Grammy Award-winning Christian recording artist Rebecca St. James said there is no doubt to whom she credits her success. And she is not shy about sharing the source of her talent.
“Prayer is just a really big need in my life and in the life of a Christian. Prayer needs to be taken seriously,” she said. “Prayer is really saying, ‘God, I need you; I can’t do this on my own,’ and I’ve known that with my music and my life.”
The Australian native shared how she prays before writing songs and working on albums.
St. James performed in Mobile March 6 at the Greater Gulf State Fairgrounds at “Live at the Bay 2000,” a three-day Christian alternative to Mardi Gras. Amid a colorful show of moving lights, billowing fog and booming sound designed to attract youth, St. James gave a performance she hopes will have an impact on their lives.
“I think it’s wonderful that people can come and be a part (of Live at the Bay 2000), because (at the Mardi Gras celebrations) … people might have a good time or whatever, but it’s not going to give people lasting hope,” she said following her concert. “But the kind of event we have here will.”
St. James recently won a Grammy Award for best rock gospel album of the year. The album’s title is simple but powerful — “Pray.” Her latest single, “Yes, I believe in God,” recently peaked at No. 2 on adult contemporary radio charts.
Along with prayer, St. James said her success is due in no small part to the affirmation she has received from family and friends.
“I’ve really had a lot of people, especially Christian teachers in Christian schools, who have really gotten behind me and encouraged me a lot,” she said.
“After that, it was God putting the right people in my path — putting the right team together. My dad (David, who is her manager) has been in Christian music for over 20 years, has a lot of wisdom and experience — to have that enveloped within my family is another miracle. God just made His plan very obvious.”
At age 13 she recorded her first album, a praise and worship effort. In 1995 at age 16, she became the youngest artist up until that time to be nominated for the Dove Award for new artist of the year.
“I first started music when I was about 12. I got involved in a Christian rock band at my Christian school,” said St. James, who lives in Franklin, Tenn. “But before then, when I was as young as 6 or 7, I sang my first solo at my Christian school.”
Speaking with an obvious Australian accent, St. James said as a child she had other ministry ideas.
“It wasn’t the biggest dream of my life to even be in music,” St. James recalled.
“I always kind of wanted to be a missionary, run an orphanage, or that kind of thing, actually, when I was a kid,” she continued.
“So, really, to be up on the stage was kind of a hard thing for me, even though I grew up with music,” St. James said.
St. James said she has never entertained the idea of becoming a secular recording artist and remains dedicated to writing and recording music that is Christian oriented.
“It was something that I did because I felt God wanted me to, and I had given my life to Him, so to take out the Christianity and that expression of love for God out of my music, would be to take the essence out of it,” she said.
She and her family lived in Australia until she was about 15, when she was signed with ForeFront Records in the United States.
St. James is presently working on a new album scheduled for release in September. She also plans to continue traveling, with trips to Australia and Holland coming up.
The oldest of seven siblings, St. James said her family usually travels with her. Two of her brothers, Daniel and Joel, sing background vocals and help with the massive task of moving the array of stage equipment needed for her five-member band.
In response to a question about the best way youth can express their Christianity, St. James said, “Live it. Live the Christian life and allow people to see a difference in you.
“But also, seize the day — use opportunities that you have with friends to talk about God,” she said, “and don’t feel like, ‘Oh, I have forever to talk to this friend,’ because you don’t know how long you have.”
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