Interview with Imade iN Truth, Part 3

And now, here is the conclusion to my interview with none other than Imade iN Truth!

The SOUL of a Soul Music Lover

peculiar VIrtue [pVI]:  You like to refer to yourself a “Jesus lover” so tell me about the impact He has had on your life. We can just call this Testimony Time! *smile*

Imade iN Truth [IiT]:  I feel speechless because no words can describe how much the love of Jesus changed my life. I never liked God growing up. He was like Joe Jackson to me. I felt like every time I would get a dance step wrong, there was big ol’ Joe Jackson with his belt. Jesus illuminated God’s character to me. Jesus is a man I could entrust my heart to. He completely destroyed the spirit of religion that ravaged my life. He took the biggest burden known to man, self-reliance, and put it on Himself. Now I can be free to make mistakes, quit my job, and passionately love Jesus in unconventional ways. I actually love God now. I’ve never done this before, but I call God my Dad. I trust His heart because He sent His only Son Jesus to die for me. And as a result, this death thing isn’t as frightening, because I know that God will raise me up just like His Son.

pVI:  *raises hand in the air* Yesssss!  LOL  So, because of your spirituality, some readers may have certain expectations for your writing and musical content. I’ll admit that one of your posts that made me do a double-take in that respect, and I’m guessing that others also voiced concerns because your next immediate post was The Imade in Truth Manifesto. Can you share your strategy in using non-Christian music to lead others to Christ? How effective has it been?

IiT: Yes, sure. This strategy first surfaced in my article, Is Christian Hip Hop Wack? I proposed that we go from ridiculing the bride of Christ (and ultimately the people He died for) to nourishing, protecting, and cherishing it just like Christ (Ephesians 5:29). Also in my Imade iN Truth Manifesto, I highlighted how I want to be a bridge between secular and Christian music in order to bring people closer to Jesus.

I learned that the best way to be irrelevant to the world is to know nothing about them. Another way to be irrelevant to the world is to not call out the beauty within them. My blog serves to cover those two responsibilities: to present the most edifying soul music and affirm and encourage artists.

So far, this “strategy” has been working.  Non-Christian music allows me to raise issues that may not always come up in church. I love celebrating the divine beauty in an artist’s music. I try to make my blog a safe place where artists, Christian or non-Christian, can share their spirituality. I’ve talked to mainstream artists who gushed about how their song was really about God and I’ve supported artists who are hoping someone understands their unconventional Christian music. I think that artists have been so psychologically battered by negative thoughts of insecurity. I want my blog to celebrate their creativity and affirm who they are as children of God.

pVI:  OK, so this is your unique style of ‘witnessing’. But are there any boundaries or red flags with respect to the music that you feature?

IiT: Yes! If the meaning [message] of the song isn’t clear, or if it is overly sexual and trivializes sex, then I won’t use it.

---

 

Visions of the Past, Present and Future

pVI:  What visions do you have for your future in this industry? Any ultimate goals? Fears?

IiT:  Great question! One of my goals is to find a paying job as a music journalist. Yes, the bar is that low! Writing is often considered a “donation”, not a work of art. I’m praying to find paid avenues so I can make writing the focal point of my career. I also want to gain experience in the industry by working side by side with mentors. In my short time as a writer, Sketch the Journalist, Josh from Sphere of Hip Hop, and DJ Pdogg from Reach Records have all invested their time in me in giving great advice. I pray these types of relationships continue. Another short-term goal is to develop my writing voice through expanding my knowledge of music journalism and Christian satire. Writers like Anne Lamott, Donald Miller, and Jonathan Acuff have all influenced my journey to discovering my “voice”.

On the long term, I want to have my editorial pieces syndicated on larger platforms within the Christian and non-Christian music industry. I hope to make my blog more of a multimedia destination where my commentary continues to be the foundation, but more interactive elements such as exclusive listening sessions, concert photos, and video interviews are included. I also would like to write more about the intersection of African-American issues and the entertainment industry. But we shall see!

God has been keeping my fears in check despite how sketchy my current life is. It’s crazy! I do have occasional stress-attacks, but it’s nothing close to how bad it would be if I didn’t feel God’s presence. My greatest concern is not being able to pursue my dreams and support myself. I’m willing to flip burgers for my passion, but I know that I can’t do that for the rest of my life. At this point, I’m moving into my momma’s crib to downgrade and regroup before my next decision. I haven’t had any sky opening signs, but I trust the wisdom He’s given me.

 

pVI:  Isn't that the way God 'works', though? *smile* Speaking of working, do you have any projects on deck right now? What can readers expect in the near future?

IiT:  Aside from some editorial pieces for a Christian website, I don’t have anything in the works right now. But, readers are always welcome to submit new music!

pVI:  For the benefit of others who would like to make music writing their personal ministry what are some things that you wished prayed someone had told you before you started? Is there anything that, in hind-sight, you now see with 20-20 vision?

IiT:  Having a thick skin is a mandatory requirement. Just because I work in the “Christian” music industry doesn’t mean that I’ll be treated in a Christian way. That was unbelievably disappointing. I wish I learned that many people don’t read or think critically. We like surrounding ourselves with people who tell us what we want to hear. So as a writer, I try to be very clear about my viewpoints in the fewest words possible. I try to guard my heart by not dwelling on negative comments that are not edifying or constructive.

   

pVI:  Wow... so you mean church folk ain’t *gasp* NICE? #sarcasm  I’m truly sorry to hear that, though. How do you respond to harsh criticism?

IiT:  You know, I got hammered for “Is Christian Hip Hop Wack”. After reading the first couple of negative comments, I just stop. Sometimes responses run the range of human emotion and that helps me inform my writing. 

pVI: That’s a good way to look at it! Now, if you had an ideal project--one in which you controlled all of the variables--what would it be?

IiT: Oh, I know. It would be an in-depth interview with Tonex. It would be a two-part piece: in the studio and in the church with him. My goal for the interview would be to humanize him; get into his thoughts to find out what got him to the point of “B-Slade”

 

pVI:  I would definitely read that, girl! I really liked Tonex back in the day... Well, before we wrap things up, any final thoughts?

IiT: Simply this: start where you are with what God puts on your heart.

 

pVI: Excellent advice, girl! Thank you SO much for your time and willingness to do this, and God bless you in all that you do! 

IiT:  Thanks, and God bless you, too! 

Interview with Imade iN Truth, Part 2

Here we go for the sequel to the first part of my interview with Imade iN Truth! 

The Person Behind the Name

peculiar VIrtue [pVI]: Your name has a unique ‘ring’ to it; especially since you go out of your way to provide its pronunciation. For me, and for all your fans out there, what’s the story behind your guv’ment name, as well as your handle: Imade in Truth?

Imade iN Truth [IiT]: My Nigerian father named me Imade (ee-ma-day), and according to what I’ve been told, it means “I will not fail”. It’s funny because though this name may seem “weird” to people, I’ve had it my whole life. I’ve always said as a joke that I want to be a one-named sensation like Beyonce or Usher. Gotta use my name for something!

My handle “Imade iN Truth” came from wanting to be in truth in everything I did. It’s also a double meaning because I’m made in truth as well. I wanted my blog to reflect that we are create [by God] to be people of truth. It’s a reflection of my personal relationship with God.

pVI: I heard that, girl! So, tell me, where is ‘home’ for you? What were you like growing up? Any major transformation between your “wonder years” and who you are now?

IiT: This is a complex question because I never felt like I belonged to any geographic location. I spent my early childhood years in Teaneck, New Jersey. I absolutely loved it. It would have been my “home”, but my mom moved to Greensboro, North Carolina when I was nine and I’ve stayed in the state since. I was raised by a Northern-minded family while being in the South, so I’ll just say that I’m a global citizen. Right now, I’m aiming to relocate to a bigger (but manageable) music scene like Washington D.C.

Growing up was…interesting. I never felt like I belonged anywhere and I felt uncomfortable with myself. I’m 24, and I’m just accepting myself for who I am. As a young child, I was a fearless kid who sang solos and fake shouted in church. Then I moved to this foreign world called the South. I felt like an alien. People talked funny and the kids picked on me because I was “too dark”. I was also intelligent, and that caused a lot of “trouble” for teachers who thought that black kids were dumb. The world suddenly became scary to me, so I retreated to the game of basketball and stuffed my private written thoughts in a shoebox. My childhood taught me how to become two people, and now I’m finally becoming one.

pVI: Hmm... interesting, indeed.  So within this environment, were there any specific people or circumstances that you can thank--or blame--for influencing the course of your life up to this point?

IiT: I’m shaped by the absence and presence of very influential people in my life. I’m shaped by the absence of my father because it motivated me to work harder than the average two parent kid. It also produced a level of compassion and authenticity that I never would have had. I’m definitely motivated by mom’s work ethic (she raised three kids on her own by the way) and her never-ending hunger to learn new things, even if it’s fear-mongering, but I digress.

To this day, Ms. Broome, my high school English teacher, continues to be this haunting voice in the back of my head. She told me to major in English because she identified my writing talent. She complimented me to the point of embarrassment. I went to this ghetto high school where teenage pregnancy is not an occurrence; it’s a full-blown season like winter or fall. I’ve been so psychologically battered up to this point that I didn’t take my writing seriously. But God used Ms. Broome to remind me that I had a gift that needs to be nurtured. Almost every time I write, I remind myself that this is what I was created to do. And I thank God for Ms. Broome saying that. I even spoke with her a few weeks ago and told her that I wanted to pursue writing professionally.

pVI: Wow--and look at how far God has brought you!  It’s great that you’re still in touch with her--HOLLA to Ms. Broome! LOL 

IiT: Yes. Another major figure is someone I haven’t even met in person yet. Robyn Ann Lawson (founder/editor of Salty Magazine) reached out to me when I treated my blog like a glorified Facebook newsfeed. I wasn’t even sure if Jesus was reading my posts back then. But Robyn saw potential in my writing and wanted me to write music reviews for her magazine. That was when I reached an unfounded level of sobriety. I need to take this “blogging thing” more seriously. And this only happened in March…crazy. 

pVI:  And I’m also a fan of SALTY--love their content as a contemporary Christian publication!  Hey Robyn--BIG UP!!! LOL

---

 To be concluded with part 3: The Soul of a Music Lover

Interview with Imade iN Truth, Part I

Thanks so much for your patience; it's about to be rewarded. :o)  With no further ado, it's my pleasure to kick-off 2012 off with my first--and hopefully not my last--feature interview! #applause  We're about to get to know a lot more about the blogger/music journalist known to the rest of us mere mortals as Imade iN Truth.  She and I initially made contact through Tumblr and I had the pleasure of chatting it up with Imade via email and on Skype.  She shared so much with me that I can't unleash it all in one post... gotta give it to ya in bite-sized chunks. Here's segment 1 of 3 from our awesome interactions, in Q&A format.

You likey?

If you're wondering what I'm referring to, then you must be reading this post through a feed because you really can't miss it if you're looking at the actual blog. My official 'welcome mat' is out so please stop in and make yourselves comfortable!

I still have some other customizations to handle but Blogger's template editor gives me an error message when I move my mouse on certain areas of the screen... clearly that's a problem. So please bear with me as I try to 'brand my image', or whatever it is I'm trying to do.

Stay blessed!
pVI