Encore Gospel Entertainment Magazine

Th e
INTRO
This is the first issue of 2016 and we are so proud to present an exclusive interview with
Gospel music legend Kirk Franklin. But, we just don’t stop there, this issue of Encore has
some very insightful and inspiring features with Anthony Brown, Jonathan McReynolds,
Christon Gray, James Hall, Jonathan Nelson and Micah Stampley. We also have a special
Spotlight Artist feature dedicated to our Encore: UnderGround Series. Encore is excited to
showcase Jenise La Vonne, Restine Jackson, Anthony Faulkner, Brea Miles and Raquel
Roqué Herring.
It is always my desire that someone is blessed by this magazine, it truly is a labor of love.
Those who are familiar with Encore might be used to my introductions and if you go back
you’ll notice some patterns. One of the most prominent is that every time a issue is ready
to come out, something happens to try to hinder or discourage me. If I could be honest I
hope this does not always continue to be the case. But, if you are reading this, then you
know I’m an overcomer. I thank God for his grace and mercy.
Starting with this issue, Encore and Total Prayze have some big plans this year. What started
out as a mere magazine is so much more now, because God has supplied the vision and
equipped me to finish the race. I introduce to some and present to others, Encore Gospel
Entertainment Magazine.
David M. Wallace
Under the direction of Founder and President David M. Wallace, Total Prayze Entertainment
Group is creating a new path in the Gospel entertainment world through marketing and
advertising, multimedia production, event promotion, clothing, etc...
This cutting edge company consists of 3 other divisions:
Creative Dimension Studio - Our Multimedia & Graphic Design Studio. For more info
visit http://www.totalprayze.com/creativedimension
Total Eclipse Productions - Concert/TV/Film Development & Production Studio.
For more info visit http://www.totalprayze.com/totaleclipse
Kingdom Works Software - Christian Software & Application Development.
For more info visit http://www.totalprayze.com/kingdomworks
STAFF
Creator/Designer: David M. Wallace
Interviewers: Bryan Wallace/David M. Wallace
SPECIAL THANKS
We would like to give special recognition to those who contributed to this issue:
Cover photos credit: Christian Lantry - RCA Inspiration, Jacinda Chen - W&W Public Relations,
Grace Tobia - W&W Public Relations, Christine Anderson - RCA Inspiration,
Gwendolyn Quinn - Gwendolyn Quinn Public Relations, Deanna Wallace (my daughter),
Jojo Pada - Ignition PR
S cripture
R eading
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come (2 Timothy 3:1). Aren’t they here? The same is said to
be ever present within the music industry.
With a dire thirst for ministry and evangelism in music, Jenise La Vonne sets the tone for a new era. Blending the
sounds of contemporary gospel, and contemporary Christian all while being rooted in the traditional gospel message,
Jenise LaVonne’s sound and mission for her music is undeniably EVANGELISTIC, for it seeks to minister to the soul.
Hailing from Norcross, GA by way of East Elmhurst, NY, Jenise was born and raised in church under the Apostolic
doctrine and the Pentecostal experience. With parents active in ministry, her father a bishop, and mother a missionary
and teacher, the word of God was planted in her soul at an early age. Jenise began singing on the children’s choir at
the age of 2 and at the age of 11 she began writing her own songs. From the wise advice of her father, Jenise
continued in writing music and included a vocal coach, which helped develop her craft of singing and opened
several doors for her to minister through song.
In December of 2010, Jenise toured Europe with J. David Bratton, and the New York State Mass Choir. Given the
opportunity to see the world and its desire to be ministered to, the fire burned in Jenise’s heart to produce music that
will do just that, minister. Mid 2011, Jenise met and began working with Tarence Farrell of Levite Music, and on June 5,
2015 she released her debut EP The Call, scoring two Rhythm of Gospel Awards and five Radio Alliance Award
nominations.
With musical influences ranging from Dorothy Dandridge, and Tina Turner, to Vickie Winans, and John P. Kee, Jenise’s
music inspires, uplifts, influences, and most of all ministers to the soul. With powerful vocals and enlightening lyrics
there is no doubt that Jenise La Vonne is and will continue to be a trail blazer in the music industry.
Jenise La Vonne is an accomplished blogger who’s writing has been published on several platforms, and is now set to
release her first book of poetry entitled Pages/Poems, Reflections, and Lyrics February 2016, and continues to sing,
write, and teach the Word of God to the masses.
V i si t h t t p: / /w w w.l o vej en i s e l a vo n n e .com
7th Chapter Music is proud to present the highly anticipated sophomore project by Anthony Faulkner titled “Guardian Angel” to 1st
quarter 2015. The international artist is a writer, arranger, producer, contemporary singer, director, and actor from Houston, Texas,
USA. Anthony has had successful tours on 4 continents. While in East Africa he worked with G-Way, Kambua, Juliani and Cooper
Ssali, and was the first American to grace the stage for East Africa’s “GROOVE AWARDS”. The success of his “FAITH TOUR”
earned him four top 10 singles. The singles “Faith Remix”, “CLOSER”, “ONE VOICE” and “CONNECTION” are currently blazing on
all E. Africa major radio and Television networks. Anthony recorded a live DVD for Uganda’s “Night To Remember” concert series.
His experience includes gospel greats Andrae Crouch, OSC of Norway, The Hawkins, and his voice can be heard on projects by
Steve Cole, James Fortune, Kambua, and Juliani to name a few.
His first single “Stop Searching” from freshman project “FAITH” reached #1 on Yahoo Launch internet radio worldwide. The new cd
includes hits,” One Voice”, “Closer”, “Connection” f/Juliani, “It Starts With you” f/Kambua, and “I Trust You.” Faulkner has toured
S. Africa with the prestigious gospel choir “Joyous Celebration” with 5 sold out shows at the Durban Playhouse Theater.
Anthony combines his personal life experiences in his writings to uplift and promote change to the nations. The soulful songbird
A’ngela Winbush introduced Anthony to music. Anthony went on to study voice and musical theater at Alexander Hamilton
Academy of Music (Los Angeles, CA). His journey brought him to minister on TBN where he received a life changing prophecy
given by Prophet Gary Zamora causing an immediate transformation.
Faulkner has consistent credits to his name. Anthony’s voice can be heard on projects by MTV, Radio Disney, American Dream,
Yolanda Adams, and Clifton Davis to name a few. Anthony’s international ministry includes Norway, Arhaus, Denmark,
Johannesburg and Durban, S. Africa, Stockholm, Sweden, Ghana, Africa, Lagos, Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria, Wellingborough,
England, London England, and Uganda and Kenya, Africa.
V i si t h t t p : //w w w.a fa u l k n er.c om
As it has been for many musical artists - music has been a creative outlet for Brea. “Music was always an escape for me…I was
into Hip-Hop and R&B…TLC and Aaliyah were some of my favorite artists” Brea began writing songs around 14 years old, and
recalls writing her own soundtracks to movies. Music taught her how to express all the feelings she kept guarded inside.
At 16 years old, Brea started getting curious about God, and wrote a poem called “Blood of Christ”. The song talked about the
things she had seen Christians doing that weren’t so “Godly”. “A few weeks later, my family got invited to a talent show and I
rapped the poem”. Coming in 2nd place in the competition - the judges clearly saw that Brea had talent but were in awe of her
lyrical content, noting that her song was mature beyond her years.
Yet God’s purpose for her life becomes evident when her song caught the ear of another talented dancer who invited her to
church. Brea responded to the invite and in January of 2007 received Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. “I watched my
whole life change…I spent hours reading the bible and I became a better person from the inside out”
With her new-found faith in God, and a hope-filled heart, Brea was on fire and ready to impact her world. No longer rapping for
herself or with a hopeless message, she now wrote songs about the one who had transformed her life. “There’s nothing worse
than living a hopeless life and believe me I know…my songs are about trying to show people a way out and a different way
of living”
Brea has since released her debut album He Reigns and has been hitting stages all over the country offering uninhibited energetic
worship and a fresh perspective on the scriptures - all while remaining relevant to today’s culture.
V i s i t h t t p : //w w w.a l w a y s b r e a .c om
In t e r v i e w b y B r y a n Wa l l a c e
Encore: "The Glory Album" is your debut on Kirk Franklin’s
Fo Yo Soul Recordings/RCA label, what is one thing that
you learned from him that stands out?
Christon: It’s funny, the LP is called "The Glory Album"
and one of the first things that stuck out with my first
conversation with Kirk was the phrase he used, "Glory is
fleeting." He said it a couple of times and it stuck with
me. I don’t know if it subconsciously led me to title the
album, but that has been a big influence on my career.
It’s not about me, but about what I represent.
Encore: Talk to us about your transition from an
independent label to a major one?
Christon: About a year ago, I left my last label and
started putting out new music independently on
SoundCloud. I would tell fans that the first one thousand
to download the song can have it. That created a nice
buzz effect among my fans and we started getting
some offers. Ron Hill, the president of Fo Yo Soul and Kirk
Franklin were interested in me, so they flew me down
to Atlanta and we had a great time. The conversation
was authentic, it felt genuine. Kirk Franklin is an icon,
he has done a lot for Christian music and expanded its
boundaries. His roots in musicality have gone past the
church, but he has still been able to reach the church,
so it made perfect sense to sign with him. One thing
about working with a major label is that you’re working
with a system that’s designed to properly showcase your
music. Having the power of RCA and influence of Fo Yo
Soul is something I needed for my career. I appreciate
record labels and what they do for artists like me.
Encore: You mentioned before that you feel music is
changing, how does "The Glory Album" fit into that?
Christon: I’m still trying to figure out how to describe
that statement, it’s much more of a feeling than it is an
analysis. I just feel people want something that hasn’t
been given to them and I feel "The Glory Album"
introduces people to an expression that they may not
have been able to experience mainly in the church
and music is vulnerable. Aside from that, when is the
last time you picked up a Gospel album that had an
element of creativity in it. There’s a lot of albums that
will come out this year, I don’t want "The Glory Album"
to be the greatest album of all time, I want to be a
spokesman for people who have no voice. I do things
because I believe in them, not to cause controversy. I
don’t want to debate, that’s not my personality, but I’m
open to questions. I understand music is an expression
and I don’t expect everyone to get it. To me glory is a
place, it’s the destination of a journey.
Encore: You come from a musical family, how has that
shaped your career?
Christon: I have pictures of me playing with my 'Fisher
Price Drum Set' when I was a baby. My 3 year old
daughter does the same thing and my father is a
songwriter. He’s had a choir for 10-15 years and
was a choir director for 24 years in a large church in
Columbus, Ohio. My mother toured Europe singing
for the Queen of England and my little sister has an
amazing voice. My brother is the dopest rapper I know.
My grandmother is classically trained and her brothers
had a jazz band in the 50’s. I’m the middle child who’s
a hybrid of everything.
Encore: You have the experience of going from an
independent label to a major one. Can you just give
some advice to other artists trying to pave their way in
this industry?
Christon: I would say be patient, I’ve been doing
music for 15 years and I’m just now putting out an
album. It takes time, you should collaborate and work
with people who aren’t afraid to tell you something
is garbage. Be welcoming of criticism, be honest in
your music and what you like. I think everyone’s
different but not everyone’s original.
Inter view by
David M. Wa l l a ce
Encore: You are known for redefining contemporary
Gospel music, do you feel a responsibility to make sure
the message doesn’t get lost behind all the beats
and hype?
Kirk: I believe I have that responsibility. I want my
music to lead us to be vertical as well as horizontal,
but I’m just trying to be pure to me. What I’m doing is
pure and original to me and it’s music I enjoy.
Encore: Do you have to craft the message in a way that
the younger generation can relate to?
Kirk: The challenge is, “How do you take a message
and change it to be relevant to the times?” Do we
say Jesus in a way we haven’t said it before to keep
people’s attention? Unlike other art forms, Christian
music is basically the same message, we’re trying to
find different ways to say the same message and that
isn’t always easy.
they prepare. What is preparing without praying, we
can find ourselves with different motives but never really
accomplishing the goal.
Encore: You are known for being cutting-edge and
having hit contemporary songs, tell us something about
your style we may not know?
Kirk: People may not know this, but I like slow songs.
All my albums would be slow, sad songs. Slow songs
flow more natural for me like my song, "Miracles."
That song is very important to me, because I had a
lot of fear writing this album and "Miracles" came at a
very insecure moment. I arranged the piano and the
whole song came, it was a very special moment.
Encore: You work with some of the best artists and
singers in the world. If an artist and singer came to
you and said "I want to work with Kirk Franklin," what
would you tell them you’re looking for?
Encore: Excited about the "20 Years In One Night Tour"?
Kirk: I’m really excited, this will be my first solo tour.
I’ve never done one before, I don’t believe in
wasting people’s money. I’m really trying to share
with the people and give them what they came for.
Encore: Many aspiring artists look up to you, can
you share some knowledge that could help in
their development?
Kirk: I really think it’s important for a Gospel artist to
stay pure to themselves. I feel many try to hard to be
something they're not, they should pray as much as
Kirk: For singers, I want to be able to hear some truth,
a little sprinkle of pain and I love a voice that has a
little crack in it. I like artists who stay true to themselves.
I think that an artists being has to stay full of "ink,"
meaning the artist has to stay full based on his walk
and his relationship with Christ. I would advise artists
that you can only put out what’s inside of you, so if it’s
not there then your music will reflect it.
KingdomFirst Publications presents
M
Interview by David M. Wallace
arrige is tough for everybody and it can be challenging. Even though we are married and one,
we have different personalities and desires. Sometimes, I have to die to myself to fulfill my wife's
needs and vice versa. Women like to do a "debriefing" after hours when you’re ready to go to
bed. They want to debrief for the day or week and you’re like, "I want to go to bed." But, marriage is a
compromise, you never get everything you want all the time and you have to be open to being a blessing
to your spouse.
Another thing that helps us is that I don’t overwork. I’m a minister of the Gospel and a worship leader, but
that’s not why I was created. When God created Adam, he didn’t create him to preach, there was no sin.
We preach today because man sinned. So my first responsibility is not ministry to other people, my first
ministry is to my family. Aside from what everybody sees me do on stage, I’m involved in my children’s
lives, they go through different changes and emotions. You just can’t leave it to themselves to figure it out,
that’s my job. That’s how you keep your family and marriage together. My wife is my help meet, 'help to
meet the goals', the desires and vision I have for my family.
God has made me the head of my household, it’s my responsibility to not
throw that on my wife to be a single mother even though she’s married.
Also I don’t accept every engagement that comes my way, I usually
don’t work more than 3 days out of the week. I travel during the
weekends, but during the week I’m home. I try to be consistent with
that, the only time I’m not consistent is when I’m traveling internationally.
But, I try not to do to much of that in one month, so I’m very hands on.
Take a "Praise Break" every day for the latest news in Gospel music
entertainment. Based on our magazine, Encore: PraiseBreak is a premier
entertainment blog and your daily source for Gospel & Christian music news,
movies, TV and much more!
PraiseBreak offers a rich multiplatform experience.
Take the Gospel with you everywhere with our iPad edition
Visit https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/praisebreak/id605911774
Photos by David M. Wallace
Pictures tell a story and behind every praise there's a story. Moments of
hope, healing, and celebration can be captured with the simple press
of a button. In going to events my vision is to tell a story with a series of
photos that document an event’s experience.
One such event was R.A.W. 2K16, hosted by Dr. Aretha Wilson at the
Hilton Hotel in Melville, NY from February 11-14. This extraordinary
event featured Pastor Benny Hinn, Prophet Brian Carn, Bishop Jackie
McCullough, Bishop George Bloomer, Bishop Rudolph Mckissick,
Bishop John Guns & more.
Every Praise
has A Story
Every Praise
has A Story
Every Praise
has A Story
It was an amazing experience and Encore was proud to capture moments that represented
R.A.W. 2K16's theme, "Fresh Anointing For The Global Impact."
For more info on Dr. Aretha Wilson and the next R.A.W. conference visit www.drarethawilson.com
For more info on our "Authentic Worship Moments: Every Praise Has a Story," series follow me on
instagram and share with a friend. https://www.instagram.com/totalprayzemedia
Interview by David M. Wallace
O
ne of things I take away from my time with
group therAPy that I want to share with
people, is that I spend as much time working
through relationships as I do working through
rehearsals. I think it’s important that you cultivate
and care about people, not just their voices and
what they offer you in ministry. If you invest in
people they will follow you, that’s what is important
and you can hear it.
I work very hard to make sure group therAPy and I
stay on the same page. We don’t always agree on
everything, but we’re family. We work through it like
family more so than singing together, because I think
you can hear it in the harmonies, you can hear it in
how we deliver the songs. When you love each other
and you’re on one accord it makes a huge
difference in your sound.
In our new feature called, "Lyrics & Revelations" we want artists to reveal
something unique or an interesting fact that Gospel music fans may not
know about them. "Lyrics & Revelations" goal is to dive a little deeper into
the artist's style.
Jonathan McReynods truly has an unique
acoustically driven style. He’s very adept
when it comes to balancing vocals with a
guitar. What musicians is he inspired by?
Does he emulate other guitarists?
I’m more of a songwriter that has a
guitar, so the people who inspire me
are other songwriters who have guitars,
like John Mayer, India Arie and James
Taylor. I appreciate the way they make
music, compose lyrics and send forth a
message even while holding a guitar.
I’m not Jonathan Butler, I can’t play
like him, he’s amazing, but I like writing
music with a guitar.
Interview by David M. Wallace
http://www.totalprayze.com/musiqbox
Donald Lawrence, taught me less is more. A lot of times you try to add these extra
parts to make your song a hit, but what should happen is that the song should evolve
but be organic. You should never force anything to be a hit, whatever God has given
to you in your heart it should be whatever it is. Don’t try to force it, remember less is
more.
Encore: MusiQBox
A premier Gospel & Christian
music video platform featuring
music videos, interviews, concert
performances and more.
Wa n t M or e ?
Next I ssue:
S um m e r 2 0 1 6
For a d v e r t i s ing and spo nso r ship
op p or t u nitie s c o ntac t us at
d v e @ t otalpr ayze . c o m
Th e
O UTRO
A lot of time and sacrifice was put into this issue. If you
were inspired and encouraged by this magazine share it
with someone. We are dedicated to spreading the Gospel
and helping emerging artists to turn their visions into reality.
We will continue to expand and provide an engaging
platform for Gospel music fans in this digital age. Gospel
music doesn’t have to take a back seat to any other genre,
we can use our creativity and innovation to continue to
spread our music.
Encore is a lot more than just a magazine. I’m believing
God for great things as we continue to expand the magazine into a global brand.
We’re developing more multi-media content that will make the Total Prayze and Encore
brand a significant Gospel & Christian music production entity.
I want to encourage all our readers take the opportunities they have to connect
with like-minded people, there has never been a greater time to celebrate and showcase
Gospel music. Till we meet again.
David M. Wallace
You can stay connected with me on
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalprayze
Twitter: @totalprayze
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/david-m-wallace/17/785/b00
Under the direction of Founder and President David M. Wallace, Total Prayze Entertainment
Group is creating a new path in the Gospel entertainment world through marketing and
advertising, multimedia production, event promotion, clothing, etc...
This cutting edge company consists of 3 other divisions:
Creative Dimension Studio - Our Multimedia & Graphic Design Studio. For more info
visit http://www.totalprayze.com/creativedimension
Total Eclipse Productions - Concert/TV/Film Development & Production Studio.
For more info visit http://www.totalprayze.com/totaleclipse
Kingdom Works Software - Christian Software & Application Development.
For more info visit http://www.totalprayze.com/kingdomworks