About the artist

Lisa Twydell is based in North London. She has been writing, singing and recording Christian pop/rock music for a few years. She has been doing gigs, festivals and outreach events around the UK since the release of her debut album "don't wanna waste any time" in September 2004. She appeared on The Dream, the flagship youth music programme on SKY's GOD TV in February 2005, where she was interviewed and sang live from the album. She has also made an appearence on the Rimmerama Show on Cross Rhythms Radio.

What Lisa stands for:
"I've known a Christian faith for about 16 years now. I am also a reality junkie and that is expressed through my music - I'm ordinary and so is my life; and I believe that's ok. I breathe a sigh of relief when people say what they really think about an issue, rather than feel they have to give the 'right' answer. I just believe that God loves us, sent His son to die, to right the wrongs that have been done and that He's there for us to know, if we choose to do that. I pray and I believe God answers prayer - I wouldn't bother praying if I felt that I was talking to myself or that God didn't answer. It must be weird for God, to know that He made all we look at, that He gives breath to our bodies, yet most of us tell Him to get stuffed. Yet He still continues to give breath to our bodies, doesn't try and control us and is always there waiting and saying "I'm here for you - I'm not going anywhere".

What Lisa feels are current important issues:
"In my expression of faith, I recoil from the use of Christian jargon that can seem to some, to make the Christian faith irrelevant, unattainable or academic. I believe the Christian faith should be able to be expressed in everyday language, because if it can't, how much are we likely to connect with the new visitor at the back of the church or to that person at work who has asked questions about our faith? This is very difficult when we get used to using the easier 'codes' or 'in house language' by which we can express ourselves with those who share our beliefs. I feel particular concern for kids and young adults in this respect - language has moved on but not in numerous churches. For example, how many young kids or teenagers can relate to 'thee' and 'thou', yet how easily do we trot out these words in the context of the church building? Do we use these words at home? How often are their faces blank and totally disconnected from what we have decided will form their teaching in music and in words, for the proportion of time they're in the service? Those reading this who do have a Christian faith may relate to this, even if they disagree. Those who don't have a Christian faith may sadly feel they expect nothing more than irrelevance in church anyway.

As an adult, I feel I should be prepared to stand aside in terms of what I 'want' in a church service, and acknowledge that church needs to relate to lives - the younger ones in this country are living in a society where it is less 'fashionable' than ever to declare a Christian faith. In addition, the modern media machines are extremely influential and very effective in throwing messages at younger people as to what they should aspire to and how they should live, and little of this is what God intended - they need all the help we can give them. It's important I say I'm not a youth worker - I don't feel pulled towards one age group or another, but this is just an important issue I feel could change how church will have grown or declined in 20-30 years time."

The importance of being accepted just as you are:
"I really hope I communicate through music that everyone is very human and very ordinary - it's just some are pressured to be more slickly presented than others, particularly those in the public eye. We're all strongly encouraged now to stay on the hamster wheel of modern life and to submit to modern Western pressures as the norm. Messages we often receive include: 'Be beautiful all the time - when you age, fix it. Keep up with fashion experts' ideas of what you should wear. Be seen with the right people, in the right places. Fall in line with what the majority do. Don't worry about the standards God originally set for our lives to nurture us - the world has evolved its own new ones so give it up.' At the end of the day we all encounter the same issues, as we all have the same human frailties. We all want to be loved, whether some of us are comfortable admitting it or not. It's just a case of where we look for that love and what we feel we need to do to be happy and loved.

I pray there's something in the songs for anyone who hears them. I love music, so I hope I'll always write and record, whether the audience be large or small."

Lisa's albums:
Lisa's debut album can be described as gutsy, raw and real. "don't wanna waste any time" was rated 8 out of 10 by Cross Rhythms in April 2005. Tony Cummings, Editor of Cross Rhythms Magazine said this about it: "Lisa has an arresting voice - a delightful mix of strident confidence and nuanced vulnerability..................in an age of production line pop, there is much on "don't wanna waste any time" that is passionate and fresh. Investigate Lisa. She's a bright new talent indeed." John Pantry, Presenter of the Inspirational Breakfast Show on Premier Radio said this: ".....a voice I really want to listen to - in the instrumental breaks I can't wait to hear that voice again! I don't often say that, in fact I don't think I've ever said that before."

Lisa's second album of 12 brand new songs is entitled "Chasing My Tail" and was released on 15/11/2005. Cross Rhythms reviewed it as a 9 out of 10 and said this about it: "Lisa has a rich, pure voice that is as equally suited to quiet emotion as it is to the more aggressive rock on some of the tracks, and she takes the task with ease. If she had been born in the States then I envisage that she would have the record companies throwing their money at her. Fortunately for us Brits she is committed to gigging around the UK. Find out where she is playing and go see her in concert. And check out this CD."

On finding out more:
"If you don’t have a Christian faith, but you'd be interested to find out a bit about it, why not chat to someone you know and respect that does? Or you can click here to hear about others' experience of doing Alpha and look into joining a 10-week Alpha course near you – I’m sure you’ve heard about them, they explore the meaning of life over meals and talking. You can read about other people that have been on the course too.”

Lisa concludes “thanks for visiting my site. I hope you enjoy browsing, reading and listening. If you’d like me to come and sing at your event, click here for details and a downloadable booking form. If you’d like to get in touch with me, to say hi or ask a question, click here – I’d love to hear from you.”

God bless,