Christian Music News & Reviews

Avalon: Born Again

Author: By Andrew Greer, ChristianMusicPlanet.com

Avalon has been through the wringer over the past couple of years. After watching album sales and concert crowds shrink, releasing a handful of specialty records to mixed reviews and suffering the resignation of longtime member Jody McBrayer, the vocal outfit's future looked a bit grim.

But taking into account millions of records sold, and even more millions of lives reached, the legendary group decided not to call it quits. Instead, treating their famously tight pop chops to an aggressive, full-throttle facelift, the foursome is renewing their vows, casting a new musical vision for their message on their tenth studio recording, aptly titled Reborn (E1).

In an exclusive interview with Christian Music Planet, married members Greg and Janna Long speak out about the group's refining process and how change has brought them even close together.

CMP: Historically, Avalon records have toyed with all sorts of genres—R&B, gospel, pop—you name it. Reborn, however, is very focused and aggressive musically. Was that intentional?

Janna Long: We knew going into this our sound needed to evolve. What messages were speaking to us? What sounds were we being drawn to? There was definitely a concentrated effort to put those things in motion and come up with something that is relevant and still true to what we do. Trying to stay current and not lose who you are is always a challenge for an artist. Even amidst some big changes, we're still making music, we're still alive and well, and we don't think this chapter of our life is over yet.

CMP: With so many member changes, did you ever consider hanging up the towel?

Greg: We considered shutting it down when Jody left. People come, people go, and a ministry that has been, and continues to be Avalon, just keeps going on. My picture may be on the cover of an album or two but it's not about me. It's about what these songs bring to people and the message inside of those songs.

Janna: It was really difficult for me when Jody left. I thought, You're kidding, God. Not one more change. For 13 years of my life, every time I stepped onstage he was there. Many times we've said, "This is so much bigger than us, God. You have a plan, maybe an unconventional plan, but a plan nonetheless."

I've definitely had feelings in my life when I knew God was ending one season and beginning another. He's continued to make a way for [Avalon]. And as long as He does, I'll be open to keep going.

CMP: What specific messages are you guys wanting to convey on this record?

Greg: This record is honest, but it also lifts us up. In an attempt to become honest, we often become negative. [Reborn] doesn't dwell on how messed up we are. It says, "God is going to help us. We are going to make it." If we don't have hope, then what are we as Christians all about? We know we can become dark. But my goal is to lift up Christ and what He's done in my life.

CMP: Avalon's legacy of keeping Christ central continues with this record. But you guys possess some killer vocals. With so much raw talent, do you ever consider tempering the message a bit in hopes of reaching even larger audiences?

Janna: Since the beginning, I felt like if God gave me a platform, I wanted to use it to edify the body of Christ and bring those to know Him that didn't. I never really thought, Let's do the Christian thing and then see if we can cross over. It just wasn't on my agenda. Even with former members, that wasn't something we wanted to pursue.

CMP: After 15 years in the music business, how have your priorities changed?

Janna: In the early stages, we would get calls: "Can Avalon come to New Zealand for two weeks? On the way back, you guys take an extra week and vacation in Hawaii." It was like, "What is there to pray about?"

Now, my responsibilities as a mom and a wife take precedence over everything else. After Lillian was born, I remember thinking, This is something to really be proud of, to have a child and raise her. I still very much want to continue my music ministry, but it definitely doesn't hold the same weight as it did 15 years ago.

Greg: My wife and children have become a huge priority. The ministry of Avalon has helped, instead of hurt, me in that. I didn't wake up from a dream that said, "Join Avalon. Leave your solo ministry behind." There was no handwriting on the wall. But six months after I joined, we became pregnant with Lillian, our first. I look back now and say, "Thank God that's what we chose to do." I spend more time with our two girls than most dads. And with the group being two couples—Jeremi and Amy have two girls, we have two girls—it's definitely a family affair.

CMP: Lots of pink!

Greg: No doubt. [Laughs]

CMP: With your third child due in February, does that throw any kinks into Avalon?

Greg: I think there are 12 bunks on the bus, so let's keep these babies coming! [Laughs]

Janna: We have to be more selective with when we're gone and for how long. Lillian started kindergarten, so it's a bit harder now for her to come along. But God has provided an amazing bus and the kids are able to go with us 90% of the time. There's lots of room and lots of Lysol. [Laughs] We just keep on truckin'!

CMP: So after all these years and transitions, what is Avalon all about?

Janna: Being an artist that wants to share faith boldly. A lot of the people we sing to every weekend are like us. Greg and I have two kids, one on the way, a mortgage and challenges in our marriage and families. When we meet people after shows, based on the glossy images, [they may think we're] unscathed by the things life throws at you. That's not reality. We let [listeners] know these are things we've walked through and how God has brought us out of them, and He can do the same for you.

I hope we've always been about bringing real life experiences to people, and how our faith has sustained us, but we're even more so now with a bit of life experience under our belts.

For more info on Avalon, visit avalonlive.com.

Used with permission -