Artist Spotlight: Meredith Andrews

“You Are Not Alone”

Meredith is new to our family of STAR 93.3 artists (You can now hear her new song ‘You Are Not Alone’ on STAR 93.3!). We thought you’d enjoy a quick moment with Meredith, getting a glimpse into the sweet heart of this up-and-coming female vocalist.

Where are you and what are you doing today?

On an airplane, traveling from Chicago to Pineville, LA to visit my fiancé and his family for a few days. The ladies from his parents’ church are throwing me my first bridal shower tomorrow. Yay for dishes!

Where is home?

Wilson, NC originally. Schaumburg, IL currently.

Do you get to play music for a living or do you have a day job as well?

I am on staff at Harvest Bible Chapel in the Chicagoland area, but my ‘job description’ mostly consists of leading worship for weekend services and our young adult ministry. Harvest has given me lots of freedom to travel and lead worship elsewhere, but I love the stability of a solid church home. So between Harvest and touring wherever else, I get to play music for a living. It’s challenging and fun, random and rewarding all at once.

What ministries do you support?

While I was attending Liberty University, I was able to go overseas about twice a year, and my heart is still held captive by some orphan children in Llano Verde, Guatemala and Kota, India. With whatever platform God gives me, I hope to make people aware of these ministries (Hope of Life in Guatemala, Hopegivers in India) and the opportunities to meet the needs of some amazing kids who are changing the world by the power of the Gospel…and they are all under the age of 16.

What are you listening to these days?

Right now, Eva Cassidy’s album, Songbird. Nichole Nordeman, Paramore, Karen Carpenter, Celine Dion, David Gray, The Wreckers, Hillsong United, Jeff Buckley, Rascall Flatts, Rita Springer and Butterfly Boucher never get old in my book.

If you could go to any other artists show, Christian or mainstream, who would it be?

MuteMath…again. Best show I’ve ever seen. Imogen Heap, Sarah McLauchlin, Celine Dion and my personal favorite, Nichole Nordeman. These girls are just straight up talented. And I am a sucker for pure female vocals.

What is the one thing you “Must Have” on the road?

My Bible. This may sound like the ‘right answer,’ but the truth of the matter is that if I don’t know the heart and mind of God, then my songs, my words, my very life will prove to be nothing but a resounding gong or worse, a whitewashed tomb, nice and polished on the outside but empty and dead on the inside. It is the power of God that changes people’s lives, and I want His power to go forth through His Word alive in me.

And let’s be honest, I am a female. Females generally tend to over pack. So apparently I think I ‘must have’ 9 pairs of shoes and plenty of outfit options for an 18-day tour. (Now if you are a girl and are offended by my stereotypical statement, perhaps you could give me some tips in keeping my suitcase under 60 pounds.)

I also can’t live without Cheez-its.

What has God shown you in the last few weeks?

The Lord is constantly bringing me back to a place of stillness and intimacy with Him, reminding me that all the noise in my life, the to-do lists and unanswered e-mails and everything else in between can wait. After all, they won’t last a second into eternity. I believe that God is relentlessly pursuing us, and He will do whatever it takes to get our attention, revealing His heart in every season of our lives. In the midst of our suffering, God is our Great Comforter who draws us near to Himself. In the midst of our hectic schedules He whispers to us to quiet our hearts. When we don’t know which way to go, He is a Light for our path. And in all things, every breath that we breathe and each step that we take, He is calling out to us, inviting us, welcoming us…just to be where He is. Like Mary. She simply sat at His feet and hung on His every word. I want to be like that.

Where can we hear more from you?

The Invitation, my first album on Word Records, will be released April 29! I will be on the road with Aaron Shust and Brandon Heath in the month leading up to the album release. Exciting times!

**Special thanks to Word Records for providing the interview material for this Artist Spotlight.