Spread the Cheer!
by Kelly Sheads

This season, some of your favorite Christian artists are spreading the holiday cheer by releasing their very first Christmas albums! Learn more about these new releases from Chris Tomlin, Mark Harris (formerly of 4Him), Downhere, Big Daddy Weave, and Family Force 5 by clicking on the links below.

Chris Tomlin “Glory in The Highest”
Press Release

Mark Harris “Christmas Is”
Press Release

Downhere “How Many Kings: Songs for Christmas”
Press Release

Big Daddy Weave “Christ Is Come”
Press Release

Family Force 5 “Christmas Pageant”
Press Release
www.myspace.com/familyforce5

Plus, VeggieTales just released a new DVD in time for the holidays! Learn more about “Saint Nicholas – A Story of Joyful Giving” by clicking on the links below.

Press Release

Watch the trailer for “Saint Nicholas – A Story of Joyful Giving” and the music video for “Give Christmas Away” featuring Matthew West and Amy Grant by visiting www.bigidea.com.

Also, this is the time of year when some of your favorite artists gear up for the holidays by hitting the road. Find out who’s coming to a city near you by checking out the links to the right.

It’s time to start spreading the cheer!

Exclusive to Light & Life
Introducing Adam Lange
(A Sept. 2009 interview by Kelly Sheads)

Adam Lange isn’t your average 17-year-old. Raised in a musical family, he plays saxophone, piano and guitar, and leads youth group worship at First FMC (Pendleton, Ore.). Lange is also a gifted songwriter and has just released his debut CD: “The King.”

“I believe people have a desire to express how they feel through everything they do,” he says. “I choose music, and I want to bring new thoughts of what life, love, people, society, church, etc. are about.”

There’s no telling what the future holds for this gifted young FM musician, but we’re looking forward to finding out! Here’s what he told us:

Q: How did you get started playing music?
A: My parents are both great musicians, so I’ve grown up around the saxophone and opera. I’ve played the saxophone for six years and piano for a little longer. I learned guitar because at the time it was the cool thing to do. Who knew it would be my passion? I started writing songs about two years ago. Thus, the CD.

Q: Tell us about your debut CD “The King.”
A: “The King” is a 12-song LP. The producer, Brandon Bee, co-wrote a couple of the songs, so I suppose I had a part in writing all the songs. My favorite track is “Tables.” I like to use a different set of instruments sometimes, and this song incorporates a stand-up bass, some wood flutes and a percussion instrument made of pigs’ hooves.

Q: Some of the proceeds of your album go to Hand of Hope. Tell us about that.
A: Actually, that was my parents’ idea that I was happy to go along with. All the net profits of my first CD, plus a buck from each as it sells will go to a Christian charity dedicated to helping the disadvantaged in Third World countries. Our hope is to encourage others to do the same. It’s pretty easy to get caught up in the self-promotion. By giving our “first fruits” as a way to consecrate our music career, it keeps us focused on God’s will for us rather than on us. My dad even made a Web site (firstfruitmusic.org) to promote this.

Q: You were supposed to go on tour this summer with Holly Starr. Did that happen and if so, how did that go?
A: The tour became three or four solo dates for Holly with one date that I and the rest of the band played at Lifest [Christian rock festival in Oshkosh, Wisc.]. The show went well and has led to more potential dates. Holly has kept us pretty busy. Her band has really great performers and the show is a blast to play.

Q: Why write songs, why play music, why make a CD?
A: I tried doing other things and it didn’t work out. I believe that humans have a desire for expressing how they feel. People do it through everything they do. I choose music to do that. I want to bring new thoughts about what life, love, people, society, church, etc. are about.

Q: What’s in the future for Adam Lange?
A: You never know what’s coming next in the music business. Just playing shows and meeting new people. If you’re not into that, you’re in the wrong industry. If all goes well, I will be doing this full time.

Q: Who are some of your favorite artists? Do any of them inspire you or exhibit the qualities you’d like to have as an artist?
A: My favorite artists are Conor Oberst, Jeff Mangum, The Decemberists, Coldplay, Jon Foreman, Angels and Airwaves, The Beatles. Yes. They all inspire me and I strive to be like them in their musical abilities.

Visit these Web sites to learn more about Adam Lange and hear songs from his debut CD “The King”:
www.adamlange.com
www.myspace.com/adamlangemusic
www.firstfruitmusic.org