Carisa Turner

Woodstock-based singer, songwriter and worship leader Carisa Turner has received the 2013 Christian Women in Media Association’s Grand Prize Songwriting Award for her song “Lost At Sea” in the organization’s annual songwriting contest.

Turner performed the winning song July 20 at the CWIMA National Music Showcase, an annual concert event in Nashville, aimed at creating new opportunities for female musicians and artists to connect with other women in today’s media culture.

“This event is designed to connect up-and-coming artists and songwriters with music industry professionals in Nashville, along with the opportunity to perform for an eager audience,” said Erica Lane, executive director of CWIMA Music Showcase. “Carisa won our Grand Prize Songwriting award, and she performed her inspiring original song ‘Lost At Sea,’ which validated her genuine writing talent even more for people who had the pleasure of hearing her live. Carisa was a beautiful addition to the evening.”

A panel of songwriting experts and members of CWIMA selected the top 10 finalists and contest winners based on five criteria — musicality, lyrics, phrasing, creativity and melodic appeal.

Turner had two other songs place as Top 10 Finalists — “What Would I Do” and “Stop The Noise.”

“It feels absolutely amazing to receive this award,” Turner said. “It was such an honor to be part of the showcase and have the opportunity to share my song. There were so many talented performers and songwriters at the event… and I consider it such a blessing to be considered one of them.”

All three songs are part of Turner’s debut EP project ‘Stop The Noise,’ which was released in November 2011. The six-song project is a contemporary blend of light pop songs and worship moments.

Founded in 2002, the CWIMA is a professional association dedicated to connecting women in purpose and vision. With a national platform focused on advancing Christian women in media, members work in the fields of TV, radio, Internet, film, publishing, music, and arts and entertainment.
- Cherokee Tribune

Technically, Carisa Turner missed the deadline to enter a national songwriting contest sponsored by the Christian Women in Media Association.

“I found out about it the day after it closed, but when I emailed them the lady said if I could get my entries to her that day, they’d be accepted,” Turner said.

Lucky for her, because of the three songs she submitted, two finished in the top 10 and the third took the grand prize.

That song, “Lost at Sea,” is “intensely personal,” Turner said.

“It was written as I was going through probably one of the darkest seasons of my life. I felt like I was sinking. It’s a cross between a prayer and a journal entry. A lot of it just poured out of me.”

The song’s refrain is a plea for God’s aid and support.

“Here I am once again, broken at your feet

Here I am once again, oh will you rescue me?

And pull me out of this water that I’m drownin’ in

The waves are rising and I can’t find a way to swim

Back to the shore without you, I’ll be lost at sea.”

A music worship leader at Grace North Atlanta in Alpharetta, Christian themes are the backbone of almost all of Turner’s songs, which she has been writing since she was 13 years old. She composes her melodies on piano, guitar and ukulele.

“I describe my music as light pop, with an inspirational edge,” Turner said. “I hope it inspires change in people to seek God more fully.”

Three days a week, the 28-year-old Woodstock resident is a public relations specialist in Roswell city government, where her husband Kevin also works as a city planner. While it’s a good fit for her professional skills, Turner is hoping that someday music will be her full-time career.

That’s why the July showcase performance in Nashville that was part of her songwriting prize was so exciting. “I definitely hope it helps my career in music grow. I think it will open doors allowing me to share my music,” Turner said.

“Lost at Sea’ as well as Turner’s two other top 10 songs are part of her debut EP project, “‘Stop the Noise,” which was released in November 2011.

- Roswell Neighbor

When former Shorewood resident Carisa Turner wrote the song “Lost at Sea,” she hadn’t a clue that it would win her a songwriting award.

“I was coming through a dark season a few years ago, feeling like I was drowning,” she said.

In July, Turner was named the grand prize winner in the 2013 Christian Women in Media Association’s (CWIMA) annual songwriting contest.

Turner submitted several of her works just under the deadline as a way to promote her music. She never dreamed she would win.

A panel of experts and members of CWIMA chose 10 finalists from the submissions. They were judged on musicality, lyrics, phrasing, creativity and melodic appeal. Turner had three of her songs place in the top 10, she said.

The top 10 finalists performed as part of the CWIMA’s Music Showcase. Eight female artists from different parts of the country and Canada came to perform.

“Everyone there was so talented,” she said. “It was so neat to be there and be one of those women.”

Turner grew up in Shorewood and graduated from Minooka Community High School. She first took an interest in music at just four years old when she started banging on the piano keys. She became a classically trained pianist.

Turner began writing songs in eighth grade. During high school, she had all the heart break of a typical teenager and wrote about it in love songs, she said.

As co-valedictorian in junior high, she needed to write a speech for commencements.

“I wrote a song instead of a speech and I sang that song (at graduation),” she said. “That’s when I realized I loved writing.”

During high school, Turner was also involved in worship and music at Minooka Bible Church, where she played the piano and keyboard during services.

It was then that she put the two together, realizing music was a gift from God and she needed to use it to minister to others. Music was also a natural reflection of her faith and the process by which she worked out personal things with God, she said.

After high school, Turner wasn’t sure what direction she should take in life. She originally planned to go to pharmacy school, but she changed her mind and went to business school. She graduated from Mercer University in Macon, Ga., with a major in journalism and Spanish.


“Looking back over my life, I didn’t know what I was doing,” she said. “But He was there the whole time.”

For the past six years, Turner has been working for a nonprofit public relations firm utilizing her writing talents. She has gotten married, moved to Atlanta, Ga., and found a church where she can use her gifts.

She was encouraged and motivated by her pastor to step out of her comfort zone and lead music during worship.

Although she didn’t consider herself a performer at the time, people frequently asked if she had a record in the works.

After attending a musical conference called Indie Ignite for Christian artists, she came back with a boost of confidence.

“I came back home and recorded the EP,” she said.

Five of the six songs on her EP are inspired by her faith.

“I can write love songs one day and a worship song the next,” she said. “I take it where my heart is.”

Turner continues to lead worship with her music twice a month at Grace North Atlanta Church. She’s two years into building her musical career and her ministry, she said.

The CWIMA award has given her even more confidence to continue in her musical career.

“This award is huge,” she said. “It’s incredible to have other people validate something. It’s such a great confirmation. It’s such encouragement.”

At the same time, she’s still in awe of how things have changed so quickly and drastically in her life.

“I believe God has given me the talent and desire to do what I am doing,” she said. “For a long time I didn’t know what that meant.”

Turner hopes the award will continue to open doors for her and that people will consider her a serious artist.

“I hope it allows me to continue growing and inspiring people; moving people and changing people,” she said. “It’s what I hope comes out of what I am doing."

——— VOICE FROM ABOVE

ACCOMPLISHMENT: Carisa Turner, a graduate of Minooka Community High School, received the 2013 Christian Women in Media Association’s Grand Prize Songwriting Award for her song “Lost At Sea.” Turner had two other songs — “What Would I Do” and “Stop the Noise” place as Top 10 Finalists.

BODY OF WORK: The three songs are part of Turner's debut EP project "Stop the Noise," which was released in November 2011. The six-song project is a fresh, contemporary blend of light pop songs, singer/songwriter charm and contemplative worship moments.

QUOTEWORTHY: “It feels absolutely amazing to receive this award. It was such an honor to be part of the showcase and have the opportunity to share my song. There were so many talented performers and songwriters at the event, and I consider it such a blessing to be considered one of them.”


- Minooka-Channahon Life

Talented Atlanta singer, songwriter, and worship artist Carisa Turner will enthusiastically share her lovely songs at REV Coffee on November 18th to celebrate the release of her debut EP project entitled Stop the Noise. The EP, which comes out on November 15, commemorates Turner’s entrance into the Christian music industry with a modern, compelling and catchy six-song compilation that is uniquely Turner’s. Her honest charm and thoughtful lyrics overlay a richly melodic sound that ranges from beautiful worship songs to God’s (“We Declare”) to exploring her personal reactions and questions about God’s calling (“What Would I Do”) to Turner’s yearning for peace among hectic surroundings on the title track “Stop the Noise”.

“Working on this project has been a truly amazing experience,” Turner said. “These songs are all very close to my heart and it’s been incredible to watch the dream I had as a young girl begin to unfold before my eyes. I can’t wait to share this music and am so thankful to everyone who helped make this project possible.”

The CD release party at REV begins at 8 p.m. on Friday, November 18th and is free and open to the public. Grab a latte and settle down in an armchair for an entertaining, thought-provoking evening of songs. “Stop the Noise” will be available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby, and other digital music stores on November 15.

- Smyrna-Vinings Patch

Talented Atlanta singer, songwriter, and worship artist Carisa Turner will enthusiastically share her lovely songs at REV Coffee on November 18th to celebrate the release of her debut EP project entitled Stop the Noise. The EP, which comes out on November 15, commemorates Turner’s entrance into the Christian music industry with a modern, compelling and catchy six-song compilation that is uniquely Turner’s. Her honest charm and thoughtful lyrics overlay a richly melodic sound that ranges from beautiful worship songs to God’s (“We Declare”) to exploring her personal reactions and questions about God’s calling (“What Would I Do”) to Turner’s yearning for peace among hectic surroundings on the title track “Stop the Noise”.

“Working on this project has been a truly amazing experience,” Turner said. “These songs are all very close to my heart and it’s been incredible to watch the dream I had as a young girl begin to unfold before my eyes. I can’t wait to share this music and am so thankful to everyone who helped make this project possible.”

The CD release party at REV begins at 8 p.m. on Friday, November 18th and is free and open to the public. Grab a latte and settle down in an armchair for an entertaining, thought-provoking evening of songs. “Stop the Noise” will be available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby, and other digital music stores on November 15.

- Smyrna-Vinings Patch

Dunwoody resident Carisa Turner made a first step to turning a hobby into a career, something she said she not only wants to do but feels called to do.


Turner released her debut EP project “Stop the Noise” last week.


“Part of the reason I wanted to put it together is I feel God is moving me into a music vocation,” she said. “I think my goal at the end of the day is to do this in a more tangible way.”


The project includes six original songs, five written for the EP and one Turner said she wrote her freshman year of college entitled “My King.”


“It’s a really special song to me,” she said. “I’ve played it at church and several women at my church have told me it touched them too, so that’s why I decided to include it.”


Turner said for the past year she felt she needed to do the project and about five months ago she started it.


“It’s been a pretty intense few months,” she said.

Turner worked with Sean Hill, producer and owner of Uphill Studios, to complete the EP. She said her collaboration with him helped her combine her vision for the project with his ideas to make the songs unique.


“Sean was an incredible producer,” she said. “He was just so much fun. Some days I was in the studio for 10 hours but it was always fun.”


As she moves forward, Turner said she is doing promotions at churches and on radio stations. She said she makes lists every week of goals for transitioning to full-time music ministry, including hopes to partner with organizations and nonprofits.


Information: www.carisaturner.com.

- The Dekalb Neighbor

Dunwoody resident Carisa Turner made a first step to turning a hobby into a career, something she said she not only wants to do but feels called to do.


Turner released her debut EP project “Stop the Noise” last week.


“Part of the reason I wanted to put it together is I feel God is moving me into a music vocation,” she said. “I think my goal at the end of the day is to do this in a more tangible way.”


The project includes six original songs, five written for the EP and one Turner said she wrote her freshman year of college entitled “My King.”


“It’s a really special song to me,” she said. “I’ve played it at church and several women at my church have told me it touched them too, so that’s why I decided to include it.”


Turner said for the past year she felt she needed to do the project and about five months ago she started it.


“It’s been a pretty intense few months,” she said.

Turner worked with Sean Hill, producer and owner of Uphill Studios, to complete the EP. She said her collaboration with him helped her combine her vision for the project with his ideas to make the songs unique.


“Sean was an incredible producer,” she said. “He was just so much fun. Some days I was in the studio for 10 hours but it was always fun.”


As she moves forward, Turner said she is doing promotions at churches and on radio stations. She said she makes lists every week of goals for transitioning to full-time music ministry, including hopes to partner with organizations and nonprofits.


Information: www.carisaturner.com.

- The Dekalb Neighbor

As valedictorian for her eighth grade graduating class, Carisa Jurgens Turner, now 26, had to write and present a speech, but for each line she wrote, she also heard music. So Turner sang her speech.

“My mother framed it,” Turner said. “It’s still sitting in our china cabinet at home. In high school, when I was in the running for valedictorian, everyone kept asking me, ‘Are you going to sing the speech again?’”

All of Turner’s musical experiences — from the time when she, at 4, first banged on her grandmother’s upright piano, to finding the right recording studio — have developed her vocal and songwriting abilities and shaped her ministry.

Turner’s first EP, “Stop the Noise,” is the fruit of it. “Stop the Noise,” contains positive and compelling lyrics — wrapped in captivating pop melodies and her signature soprano voice — that draw the listener toward God.

“It’s been very inspiring to watch this year unfold,” Turner, formerly of Shorewood and now of Georgia, said. “I finally have a professional recording to share with churches and my small fan base. I hope everyone enjoys it. It’s a privilege to do something so positive.”

Turner began taking piano lessons at 4, began songwriting at 13 and began teaching herself guitar in high school. On a mission trip to St. Lucia with the other youth at Minooka Bible Church, Turner was asked to perform an original song at an outdoor concert in the town square.

Some of the locals expressed how Turner’s song touched their hearts. Turner started discerning if she might have a musical calling. That vision crystallized when Turner’s youth leader said, “I think your music will change the world.” Turner never forgot those words.

After high school, Turner attended Mercer University in Georgia, where she met, fell in love with and married a man named Kevin. Since then, Turner, who works in public relations and marketing for a real estate company, has performed her music at churches and various community events.

When people started asking Turner where they could buy her CD, Turner decided the time had come to record one and the doors to do so opened. Since then, Turner has been singing at more churches and other venues. Still more people are asking for her CD.

“This past year, I began wondering why I’m singing,” Turner said. “I decided the one person I wanted to sing for was God. He had given me all these talents, I wanted to do something that would glorify Him.”

“Stop the Noise” will be available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon.com and CDBaby. Contact Turner at carisaturnermusic@gmail.com. Watch Turner at www.youtube.com/carisaturner. For more information visit www.carisaturner.com
- The Herald Sun