Kelinda: Each of you is a successful artist in his or her own rite. Can you tell me about the moment the idea crossed your minds to team up? Where did the idea begin and what were initial reactions to it?
Doug: Landon Beene( StowTown Records) and I have been on vacation for the last 10 years together. When the kids are tired we always sit on the back deck and dream. Landon had a dream of putting an exclusive group together that he could use on his events. That’ s where the dream of Cana’ s Voice started.
Jody: For me, after being in a group for 13 years with Avalon, I really had no desire to join another. Landon Beene( IMC, Manager, etc.) contacted me and asked if I would be interested and my response was,“ no, not really.” But then I met TaRanda and Doug, we talked about our past and our desire to do something more; beyond just good music. Something that would heal the broken and used up people, like us. I was being persuaded for sure. Then we sang together around a piano for three hours and it turned into a mini worship service. I knew God was in it. I’ ve never looked back.
Kelinda: Each of you also has different styles of music, preferences, and backgrounds. How did you work through these differences during your recording process for This Changes Everything?
Doug: We are all very different stylistically, but we all have the same goal. The goal is to touch lives and be a part of something bigger than ourselves. It’ s pretty easy to work together when you have the same goal.
Jody: There really weren’ t any differences to work through. Every song was agreed upon by each of us. Even though I have more of a pop background, while TaRanda and Doug are Southern Gospel, we all have very eclectic musical tastes. We are all, actually, VERY similar.
Kelinda: Doug, what would you consider to be the best part of working together as a team?
Doug: I’ ve always been a team guy. My life philosophy is that life is better when you all work together. We all have successful and established solo careers. We have each worked very hard for that. But, we are all group singers at heart. Like I said earlier, God has given us a chance to minister together as a team and that is much bigger than what we could accomplish individually.
Kelinda: Jody, who causes the most laughter in the studio? Who’ s the clown?
Jody: Well, I think they’ ll all agree that I’ m the clown, even though TaRanda and Doug have awesome senses of humor. Laughter is something that we do VERY OFTEN. Being on the road
“ Everyone is broken, even our leaders. We all need spiritual encouragement. That is the goal of this group.”
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