This is an exclusive interview with Jill Phillips, who was here in England for the very first time with her husband, Andy Gullahorn (who is also a singer/ songwriter), where they have been performing at both Spring Harvest (2004) sites…

Side A
artist profile   • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• Age: 27

• Place of Birth: Virginia, USA

• Currently Living In: Nashville, USA

•Hobbies:
Like cooking, having friends over, going to the movies

• Music You Have Been Listening To: Ryan Adams

• What instruments do you play?
I play the guitar and the piano – tend to play the guitar when I’m travelling as it is easier to carry.

• Describe yourself in three words: loyal, kind and passionate

Side B
album   career   faith   • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• Have you always wanted to be a singer/songwriter?
Well, even though I went to Nashville to study ‘Commercial Vocal Performance’ – I mainly wanted to study music, with the intention to perhaps teach music or use it at church but it seemed like God had other plans.

• When did you start writing songs? What inspired you?
It was when I was at college (I was seventeen). I was inspired to write as I was surrounded by a lot of great songwriters and musicians. Everywhere you’d go, you could hear people playing music.

• You performed with your husband at Spring Harvest, do you often perform together? Have you written songs together?
Yes, we normally perform together when we travel, as it’s easier – usually perform though with a band back home. Yes, we have also written songs together.

• How have you found performing at Spring Harvest?
It’s been really good.

• What was it like having contributions on the album from fellow artists Bebo Norman, Andrew Peterson, Stephen Mason (Jars Of Clay), Matt Slocum (Sixpence)? How do you know them?
It was brilliant – it was good to have them on. They were doing backing vocals on separate songs and Matt even played the cello on one of the songs. I knew them before I did the album for everyone is like a family in Nashville so you do meet most artists one time or another. I toured with Bebo and Andrew – I went to school with guys who are with Jars Of Clay and I have always admired their music. Bebo and Stephen have also already contributed on my previous album, in return I have performed in their albums – I have sung on Bebo’s album Big Blue Sky.

• You are a singer/songwriter, wife and a mum (and with another baby on the way) - how do you find it?
It’s quite hectic... I just have to take it one day at a time or else I would find it overwhelming. Even with the travelling and everything, I do find that I am able to spend a lot of time with my son Drew. He is, however, being looked after my mum while we are here in England but we should be able to see him tomorrow.

• You are a contributing author of the book ‘Art Of Being’ – would you consider writing a whole book yourself in the future?
I have actually thought about that and have even talked about that to people but I wouldn’t do it for the sake of writing a book, I would only do it if it was right.

• So what do you think of England?
It’s really wonderful – we’ve just been in London, now been to Skegness, Minehead and now heading back to Skegness for our last performance before flying back to America. I definitely want to come back.

• Have you been able to experience the rain here in England?
No, it hasn’t actually rained whilst we have been here. The weather has been quite good.

• How did you become a Christian?
I was raised in a Christian home and ever since I was small, I had heard the stories from the bible. I remember being 6 or 7 years old, being fascinated and asking my mother questions, however it wasn’t until I was 12 years old when I begun to realise that being Christian was more than going to church and that it was also having a real relationship with God.

• How is your latest album Writing On The Walls different from your previous album God & Money?
Main contrasts are that my latest album is with a label and my previous album was done independently and was ‘experimental’. My latest album was certainly harder to make but the result has been better. Both have the acoustic sound though.

• Tell us about some of the songs on your latest album?
Wrecking Ball is a song of how God uses adversity and your bad experiences to help you grow and build your character, God Believes In You is actually a song that wasn’t written by me – it was written by one of my favourite songwriters Pierce Pettis. I often sang it at performances and a lot of people have been touched by it so with Pierce’s kind permission, it’s been included on the album. The whole album is basically about passing through life’s obstacles and learning just how good God is.

• What message do you want to put across to people who listen to your album?
I want them to be encouraged and be able to relate to the songs. The main thing is that it strengthens their relationship with God.