Yolanda Adams – Interview

Grammy Award-winning Atlantic recording artist Yolanda Adams is back with her much-anticipated new album, DAY BY DAY. The collection-Adams’s first in nearly four years-arrives in stores today.

‘Be Blessed,’ the first single from DAY BY DAY, has been the most played single for numerous weeks at gospel radio, while its second single, ‘Someone Watching Over You,’ was recently the most-added record at Urban AC radio.

Adams has also announced details of her upcoming ‘Yolanda Today’ tour. The itinerary kicks off in the singer’s hometown of Houston on October 4th and is slated to wrap up in Miami in early November. Joining Adams on tour will be a star-studded line-up of special guests – including Eddie Levert, Chaka Khan, Kirk Whalum, Ruben Studdard, and Mary Mary.

Adams believes the inclusion of mainstream musical performers on ‘Yolanda Today’ continues a mission that she began long ago. ‘We’ve been trying for years to bridge the gap between what people think are churched and non-churched people. You’d be so surprised how many folks came from the church that are singing pop and R&B,’ explains Adams. ‘The people that we are having on our tour all came from the church. Most people of faith don’t realize that these are also people of faith!’

We interview Yolanda!

What do you like best about being a singer?

Getting out and seeing people, but in order to do that you have to have new music. So going into the studio is the first part.

How do you know when you have a great song?

You work with people who you know bring out the best in you. There is so much that goes into the process that you have to be in a comfortable environment. And you have to be confident enough and sharing your words with them.

It must be hard to predict what fans may or may not like.

What happens is that you talk from your heart and make sure what you are saying is relevant to people and pertinent to what they are going through. What I write about is answers to emails and answers to questions. People ask me how I know when God is speaking to me. That is what we do with our songs. If someone is contemplating relationships we address those questions.

Some fans enjoy the song for the song and maybe don’t dive deeper into the lyrics. Would you prefer they understand the words or are you just happy they love the music?

I’m definitely happy if they like the music one way or another. The real key is getting their attention with great music. You get the music hopping or tug at their heart and make them joyful and give them great words.

“Victory” sticks out. It feels like it’s in motion. Like it’s moving along.

Because what it carries you. It carries you into victory.

You could hear that song anywhere and love it. I could see a person beyond their beliefs loving it.

And that is the beauty of what we do beyond what anyone’s beliefs they love the music. They love the atmosphere of the song. It can lift you up and we choose those songs. We want to carry you to another experience.

When did this big voice come out? It’s amazing.

Well thank you very much. This one has been with me for a very long time. (We both laugh) It’s just developed and matured. I believe my range is higher now because I never abused it. I think it is stronger. The more you exercise a muscle the stronger it becomes.

Do you see your voice as a gift or skill?

Definitely a gift, but I think without the gift you cannot maintain the skill. There are a lot of people with voices but not a lot of people who can sing like Mariah or Whitney can sing. Everyone was born with a voice. It’s hard to explain to a non-singer the joy that comes from touching someone’s heart with it.

If someone asked me how to describe Yolanda Adams I would say ‘happy, uplifting, and joyful.’ Why isn’t there more of that in music today?

Because people have lied to us and said it doesn’t work and I’m proving to them it does.

Is it amazing that you will get new fans who have never listened to gospel before?

Yes, that just warms my heart simply because we get a chance to do what some people are not doing.

Even if it’s played on an R&B station or Adult Contemporary radio…

…I get so many questions about how I feel when it’s played on this station or that station. Or how do I feel when it’s played after an R. Kelly song. I say it must be when they needed it.

+ Charlie Craine