BarlowGirl Interview - Portrait Magazine

Name: BarlowGirl
Ages: 24, 21, 18
Career: Band/Songwriters
Home: Elgin, Illinois
Official Website: BarlowGirl.com


Since the Interview:

  • BarlowGirl are the topselling new Christian artists of 2004 with over 200,000 units shipped in just one year
  • BarlowGirl received 4 dove nominations: New Artist of the year, Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year, Rock/Contemporary Recorded song of the year, and Special Events Album of the Year 'Absolute Favorite Christmas'
  • Never Alone was the R&R and CRW Song of the Year
  • The band released their sophomore album Another Journal Entry September 27th, 2005



    Purchase BarlowGirl's debut self-titled album from Amazon.com Here



    Could you please each start by introducing yourselves to our readers?
    We are the Barlow sisters- Becca, Alyssa, and Lauren. We’ve grown up in Elgin, IL- outside of Chicago. We’ve been playing music as a family our whole lives- and became BarlowGirl in the last few years.

    How would you describe your style of music?
    It is: personal, guitar driven, vocal driven girl rock.

    Musically, what inspires you?
    We were raised on Oldies and our vocals reflect being brought up with The Beatles and The Mamas and the Papas. Musically we all enjoy rock- Switchfoot, Reliant K, and DC Talk.

    Do you write any of your songs? What do you enjoy writing songs about?
    Yes, we write all of our songs and the music. For us- it is hard for us to sing or play a song that we haven’t written or arranged. It is a language to us. From lyric to music, it is very personal and our complete heart is in it. We really pull all of our songs from our journals and personal experiences.

    Do you each have a favorite song from your album? If so could you tell us a little about it and why you like it?
    Never Alone is definitely one of our favorites on this record. Two different friends had come to us at the same time and both said; “I’m really struggling in my walk with God. I talk to Him, and I cry out to Him, but it feels like He never hears me. He never answers my prayers. It really seems like God has turned His back on me.” And we had also been feeling that too in our own lives. In that situation we have to trust that He’s there whether or not we can feel Him, because He promises that He would never leave us or forsake us. You have to hold on to that truth whether or not you feel it in your life.

    What do you hope to achieve most in your career?
    We really hope to see people touched by our ministry. We would love to see lives changed by what we do. We would ultimately like to raise the standard-in purity and with our relationship with God.

    What countries do you most hope your career will allow you to visit?
    Europe, Ireland, United Kingdom, we really just want to go everywhere! We want to travel the whole world with what we do.

    Where can people get a copy of your album?
    You can find our album at your local Christian Store or at any Wal-Mart or Target.

    Your parents are your managers. Do you find it makes things easier having other members of your family involved in the band?
    Definitely! Our family is SO very important to us! We are so thankful that our dad loves being our manager and that he wants to do it!


    The bio on your official site states you strongly believe in purity. "Especially in the area of clothing and modesty". What is your opinion on the sexuality and revealing clothing that has recently become even worse in the music industry and is strongly influencing young people today?
    We feel the reason girls are wearing revealing clothing is because the women who are “role models” in the industry do. It really is degrading to women because it shows, whether it is meant to or not, that our worth and value comes from being immodest. Dressing in a revealing manner becomes how women get attention. There is so much more women can offer. We don’t give ourselves the chance because society tells us to wear this and that. We need to learn to be confident in ourselves without showing off our bodies.

    Your bio also states you don't believe in dating, do you ever find this difficult?
    At first when we made the commitment it was difficult, but now I cant imagine doing anything different. It’s so simple now. We don’t exactly know how it is going to happen, but we can visualize the end result. We know God is going to take care of it.

    Rebecca: I've recently taken up playing the guitar. I'm afraid I haven't really done much practicing and all I know is 3 chords so far. Any advice for me and other people currently learning to play?
    A great way to go about it is to find someone to teach you. I didn’t go that route, but I learned the incorrect way! I went to the library and internet and found chords to learn. I would find favorite songs from the internet and play them along with CDs. My advice is to set aside time to practice.

    You're going to have a song on the upcoming release "Absolute Christmas". Which song are you doing and what’s it like?
    We are singing O Holy Night. We definitely Barlowized it! It’s very rock but mixed with heavy vocals. We put strings to it and its very beautiful, but very Barlow!

    You recently visited Radio Disney's studios to do some interviews. What was that like?
    It was very cool and they were so nice to us. Overall, it was awesome.

    Thanks for your time. Is there anything you'd like to say to the people reading this?
    We would like to share Romans 12:2. With that we would like to say don’t listen to what the world says is cool. Find out who you are and who God wants you to be. Be who you are and who God created you, by doing that you will find so much more joy than you would in conforming.