CeCe Winans – Falling Forward

CCM: When Alvin first approached you with the throwback idea, were you immediately on board?
CeCe: No. [Laughs] He had to convince his mother, his very strong mother. He said, “Mom, I know it seems like it’s out of style, but what’s out of style is in style. Young people love it. You’ll be relevant. And your old listeners will love it as well.” He started writing, I started listening to the music, and then I thought, “This is gonna’ be good.” But it took me a minute. We had—I won’t say arguments—passionate discussions. [Laughs] Of course, after he played me “Hey Devil,” I was sold. I love the attitude, the authority, while being wrapped up in fun.

The record label wanted me to do the same thing I had done before, what I’m known for, more of a worshipful style, but I wanted to do something different. After discussing the throwback [sound] with Alvin and really talking about the whole project as a work of art, a work that would offer different styles of music but yet had that strong, precise and cohesive thread going through it, I think we did it. God did it. He did it.

CCM: I saw you in concert when I was maybe 10 or 11, and I remember thinking, “Man, can she sing,” and not necessarily having heard what you do live on the radio or on a record. On this album you really were able to sing, some of that live CeCe sound. Did you feel that way?
CeCe: You sound like my son. Should I get into an argument with you? [Laughs] It’s amazing you’re saying that, because those are his words exactly. He would hear me live, and then he would hear me on the records, and he said, “You never really even sing on your records.” I’m like, “What are you talking about? I do sing. Live is just something different.” He said, “I want to capture what I hear live. I know your voice. I want to put these songs in keys that are going to make you work.”

I’ll just humble myself and let him know what you said so that he’ll know that he did it. [Laughs] I get it now. This is definitely my first record that we have the live feel through it all.

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