Release Magazine

The Dream Goes On
By Stacie Kish (Release Magazine-April/May '98)

Just minutes after their performance on stage at the historical Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, the members of Avalon-guys Jody McBrayer and Michael Passons and gals Janna Potter and Nikki Hassman-are tucked away in a dressing room upstairs, squabbling over photos published in a never-seen-before promotional booklet.

Jody asks, "Janna, why don't you like yourself in that picture?"

She shoots back, "Why don't you like yourself in your pictures? 'Cause you just don't."

"No, I don't like myself because I look fat," he retorts.

"I don't like the way I'm smiling, that's why," Janna answers.

Michael interrupts, "Well, I don't like the way I look on our album."

It's almost amusing to listening to the four pick away at their imperfections, especially considering the group's seemingly endless list of accolades. They're up for Dove Awards in two categories this year, "New Artist" and Inspirational Song" (for "The Greatest Story"). Moreover, their string of Christian radio hits continues to grow since the release of their second project, A Maze Of Grace, late last December.

Produced by Charlie Peacock, the album's mix of motivating and soothing pop tracks is strengthened by the group's exceptional harmonies, reminiscent of a 90's-style ABBA. According to jody (who has a charming tendency to act as the group's spokeperson), Avalon's role with this album was much more active than it was with their first project.

"This is our baby," he explains. "We did this and wrote some songs on it; [we] were a part of every song being picked and arranged, and we're just really, really excited about it."

"The whole album is just about God's grace and His forgiveness," Janna explains. "I think a lot of people need to hear that and know that."

According to Nikki, it's sometimes hard for young Christians to understand exactly what grace is. "Maybe something does happen to them or they do something they regret, but I think as people get older, they're more aware of the importance of grace and are more thankful and grateful and just absolutley humbled by it. I think that's the most incredible thing that Christ and being a Christian can offer us."

"I can't imagine where I would be without God's grace," Jody says. "It scares me to think about it sometimes. There's some nights I just have to look up to Heaven and say, Lord, I don't know why You saw fit to use me, but I'm thankful Your grace is sufficient."

Avalon was originally formed by Sparrow Records and Norman Miller (producer of the Young Messiah and Emmanuel tours). Each of the current members, ranging from 23 to 32, came together from a different city and state, all knowing they wanted to pursue music.

"People have varied opinions of us because they believe we were contrived, we were built," Josy says. "I think that sometimes you can really get too focused on that. This is really just the industry, but we don't do this for the industry, we do this for the Lord."

"The albums have been the same people," Michael says, explaining that confusion often lies in the fact that the current lineup is not the same foursome who first toured as Avalon.

"We four are Avalon because the others didn't sign contracts," Jody says. "We signed contracts. Technically, there were no others."

Today's Avalon first took the stage together in 1995 for Miller's Young Messiah Tour, which allowed them to share the stage with some of Christian music's greatest, such as Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, Susan Ashton and Sandi Patty, to name a few.

With nearly every performance they give, they take advantage of their opportunity to futher God's kingdom. "Every person has a built-in need for Christ," Michael says. "Some of us know it and see after that. The people who don't know it are constantly going down the wrong road trying to find it; once you do find it, it's just such a relief."

Nikki, who has worked closely with non-Christians via the general market publishing contract she has with EMI, has noticed the different perspective non-Christians tend to have about Christian music. "For the most part, non-Christians--if they're not in Nashville--generally don't hear Christian music and they're not involved with it at all. They have this stigma of what Christian music sounds like, and that's cheesy; the production is really bad; it's 10 years behind pop mainstream," she says. "That's really not the case anymore. I think when people do hear it, musically they're impressed: Wow that sounds just like so-and-so. I think that is what suprises people and it's a great tool."

As for Avalon, they have found this tool can minister to more than just the people in the audience. "You know, when your own music starts to minister to you, that's an incredible feeling," Jody says. "When I sing 'Testify,' like tonight, I was like, Man, this is it. This is why we do what we do. For as long as we live, we're going to talk about this.

"Who else would you want to be in control of your life than the One who created you? That's an incredible feeling. Sometimes, when I begin to worry about the future and worry about what's gonna happen, it's reassuring that God's gonna have His way."

Janna adds, "In even the best of human relationships, you're always gonna let people down in some way, and vice versa. Just the peace of knowing that you have Someone on your side who loves you no matter what, and it doesn't matter how many times you mess up, that love is there to cover you."

At the time of the interview, Nikki was newly engaged and both Janna and Jody were in serious relationships. In the midst of their crazy schedules, they are learning to creatively balance personal relationships with careers. "When we do a tour like Young Messiah or Utmost (for His Highest) [last] summer, it's almost like we never come home on those tours," Jody says. "You're gone 15, 16 sometimes 17 days, and it's like coming home and getting to know each other all over again."

On the other hand, Michael points out, "It's also necessary when you're a new group to be out there as much as we are. I think as time goes on, it'll slack off a little."

Nikki adds, "Sacrificing short term for...breaks in the long term."

Since the interview, Nikki's engagement has been broken off. She has also put in her notice with Avalon, because she signed a record deal with Sony. Plans for a replacement are in the works.

The faces may change, but the show goes on. "We have very healthy relationships. Not that we don't disagree, not that we don't get fustrated with each other, but I could do [this] forever," Jody says. "I love it."

"Forever?" Michael asks. "Can we quote you on this?"

Laughing, Jody clarifies, "Well, you know forever being maybe 'til retirement." ††

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