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Chris recently had a chance to sit down and talk with one of his own heroes - the talented songwriter and equally qualified vocalist Ronnie Freeman.  Check out what Ronnie has to say about working in his home church, songwriting, life as an independent artist and more in this special interview. Who Is Ronnie Freeman? When Ronnie Freeman released his laid-back, piano-based pop debut five years ago, it was simply one more step in a logical progression that had begun when he first stood behind a mic in Montgomery, Alabama, as a 7-year-old and performed “Rise Again” for his church. Listeners connected quickly with the heartfelt expressions of longing, worship, redemption, and celebration that are the hallmarks of Ronnie’s music, and when he felt led to chart his own musical course, he took with him a new fanbase broad enough to warrant 70 live shows a year.  Presenting his new collection of songs from a posture of greater freedom and humility, Ronnie Freeman expresses hope that God Speaking will become for others what it has already been for him: a soundtrack for their spiritual journeys. Key: Chris Ronnie Hey Ronnie - how you doing? Oh not much - just tackling a long round of interviews.  I’m actually here in California at my father-in-law’s house and enjoying the area and the day. That’s awesome - well let’s get started.  You’ve been an artist-in-residence at a local church in Nashville over the last couple of years.  What is that all about?  Basically, tell us where you’ve been. Well after I left Rocketown Records a couple of years ago, I got involved at a church in Nashville.  This church is totally awesome - they embrace what I feel God has called me to do.  Most traditional churches are a one man show - where it’s all about the pastor and they don’t do much to assist those who have other ministries in that church.  This church is completely different - they embrace those with other ministries.  Fellowship Bible works on those giftings - so they made me an “Artist of Residence”.  That just means that they give me their blessing as sort an extension of the church - plus I lead worship about once a month for the church.  There are four of us now.  They knew I had to get a new record out and are working with me on it - allowing me time away from the church to get this record in order.  It’s been fantastic. What were the musical and spiritual influences behind the album God Speaking? That’s a good question.  I don’t really listen to a ton of music, not that I don’t love music, I just have to find what FEEDS me - both spiritually and intellectually.  Nichole Nordeman is one of those people - she influenced both musically and spiritually.  But, I also listening to classical music in the car.  I find that that really soothes me. Otherwise, spiritual influences on the record came from people in my life that I look to as mentors - don’t know how they necessarily inspired the music - but were just spiritual mentors.  A lot of songs were just born from my mistakes - longing to get out of “that pit” - like in the song “Love the Light”. How would YOU say it differs from your debut album? Most certainly the place in life when this record was written as compared to where I was on the first record.  The first record I think I was just seeing a lot of glitter and stars from being signed.  This new record shows how much I’ve grown - there’s more heart and listeners can see the place that I am at in life.  Musically, the album is more linear and it breathes more.  Also - this record was much more “me”.  I got the opportunity to pick everything - all the songs, musicians, players, and all that.  It was a bit overwhelming a times and I could have really gotten buried underneat it all.  I was not a bull in a china shop - I got people who could mentor me in the process.  What is the song that has meant the most to you on the new record? Oh by far “The Other Side.” I read this book - which was quite a controversial read - that dealt with a specific issue and from that perspective of wanting to get to “the other side” of that issue.  I kind of looked at this book as kind of like two sides of a fence or a wall and everyone else has a wall that we want to get to the other side of on this earth - not just on heaven - but also on earth.  The bible says that Jesus is ever making intercession for us - he’s committed to us to doing whatever it takes to have freedom.  We really can be free from it - not sin free - but free from those things that have strong holds in our lives.  So, that’s what that song is about, and it just has meant so much to me. So our readers are enamored with the songwriting process.  Explain your songwriting process. It’s never the same between songs.  My favorite way of writing is by myself - but I know I won’t grow as a writer that way.  Sometimes it’s like the song “God Speaking” - where it’s instant and I have to pull over and frantically find an idea.  Others have been writing with scheduled appointments.  Sometimes it’s finding a musical hook that I find on the piano - but I always like to have some kind of piece of a lyric.  “Fight” took two years - due to setting it aside and wanting it to be just right.  I don’t know man, it’s just very different with each song. Who are some songwriters that you have never worked with that you would love to get a chance to work with? Nichole Nordeman - but I can’t imagine what I would be like in that session - probably just a big giddy fan.  I think by the second or third writing session I would be ok.  Other than her - can’t think of many.  However, I have had a chance to write with some very talented writers since my time in Nashville - Tony Wood, Jack Cates (prolific songwriter), Tom Douglas (country writer - feel like I’m a student with him), and Cindy Morgan who is a blast to write with.  What challenges have you faced now being an independent artist as opposed to an artist on a label? Our industry doesn’t turn their heads as quickly to an independent artist - there is still a little bit of proving yourself - especially to retail and radio.  It’s a whole other process.  I just believe that God is going to prove himself in this - there may not be #1s but He will make it happen.  It takes a lot more work - and this time is all me.  I don’t have that label power working behind me to get things done.  If I want something done - I have to do it myself now.  That’s very humbling. Anything else big coming up that you would like people to know about?  Tours?  Collaborations? On tour with 33Miles in March and April - which is going to be a blast.  Those guys are very funny and super talented.  Also - be on the look out for “My Inheritance” out at radio now which is a duet with Christy Nockels. Well thanks for sharing your time and your heart! Thanks man! Visit Ronnie’s website at http://www.http://www.ronniefreemanonline.com Ronnie’s MySpace is located at http:myspace.com/ronniefreemanmusic http://thebridgelive.net/index/469/

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