Hollyn: 'American Idol', God-ordained Plot Twists, and Why Christian Artists Can Do Better
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Source: Hollyn
“We define what Christian music is supposed to sound like. I think that’s where we’ve got it wrong. God is not in a box. There can be a beautiful blend of what mainstream music sounds like and the authenticity of serving Jesus.”
I remember the moment I first heard Hollyn's first single, “Alone”, and I immediately texted all my closest friends, “Have you heard of Hollyn??” I had to do a double-take to see make sure she wasn’t actually a secular artist. The production quality and catchy pop melodies rivaled current Top 40 hits, yet the lyrics revealed a talented songwriter with a spiritual depth and vulnerability. At only age twenty-one, Hollyn oozes maturity well beyond her years. Plenty of interviews have documented her journey from American Idol (back then, she used her real name Holly Miller) to working with TobyMac’s label, but I really wanted to get behind-the-scenes to get to know Hollyn as a fellow sister-in-Christ and an artist whose goal is to pursue excellence in her craft.
In our conversation, we talked about her spiritual journey, facing disappointment, and her hopes for the future of the music industry.
Marilette: Walk me through your spiritual journey. When did you start following Jesus and how?
Hollyn: I became a Christian when I was really young. My parents were Christians and I grew up in a Christian home. My brother and I went to a Christian school for a long time. I went there from preschool until eighth grade. The first year there, I remember we would start the class by reading the Bible. Every week, my teacher would say, “If anyone wants to give their heart to Jesus, just come up to my desk and we’ll pray.” I still remember the day, I just went up to the desk and I was like, “I would like to receive Jesus in my heart.” I was five, but I remember how it felt, and the yellow table I was sitting at. I remember when I felt the Holy Spirit for the first time saying, “Holly, I’m calling you to serve me.”
Ever since then, I’ve been growing and learning about my gifts in the Spirit and who I am in Him. I heard someone say once that you can’t live on yesterday’s presence; you have to live on the presence of today. We forget as human beings how good He’s been to us. Jesus is still patient and kind and still growing me and teaching me how to live by His word every day.
Source: Hollyn
M: How did your music career start?
[Hollyn grew up shadowing her itinerant preacher dad. On these trips, some church congregations would ask her to sing, until she was being invited to churches to sing on her own. As a nine or ten year old, she won a singing contest--against adults--in her hometown in Ohio. From ages ten to fifteen, she would travel around Southern Ohio, competing at different singing competitions.]
H: When I was fifteen, I tried out for American Idol in Charlotte, North Carolina and I made it to the top 24 in the girl’s division. I got to that point and then I got eliminated. For a fifteen-year-old, that kind of experience crushes you, you know?
So, I was leaving the venue with my parents and my brother, and a bodyguard ran up to me and my family. At this point, I was just tired; I had been up for almost three days straight. The bodyguard said, “Hey, I’ve been watching you and your family. I heard you sing. I don’t know why I feel led to tell you this, but whatever door God opens next, just walk through it.” He said that I was supposed to be on the show [American Idol] for a reason and it’s going to be a bigger and better door--whatever God opens next.
I remembered his words a few weeks later when I was doing YouTube videos of covers of songs. I attended a Winter Jam show in January of 2013 and TobyMac was headlining. I remember that I was sitting in the stands and the Holy Spirit gave me this feeling that I was going to work with him. I didn’t tell anyone, I just knew that I was going to work with him. I remember two weeks after that, TobyMac called my dad. They came to visit us in Ohio to see what we’re like and that’s when the writing process began [that eventually led to me being signed onto Gotee Records].
M: I love seeing God’s sovereignty, especially how He works through disappointment. When you have a dream and an expectation for a specific outcome, and God’s just like, “plot twist!” I have those moments in my own life.
H: Oh yeah, for sure. Ever since then, I look back on those circumstances, and I think we can dismiss things like that. But sometimes if you just sit and let that settle in, it’s wild to think that He provided for me then, He saw my heart then, so why wouldn’t He do that now? He’s the same and He never changes. I think when we look back on all of the promises that He has fulfilled and the promises that He will fulfill because of His character and nature. So, yeah, that’s how I got started and it was nothing that I did, except for being obedient, Yes, I worked really hard, but the only reason I work hard is because I feel like I have the grace to do that, because of what Jesus has given me.
M: In other interviews, you speak about your dream of the Christian Contemporary Music industry (CCM) and the mainstream music starting to collide in a good way. Describe what the music industry would look like in your ideal world.
H: Here’s the thing, we serve a God who is the Creator. He didn’t create once and then stopped creating. And we are made in His image. I think that the music that we’re putting out [in CCM] is limiting our creativity. In my opinion, I just think that we need people to step out and take a risk. I really believe that there’s a heart for the kingdom that is so apparent in Christian music. They want to write great music, they want to draw people into the kingdom. But I think that we just keep putting ourselves into a box. God is not in a box.
We define what Christian music is supposed to sound like. I think that’s where we’ve got it wrong. It’s not supposed to sound like anything. Just write the music. Just write what’s on your heart. You don’t have to be like either, one, talking about God or talking about sex, drugs, and alcohol. There can be a beautiful blend of what mainstream music sounds like and the authenticity of serving Jesus.
I think that we’re on the verge of like something huge. I think that God is doing something new, and I’m glad that I get to be a small part of that. I heard someone say once, that “it’s either secular or sacred.” That doesn’t make any sense to me. I think that it’s all about the heart condition. You could be writing worship music and you could be living a life that is completely opposite of the kingdom. I just think that it’s a personal relationship with the Lord and whatever you write is a reflection of your walk with Jesus.
My best advice to fellow songwriters would be to follow what God has placed on your heart, put out music, and He should be the only person that you should want to please. There’s a certain point where you just have to do what fulfills you and your relationship with the Lord. It’s great to take ownership like, “This is my music and this is what God’s placed on my heart and this is what I’m going to do.” Be confident in that and don’t turn from who He is and His character. Just write and create your art. Be expressive. Be free.
“I think that we’re on the verge of like something huge. I think that God is doing something new, and I’m glad that I get to be a small part of that. ”
Interview transcribed by Sarah Fox
We define what Christian music is supposed to sound like. I think that's where we've got it wrong. God is not in a box. There can be a beautiful blend of what mainstream music sounds like and the authenticity of serving Jesus.