Exclusive Interview with Lisa Williamson

Lisa Williamson has been part of the Williamsons for many years. With the blessings of the family, she has stepped out to release her own newly released solo effort "Counting My Blessings."  We are so honored to be able to catch up with her for this Hallels exclusive interview:   

Hallels:  Thank you Lisa for your time in doing this interview.  You have been singing with the Williamsons for years, so why release a solo record now?

I am proud to say that I have been with The Williamsons since January of 2000. This album was released to share a few songs that were particularly special to me. Some of the songs are my originals, but others were songs that ministered to me in a way that made me want to spread their message a little further.  

Hallels:  Did it take a long time to get the project together?  What were some of the joys and challenges in making this record?

Yes, unfortunately this project took a lot longer than expected to complete! When we first started recording, I began having a few vocal problems. My voice would wear out easily and I was having frequent vocal breaks. At first I thought it was just common vocal strain, but after visiting a specialist, I found out I actually had some fairly serious sinus issues that were causing the problems. That held up progress for about a month. Soon after that, we had rain damage to our recording studio which took another month to fix! It was frustrating to have to put everything on hold to get these problems resolved, but I couldn't be happier with the end result! God's timing is perfect! Sometimes we just have to wait on Him.

Hallels:  When it comes to Christian recordings, not many people would think of doing Irving Berlin's "Counting My Blessings."  What inspire you to choose this song?

"Counting My Blessings" has always been one of my favorite songs. As a child, I remember hearing Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney sing it on "White Christmas". It blessed my heart then, but as I've grown older, it has become even more dear to my heart. In my opinion, a great song is a great song. Of course, most people would think of it as a Christmas song, but really the message should be shared year round! Christian people should be more grateful, and this song accomplishes the task of reminding us to do just that.

Hallels:  What's special about this album is that you have written a few songs.  Does song writing come easy for you?  

I would say that it comes fairly easy to me. It's just something that I have always done. I wrote my first song at the age of 12 and have been writing ever since. I thank God for giving me this wonderful gift! As a mom, housewife, studio engineer, and minister I don't have as much time to write as I would like, but I take advantage of those precious moments when they come my way! 

Hallels:  Out of your own songs, which is your favorite?  And why?

That may be the hardest question I can answer. So many of them have spoken to my heart. Out of the songs I've written on this CD, I would have to say that "I Will Be There Too" is my favorite. This song was one of two that I wrote to minister to my parents during a very difficult time. When someone asks for help, it is so easy to reply with, "God is there for you. He'll never leave you. I'll be praying for you." Please, don't get me wrong, prayer is an incredibly powerful tool and should always be a part of a Christian's response to trouble. But it shouldn't end there. Sometimes, God calls us to put our faith into action. He wants us to show love in a tangible way! The bridge of the song says this,

"Sometimes we need to be reminded that He's faithful
and every word that He has promised is so true!
But it's also good to know, I have a hand that you can hold
and a heart to share the burden with you too!"

It means so much to hurting people to show them that you are there for them in ways they can see! Always pray for those in need, but don't be afraid to do a little more when you can. I guarantee that God will bless you for it in return!

Hallels:  So, what's in store for the Williamsons?  Can we expect a new album soon?  

You never know what is in store for this bunch! We are in the process of putting together a new project now. Folks can be watching for it to be released sometime later on this year. In true Williamson fashion, it will feature some of our original songs along with a few familiar favorites. Hopefully, there will be something to satisfy every listener's ear! 

Hallels:  Where can our readers purchase your new CD and find out more about you?  

They can visit our website, www.williamsonsmusic.com , find us on Facebook (The Williamsons), and follow us on Twitter @WilliamsonsSG. This project, along with a few of our group projects, is available for purchase on iTunes.  

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