g o f m y j o u r n e y. H o w e v e r, I w a s c o m p e l l e d a f t e r h e a ring her story to make a decl a r a t i o n t o s t a n d w i t h h e r, b y c u t t i n g my h a i r. I have this platform for a reason, ministry takes on several avenues. Cancer is an everyd a y b a t t l e n o t j u s t i n O c t o b e r. Every time I take the stage or m i n i s t e r, I s t a n d w i t h my s i s t e r. We c e l e b r a t e M s . C r a w f o r d f o r h e r e n d u r a n c e . We ' r e e x c i t e d a b o u t h e r j o u r n e y. L e a r n m o r e about her at laticecrawfordmusic.com, and follower her at /laticecrawford on all social medias.