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di-chot-o-my
Function: noun
1 : a division of two mutually exclusive or contradictory groups or entities
2 : something with seemingly contradictory qualities
"There's two sides of me, the heavy, and the holy."
Kristyn Leigh (Pronounced "Lee") is hard to define. On one hand, she's a beautiful 21-year-old, raised in a loving home and church, who sings worshipful contemporary songs and hymns for the Lord. But she also has a heart to sing to the kids of her generation, exploring relevant issues with her lyrics using music that pushes the boundaries of rock, alternative and even pop-punk.
"I know it may be hard, sometimes even loud, but in the ears of Godit might be a holy sound," she says.
It was evident to everyone around her that, even at a young age, Kristyn had a powerful voice. But in high school, she began to explore a different musical road --a road that didn't mean singing at church or singing in a rock band but a mixture of both.
She began working with veteran producer Eric Copeland of Creative Soul Records. She recorded her first CD, Glimpse, and appeared in over a hundred concerts at churches, festivals, conferences, teen centers and other venues. Kristyn began to see where she fit into the scheme of things. And it was, she admits, pretty out of the ordinary.
"I have always been different," Kristyn says. "I love to sing the old hymns of the church, but at the same time I love to rock out wearing a long pink skirt. I finally realized that is exactly what God wants me to do. He wants my praise, but at the same time He wants me to take his message of love to a hurting world of people. And He wants me to do that being myself."
With her sophomore release, The Heavy and the Holy, Kristyn continues her ministry reaching out to teens with songs like "Bulletproof Girl, a hard-edged rocker about how even as a Christian, she can be vulnerable to what the world throws at her. "A lot of people assume since I am a Christian that I can't be hurt," explains Kristyn. "I get hurt alot! But I have faith that's been instilled in me from an early age. I can fall on that, and deal."
"Invisible" is a rock ballad that explores the feeling of being unnoticed, but ultimately looking to God for affirmation. "What I Didn't Say" is a poignant pop song that tells the true story of a friend of Kristyns who died in an accident before Kristyn had the chance to share Jesus with her.
Kristyn also ventures into punk-pop with "Pent Up, offering an anthem for all those who try to voice their own views. "I wanted to sing a song that said, 'Don't tell me I'm wrong, just because my style or message isn't the one you feel is correct," Kristyn says. "I know teens feel that sometimes they are told what to think and how to act, but I have my own style and my own message that God gave me that I want to get out to the world!"
The CD also highlights Kristyn's elegant voice with orchestral arrangements, including a soul-wrenching rendition of "The Old Rugged Cross, and the powerful orchestral rock ballad "Glimpse.
Despite comparisons to the orchestrated rock of Evanescence, the in-your-face energy of Avril Lavigne, and the soaring vocal prowess of Crystal Lewis, Kristyn doesn't even try to pretend she is like any other artist, Christian or secular. It could be rock or punk, or classic hymns and ballads, but she'd rather just refer to what she does as reaching a diverse audience.
As the title song suggests, it can be Heavy or Holy, but ultimately, its just what Kristyn believes God has put in her heart. "I know it's different, but that's just the way He made me to be.
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Gina Adams
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