Joseph Christie Band

Local singer-songwriter Joseph Christie is part of the new brigade of Christian rock artists

BY JOHN J. CANNON



As far back as most can remember, the Augusta music scene has had its fair share of Christian artists covering every style of music from gospel to hardcore. While that is a fact not lost on many, most within the Christian community would agree that only recently has modern rock and pop been properly represented within Augusta and the surrounding communities.

Local Christian singer-songwriter Joseph Christie will take that good fight to the people when he and his band perform with Spin 360 recording artist Matt Papa at Hillcrest Baptist Church on April 20.

“I would say musically that they are both [Christian and secular music] pretty comparable,” says Christie. “There are really talented secular artists as well as Christian artists. I think that Christian music has really caught up with secular music in terms of sound and originality and not just the same old cliché, cheesy lyrics in every song. I feel that the turning point for the better was DC Talk’s release of ‘Jesus Freak.’”
While most kids start off practicing air-guitar moves in the mirror or coming up with cool band names, Christie oddly enough didn’t even have the slightest bit of interest in music, much less Christian music, as a child.

“It was really just on a whim. I just decided one day that I wanted to play guitar after my friend showed me some stuff that he had been learning in lessons, so I decided to start taking lessons. I mean, when I started playing, I really wasn’t even that much into music, but today that statement is far from the truth. Maybe at the time it was just the cool thing to do. Now it’s eight years later and music is my passion.”

Christie claims not being very good in the beginning as either a guitarist or a vocalist. Playing for his church youth group would change all that and, as his faith in a higher calling grew, so did his faith in himself and his abilities.

“When I first picked up a guitar and started taking lessons, I really just liked to play and there wasn’t any thought of being a rock star or scheming on how I could make it in music or anything,” Christie says. “I also don’t think I was more interested in becoming a Christian artist. It’s just that being a Christian showed through in my lyrics.”

With an acoustic-driven sound comparable to such secular acts as The Fray or Snow Patrol, Christie sits in a great position as far as what’s popular in today’s music. While more pressing personal topics may arise in Christie’s future musical compositions, for now his main focus is on the abilities that got him this far.

“For me personally, I believe I am gifted in leading others in praise and worship. But I definitely think there is a place for the other topics as well, as long as the artist or band stays strong in their faith and isn’t ashamed of what they believe.”

Joseph Christie
with Matt Papa
Hillcrest Baptist Church
Friday, April 20
Tickets are $10 in advance,
$12 at the door
706-836-3168
- Metro Spirit