Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter Rich Stephenson, who discusses his new single, “Make It Real,†as well as his creative process and goals for the future.
About Rick Stephenson:
Rick Stephenson is a Singer/Songwriter from Johnson Creek, WI who offers traveling worship ministries. However, there’s much more to Rick than can be simply put. Â He has a passion for leading others in worship and has a creative way of expressing it through his music. Â He has won awards from the Song Door International Competition, Great Lakes Songwriting Contest and Write About Jesus. Â Rick has also had radio airplay of several of his songs including: Â “Sanctuary of My Heart”, “You Gave”, “Christmas Is Here”, “God Himself”, “Christmas Is Jesus”, “Rebuild My Heart” and “Center of My Heart” on US and International stations as well as numerous Internet radio sites.
Review Fix: What inspired “Make It Real”?
Rick Stephenson: The song idea actually started from my thoughts about another song I put on my first CD “Sanctuary of My Heart” called “Hallelujah to The Great I AM.â€Â In that song I sing about a dream I had in which I was in God’s presence singing His praise with countless others. The dream was so peaceful and satisfying that to wake up from it was very disappointing and I struggled with having to be back in this world dealing with it’s daily difficulties. As I was thinking about this song and the dream, the idea for “Make It Real” hit me because I was thinking of how much I wanted to be back in God’s presence but it was as if God was saying to me I didn’t need to have the dream again to feel Him but rather to allow the dream to become real in my life right where I was at in the moment. In other words we can make God’s presence real to us when we realize that he is always with us and we focus on praising him through it all. I also thought the song could be inspiring to those who struggle with their faith as I have often done but yet we hold on to the thought that God is true to his word and will one day make his presence so real to us beyond any shadow of a doubt. I don’t know about you but I look forward to that day!
Review Fix: How is this song different from other tracks on the album?
Stephenson: I think “Make It Real” is different from the other songs on the “My Everything” project since it can speak to so many people even if they don’t necessary believe in God because the song doesn’t directly come out and call upon God but rather addresses the fact that we all have dreams to be free of fear and worry and we all long to fulfill our potential and overcome the negative input of others. It can provide hope and inspiration that there is a higher power at work both in and around us.
Review Fix: How has the reception been for the lyric video been thus far?
Stephenson: I admit that I have been overwhelmed by the response because through limited promotion of it and within only a short period of time it has been viewed nearly 10,000 times.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Stephenson: Well, I’m still strongly promoting the current CD “My Everything” and I would love to get out and about more to sing the songs for people to hear so that they might experience God in a fresh and meaningful way. However, as I pursue that, I also like to stay busy, so I’m working on new project that I hope to release in mid to late 2017.
Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?
Stephenson: I’d just like to say thanks for helping me spread the word about this wonderful song and fantastic project. I certainly appreciate the fact that God is connecting us all in this greater effort to reach this world that is desperately in need of more hope and encouragement and I truly like being a little part of that.
Leave a Reply