I would like to welcome you to another segment of the cultural segment of the Alvarez-Galloso News Hour. I have invited Gary Alt of New World Songs to an interview.

 

Mr. Alt accepted the interview and the result was one of the greatest masterpieces. The reason is that God is the center of all creation, which leads to masterpieces.

 

The interview is via E Mail:

 

1. How did your career as a musician and singer begin?

 

I started playing drums, guitar and later piano at an early age, and wrote songs occasionally.  However, I did not get serious about songwriting until about 1995 when I was in my 30s.  By then I had written a number of songs related to God’s kingdom and was encouraged by a friend who had heard some of them to record a CD.  The result was Aliens’ Heart, related to the thought in 1Peter1:17 that we are all alien residents in this world.  I have not stopped since then.

 

1. How did New World Songs start as a musical group?

 

I recorded my first CD completely on my own but with the help of my three kids as vocalists on some songs.  However, after that, on my subsequent CDs I started referring to myself as: Gary Alt & Friends? Because I used so, many guest vocalists.  Then I decided to create the NewWorldSongs website.  However, it is really just me doing all the writing and playing.

 

1. What was behind the concept of New World Songs?

 

I wanted to express my deepest thoughts and feelings about the hope so many of us share of life in the new world under God’s kingdom.  Ever since becoming a Christian I have understood that music can tear down or build up, and so I decided to use it as a tool to encourage my brothers and sisters.

 

1. How many performances does New World Songs do in a year?

 

I perform sporadically as events come up.  Sometimes I perform solo, other times with my band Thunderhouse, and many other times in more loose arrangements with various musicians.  The venues range from private gatherings to large crowds. 

 

1. Which places did New World Songs perform that touched the lives of people and brought them towards accepting Jesus Christ as their Saviour?

 

It seems that every place I play some people come up to me and comment on how much they were touched by my music.  But the best experiences I have received have been as a result of people listening to my CDs.  For example, one person told me of how she was playing a particular song at work, and a coworker who would ordinarily scoff at her frequent Bible reading asked what she was listening to, and once she got a chance to hear it had some questions that opened up the way for serious Bible discussions.  I don’t know what the outcome of that experience was, but anytime someone has changed to at least that extent, it’s a good thing. At least she now had the opportunity to get on the road to life; the next step was hers.  Another experience was when a small crowd of about 40 heard my song Half Way to Two at a family center in Virginia as part of their Prevent Child Abuse campaign.  So many were touched by having their eyes opened that I felt if nothing else ever happens with my music that was worth it.

 

1. When did you decide to accept Jesus Christ into your life?

 

Growing up, I always felt that Jesus was a very good man, but couldn’t understand it when I would hear people say that he died for our sins.  I thought that was a very vague statement and no one ever explained to me why that was necessary and how it actually works.  But when I was in my mid-teens, at a time when I was wondering why the world is in the sad state that it is, what the purpose of life is, what the future holds, why God allows so much wickedness to go on (if I could even believe that he exists), and so on, I accepted a Bible study from a friend who is a Jehovah’s Witness.  It was then that I for the first time learned about Jesus. heavenly life before and after his earthly life and ministry, and began to understand and appreciate the full scope of what his sacrifice means for all humankind.

 

1. What is the significance of Jesus Christ in your life?

 

Without Jesus? sacrifice life would have no meaning, because we would be in a hopeless state of sinfulness, and would not even deserve the gift of life.  But even beyond that, every day I think of the way Jesus treated everyone he met, his compassion, gentleness, kindness, forgiving attitude, and so many other wonderful qualities that I try to imitate in my own imperfect way.  I could write a book about it and still wouldn’t be finished.  Without Jesus, life would be pointless.

 

1. What is the level of difficulty in getting your music out to the people? My reason for this question takes into account the dominance of mainstream music by those who are NOT Christian.

 

I’ve always tried to avoid mixing spiritual and commercial interests.  I don’t want to ever appear to be taking advantage of my relationship with my brothers and sisters for personal advancement of any kind.  Therefore, it’s VERY difficult just getting the word out about what I’ve made available to them, especially since, as you said, the business is dominated by mainstream music.  On rare occasions, I have even got negative comments from misinformed but well intentioned people that don’t understand what I’m trying to do.  But I press on, because next to my ministry and family, music is the most important thing to me, and I have found a way of blending all three of those things.

 

1. What is your advice to those who want a career in music?

 

Music is music, not business.  If you want to perform music, do so for the joy of it.  If you do that, nothing will discourage you, because whether or not you ever make a penny at it, you will always bring joy to yourself and others.  The minute you start thinking of music primarily as a business career is the minute you become a hollow shell.

 

1. Do you have any words of encouragement for the public?

 

At Luke 21:28 Jesus said: as these things start to occur, raise yourselves erect and lift your heads up, because your deliverance is getting near.  Problems for the world in general are getting worse all the time, for example natural disasters and terrorism, to name just two things.  However, the present world conditions are evidence that God’s kingdom will soon intervene and make the world the paradise it was at the beginning of the earthly creation.

 

I would like to thank Gary Alt and New World Songs for accepting my invitation to an interview. My best wishes to you as you spread the Word of the Lord to every corner of the world.