Continue the Conversation

Hard to See.

2014-02-28T06:30:00.000-08:00

Here's the last lyric-post of this week (and February). Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!

Hard to See

Sometime ago

I heard it said

That your love

Breaks through death and dark

And forgive me now

But I find it hard to see

When the darkest night

Comes from within the house

So many call your home

Peace,

Ross

Spark.

2014-02-27T06:30:00.000-08:00

Today, you get a verse & chorus...enjoy!

Spark

When I'm feeling nothing matters

Like no one wants to change

That's when I stir inside

To cure these times

I'm gonna turn this spark into a wildfire

This idea to an ocean

These words to worlds

Peace,
Ross

Static.

2014-02-25T14:52:00.002-08:00

Lately I've been songwriting...LOTS.
So over the next week or so, I'll share a few lines, verses, and a chorus or two.

First off: STATIC

Static

Can we just get through the static

Can we break the unclear

Can we walk along,

Or walk alone

It's the static we fear

Peace,

Ross

PRODUCTIVITY?

2014-02-17T09:21:00.002-08:00

We're all given the same 24 hours to be as productive as we possibly can be...but let's be honest, all days and hours are not created equal!

What days are you the most productive?

What hours of the day are you the most productive?

Thanks for chiming in...more on this topic later!

Peace,
Ross

TAPS (with slugs & snails of course)

2014-02-05T08:49:00.001-08:00

Because sometimes the best instrumental music videos are of slugs & snails.
Happy snow day - enjoy!

Peace,
Ross

37 Years of Awesome!

2014-01-30T09:58:00.001-08:00

I saw this yesterday on the interwebs and thought it was worth sharing!

Peace,
Ross

p.s. I'm still convinced that Jurassic Park used real dinosaurs...

CONSTANTS

2014-01-23T08:07:00.001-08:00

There are certain constants in life. One of those constants is time. We are all bound to a 24 hour day and a 7 day week. No matter your vocation, passion, and effort, you have limits. Steve Jobs was bound to these limits. President Obama is bound to these limits. Every single person, regardless of how productive or unproductive they may be, is bound to these constants.

So as you dream big and work towards creating more beauty, shalom, and justice in the world, consider the following:

What can you (and only you) do?
What were you created to do?
What are your passions?

Do that!

But what about all of the other random tasks that are required to pull off said passion, job, project, and dream(s)?

That's where being a leader comes into play.

Good leaders surround themselves with other individuals that resonate with your dreams and momentum. Good leaders never hoard vision and work. Good leaders delegate, empower, and turn loose the passions and dreams of other people.

So the next time you find yourself against a time-crunch, ask yourself what can you (and only you) do. Ask yourself what you were created to do. And finally ask yourself if you have appropriately surrounded yourself with individuals that you trust to carry the torch of your passion.

The world may be full of constants, but you don't have to be bound by them.

Peace,
Ross

SiloTREE Studio {REDUX}

2014-01-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

Many of you know that on top of songwriting and touring, I also manage, produce records, and write/record string arrangements from my studio (SiloTREE Studio) in St. Louis. Last week I added a new studio page to my website highlighting some recent arrangements, as well as studio information.

The internet has certainly made the world flat...I have been blessed to work with a number of artists (some of which I've never met in person), and I believe that the world is becoming more creative and beautiful from these types of partnerships, collaborations, and works.

Bottom line, if you're in need of a professional, comfortable, and creative studio to record your next album or EP at, contact me. If you're interested in adding strings to one of your songs or albums, I do that too!

Simply send me a WAV file of your tune, I'll record an arrangement, and we bounce files back and forth until you've got a beautiful piece of art. It really is that simple!

**and if you refer an artist or band to the studio that results in a project, I'll send you $50!!!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE STUDIO INFO//

"Ross came out with me on tour last fall. He’s such a talented musician and as I was writing the strings for these two songs, I knew he’d be the guy to bring them to life! Couldn’t be more pleased with how it all turned out!" -Sleeping at Last

SiloTREE Studio is a comfortable and creative recording studio in St. Louis, MO. Ross Christopher has produced over 40 artists/bands to date. Ross Christopher also writes and records string arrangements for artists/bands - adding the perfect touch of beauty to a number of albums.

RECORDING //

Prices are competitive. Ross charges by the song and arrangement (versus by the hour), allowing for more creative expression and excellence.

STRING ARRANGEMENTS //

Prices are competitive. Turn-around is quick! Ross charges by the type of arrangement (ranging from solo instrument to full orchestral arrangement).

*If you are interested in recording with Ross Christopher at SiloTREE Studio OR hiring Ross for an upcoming string arrangement, please send him an email via the CONTACT PAGE, or call the studio (816)686-1345.

Peace,

Ross

A Recent Interview

2014-01-15T13:22:00.002-08:00

I was recently interviewed by WorshipLinks, and here it is:

Ross Christopher is a worship leader, touring artist, and music producer. Recently, Ross talked to Worship Links about going on tour with Jars Of Clay, record production, and why correct hymn titles are important.
WL: Thanks so much for taking the time to answer some questions for us. It’s truly appreciated! The first question is an easy one. Tell us a little bit about yourself in five sentences.

RC: I’m an artist from the Midwest (St. Louis, MO). I have an amazing wife (Kate) and two incredible girls (Cora and Olive). I write and produce music, compose and record string arrangements for artists/bands, tour, and lead worship. I love to travel and experience new things. I’m always eager for a great surprise!

How did you get started in worship ministry?

When I was in college, I was touring with a band throughout the Midwest. I was also playing violin at Damascus Road (a campus ministry). One thing led to another, and by the end of my first semester of my freshman year, a local church asked me to come on board to lead their contemporary service. I bought an acoustic guitar, a capo, and taught myself how to play enough chords to lead by the time I went back to school in January. Its hard to believe that was nearly 15 years ago!

What’s your basic process for planning a service or worship set?

I like to start a creative plan about 6-8 weeks in advance, so nothing is last minute. Once the pastor and I have a basic series/theme, I hold a creative brainstorm meeting dinner. I typically get 10-20 people to come out. At the brainstorm we each begin by naming 3 un-churched or dis-churched friends or family members. We discuss the questions and conversations we’ve had with them surrounding the upcoming series/theme, and use that as our springboard for everything we create. We’re not really interested in just playing our favorite new songs, or discussing what we already know, but rather, tackling the questions, doubts, and frustrations surrounding any given topic. We try to create an atmosphere that speaks to the theme, and then unpack the following questions/elements through each service: historical, theological, scriptural, contextual, and experiential. Each of these are wide open to various art mediums and activities.

While we were setting up the interview, you mentioned that you recently toured with Jars of Clay and Sleeping at Last. Can you share a great road story with us?

I had the absolute time of my life! All of the Jars guys are so genuine and fun to be with. And Ryan (Sleeping at Last) might actually be the nicest human ever. Each and every night, it was a thrill to be part of creating amazing art.
A couple nights, late after the shows, we headed out for 24 hour food. Healthy 24 hour eateries are basically nonexistent, so we decided to indulge in what must have been a week’s worth of calories, when the entire band ordered deep fried mozzarella stuffed grilled cheese sandwiches. There’s nothing like engorging in 5,000 calories of fried-cheesy-goodness and laughing into the wee hours of the night with friends (several nights in a row).

Desert Island Worship Mix: You’re trapped on a desert island, and for reasons too ridiculous to explain, you can only have one CD with five worship songs on it. What are they?

This Is Not the End (Gungor)

In The Embers (Sleeping at Last)

You Are Mine (MuteMath)

Where The Streets Have No Name (U2)

Psalm 145 (Shane & Shane)

If you could give one piece of advice to up and coming worship leaders, what would it be? Conversely, what’s some advice you wish you’d received earlier on?

Don’t do it alone!
Build teams and friendships – even deep relationships with people outside of your local church. Listen and grow. Don’t feel like you need to do this by yourself. Network, network, network. And finally write! The power of your local voice speaking to your local context is invaluable. It’s fine to sing the popular songs, but there’s something visceral about singing the real, tangible, and local struggles, joys, etc.

What do you think worship in the church will look like in ten years?

I believe that with economies shifting, postmodern leaders emerging, and post-christian America being a reality, our churches will move to the fringe. They will be smaller, but stronger. The nominal church-goer will no longer feel the need to check off that Sunday morning box, and the people that do decide to participate in “church” will actually live and breath a priesthood of all believers. I think a worship service will look more like “service.” I think being the hands and feet will be real. The fluff that flies today will die, and what has been institutionalized over the past decades will no longer resonate with postmodern worshipers.

Give us the ten thousand foot view of producing an album. For those that haven’t been through the recording and/or production process, what should we expect?

It’s an incredible view – of possibility. I’m wrapping up an album that I’m producing of a great Nashville artist. He came to my studio back in September and we knocked out structures, vocals, and acoustic guitar. Then he left. He gave me complete freedom to produce everything else. There’s obviously a great amount of trust in this. But over the past months I recorded the rest of the sounds that would accompany these songs and help them take flight. The freedom can be intoxicating. But the real task is taking risks and peeling back layers until you’ve got a perfect piece of art. Trusting your ears and your heart can be difficult and has taken me almost 15 years to get to where I am, but every single album I produce, I honestly say that it’s the best piece of art I’ve ever worked on. So there’s a deep sense of pushing oneself forward, refinement, and continued excellence.

Any new worship artists on your radar at the moment?

I had the chance to write and record strings for John Tibbs this past year. He’s a great guy and his stuff breaks the typical pop-worship mold. Personally, I tend to worship more from non-traditional worship artists. So I’ll frequently leave a concert or an art experience drained from a night of worship (whether or not that was their intention).
Sleeping at Last captures beauty like no one else. The Lone Bellow creates a communal experience better than any artist I’ve seen. Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead) writes the most prolific symphonic pieces out there.

What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done while leading worship (that you’re willing to share)?

Back in college, I was asked to lead worship at an uber-traditional church one Sunday. I asked one of my buddies to come play keys for me. At one point I asked everyone to “turn in your hymnals to page 365 as we sing ‘It Is Well With My Hole’”…I was mortified. My keyboardist lost it. I fought the 18 year old laughter within. And still to this day I can’t sing ‘It Is Well’ without a little chuckle.

Thanks again for answering our questions. If people want to find you online, what’s the best way?

Website: www.rosschristopher.com
Twitter: @rosschristopher
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rosschristophermusic
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/ross-christopher/id292934720
Blogs: www.continuedconversation.blogspot.com
www.postmodernpriesthood.blogspot.com

BEST FILMS of 2013

2014-01-05T16:20:00.002-08:00

2013 was a great year for film!
I've narrowed my list down to a TOP 6.

Here they are (IN ORDER):

6. The Way Way Back

5. Monsters University

4. Mud

3. American Hustle

2. Saving Mr. Banks

1. Gravity

Peace,

Ross

BEST ALBUMS of 2013

2013-12-27T08:15:00.002-08:00

Each year I look back at all of the albums I purchased and fell in love with. I go down the difficult road of narrowing that list (over and over again) to create this BEST OF...so without any further adieu, here's my TOP 10 albums of 2013 (in no particular order):

10. Lightning Bolt (PEARL JAM)

9. The Civil Wars (THE CIVIL WARS)

8. Lanterns (SON LUX)

7. The Weatherman (GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV)

6. Trouble Will Find Me (THE NATIONAL)

5. Repave (VOLCANO CHOIR)

4. I Am Mountain (GUNGOR)

3. The Lone Bellow (THE LONE BELLOW)

2. Atlas (SLEEPING AT LAST)

1. Country Sleep (NIGHT BEDS)

Peace,

Ross

NEW CHRISTMAS {SINGLE}

2013-12-06T07:25:00.001-08:00

Hey friends,
I've got a brand new Christmas SINGLE 'Lo, How A Rose' that released today on iTunes!

CLICK HERE TO BUY IT ON ITUNES!!!

I hope you all enjoy it!

Peace,
Ross

What Story Are You Telling?

2013-11-19T13:24:00.002-08:00

To positively move forward, we must create new normals. We must shift our ways of thinking, seeing, and doing. We must embrace the world around us and become part of its story. We must tell new stories.

How?

First, expect beauty. Move from a place where beauty is only captured in art museums, ocean side vacations, or photoshopped models. Instead, start noticing color, texture, depth, creation, conversation, uniqueness, and love. When we do that, everything begins to change. We can expect to be surrounded by fragments of beauty each and every day.

Second, revel in it. When we see beauty, capture it, breathe it, draw it, etc. We must do whatever we can to experience the beauty we've found ourselves in.

Third, make it our story. The story of beauty needs telling, and retelling, and retelling again. Because in the story of beauty, is a story of creation, creativity, humanity, and love. When we experience beauty, we must be confident in the promise that, "It is good." And in the goodness of this new found beauty, may we make it our own stories to tell.

Peace,
Ross

You Are What You Art [re-post]

2013-11-13T14:33:00.000-08:00

You all know the phrase, "you are what you eat."

It's 100% true. The molecular properties of the foods you consume are brought into your body, alter your own physical and psychological makeup, and produce everything from growth to moods, disease to genetics.

Now consider this phrase: "you are what you art."

Art has always been something that compels, confronts, confuses, and creates new worlds. Cultures change because of art; politics are overturned, and the world is changed forever.

The artist has an incredible role within humanity. The truest artist has always been on the forefront of creating culture - not simply reacting to it.

Which brings me again, to the new phrase, you are what you art.

Biologist James Zull writes, "Neuroscience tells us that the products of the mind--thought, emotions, artistic creation--are the result of the interactions of the biological brain with our senses and the physical world: in short, that thinking and learning are the products of a biological process…This realization, that learning actually alters the brain by changing the number and strength of synapses, offers a powerful foundation for rethinking everything."

Art changes the mind, which changes the biology in one's brain and the physical world.

Consider the following artist…the chef who refuses to use genetically modified plants and animals to create a dish that is sustaining the biology of the consumer, as much as he/she is sustaining the environment.

The culinary artist is transforming how we think about food, how we consume it, and even our most basic genetic and biological synapses.

Now consider the poet or songwriter…he/she writes to provoke and change a once held truth. Over time these ideas and hopes become reality. There's an incredible amount of power in the words, chords, melodies, and textures that the artist is creating; so much so, that our biological synapses are modified and we become a different person (in thought, reaction, and as society).

Are you creating beauty and tension and words and worlds that is worthy of biological change?

Consider your art in these terms.
Consider the power of what you create.
Because you truly are what you art.

Peace,
Ross Christopher

SLEEP

2013-10-07T09:10:00.003-07:00

My grandma (Mimi) passed away on September 26th. On the 25th the family stood around praying and laughing and loving. As I left that night, I had a song inside that I needed to write. I wrote it over the weekend and we played it at her funeral last Tuesday. It was the hardest song I've ever recorded. I'd get a line in and would break down in tears. But I finally got through it - though you can still hear my voice is on the verge throughout.

SLEEP
© 2013 Ross Christopher

her light glows a little dimmer
as her eyes look back with care
as loved ones near
with tears

CHORUS
she has to sleep now
she's done so much
she's filled the world now
she's loved so much

i whisper love into her ears
and try to hide my cries
this is the last time
its time

CHORUS

too soon you came
and took her away
but she needs her sleep
cause she's loved so much

CHORUS

Fall Asleep

2013-09-18T14:34:00.005-07:00

Check out the powerful new 'Fall Asleep' video by Jars of Clay...

Peace,
Ross

Summer Recap!

2013-09-05T06:27:00.002-07:00

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I can't say it enough!

Thanks to the booking folks that brought me out to your venues!

Thanks to everyone that came out and supported me!

Thanks to the amazing bands and artists that shared your stages with me!

It was an eventful Summer playing shows with James McCartney, Kopecky Family Band, Andrew Belle, Neulore, and Said The Whale!

Thanks to everyone that bought my new single, ZOMBIE!

And thanks to everyone that helped to promote it!

In the coming weeks I'll be wrapping up recording projects (Geoff Koch album and a Christmas album - both due later this Fall)!

Peace,
Ross

The Future of Rock (by Billy Corgan)

2013-08-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

I saw this Billy Corgan video/interview today, and I think its perfect. He shares his thoughts that "God is the future of rock..." Enjoy!

Peace,
Ross

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATE!

2013-08-15T18:09:00.002-07:00

Happy Birthday to the best person I know and love!

Peace,
Ross

ZOMBIE

2013-08-06T07:33:00.001-07:00

If you haven't had the chance to hear my newest cover-single, here it is!

And you can pick it up for $0.99 on iTunes HERE!

Peace,
Ross

Nowness : LOVE

2013-08-05T07:21:00.001-07:00

I stumbled across a short series of beautiful videos over the weekend. Here's the first one: Nowness/LOVE.

Shorts on Sundays: Wildcat on Nowness.com

Peace,
Ross

Recording a Christmas Album!

2013-08-01T07:07:00.000-07:00

Hey there,

It's August 1st, so what am I doing? Recording a Christmas album of course! I'm excited for how these tunes are turning out. Let's just say there's lots of strings, mandolin, floor tom, and harmonies...

Here's what the track listing is shaping up to be:

Away in a Manger

God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman

The Drummers Carol

What Child Is This

The First Noel

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Lo, How A Rose 'Er Blooming

O Holy Night

Peace,
Ross

Fighting Forward.

2013-07-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

Last week, Cora learned to swim. It was so cool seeing her fight and fight, and finally get it! Needless to say, it was perfect fodder for her songwriter-dad...

Fighting Forward

And just like that

She's diving in

Kicking and floating

With all her might

She's fighting forward

With the strength of a shark

And the heart of my girl

She's fighting forward

Forward, further and further

She's fighting forward

Forward, further and further...

And just like that

She's done the impossible

She's grown up

And fights to float

She's fighting forward

Towards new worlds

With the heart of my girl

She's fighting forward

Forward, further and further

She's fighting forward

Forward, further and further...

Peace,
Ross

Footbass.

2013-07-23T08:54:00.002-07:00

Last year on tour with Sleeping at Last and Jars of Clay, I was impressed with the kick drum sounds Dan Haseltine (lead singer of JOC) was getting from a small pedal at his feet. After some conversations and research, I found a new toy in the arsenal that sounds HUGE and AMAZING!

Footbass...its a small metal box (which I covered with a felt top to muddle the sound a bit), that uses a 1/4 inch cable output to create a perfect kick drum sound.

As a solo artist, I was looking for ways to make my live show bigger, and this has been a great tool!

I run my footbass into a DI box and ask the sound tech to mix it just how he would a punchy kick drum. I cannot tell you how many times other musicians come up after shows, asking me how I created such huge kick drum sounds..."am I using a trigger?," "is it a midi pedal?," "am I playing to a track?" The answer is "footbass."

Check out their website, drop the $99, and have fun making your sound HUGE!

Peace,
Ross

The Civil Wars (on capturing tension).

2013-07-16T06:30:00.000-07:00

The Civil Wars might just be my favorite duet. And with duets comes tension! In this interview, Joy and John discuss the tension that has engulfed their relationship, and how it is translated through song. Enjoy!

Peace,
Ross