CHRISTIAN RADIO WEEKLY
Interview with worship artist - ROSS TURNER
•Full Name: Ross Andrew Turner
•Birthday: January 16th, 1987
•Birthplace: Alexandria, MN
•Family: All lives in Minnesota, oldest of 8 kids! My father was a Worship Pastor, he passed away when I was 15, so I got to help raise the rest of the kids as my mom worked as a music teacher, and I was in college.
•Who would you trade lives with for a day? Owen Willson, because I would love to just laugh at myself all day long!
What book are you reading now? My Utmost for His Highest Oswald Chambers.
•What CD is playing in your car right now? Hillsong United Across the Earth Tear Down These Walls.
•What is the best thing about being an artist? I believe as I look around the world, that God is a creative God, and I love to be able to find new ways to express our love back to God in new and fresh ways!
•What is the worst thing about being an artist? I dont think it is necessarily a bad thing, but I would say that writing songs to help people find the words to express their love to God....is a huge responsibility. Peoples communication and worship to God is a special, and sacred thing. And to think that God is using you as a channel to help people do that, is a humbling, and challenging thing.
•Biggest career embarrassment: Leading worship at a big conference in Minneapolis, MN. It was the last night of the conference so my voice was tired.and leading the LAST song of the night, I had the BIGGEST and worst voice crack in HISTORY. So bad that every hand that was in the air.shot down, and people were just looking at me very..confused about what they were hearing. Wow!
Most memorable concert so far: It wasnt a concert of mine, but I remember singing with my New Life Church family on a Wednesday night, the Wednesday after a gunman came into our Sunday morning service and opened fire on all of us New Life Church members. And a member of the worship team had just written a song called Overcome, it talked about how no matter what the enemy throws at us, we will overcome it by the Blood of the Lamb, and the Word of out testimony. And it was absolutely the MOST powerful worship experience I have ever been a part of as thousands of us, with one voice, and one heart sang that powerful song, and seemingly crushed the enemys plans for our defeat! Powerful!!
•Most memorable moment in creating your most recent record: There were times as we were about to start recording the song Holy is He on our album, that we had to just stop because we really sensed Gods presence in that studio in a tangible and real way. All 5 of us (band and our producer) would just have to sit there and be still, and even broke out into some awesome times of praise and prayer. We just live for those moments when God shows up in a way that makes us stop all our plans, and just listen!
•What is your favorite hometown hangout? Right now we LOVE to stop by our local Whole Foods, and grab a pizza and desert! Lamepossibly, but we love it!
•What is something you want others to know about you? Although I live in a big city now.my home town growing up had 300 people in it! NO stoplightsand my family went barefoot to church. (NOT me tho!!) .I guess you could say that at heart.I am a country boy!
•Who has been the most influential person in your career? Pastor Ross Parsley, he was my Worship Pastor at New Life Church, and is an incredible leader. I sat under his leadership for a year and learned SO much about the heart of a true worship leader. His leadership has shaped my ministry in more ways than I could express.
•How did you get into the music industry? God just put songwriting on my heart since I was a kid. I wrote my first song when I was 15 years old, and grew up in the church worship team. Through the blessing of the Lord one of my songs won Faith Incubators Worship Song of the Year in 2002, and we have experienced the call of God into fulltime ministry. What a calling!
•Favorite song: How He Loves - Jesus Culture version
•Favorite vacation spot: Pismo Beach Pismo California. AMAZING!
•Favorite food: Medium rare steak, nothing beats it....nothing.
•Favorite drink: Starbucks iced coffee of the day4 Splenda, half and half.
•Guilty pleasure: If I am given a pale of Rainbow Sherbert.I can not stop!
•Worst fear: Not living a life to the full potential God has given me.
•What was your very first job? Lifeguard / Swimming teacher at the local YMCA growing up...I used to play guitar on the pool deck to keep myself awake during the morning shifts!
•What is the question you are most tired of answering? So Ross....how tall are you?....I deeply hate that question.
•Choose one adjective to describe your music style: Simplicity.
•What is the number one thing you hope people get out of your music? Fresh inspiration to worship God!
