Louder Than The Music

We asked a few well known artists some quick questions about their plans for Christmas and the New Year. Everyone from Paul Baloche and Kevin Max, to Audrey Assad, Stu G and Rend Collective spoke to us. Check out their answers below in the ultimate LTTM Christmas Interview!

1. What are you doing for Christmas this year?

Paul Baloche - Well, after a 2 week ‘Christmas Worship Tour’ across Canada, I’ll be spending some quality time with my wife and three grown children. There is plenty to do in New York City around the holidays, so I imagine we’ll enjoy some dinners at home, see some sights, and make some memories.

Kevin Max - Shows and celebrating with my kids.

Audrey Assad - Spending It with my in-laws!

Dawn Michele (Fireflight) - I'm going to Disney World! No seriously, lol.

Chip Kendall - Party time! Plus my birthday is a week before Christmas, so it's always a highlight of my year.

Dave Bilbrough - Staying at home with the family enjoying time with my new grandson as well as my granddaughter

Rudy Nikkerud (Planetshakers) - Christmas at the beach - sun and surf with the family​

Chris Llewellyn (Rend Collective) - The band are actually having a Christmas together - hopefully Gareth will whip up his famous yorkshires!

Deborah Gillingham (Firefly) - Looking for a quiet one this year, a duvet day and a roast would be ideal.

Cherrie (Ooberfuse) - Singing Christmas carols in London with a number of friends.

Hal (Ooberfuse - Praying for the persecuted Church in the Middle East under siege in unprecedented ways.

Mariette Davina - Eating out at my favorite place The Pony and Trap on Christmas Eve and then home with my family on Christmas Day.

Olly Knight - I'm spending it with my Wife Kirsty, our 3 year old Son Caleb and our 2 month old Rose at our house in Canterbury!

Pete McAllen - Probably playing a short Christmas service with family, eating and resting.

Beth Goudie - Christmas will be at home in Dorset this year, with lots of family gatherings of course!

Noel Robinson - This Christmas finds me staying close to home and will spend a considerable more time with family than usual.

Ian Yates - We’ll be at church in the morning and then have a wonderful day with family

Will Heron (HTC Music) - Family, food & leading Christmas services

Ben Thomas - Not entirely certain but guessing it will involve a sweaty, angry battle with toy packaging, binging on Mom and Dad’s ham with raisin sauce and one of my nephews breaking a new toy.

Leon Anthony - Catching up with family members and doing a few shows.

Josh (Twelve24) - Family,friends & fun! We are so busy all year round but Christmas is a sacred time for us just to be ourselves and be with family.

Stu G - We are at home with family. Some are traveling from the UK

Matt Hill -Lounging around the house opening presents with my kids and eating chocolate orange!

Seth & Nirva Ready - We are actually going to England this year. We have always wanted to spend Christmas there, and this year it worked out for us to go.

2. What's your favourite Christmas memory?

Paul Baloche - The entire month of December as our kids were growing up… Cutting down the tree together, putting up the Christmas lights and decorations, preparing and leading Christmas services, and Christmas morning when I’d put on a Bing Crosby Christmas album, and take ‘videos’ of the kids walking down the stairs to see the presents under the tree. I’m a sucker for tradition :)

Audrey Assad - Carolling at a hospital on Christmas morning.

Dawn Michele (Fireflight) - The year our pipes froze and there was ice on the grass (I grew up in Florida).

Chip Kendall - Performing in Manger Square in Bethlehem. Actual Bethlehem. Surely it can't get better than that?

Dave Bilbrough - Musical evenings, my mum on the accordion my dad on the banjo.

Rudy Nikkerud (Planetshakers) - Our family would get a beach house every year for Christmas - so experiencing a cold Christmas for the first time in the USA a few years ago was incredible. I finally understand a "White Christmas!"​

Chris Llewellyn (Rend Collective) - The 1st Christmas my wife Gabriella and I spent together in Ireland. It's fun to show a new person all your family traditions.

Deborah Gillingham (Firefly) - My brother and I showing each other our presents before Christmas Day. For some reason my parents thought it would be a good idea to tell each sibling where the others presents were.

Hal (Ooberfuse) - The excitement I felt when my parents bought me my first electric guitar. It was a Gibson Les Paul replica which I have kept to this day.

Mariette Davina - A Christmas I had with friends in Modena, Italy - it was snowing and beautiful!

Olly Knight - Playing Christmas games with the family after a lovely meal.

Pete McAllen - When I was a kid waking up to the smell of food already being prepared in the kitchen and getting way too excited for presents!

Beth Goudie - Not sure I could pick just one, but a very fond memory was having Christmas day in Mombassa as a child, Father Christmas visited us on a camel!

Noel Robinson - It's a memory that always brings a warm glow and feeling and that is when my family come round it's amazing that this memory always brings this feeling.

Ian Yates - Getting a Scalextric when I was 7. I was so excited I was sick

Will Heron (HTC Music) - As a kid getting a Jurassic Park T Rex that roared!

Ben Thomas - When I was in the 4th grade I got a Nintendo. I knew in my gut that I was getting it, but there was always that sliver of doubt that wouldn’t go away until I walked out of my bedroom on Christmas morning and found it already hooked up to the TV. It was the closest thing to a “Red Ryder BB gun” moment in my childhood. I keep trying to recreate that for my kids, but something about Disney princess outfits and American Girl dolls don’t quite fit the bill

Leon Anthony - Favourite memory is having grans Christmas dinner with my family then playing games afterwards

Josh (Twelve24) - I got a pool table for Christmas it was awesome! We used to hype off who got the biggest present and my dad wrapped up the pool table it was huge and we all ran over to it and saw it was for me. I have a brother and two sisters so I was well happy...they were not.

Stu G - As a boy, rushing downstairs to tear the paper off a new garden slide, and ripping my pj’s as I slid down for the first time.

Matt Hill - Best memories are the big family get togethers - log fires, and lots of food.

Seth & Nirva Ready - So many good ones, but generally our favorite thing every year is decorating while Christmas movies/music are playing in the background.

3. Whats been your favorite album of 2015?

Paul Baloche - So many strong albums. I love the Phil Wickham “Singalong 3” project. He’s one of the few people I know that can keep your attention with just his voice and guitar. Vertical Church Band’s CD. I love how their songs rise up from their own community, using their own players and singers. Strong songs from top to bottom. Of course Matt Redman’s “Unbroken Praise.” He continues to raise the bar on songwriting for the church, as well as keeping the production accessible for local church teams. I wanna be like Matt when I grow up.

Kevin Max - So far it's a tie between PIL 'What The World Needs Now' and Beach House 'Depression Cherry'

Audrey Assad - Probably Remmi 'New America', at least at the moment

Dawn Michele (Fireflight) - The Vesperteen EP, Vesperteen (Collin Rigsby of House of Heroes)

Chip Kendall - TobyMac - This is Not A Test

Dave Bilbrough - Before this world - James Taylor

Rudy Nikkerud (Planetshakers) - ​Well, it's a little biased - but I've loved our latest Planetshakers release #LETSGO... having said that, what's in the works for 2016 is next level​

Chris Llewellyn (Rend Collective) - Sufjan Steves - Carrie and Lowell. Honourable mention to Brandon Flowers

Deborah Gillingham (Firefly) - Do I really have to choose one? There are so many! If I really did have to choose one.....Amanda Cook - Brave New World.

Cherrie (Ooberfuse) - For me, it's Kari Jobe's Majestic Revisited. I love the song "Forever."

John Ellis (Tree63) - Death Cab For Cutie - Kintsugi

Mariette Davina - Kari Jobe - Majesty

Olly Knight - Motion Picture Soundtrack- Iconoclast (one of my favourite bands ever- also from Canterbury!)

Pete McAllen - Hard one, because there have been several really good ones. I think for me it's got to be something that helps me worship in my personal times, so it's got to be United Pursuits "Simple Gospel".

Beth Goudie - Foy Vance’s ‘Live at Bangor Abbey’ has probably had the most plays for me this year.

Noel Robinson - I am a bit biased and I released my first integrity music album 'Outrageous Love' I also like Matt Redman and Israel Houghton too many to mention.

Ian Yates - Kid Astray - Home Before The Dark

Will Heron (HTC Music) - Death Cab for Cutie - Kintsugi

Ben Thomas - Tie between “Currents” by Tame Impala and “In Colour” by Jamie XX.

Leon Anthony - There are a few albums I liked this year but I have been playing a U.S dudes album called Thi'sl - Heavy Is The Head

Josh (Twelve24) - Ooooo Good question! Its not out yet but I know it will be Justin Biebers new album for sure... like or dislike that guy but you can't argue that his new stuff isn't amazing!

Stu G - Blur - The Magic Whip

Matt Hill - Bright City

Seth & Nirva Ready - Hmmm, that's a tough one. Can we settle for a three-way tie between The Brilliance's "Brother", JohnnySwim's "Diamonds" (although it came out in 2014), and Andy Mineo's "Uncomfortable".

4. Is it a Turkey Christmas Dinner? Or Something Else?

Paul Baloche - My wife Rita always makes her “Grandmother’s Roast” at Christmas. Slow cooking cut of beef with onions, carrots, gravy, etc. You can smell it throughout the house all day long. Bon appetit!

Dawn Michele (Fireflight) - Turkey, both Smoked and Fried!

Chip Kendall - Probably. And ham. And gravy. And stuffing. And enough vegetables to break Santa's sleigh.

Dave Bilbrough - Definitely Turkey!

Rudy Nikkerud (Planetshakers) - We don't really do Turkey Christmas's here in Australia. Being married to an American, I get my dose at Thanksgiving time - but for us it'll be prawns and roast lamb​.

Chris Llewellyn (Rend Collective) - Turkey Dinner. Stick with the classic.

Deborah Gillingham (Firefly) - Turkey!

Hal (Ooberfuse) - It's my birthday too so when no one's looking I might sneak an extra mince pie.

Cherrie (Ooberfuse) - Yes it's a Turkey Christmas dinner, as well as a roasted pig, Christmas sweet ham and Queso di bola.

Mariette Davina - Most probably lamb - I'm not much of a traditionalist

Olly Knight - I'd always prefer something else like Duck but we keep on coming back to the Turkey!

Pete McAllen - Turkey

Beth Goudie - Always Turkey dinner! Although, I’m often too excited (or full of chocolate) to make the most of it.

Noel Robinson - Yes turkey and chicken and lamb and just a variety of traditional Christmas foods.

Ian Yates - Turkey, Beef and Lamb

Will Heron (HTC Music) - Turkey is for Thanksgiving in the USA so prob roast chicken dinner

Ben Thomas - The aforementioned ham and raisin sauce. One of those weird family traditions that emerged via a 1980’s Betty Crocker cookbook.

Leon Anthony - Most probably and some chicken, beef and sides (thinking about it is making me hungry)

Josh (Twelve24) - Definitely Turkey! There is no other Christmas Dinner!

Stu G - We will do Turkey on Christmas Day and Beef on Boxing Day. Even though we have Turkey on Thanksgiving, and Boxing Day doesn't exist here in the states.

Matt Hill - Lamb.

Seth & Nirva Ready - Well, definitely a turkey on Thanksgiving, but my mom (Seth) makes prime rib for the family on Christmas.

5. Whats your view on Sprouts?

Paul Baloche - “Sprouts are the new green beans” - I like them, when you put a little olive oil in a pan and stir fry them. Like so many vegetables, they’re much better stir-fried than steamed, at least to my taste buds.

Audrey Assad - What is sprouts?

Dawn Michele (Fireflight) - Bean sprouts taste like dirt.

Chip Kendall - Devil food. Hate 'em.

Dave Bilbrough - I love Brussel sprouts!

Rudy Nikkerud (Planetshakers) - ​No​

Chris Llewellyn (Rend Collective) - I am pro-sprout. Not boiled sprouts though that's madness.

Deborah Gillingham (Firefly) - Love them!

Hal (Ooberfuse) - Wind generation, as an alternative energy form, is far less damaging to the environment than other methods like hydro-electric, nuclear etc power. We run the Christmas tree lights on wind power so we view sprouts as vital to creating that festive air.

Cherrie (Ooberfuse) - A must have on every Christmas menu! :)

Mariette Davina - Horrible

Olly Knight - Not nice on their own, drown out their flavour with bacon and maple syrup please.

Pete McAllen - Apparently the home town I was brought up in (Diss,Norfolk) was crowned the place that consumed the most sprouts in the UK. Personal I'm not a fan.

Beth Goudie - I must admit, I’m a fan.

Noel Robinson I hate them .... Lol

Ian Yates - Love them! Pretty good with finely chopped Bacon and Pine Nuts.

Will Heron (HTC Music) - Good with gravy and red cabbage!

Ben Thomas - They orient my soul toward the Divine.

Leon Anthony - Love them!

Josh (Twelve24) - Like Marmite! Either love them or hate them. I love them!

Stu G - Love them...my wife roasts them. Amazing!

Matt Hill If you can't cook them properly, don't cook them at all!!

Seth & Nirva Ready - We are not completely anti-sprout, but it has to be a really good recipe to make them fun.

6. Any plans for 2016?

Paul Baloche - Plans for 2016 include a new live recording from New York City, with several special guests. David Gungor from The Brilliance is on staff at my church in Tribeca. I’d love to incorporate the multi-ethnic sounds of the City, along with strings and brass. We’ll also be finishing our Spanish album (which by the way, we JUST released our Dutch language worship project this week!)

I have 6 ‘Leadworship Workshops’ scheduled for next year across the US and Asia. These include city-wide nights of worship along with a full day of worship team training. For info you can check out: www.leadworship.com

Audrey Assad - Releasing Inheritance (Hymns album) and new Levv EP.

Dawn Michele (Fireflight) - Become awesome!

Chip Kendall - Tour of Norway. Family trips to Capetown and California. Other top secret stuff I can't reveal just yet...

Dave Bilbrough - Lots of touring with my new album 'The Song That I Sing'

Rudy Nikkerud (Planetshakers) - ​SO MANY!!! We're gonna be releasing at least one more major album (maybe more??!) and travelling to every continent again - so keep your eyes on planetshakers.com for when we will be near you!​ And MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!

Chris Llewellyn (Rend Collective) - As Family We go tour begins in 2016. I think we'll be recording a wee special something as well. Basically we'll be busy!

Deborah Gillingham (Firefly) - Hopefully starting work on my first full length album. I have a lot of writing to do before I hit the studio but I am looking forward to getting stuck in again. God has laid so much on my heart.

Cherie (Ooberfuse) - Loads! With so many irons in the fire in 2015 we hope that some will come good in 2016. We've just come back from Nashville, where we had the amazing opportunity to work with some of Nashville's top writers and producers so we are hoping to release some of our new tracks from there... We are also looking at a third album once all the ducks are in a row. This year we have been to the Philippines, Iraq, Myanmar and the US so we are looking forward to an even busier 2016!

Mariette Davina - Moving stronger in my gifting of prophetic worship and releasing more music

Olly Knight - Being a Father, growing in love for Jesus and buying a new car...

Pete McAllen - Yes, going to be writing quite a lot. Also planning a couple of tours and some festival dates in the UK.

Beth Goudie - More writing, more recording, more collaborating!

Noel Robinson - We are looking to continue touring the new 'Outrageous Album' we have a USA Release of the album in January. We are continuing our Renewal Conferences on the 30th January and will feature Ben Cantelon, Lara Martin, Aaron T Aaron plus many more as we explore multicultural worship and Revival.

Ian Yates - Enjoying God, family and life. I have a new album in the pipeline. We just started an event in Liverpool and seeing some amazing things happen, excited to see what God has in store.

Will Heron (HTC Music) - Releasing an album over the course of a year/12 singles!

Ben Thomas - Hoping to make more music, feed my family and avoid television until the end of November.

Leon Anthony - Continue serving my community through youth work and social action. Planing to bring out a few singles then my album and also bringing out a documentary series.

Josh (Twelve24) - We are doing a UK tour in February so watch out for that and come a long! Plus new music & videos and surprises.

Stu G - Yes. Finish book, record new Beatitudes project and I’d love to get to play in the UK.

Matt Hill European tour is in the pipeline for early summer, and some new music will be surfacing too!

Seth & Nirva Ready - New album comes out in March, so we will be preparing for that until then. After that, hoping to hit the road.