Tony Cummings reports on the new album featuring Matthew Horner, Philippa Hanna, Trefor Jones, Andy Baker, Sarah Poole, Jacob Lloyd, Empire Nation, Paul Bell, Abby Scott, Claire Robinson and Danny Cope.

Like all the artists on the album, Andy has only positive things to say about SNL. "I think SNL is a great initiative. I played at one of their events in Leeds last night and it's so encouraging that the Church is engaging with the community and not hiding away in the buildings that have become very foreign to most people."

Sarah Poole

One of the most appealing tracks on the album is the bluesy, folky music of Midlands-based Sarah Poole. She told Cross Rhythms about her background, "I remember my childhood in technicolour - it was the 1970s and growing up on a farm in the Bedfordshire countryside made me acutely aware of God's presence from an early age. I'd only go to church for the usual weddings, christenings and Christmases when the family would gather to celebrate. There'd always be a lot of laughter, drinking and singing especially when my Mum and her sisters got together. As a kid I remember hearing and liking a lot of American music on the radio. My older brother was into Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd and me and my sisters would sing and dance to pop records.

"At 14 a friend led me to Christ and I started going to her church, but spiritually I just didn't 'get it'. When I was 17 my Dad had an accident so we left the farm and moved to a local town. By this time I'd discovered cigarettes, alcohol and the local bikers with their Harley Davidsons. I drank heavily and did drugs partly to hide the shyness I'd had since childhood. In the middle of my art degree I met a traveller and went off working the summer festivals which led to more drink, drugs and dabbling in New Age philosophies.

"In 1997 I ended up living in a shed whilst volunteering for a woodland project and there I learnt guitar by jamming with the bluegrass musicians who'd come and go. At that time I was suffering from the deepest, darkest depression but I knew God was calling me back. I believe he sent an amazing lady who told me in her Nottingham accent 'Jesus - he's wonderful, me duck!' I knew she meant it, she glowed and laughed all the time and gave me a Bible. From there on it's been an amazing journey of faith and healing - a bumpy ride at times. I guess it's filtered through to the songs which I started writing in 2007."

Sarah explained what appeals to her about Sunday Night Live. "It's going out and reaching the lost which I believe is my calling. Over the years I've sung at open-mics in pubs and folk clubs and at gospel and jam sessions at bluegrass festivals. I've always included gospel numbers and I love the old bluesy ones because you can preach 'straight from the hip' and get away with it! As for my own songs, they just come - I'll wake up with, or even dream, a title line and melody. Sometimes I don't really know what they're about until I've read them back."

Jacob Lloyd

The youngest artist on the album is 14 year old Jacob Lloyd. He has already attracted considerable media interest with his debut album 'I'm Me'. On that album the young singer sang courageously about his experiences of being bullied. He recounted, "I have had emails from kids in similar situations; some asking how I stay strong, and some thanking me for giving them the strength to carry on. I have written two songs about my dad leaving when I was seven, 'Phoenix', on the first album, and one that may feature on my next project, about how my new dad chose me. Again, I have received feedback from people who themselves are struggling through being in a broken home.

"My testimony-based songs have proved surprisingly popular in school, with some of my mates 'getting that Jesus one stuck in my head - what's it all about, Jake?'. A couple of months ago, someone I did not know contacted me from school to say they had always been a secret Christian, and that I had challenged them to stand up for what they believe.

"I think the bottom line is that even though I am only 14, I have seen a lot, and believe wholeheartedly that God has called me to write and share my testimony. My song on the album, 'Where The Wind Blows', talks about my obedience to God and the challenge to do what God wants, even if I don't always understand why. Before beginning this songwriting journey, I always expected to go down the academic route of medicine. When asked about my plans now, the outcome is that I am no longer in control of where I will end up... it's up to God! I had come to that point in my journey with God that I was able to 'let go'. This song is therefore a culmination of the decisions I've made and the difficulties I've faced, leading to the realisation that I need to make decisions based on my walk with God, no matter how scary everything seems."

Empire Nation

The one band featured on the album are Empire Nation, the four-piece pop rockers whose personnel are split between Exeter and Cambridge. With plenty of gigs and festivals under their belt and a powerful rock debut with their 'Airtight' album, the group are making steady headway. Said the band's lead singer and rhythm guitarist Ed Bird, "We're aiming to build the band into a full time ministry, exploring faith not just through music but also through workshops and word. We believe God has given us a real opportunity to change lives and change the world."

The band are currently working on their second album, this time with Resound Media. Said Ed, "We've been writing material with Philippa Hanna and other familiar names. There's definitely a good buzz in the air about the project, so keep an eye out, we're hoping to release before Christmas 2011." They describe the SNL events as "a great way to spend your Sunday evening, an opportunity to showcase both faith and talent...with a helpful serving of caffeine."

Paul Bell

Another of the gifted singer/songwriters on the album is Paul Bell. Christian music is very much in his blood as both his parents are church leaders and he had an uncle who was a founding member of The Advocates who in the early '70s were pioneers of Jesus music in the UK. Paul's albums 'Human Conditions' (2006) and 'Name In Lights: Live In Sheffield' (2009) were well received. He talked about his approach to music: "I try to write songs that people will engage with. Some of those songs are about bringing comfort to people, some are about bringing a bit of a challenge - to make people think a bit. Some songs I write are basically just a bit of fun, and I think that's fine too - at gigs I like to use these songs to help people relax and get involved, then the thought provoking stuff has space to make a bit of an impact. I love it when people laugh, but I also love hearing stories about people who have found one of my songs helpful and meaningful to them - maybe it's got them through a tough time or brought a fresh perspective. I try to make my songs work on a number of levels, so whether people know God or don't, hopefully they can get something from them."

Paul has played quite a few Sunday Night Live events in Derby, Nottingham, Wakefield, Chesterfield, Loughborough and Towcester. He said, "I like the relaxed atmosphere and meeting new people. As far as possible I like to get a good level of interaction and engagement with the audience. I like the meatball panini and the chocolate brownies too."

Paul's song on the album is "What I Call Romance". He explained, "That was one of those songs that seemed to come quite easily - if only they were all like that! I had the chorus idea buzzing round my head - 'We are making a love to last a lifetime/I don't mind if it takes a little time'. It just seemed to be one of those lines that said what I wanted it to say. Those of us who are married will know that it requires a long term commitment and a willingness to serve our partner. These are things that we don't seem to hear many songs about, yet it's so important. There aren't any shortcuts - at least I've not found any.

"So that was the concept for the song. The actual writing process was a bit unconventional. I'd had the idea but not got any further with it when it came time for my friend Phil's songwriters' night, an hour's drive away. I always like to try something new on those occasions but I hadn't had a chance to finish anything. So I scribbled lyrics on a notepad in the car while my wife drove, and sang it for the first time in front of all the songwriters there, pretty much as it is today. I tried this songwriting technique on a couple of other occasions with rather less success! But this time it seemed to work out okay.

"The line 'I'll make you porridge every morning...' was inspired by some friends of mine who have been married 50 years. I understand that's what he does for his wife. There are many ways to show your love I guess, and this song runs off a few possibilities. 'I'll hold your hair while you throw up... now this is what I call romance' is a bit of a cheeky line, but seems to stick in people's memories. This song makes some people laugh and some people cry (some even manage both!) which I guess is why it's one of my favourites."

Abby Scott

Abby Scott is a precocious new talent on the scene whose jazz-imbued debut album 'Have Your Cake.' picked up extremely positive reviews on its release in 2010. The album was produced by Abby's husband, renowned songwriter and artist Chris Eaton. Abby spoke about her approach to music. "So many songs out there in the mainstream world reflect negativity, pain, abuse, with no hope, no answer. I want to share my love of life with the world. My love for the simple things, things we so often take for granted. I want to open people's eyes up to see what real relationships could be like and all the blessings right there in front of them, that they can't even see. That's me, in a nutshell.

"'Rosy' is a perfect example of life through my eyes. We had this idea for a song that featured the phrase 'everything's coming up roses'. And I wondered how we could phrase this differently. I'm always looking for unusual ways to phrase things. it stimulates me and I like to think it gets the listener thinking outside the box. So, I wondered what it'd be like to sing, 'Everything's coming up rosy'... Then I thought about the word rosy. And I thought of a colour. So we ran with the colour theme. The song painted itself, with all different kinds of colours, portraying emotions, passion, lust for life, depth of feeling, embracing all things good. Every time I sing 'Rosy', I smile."

Abby continued, "Recording a live version of 'Rosy' was a lot of fun. My keyboard player, Mark Walker, came down and laid the piano and the bass part down. Then some other guys came and added drums and some guitar. It was very cool to share the song with other players and let them have fun with it! I love meeting and working with new people, so it was a really enjoyable experience."

Claire Robinson

Macclesfield-born Claire Robinson released an EP, 'I Hope You Know', recorded at Lincoln's dB Studios in 2008. After that she formed the Claire Robinson Band and the band's EP 'Conversations With The Night' earned enthusiastic reviews. She now works at the famed All Souls Church in London's Langham Place. She told Cross Rhythms, "I now lead the music there, organize services, work with young people every Sunday and have learnt more about Jesus than I ever knew possible. He's also taught me that 'worship' isn't just music - it's certainly not a certain style of music - and how everything is possible through him. On the back of the latest EP there is a quote that says, 'Faith is the bird that feels the dawn, yet sings while it's still dark' - that's been the theme so far, that even when it's dark and tough or others try to hinder God's preparing us for something, we can trust that he will come through! He can use anyone and nobody else can stop those plans. That's been a theme I long to share."

Claire wants her music to be "full of emotion that draws people in." She said, "I hope to sing lyrics that challenge (although I still have far to go with my writing) and perhaps make us all think deeper about life. I have a real heart for young people and for the broken hearted - I hope that some of the songs show that although I'm a Christian, I experience real life, like anyone does: from broken relationships, to desires for the future. I suppose the key thing is how these things are dealt with and my attitude to them, which is hopefully what makes the songs different to the secular world. Giving hope rather than letting these situations break us - and where to find that."

Claire continued, "I was delighted to be selected as part of this project, it's been great to work with Andy Baker and his team. Johnny Kinch is fantastic and after reading his story, I was amazed at how much my track [the song "Conversations With The Night"] fits in with his past - what we think and who we talk to in the darkness. My biggest desire is that it offers hope to others and some of the lyrics remind those struggling that 'a new day has come' and there is nothing that can't be overcome. Not because I want them to particularly love the song (although, that would be nice!) but that it's there for an actual purpose."

Danny Cope

Of all the talented singer/songwriters on 'The Sunday Night Live Sessions' surely the most experienced is Danny Cope. Not only has he released a series of critically praised albums - 'Slowing Down' (2000), 'The Way I See It' (2003), 'Month Of Sundays' (2006) and 'Colour Me In' (2008) - he also teaches songwriting performance to pop music students at Leeds College Of Music. He said, "I once found myself describing my songs as 'worship songs for the car', and I think that still holds true for most of them. It certainly does for [my song on the album] 'Glad You Do'. It's not congregational, but I would still class it as a worship song. I'm a big fan of singer/songwriters and I try to write songs that express a personal reflection of what it's like living my life. Because my Christian faith is woven into the fabric of everyday life, it's in my songs, too."

Danny has played three SNL gigs so far. "I've done Wakefield, Birkenhead and Loughborough - where Songs Of Praise were filming. I'm also booked into Frodsham and Leeds in the next couple of months. The events are great! Each has its own character, but they are friendly, relaxed, vibrant and really good fun. The best thing about them is the fact that faith is openly discussed in a non-threatening atmosphere. Cakes are always a bonus, too!"

The songsmith spoke about his new rendition of "Glad You Do". "Because my own version of the song (from my album 'Colour Me In') was already recorded with a relaxed acoustic vibe, the SNL version built on some material I had already recorded. The SNL recording is actually a hybrid of my original recording with some omissions and additions. What really sticks in my mind is the audition process for the album. There was a real buzz about the place and I wished I could have hung around to listen to the other people coming and going with their songs. I was only there for about three quarters of an hour, but it was great to see the number of people contributing to the project. A real team effort!"

Jodi-Dawn Lewis

Sheffield-based singer/songwriter Jodi-Dawn Lewis explained how it was her church running an SNL event at their local Cafe Nero which proved a big step forward in her music making. "Playing at SNL was a great privilege. It's not a private event, or just for the Church, but it's for the public to come and sit, grab a coffee and to listen to the Gospel with a twist. I've sung at one event so far and I'm singing at another one in September."

Jodi-Dawn's early life was beleaguered with clinical depression. She told Cross Rhythms, "Music was my only escape. I would lock myself in my room for hours, listening and singing to my favourite songs, escaping from the reality that was such a burden, not just on me, but my Mum and Dad as well. It was killing me knowing what I was doing to them. It got to the stage where I didn't want to live anymore. So, I went to counselling. I knew from the moment I sat down that it wouldn't help me. I kept thinking to myself, 'How can a normal person help me get through this, it's only God that can cure whatever it is.' After maybe a year of going, I said to them, 'You know what, I'm cured, thanks, bye bye'. I wasn't cured, far from it, so the process endured. A few years later, my doctor actually put me on anti-depressants. I called them my happy pills, but they made me ill, so I had to stop them.

"As I got older, I craved God, sought him, sang for him, I wanted whatever he wanted for me, and I sort of forgot about how I was feeling. I really believe it was God who took my blues away because I wasn't concentrating on myself, feeling sorry for myself, but I started to look to him, and grew out of this depression. Everyone has their down days, but if you look to God, and just start praising him, he lifts you up. I believe that's what happened to me. I've made pretty bad choices along the way, and fallen right on my butt, but God never ceased to stretch out his hand to me, time, after time, after time. I'm so thankful that he's a patient God."

Jodi-Dawn's song on the album is a pointed attack on modern medicine's mistaken belief that it can answer people's deepest needs with a simple pill. She said, "'Happy Pills' talks about the experience of depression. It's a subject that isn't talked about a lot, but it's very much affecting the whole community, especially where I live. I co-wrote the song with Philippa Hanna. People will be able to relate to the lyrics, but also with the underlying message of the love of God. It's a song about quite a dark subject, with a really catchy tune. I'm desperate for people to know that they're NOT alone, if all they would do was to turn to God, give him a chance, and he would take them out of their own personal hell, and give them a peace that passes all understanding."