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  Living Day By Day Adams’ loyal fan base has continued to grow, despite four years without a new solo album. She spent some time with GOSPELflava.com to discuss it all.  "It’s easy when you have lots of television and lots of appearances on the schedule anyway. The more television you do, the more visible you are and the more people want to see you. It’s almost amazing that it’s been four years since we’ve had an actual album out," admits Adams.In addition to numerous television appearances, Adams has participated in a number of tours over the last few years. From Hopeville to Sisters In The Spirit, Adams has had no problems partnering with other members of the gospel community to share the gospel in song. "You have to understand that the gospel community is so family-oriented," states the Grammy-award winner. "We are always on tour together and on programs together. Now that we’re getting a lot of the mainstream coverage, we’re in places where we’re like the minority. We always hang together and sit together, so we’re really a family. The great thing about gospel music is that since it’s such a small genre, we are really there for one another. I think that’s why we’re so united when it comes to participating with one another. Donnie, Kirk, and I have done Hopeville like five times. We’ve been all over doing concerts and things together prior to Hopeville. The same thing is true with Fred Hammond. I’ve worked with Fred for years and years and years. CeCe Winans is such a doll. This is like a twenty-year family relationship and it’s hard to break those kinds of ties. Of course, we don’t want to break them because we’re one another’s friends, best supporters, and number one fans. It’s just a beautiful thing." The road to Adams’ current musical mainstream status has not been an easy road. Yet, moving from being known specifically on the gospel music circuit to a more mainstream audience was an easier transition than it appeared. "The transition was pretty easy for me because I never was really a traditional gospel singer," acknowledges Adams. "I’ve always had the jazz background. The love for jazz that I have has always allowed me the chance to be on a more mainstream level. ‘Gotta Have Love’ was actually the first song that crossed over for me into BET’s more mainstream videos. That was like in ’95. We’re really excited about what’s going on now with gospel music. Not just Yolanda Adams but with gospel music being played on hip-hop stations and not just R&B and AC (Adult Contemporary) stations. It’s being played everywhere because people need inspiration all the time. It’s not something that we think about and say ‘this is what we’re going to do for the secular market and this is what we’re going to do for the gospel market.’ All you do is walk in with your producers and say that you want to make great music. And that’s how we do it." With the spotlight comes the responsibility of leadership. Admittedly, Adams views the part of role model to up and coming Gospel artists as a major role to fill.
As Adams’ exposure grew, she quickly knew that she was going to need some help. "We realized that all of this was necessary when television became very vital for us back in 1991 when we did The Jay Leno Show," states Adams. "There are certain things that I know I cannot do. I can’t see my hair in the back, trying to do it with a curling iron and things like that," says Adams playfully. "One thing about artists and where we are now, you really have to have that presence there with you to make sure that the things you see on camera are just right. Like I said, I can’t see the back of my head. Just in case they do a back shot, my stylist has to make sure that the back of the dress or the back of the suit is just right. If you ask an artist, whether it’s CeCe or Vickie, is it easier to have that? All of us will definitely say yes it’s easy. It’s much easier when someone else is responsible for the look, the hair, and everything else. All you have to be concerned about is ministry and making sure your voice is right. It’s not about having an entourage. It’s about making ministry easier and making your life a lot easier." Though Adams is highly visible and touring on a regular basis, she works hard to stay connected to and covered by her home church.  "It’s easy for me to be connected to my home church because I’m so close to my Pastor and First Lady," declares the Atlantic Records artist. "They make sure that I have books along with CDs and DVDs of the services. Sometimes I could be away for up to three or four months. They make sure that they send a package FedEx to where ever I am so that we can see the videos on the bus or in my hotel room. This way I am still fed from my home church. I know that CeCe definitely has that when she’s away from Born Again. Vickie has that when she’s away from Straight Gate. We make sure, especially the artists that are more visible, that we’re connected to our home church. It is impossible to do what we do without a covering."For the lion’s share of her career, Adams has released her music on strictly gospel labels (Sound of Gospel, Tribute, Verity). However, since 1999, Adams has been signed with secular labels and notes a key difference between secular and gospel record labels. "The bottom line is money. Let’s not get that twisted," discloses Adams. "Secular companies have more money allocated for television, marketing, publicity, promotion, and everything. It’s not to say anything against the gospel record labels. Usually, gospel record labels have to allocate money between the 20 to 30 artists on their roster. Of course, I have the liberty of only having one sister on our label, which is Karen Clark-Sheard. She and I get a chance to split the money in half, which is real cool. As opposed to 30 ways, we split it two ways. She and I have both said what great record companies we have. It’s just amazing. Most of the time you have a staff of many people in those divisions that take care of everything instead of one person being over publicity and promotions. You have a staff of anywhere from 10 to maybe 200 people. Of course, that makes a difference." Now on the Atlantic Records imprint, Adams prepares to release her next album, her tenth solo release, Day by Day. On this project, she enlists the help of some familiar friends… producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. "Those are my friends and buddies. I’ve worked with them for years. I knew them before we actually started working together. When I tell you that those guys are the best, they are absolutely the best. I love them so much. They bring out the best in my writing. They bring out the best in my voice. So when it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, as Granny would say. We’re working again with Warryn Campbell. Shep Crawford did ‘I Believe I Can Fly' with me. We, once again, are working together. I always try to keep the same fellas, add a little twist every now and then. For me, it’s about the actual lyric and the music that happens behind the lyric." "I am one of those people that believes that if I am going through something, somebody else out there among those billions of people living on this Earth is going through something similar, if not the same thing," states Adams. "So what I do is cleverly take it, without telling all the business, and put it into words that are not just poetic but the words are also effective. That’s what you have to do. Ministry has to be effective. I have to take you where you are and show you that it is possible to overcome. That’s exactly what this album does and that’s why it’s called Day By Day."  "I’ve taken the listener on a journey with me from my prayer time to the time where I’m contemplating a business decision. It’s about things that we deal with day by day not just the spiritual but also the natural. There’s also a song on there about relationships. What do you do? That’s a huge thing with women of all colors, not just African-American women. Women of all colors want to know ‘How can I get over this heartbreak? How can I get over this headache? How can I get over this hiccup in my life?’ On this album, I tell them."In reflecting on the crux of her ministry, Adams draws comparisons to another well-known figure in the Christian community. "We’ve been watching the success of Joel Osteen, who has one of the biggest churches in the United States," cites Adams. "Think about it. What is his main goal? His main goal is to give you principles from the Bible that you can live with that make your life easier. That’s all I do with my music. I give women practical principles for living. Not just women but men also. But, of course, since I’ve been a woman for forty some-odd years, I’ve got a little bit of experience in that department." "In 1991, I wrote a song about a great friend of mine who was murdered ["Forever With Me" from the Through The Storm album]. Some people were like ‘You shouldn’t talk about that. You shouldn’t sing about that.’ Why shouldn’t I sing about it? Death is an issue that we will all have to deal with one day. I believe that since it’s an issue, I have to give practical advice to it. Like I say in the song, it hurt, I cried and I miss you but you’re forever with me. When you give somebody an answer like that, it makes their life easier. They can see that if Yolanda was able to make it through and if she did confess that this hurt her, then maybe it is OK for me to cry. Maybe it’s OK for me to be sad but I don’t have to stay in that situation." "It’s the same thing with relationships. We have to deal with people on practical, living experiences. Do you tell people about the pie in the sky and when everything is over you’ll be able to live a happy life? Or do you also tell them that God wants them to be successful right here on Earth? He wants you to be victorious right here on Earth. He’s given you enough principles and enough good advice through the Word of God. Somebody needs to know your testimony. They need to know that it is possible to live a victorious, prosperous, successful life right here. Everybody knows that it’s going to be wonderful when we get to Heaven. But how can I deal with what I’m dealing with down here? That is my main goal."  "Some people say that it’s moving too much to the secular. You mean to tell me that heartache is secular? Christians and non-Christians go through heartache. Christians and non-Christians have to deal with poverty, whether on a personal level or you see it with someone homeless holding a sign on the street. You’ve got to be practical. I believe that’s why people of all genres of music and all parts of the entertainment industry gravitate to my music because I give them those answers."While remaining practical and relevant is important to Adams’ ministry, progression is equally integral to her lasting success. For the latest phase of progression for her new project, Adams had to look no further than her Hopeville brother, Kirk Franklin. Franklin contributes "Tonight" and "Show Me" to Adams’ Day By Day effort. "He called me and said ‘I have these two great songs. Listen sis, you don’t even have to pay me for these. All you have to do is tell the record company that they have to pay for production and for the engineer. I am fine. I don’t even want a salary. I just want this to be the best album you’ve ever done.’ I was like ‘Kirk, how did you know that I needed both of these songs for what I was going through?’ He said, ‘Sis, I had no idea. All I know is that God told me to give those to you.’" "I absolutely love those songs. Those are songs that deal with issues of insecurity and indecision. I let people know that it’s OK to be in a place where you don’t know everything. You won’t know everything and that’s what God is for. God is there for you to consult Him and ask Him for His guidance." ""Show Me"is so timely. And "Tonight"? That’s your prayer to God and it’s like ‘Look, this is where I am and it doesn’t feel good.’ For so long we’ve told people that when you trust God, everything is going to be fine and when you love God, everything is beautiful and nothing goes wrong. That’s a lie. Stop lying to the people. Let them know that you will hurt. You will have differences with spouses. You will have differences with friends. But the good thing about it is that there is a solution to everything." Following the release of the album, Adams is preparing to embark on the Yolanda Today Tour beginning in October. This one will not only feature Adams but will also feature Stellar Award winning group Israel and New Breed. "Expect to be blessed and have your socks curled up on the other side of your shoes," says Adams excitedly. "Israel is off the chain. His show is so fired up. He’s awesome. We also have Nuttin’ But Strings. They are two brothers out of New York. Know that they are fabulous and phenomenal. The twist to this tour is that we’re inviting a few of my secular friends who love God [Eddie Levert , Chaka Khan, Kirk Whalum] with all of their hearts and they have testimonies. People need to know that just because these friends don’t sing gospel music doesn’t mean that they don’t know God." Without question, Adams continues to impact the music world at large with the good news of Christ and the practical message of His love. Amazingly, she does all of this, as her album indicates, Day By Day. Email This To A Friend
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In the realm of the familiar, Yolanda Adams reunites with super producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who lend their production expertise to several cuts including "Alwaysness" and the radio friendly "Be Blessed"....