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http://www.al.com/entertainment/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1155806133167120.xml&coll=1
Break from music helps singer find way
Thursday, August 17, 2006
By CHRIS WELCH
Times Entertainment Writer, chris.welch@htimes.com
Autumn Calvert thought she was living the dream - at the ripe young age of 26.
In 2000, the singer recorded a country album at the famous Fame Studio in Muscle Shoals, something she'd hoped to do ever since she started singing with her grandfather and mother at the age of 2.
Many praised the album, but for Calvert, something wasn't right.
In fact, it felt so strange and uncomfortable she laid down her guitar and stopped playing music altogether.
"My dream came true" back then, said Calvert, who is having a CD release party for her latest album, "Be Who You Is," Friday night at Kenny Mango's. "Even though my life's ambition was finally happening, I began to feel disenfranchised with the music industry.
"I didn't like the sound of the record. It wasn't my cup of tea; it wasn't my flavor. Then something happened that was shocking to everyone - I stopped performing music. I needed a break from all that and needed to sit back and evaluate and see where God wanted me to be and do."
Calvert had been living in Florence, but moved to Huntsville. That's when her life started changing for the better.
"My youth minister, Scott Dishman, and his wife, Beverly, invited me to come live with them in Huntsville," Calvert said. "I was in a real bad spot at the time, but I came back here, got a job and starting working on my master's degree in business."
She also hooked up with a local band, Hot Mixx, and was introduced by her keyboard player, Danny Wilder, to Bobby Hendrix, director of music for the Cappuccino and Christ service at Trinity Methodist Church. She started performing once a month at the service and soon felt the calling to write Christian songs.
"I just started learning more about theology and realized the Christian life is not about the fluff and judgmental church ideals I used to see growing up," Calvert said. "It's more about grace and love and forgiveness. After that, God just started pouring songs out of me and I started writing again."
About that time, she also met Steve Calvert and married him in 2005. The two started Aslan House Records and recorded "Be Who You Is" at Sound Cell Studios.
"When I asked God to take over my life about three years ago, He began to show me what music was truly about and how I could make a difference," Calvert said. "Since then, He has given me a wonderful husband, a great church and my music back."
Her Web site is autumncalvert.com.
- Huntsville Times
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Bio
Autumn Mott was born in the small town of Thomasville in Clarke County, Alabama. She started singing at age two next to her mom on the piano or with her grandfather who was a bass player in a country and gospel band.
In 1989, Autumn turned 16 and started learning to play guitar and mandolin. Her grandfather was her instructor, however, her natural abilities were evident immediately. Autumn joined her first band during her senior year of high school. Like many young musicians growing up in the Bible Belt during the early nineties, it was a contemporary Christian band with fellow peers from her church youth group.
High school graduation fell upon Autumn in the spring of 1991. She attended Alabama Southern Community College on a music scholarship and traveled with the singing/dancing troupe called “Southern Expose”. She graduated with an associate’s degree in arts in 1993 and headed to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
Autumn began writing her own music in 1996 when she played in an acoustic duo that eventually became a full band in 1999. The experience led Autumn to discover her own personal creativity and inspired her to write her first solo album. She parted ways with her band and recorded the album at Fame Studios in 2000. Although many praised the country album, Autumn was still convinced she had not yet found her style and her place in music. She felt disenfranchised from the music industry and was so discouraged, she quit playing music altogether.
The year 2002 brought Autumn to a town called Florence, nestled in the Northwest corner of Alabama. The region is known as “Quad Cities” and includes the town of Muscle Shoals and the famous “Muscle Shoals Sound Studios” where legendary acts such as Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Paul Simon and The Rolling Stones all recorded hit songs.
After moving 75 miles east to Huntsville, Alabama in 2003, Autumn began leading praise and worship at Trinity United Methodist Church. She also began writing music again… only this time she was able to tap into her heart and soul and pour out music and lyrics that were prolific and God-centered. “Before this time, I always felt a wall between me and my abilities.” She shared, “God just made a door for me to go through to the other side, and I am, and always will be, thankful.”
In December 2005, Autumn Mott became Autumn Calvert after she married her soul mate, Steve Calvert. The couple started up Aslan House Records and Autumn recorded the very honest and unapologetic album “Be Who You Is” at Sound Cell Studios in Huntsville.
“The album ‘Be Who You Is’ is about not putting on heirs or pretending to be perfect just because the God you serve is perfect,” Autumn said. Her favorite song on the album is the emotionally moving track “Something”. She says, “It speaks to everyone – Christians and non-Christians alike”
Her angelic vocals and fiery, passionate lyrics soar on this album. It is safe to say that Autumn Calvert has been guided to her place in music through her faith in the Lord, and the grace He bestowed upon her along the way.
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