Chris had the chance to talk with Anne Wilson about her new album “My Jesus,” touring, songwriting, and more!
Podcast Transcript:
Ryan Loche
Hey, welcome to this week’s episode of the church collective podcast. We are so glad that you’re here. In this episode, Chris had the opportunity to talk to his friend and Wilson, which is just an incredible conversation. So here we go. Disclaimer to everybody. And Ian and I are on the last two tours together. So we already know each other. But we can’t really pretend that we don’t know each other. No.
Chris Bellamy
Disclaimer to everybody. And Ian and I are on the last two tours together. So we already know each other. But we can’t really pretend that we don’t know each other. No.But that just means I can ask you better questions. Yes, absolutely.
Chris Bellamy
So let’s get into it.
Chris Bellamy
First off, congratulations on your recent Caleb awards.
Anne Wilson
Thank you. That was so crazy.
Chris Bellamy
Yeah, that was it was awesome. I saw that firsthand. I was there. And I saw you when I was super happy for you.
Anne Wilson
Thank you so much.
Chris Bellamy
Can we can we talk about how you went from living in Kentucky, to going through COVID in Nashville, like how did you get from Kentucky to the Caleb awards.
Anne Wilson
So I,
Anne Wilson
my brother passed away in a car accident five years ago. And after our last Jacob, I really just had this moment of realizing that I wanted to just use the rest of my time on Earth to share Jesus with the world. And so I didn’t know what that was gonna look like or how I was going to do it. But I ended up being music. And so I remember it was like three or four days after Jacob passed away. And I was downstairs at my piano, just worshiping God. And I didn’t think anyone could hear me and my mom comes in the room. And she overhears me singing and she had never seen it from England before. And it was just kind of a random thing. And she asked me if I’d be willing to sing at my brother’s funeral. And so I prayed about it. And I felt like that was what the Lord wanted me to do. And so I sing at my brother’s funeral for the first time in front of anyone. And then that was kind of the moment that like, God really was leading me to music and showing me like that this is what I was supposed to do with my life. And so I just started going to Nashville for CO writes and met my previous manager, and he developed me as an artist, and, you know, doing voice lessons and all things like, get me in the industry, and, you know, get me into this music and
Anne Wilson
and so then I moved to Nashville in February of 2020, like right before COVID, I was a senior in high school, finishing out high school, I was 18. I think at the time, I just turned 18 and moved out. And then COVID hit everything kind of shut down, industry shut down. And then I just kept writing that whole year, which actually so perfect, because 2020 ended up being my best writing year, we wrote My Jesus that year devil something about that name, most of the record was written during that year of 2020. And so I just kind of used the 2020 as a year of growth to move out on my own and then to write a lot of songs and and then we released my Jesus and April 2021. And that song is like the one that blew up and you know, started everything for me. And God started opening doors after that, so it’s kind of been like a little over a year long journey now that I’ve been out as an artist, and it’s been so much fun.
Chris Bellamy
You mentioned one time that you wrote 133 songs. Yes, for this record. I don’t think a lot of our viewers are like worship leaders that constantly asked, like, how do I get into songwriting? And a lot, they might just not have an understanding of like what it takes to to make an album but like, how do you go from 133 songs to like, just the songs that are on our album.
Anne Wilson
That is definitely like really hard. Because like as an as a creative you. Each song like means something different to you and you’ve poured your heart into all these different songs. So that was really hard to make that decision. But honestly, I took his 1414 songs because there’s two versions of my Jesus. But I remember like just praying over the songs for like four or five months and just like asking God to show me which ones that the world needed to hear. And so all the songs were very prayed over. Like I felt like God has specifically told me to put these on the record and also have like my team involved in deciding that but the songs that ended up on the record were exactly like what everyone needed to hear and that’s what I hear all the time is people message me they’re like this song is changing my life. This song is you know, making me closer to God or whatever it is like the songs were very impactful and are very impactful people and so definitely hard to choose between all of us 133 songs but there’s probably some of the songs do they’ll end up on a future record but for this record, it was like I think it was exactly what what needed to be on it.
Chris Bellamy
Did you do like a whiteboard and like, do one through 10 scale of one to 10 And
Anne Wilson
kinda Yeah, I do the scale thing like one to 10 for songs. And so I just got together with my team, and we just kind of like looked at all the songs and obviously have the ones that have already been out something about that name devil, my Jesus no place like home. But then we had, you know, 10 other songs that we wanted to put on there. And it was so like, so difficult to do. But when it all ended up where where it needed to be, it was like, perfect, and everything kind of flowed together in the record, and it just kind of like all coordinates with the title of the record, which is my Jesus
Chris Bellamy
call people like that, don’t they’ve never been in a song, right? Like, can you explain like, what what happens in a song, right? How many people are involved and how you like start to finish.
Anne Wilson
So songwriting is really, it’s very differently than what people would think it is. It’s basically, I mean, you can write by yourself, but obviously, if like most of the industry does co write, and that’s my favorite way to write is because it’s different perspective in the room. So I normally write with two other people. And we get into the studio together. And normally, I come in with a list of concepts or titles that I want to write about that I feel like the gods I’m putting on my heart, and then we get in the room together. And we kind of go around ideas and titles and then once we land on one is when we kind of start, you know, like figuring out a melody, like we’ll pull out a guitar or a piano and just kind of let like melodies come to our heads. And we’ll just sing them out. And whichever one clicks with the room was only the one that we go with. Normally, every time we end up writing a song, everyone in the room agrees with it. And that’s how I know in my mind, like this is the right song. There’s never been a time where all three different writers in the room are alike have a different, you know, completely different opinion. Most of the time, we’re just kind of all doing it together. And then at the end of the day, once we’ve written the song, we go into the studio, and we do a demo vocal on it. And then it’s kind of the songs kind of ready to go and, and get set Do you know, to know what to do with it. So I feel like everyone’s different with the way they co write but that’s kind of how I do it for me and just getting together also with people I know really well like when I write with my good friends like Matthew est and Jeff part of those are always the best writers because we’re able to just, we’re best friends outside of writing. And so we come in together and we already know each other so well, we know each other’s you know, backgrounds and stories and then it’s just kind of like we’re just hanging out with friends. It’s so much fun.
Chris Bellamy
So who like who from the industry have you written with that people would know?
Anne Wilson
I don’t know. Like if people would know these names, but um, I mean, Matthew is obviously is a Christian artist. He’s amazing. And I’ve written with him I’ve written with Stephanie Grotzinger. She’s a worship leader with are used to be worship leader with Bethel. I’ve read with Matt Maher, another Christian artist. I’ve written with a lot of writers. I just don’t know if people know them. Ben Glover, Jeff Suica. Natalie grant husband Bernie Herms. Oh my goodness, there’s so many people I’ve written with, you know, country writers, people that have dealt with the writers that wrote chasing you by Morgan Wallen, which is amazing. And I feel like those are kind of the artists that I’ve written with. And then obviously a ton of other writers that are phenomenal people that have written some of the biggest Christian songs ever.
Chris Bellamy
How did you? How did you like, combine, like your country sound with Christianity? You know what I mean? Like, like, how did you decide whether it just be worship or country or product together.
Anne Wilson
So I grew up listening to both country and Christian music my whole life. And it was just like, my brother would listen to country and my parents would listen to Christian music. So as I started writing songs, and actually having like, a way to kind of express my creativity, I would, I would want to, I want to sell the songs to sound like country music, but the lyrics and the content to be about God. And I just, it kind of came natural to me. And then all of a sudden, it just started connecting and clicking in my head and started putting out the songs. And I remember when we put out devil, which was, we put out devil the same day as my Jesus and something about that name. And I remember, like, 24 hours maybe into releasing that song. I got so many messages about people who were not Christians who didn’t listen to Christian music, but listened to the songs because they sounded country. And then they would end up finding Jesus through the songs because of the lyrics. And so it comes very natural to me, and I love getting to combine those two and I feel like it has so much of a greater impact. Sometimes than just staying in this. I mean, obviously staying in the Christian world is amazing and beautiful. But I have such a heart to reach people outside of the Christian space and just get the message of Jesus, you know, out in the world.
Chris Bellamy
Did you ever get any like pushback like no Do you need to go worship or you need to go one or the other?
Anne Wilson
No, I think like it, it kind of made sense to everyone. Like, they started to realize like, This is who he is. And I’m a very real authentic person. And I didn’t want to, I didn’t want to ever release a song, or record a song that wasn’t authentic to me. And, and the thing is, is like, I feel like people know when you’re singing a song that you don’t believe in. And so I didn’t want to do any other direction. And I this was like, the path and everyone just kind of came alongside of me and supported me and, and you know, just they knew that like this, what made sense. And this is what felt right. And it’s been a very smooth journey ever since starting that is like, it just makes sense to everyone around me.
Chris Bellamy
That’s cool. Do you are you able to talk about like things that are coming up like projects you’re working on? Collaborate?
Anne Wilson
Yeah, so I’m doing how I don’t know if I can say this. But so okay, I’m trying to think this fall, I’m going out on tour. This is already announced with Casting Crowns and cane, which I’m very excited about. It’s a 35. I think 35 shows. And we’re going out to the West Coast, we’re doing like, so many different cool spots. And then I’m going on tour this Christmas with a worship artist. I can’t say the name, but he’s amazing. And we’re doing a few shows on the west coast in California together. And we’re also doing a Christmas song together that will be released, I think in September. So we’re doing like the Christmas song lab. And then we’re going to be singing that Christmas song on the tour together for Christmas. So very excited. And next year, definitely have some new music coming out. I also have some Christmas songs coming out, but I can’t say what they are when but I’m very excited about this Christmas season, there’s gonna be a lot of stuff happening.
Chris Bellamy
How, how active are you on like social media? And have you seen any of like the TIC TOCs using your song that have gone viral and like humorous ways? I haven’t. You haven’t.
Anne Wilson
Or there’s some out there that have gone viral.
Chris Bellamy
Like I said, you that one where the kids were the kids were performing. And the mom was like, stop. Oh my gosh. I forgot about that. That was awful. How are you on social media?
Anne Wilson
I’m very active. Because I love to interact with fans. I love to hear stories and testimonies. And I love to like feel that connection between the fans. So I try to stay pretty active on all social media platforms.
Chris Bellamy
Yeah, that’s cool. I noticed you repost a lot of stuff like when people do covers of your songs or people video. I think my favorite video was when those two little girls like, saw you live for the first time and their mouths were just like, jaws dropped.
Anne Wilson
That was so cute. Oh my gosh,
Chris Bellamy
yeah. I like that. So do you feel like it’s important for like somebody? I know, it’s hard to navigate, like, using social media in a positive way. But do you feel like if somebody wants to be like an artist or a songwriter, they should utilize social media?
Anne Wilson
Absolutely. I think social media obviously has its negative things. It’s you know, but I also think you can use it in a positive way. And the way that you can do that is by using it to get your name out there and your talents out and whatever, whatever genre of music that may be for but I definitely think social media is something that can get you out there and even Tik Tok, I feel like especially for my generation, it’s such a big platform right now that you can post a video and go viral out of nowhere and then everyone knows you and like a day like it’s crazy. So definitely social media is something that is a tool that we can use to get our names out there and to get our talent out and things that we’re passionate about. And for me it’s you know about about the Lord and spreading his name. But definitely think that that’s a huge platform to utilize and use.
Chris Bellamy
I got some random questions for you. Number one, this is for the from and for the worship leaders or at churches. What do you like to hear in your in your mix?
Anne Wilson
Oh, this is fun. I would never even ask this. Um, I love God. I have a lot of clicks and cues for sure. My vocal really high. I do not like to hear drums like I will never hear drums in my ears never hear electric guitar. I want to hear little bass. And then I hear btvs I was like those to be up and the kind of more like just the melodic tracks in the background. And I like a little bit of like the crowd mics just to so I know what they’re, what they’re singing how they’re kind of interacting.
Chris Bellamy
Do you um Do you ever take your ears out? Or do you keep both of men at all times?
Anne Wilson
No, I used to take them out. But I always keep them in now. I think it’s, it helps me to just kind of stay focused because I get very distracted easily. So I like to keep them in and just kind of like, stay in the moment.
Chris Bellamy
It was there a time when you’re using like, you know, like generic earbuds and then you switch to like, yes. Like, how was that?
Anne Wilson
So I used to use those Sure. The $100 ones,
Ryan Loche
what are those called? Or whatever?
Anne Wilson
Yeah, I used to use those. Those were pretty bad. Um, but then I ended up getting some Jerry Harvey ones that I love. And those are like worth every penny. For anyone out there. Who does worship bleeding or music full time. It’s such so much better for you and your ears and just the health and quality of sound?
Chris Bellamy
What um, do you are you particular about what kind of microphone you use, like a brand? Or?
Anne Wilson
I’m actually not I just like a wireless mic. I feel like most of the time they give me I don’t know if it’s a sure or what what my goal is I never pay attention to any of that stuff. But I really like just love a microphone. That or I guess it’s more about the mix. But that just feels like my vocals like right here and not distant or far off. And most of the time, I think it’s a some sort of sure mic or something.
Chris Bellamy
So when you’re performing you’re, you’ve got like, a click track going. When for your songs, right? When you do like in the middle of your show, when you do the acoustic set like is that switch to nowclick? Are you still using click?
Anne Wilson
No, we don’t use click, I wanted that moment to be very, like real authentic, and I didn’t want like click track or anything to be kind of like messing us up or making us feel rushed. And so both of my acoustic songs that I do right now in my set, we have no click no tracks, and it’s just me and acoustic guitar. And it’s like, so beautiful. It’s such a worshipful moment. And then if I want to switch up the song and do an extra chorus or an extra verse, or whatever, I’m able to do that because we’re not you know, confined to tracks and
Chris Bellamy
click Yeah. Which which hymn is that? You do? How great thou art are great there. Yeah, that’s a that’s an awesome moment. What What made you choose that one?
Anne Wilson
I just really love that song. And I love like, just the lyrics of of talking about like, how great goddess and I just it’s one of my favorite hymns from like when I was a little girl too. And so what we do is right now we do no place like home just a song about my brother. And then we right after realistic calm, we go into how great they are. And I think there’s like a loss of words afternoon was like home, like I don’t really know what to say like, I don’t think people know what to how to respond. It’s such a really beautiful song of me and my brother and our memories together that it’s like, I wanted to end always like home and just kind of have it be still in silence, and just let everyone process it and kind of let me process the song too. And then to go into a hymn of reminding people of our hope, which is in the Lord. And so it’s like we don’t we don’t end on the sad note, but that we’re lifting people back up to the hope which isn’t God.
Chris Bellamy
I know because I’ve seen you do vocal lessons you do online vocal lessons. How did you go from? I mean, assuming at one point in your life, you didn’t take vocal lessons. And then you took vocal lessons. And now you give vocal lessons like, how did you go through those three different changes.
Anne Wilson
So I started taking voice lessons from myself about five years ago, just wanted to grow my voice. And, you know, I never really had been taught how to sing or anything, so and then I just was trained, like for years and years and years. And that’s kind of how led me to want to like help young people out that needed help with their voice. And I’m very passionate about vocal health. I will never play a show without warming up my voice for like 30 or 45 minutes. It’s just something that and you’ve heard my warm ups are crazy. But I just like really have to have my, my vocal health be top priority. And so I wanted to help other people and I’m transitioning out of that now but I used to teach a lot of Voice Lessons and would love just loved being involved in seeing young artists grow vocally and get better at what they’re doing.
Chris Bellamy
Would you recommend like, like worship leaders that want to kind of maybe go into it as a profession take vocal lessons?
Anne Wilson
Absolutely. I think it’s really important whether you’re just trying to grow your voice or you want to have a career or whatever gives you longevity because it’s they they teach you how to have a you know, healthy voice for long periods of time and how not to strain it and how to keep healthy and I think it’s really important for especially for those that are traveling and doing music because the road has such an impact on you and you get worn down and you get tired and so I think having the option to just have those vocal exercises on hand is so
Chris Bellamy
important. Okay, quick questions. Top three favorite worship leaders
Anne Wilson
Stephanie Grotzinger Jen Johnson and Carrie job.
Chris Bellamy
Top three country singers secutor
Anne Wilson
Morgan Wallen number one Gabby Barrett number two, and Lady a number three.
Chris Bellamy
Top three movies.
Anne Wilson
Interstellar number one I really liked the Spider Man movies. I’m just very into that number two. Number three would probably be Forrest Gump. It’s just the sweetest movies so cute.
Chris Bellamy
Top three foods.
Anne Wilson
Mexican food. Actually, Dunkin Donuts is to me it’s like a food it’s coffee and doughnuts, obviously but it’s like my everything so Dunkin Mexican food and Chinese food.
Chris Bellamy
favorite sports team.
Anne Wilson
I’m not really just works. Um, but um, I love I’m from Kentucky. So I love the University of Kentucky, UK. And we used to be good at basketball. We’re not anymore, but if we weren’t good, then I’d be rooting for their basketball team.
Chris Bellamy
If you could go on tour with any artists secular Christian, whatever, dead or alive. Who would
Anne Wilson
you pick? Honestly, probably Johnny Cash, or part. I’m also think it would be really cool to do like a Carrie Underwood. A lady yay. A Morgan Wallen, that would be insane. So,
Chris Bellamy
but Johnny Cash is number one.
Anne Wilson
Yes, I would freak out.
Chris Bellamy
What do you like about Johnny Cash.
Anne Wilson
I love his like the way that he writes his songs. And I love the lyrics and I love the heart behind them. I love how real He is. Or he was
Chris Bellamy
I love how
Anne Wilson
I just I love his, like authentic self in each of his songs. And I feel like I’ve never seen an artist even to this day, that even compares to him in the way that he does his artistry. Like, he did it in such a beautiful way. And I felt like his music that he created in his lifetime was is some of the best songs ever. And it will always go down in history for for being that.
Chris Bellamy
Alright, last question. What’s your most embarrassing moment on stage?
Anne Wilson
Oh, no. Honestly, you can probably tell me this because you’ve been with me so much on tour.
Chris Bellamy
Or even before that.
Anne Wilson
I’ve not even been touring for a full year. So honestly, there hasn’t really been thank God there hasn’t been like a really bad embarrassing moment. Like I’ve never fallen on. Now. I don’t want to say this because I’m afraid it will happen. But like nothing bad has really ever happened on stage. I think a couple of times, you know, mess up the lyrics or the words or sometimes the track will like the tracks will like Like one time we were about to start a song and the tracks from other songs start playing and it like killed the moment and the whole vibe of it. Um, but honestly, oh, I will say one time I was singing in my mic and I bumped my tooth like real hard on the mic and my mouth sort of bleeding. And I was just like in severe pain, but I feel like no one really noticed I don’t really know if that was embarrassing. Did you see anything embarrassing when you’re on the road with me?
Chris Bellamy
I remember one time when your your mic was on a lot earlier than your set. Oh that’s right. That was awful. But I forgot about that. And so just now.
Anne Wilson
That was crazy.
Ryan Loche
Thanks so much for listening to this week’s episode. Make sure you connect with us on Instagram Tik Tok, LinkedIn Pinterest, we are everywhere you want to be God bless