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Women with Impact

1:00am Wednesday, 14th July 2010

Here’s proof that it’s not just sport stars that Australia produces more than our fair share of. Wes Jay picks his line up of our top female Christian singers.

1 DARLENE ZSCHECH is arguably the most famous Christian singer/songwriter Australia has produced.
Each week more than 25 million people sing her song Shout To The Lord in churches around the world. And that’s just one of her songs!
The music of the former Hillsong worship pastor has gained wide acceptance in all streams of the church. So much so that she recently released Simply Darlene, an acoustic album of some of her best known songs including Potter’s Hand, Glory To The King, and Jesus You’re All I Need. The digital only release is available through her website at: http://www.darlenezschech.com

2 REBECCA ST JAMES Since debuting on the Christian music radar 20 years ago, Rebecca St James has developed into one of today’s most loved and respected international Christian singers.
She has scored a string of hit songs, and garnered several accolades including Christianity Today’s “Top 50 Up and Coming Evangelical Leaders under 40”, plus a Grammy for Best Rock/Gospel Album in 1999.
The 32-year-old former Sydney girl who lives in the US, has made a successful transition to acting in faith-based films like Sarah’s Choice (2009) and Rising Stars (2010). ]http://www.RebeccaStJames.com]

3 ROMA WATERMAN been described as the “ballad queen” of Australian Christian music. A singer whose lyrics are “filled with hope”. Roma Waterman has been at the forefront of the Australian Christian music scene for two decades, performing and releasing seven albums. Integrity Asia recently released a compilation of songs from No Ordinary Life, that emphasizes Roma’s passion for the church and worship.
www.romawaterman.com

4 TANIA G When it comes to Australia’s soul favourite,Tania G (pronounced Tarn Ya Gee), everything is done on a big scale. All of her pursuits—musical, spiritual, or professional—are larger-than-life: not a single thing is left to chance.With the advent of iTunes and other digital music providers, Tania has turned her attention to recording singles—like they did in the 60s—rather than releasing albums.
Her songs The Other Side and This Is My Life have garnered extensive supportfrom Australian Christian radio. http://www.taniag.com

5 ALIKI (pronounced ‘a-leaky’) is an amazing woman who travels Australia singing her songs at major city conferences and churches, and regional communities.
Her concerts are a feast of multimedia visuals, honest personal stories and award winning acoustic pop songs. Over the past ten years, this Queenslander has become one of Australia’s highest selling independent Christian artists. Concert favourites include Touch Of the Master’s Hand. http://www.aliki.com.au

6 MERISE is a Sydney singer-songwriter. Merise (pronounced myrrh-REECE) who is passionate, sincere, and proudly Australian.
The mother of five writes encouraging songs that leave you wanting to hearmore. Her best known are: Just See, Broken and More Than Good. She recently released Just Because, a positively infectious song with a Lily Allen pop groove. It is from her forthcoming album Goodbye Sadness.
Expect to be hearing a lot more from Merise. http://www.merise.com.au

7 MIRIAM WEBSTER After 11 years in the creative environment of Sydney’s Hillsong Church, Aussie worship leader, singer and songwriter Miriam Webster, now living in the US, has emerged as one of the premier Christian songwriters of our time. Miriam has written numerous songs including Made Me Glad, Dwelling Places, Welcome in This Place and You Are Faithful.
These have been recorded by some of the leaders in worship music around the world including Alvin Slaughter, Don Moen, Martin Smith, Sandi Patty and New Breed.
Her new album Made Me Glad, mainly inspired by personal praise and worship features a compelling duet with Darlene Zschech on Loving Kindness.
Like all the musicians above, Miriam possesses has a passionate desire to see people come to love, worship, and to know Jesus Christ. http://www.miriamwebster.com.au

Wes Jay is the director of Woodlands Media.
He has interviewed each of the above artists for the nationally syndicated radio program Behind The Music, and at some time or another over the past ten years has worked with each of the artists, their record companies or their distributors.