Transparent (Compact Disc)

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With the recent surge of the teen pop phenomenon, there is certainly no shortage of music being produced and marketed directly to an audience that’s not yet old enough to drive or vote. It’s a crop of young music-makers with all the right moves, grooves and imaging to boot. Often, it’s difficult to find your own creative niche amidst a sea of teenage talent.

But Natalie and Phillip LaRue have done just that. There’s a lyrical and artistic depth to the music this 17- and 19-year old brother and sister create together-–a depth that’s not always prevalent in the music of a younger generation.

LaRue’s self-titled debut album made its mark on the Christian music scene in 1999, and the industry embraced Phillip and Natalie with open arms. LaRue yielded three CHR hits with songs like “Waiting Room,” “Reason” and “Someday.” Release magazine readers voted LaRue their “Favorite New Artist or Group” of 1999. Both Campus Life and Brio featured LaRue on their covers this past year, and even the Disney Channel recognized the duo’s talent when it chose to air LaRue’s video to the hit single “Reason.”

With the release of their sophomore effort, Transparent, Phillip and Natalie have captured a year of spiritual growth and deepening in a collection of songs that provides a personal glimpse into their lives. Working again with producers Rick Elias (That Thing You Do) and Ken Mary (The Beach Boys), LaRue has created a palette of insightful lyrics set to a more aggressive pop/alternative sound.

“We really feel like our family needs to be involved, to keep us in check and to be our support team.”

Relationships are indeed important to Phillip and Natalie, which is why their family plays a key role in their lives. Along with nurturing parents who have provided a strong backbone of faith and family values, Phillip and Natalie have 14-year-old twin sisters, Brianna and Rachelle, who are their biggest supporters. The entire LaRue family travels everywhere with Phillip and Natalie.

“Not many families just hop on a bus and go, but that’s exactly what we do,” Phillip explains.

Natalie continues, “Brianna and Rachelle have been real cheerleaders for what we are doing, and it has been absolutely incredible. They sacrifice a lot for us and I think God is going to really honor both of them for that.”

The new album Transparent provided Phillip and Natalie with a unique opportunity to honor Brianna, who has cerebral palsy. “Brianna’s Song” is a musical homage to the inspiration Brianna has been in her siblings’ lives, and a tribute to the energetic spirit she carries with her everywhere she goes.

Natalie shares, “I’ve wanted to write a song about Brianna for a long time. She has been such a big influence in our life and in who we are. She has always been so confident in who she is and that has really challenged both Phil and I to be confident in who we are and in who God has made us to be. Brianna’s taught us not to be afraid of what people think, and she’s even stretched us musically.”

The faith of the LaRue family has been Philip and Natalie’s reason for singing.

“This past year, Phillip and I have really desired to deepen our spiritual knowledge.”

“So many Christians go through life thinking they can’t open up and let others know they have struggles. But that’s one message we want to get across.” Philip confesses. “We all go through things, and we’ve all made mistakes. We are not any better than anyone else. It is Christ in us.”

On their latest album, the third song, “Fly” has already grown to be a crowd favorite at concerts across the country. Written as a solid proclamation of faith, the song has also been added to the soundtrack for the Left Behind feature film.

About their growing faith, Natalie explain, “The more we’ve tried to deepen our spiritual knowledge, the more we see how much there is to know and learn. We have to go back to the basics, and “Fly” is basically a proclamation of what we do know.”

Transparent also features artfully crafted songs like the hook-laden “Near To Me,” the tender “Fallen For You,” and “One White Tulip,” a song about the importance of family. Each cut on the album has a specific purpose, and is relevant to a generation that looks constantly to its peers for direction and inspiration.

Through concerts and radio play, LaRue is reaching teens with the message of Christ and encouraging those already in the faith to be honest and real about their walk. Knowing that they have strong teen influence, Philip and Natalie also take a strong stand on sexual abstinence.

One specific way Phillip and Natalie have touched lives within their own generation is through an abstinence campaign they began in the Spring of 2000, an idea that originated from the song “Someday” on the duo’s debut album.

The goal of the campaign is to gather 250,000 signatures on a petition to make it mandatory for all sex education classes in US schools to teach abstinence as the most effective method in preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease for unmarried teenagers. Campaign supporters have been able to sign petitions at LaRue concerts across the country and on the web at LaRuePetition.com.

“We’ve talked on stage about why Phil and I have chosen to take a stand for abstinence in our lives and why we feel it is an important part of Christianity,” Natalie shares. “And no matter what happens with the petition, we’ve already seen how people are being moved and are beginning to take action within their own communities and neighborhoods. That’s the most important thing to us, to see that it has made an impact.”

Whether on stage or off, in front of an audience or at home with their family, Phillip and Natalie LaRue have an unyielding desire to be open and transparent before God. They want to impact their own generation in a dramatic way.

Natalie says, “Our goal is to reach the lost with the hope of Jesus and to be real, open and honest. We want to encourage Christians to do the same – to get beyond the surface stuff. God can satisfy all your hopes and dreams. We want to challenge kids to pursue that deeper relationship with Christ. It is at that point, when we are submitting everything under God, our lives become an open vessel and we will just shine intensely with Christ. The world will be drawn to Him through our own transparency.”

“This album is definitely more passionate, more edgy and more driving,” –
Philip LaRue

LaRue’s newest release Transparent could completely change your mind about the genre of so-called teen pop.

Since Phillip and Natalie write all of their music, the ideas and concepts are inspired by their own everyday experiences. But here’s the genius: While the themes are relevant to a young generation, the maturity and insight they display makes an immediate connection to an even broader audience. College students. Thirty somethings. Yes, it’s that good.

Seventeen year old Natalie says, “Our goal with this record was to make it really creative, different, unique and yet, tangible. We were more involved in the creative process – in the structure of the songs and how we wanted them to sound.”

She continues, “We wanted to get past the surface and go deeper with issues— songs that talk about where our lives are now and how it applies to our walk with God. We’ve both grown and changed a lot since our first record. We want to be open, honest and real with our music.”

Older brother Philip concludes, “Transparent is like different kinds of photographs or pictures of our life. A lot of it deals with the relationships we’ve had with different people in our lives. It’s vulnerable, and that’s what we like. I don’t listen to any music that isn’t real. I want to listen to music that moves me.”

Their “wisdom beyond years” is apparent in sound and word.

About The Songs

Theory Of Flight
Even with a faith firmly planted in God, it can be easy to lose sight of Him when the waves come crashing over us. Phillip and Natalie use “Theory Of Flight” to encourage us to hold on and reach out to Him, and He will continue to give us life—a life we can give back.

Wake Up
“Wake Up” is a cry to Phillip and Natalie's generation to be open to the fact the life might be a little bigger than what we can see. The song's aggressive musical approach is a perfect backdrop to the frustration felt in the lyrics—a frustration with this generation's apathy and numbness to the possibilities of what could be.

Fly
This is an energetic song that is a solid proclamation of faith. Over the past year, it has been Phillip and Natalie's desire to deepen their spiritual knowledge. But they found the more they tried, the more there was to know and learn. “Fly” talks about getting back to the basics, proclaiming what we do know.

Jaded
Although both Phillip and Natalie sing on this song, it was actually written about a former relationship of Natalie's. It's a reflection on how God brings certain people into your life for a season, and those people help define your personality and have a real impact on your life. “Jaded” was written during the process of working through a relationship that had reached the end of its season.

Fallen For You
A tender love song to Christ. Natalie's impassioned vocals are delicately drawn out front to make an even greater impact. It speaks of the deep love God has for us, and our mutual love for Him.

Near To Me
This is an up-tempo cut that describes a longing to know God intimately, as He knows us. It's His love that makes us completely alive, and His desire is for us to long for Him and want to know Him more intimately.

Brianna's Song
Brianna is Phillip and Natalie's 14-year old sister who has cerebral palsy. Dedicated to her, this song celebrates Brianna’s energetic spirit and the inspiration she has become to her siblings. It is the complete confidence she has in herself that Phillip and Natalie say challenges them to be confident in who God has made them to be.

No Goodbyes
This is a song of reflection, looking back on where God's calling has taken them. "I don't know how long or far we'll go / But I know that you have called us so / Been our heart and soul / We've done it all with no regrets / And to be the first who says / No goodbyes… "

I Can't Sing
Phillip and Natalie had a little help from their 8-year-old cousin when writing the chorus to this song. “I Can’t Sing” is a fun song with a guitar-jangling melody about getting over a lost love.

Seem To Be
Here’s a song about learning how to forgive and how to trust again. They sing, “ And what you did / It left a mark / Of things unspoken / Things undone/ And to forgive you / Learn to love you / To accept you / To try and trust you…”

One White Tulip
This song is a true dedication to Phillip and Natalie's family. It's a personal reflection on how important family is, and more importantly, how much their family has contributed to every aspect of their lives. They grow closer and closer to each other, even as they grow older, change and become their own entities. It's a personal statement of how they will always stick together, no matter what.

Transparent: Lyrics

THEORY OF FLIGHT

Even though I’m firmly planted on the ground
I still run
And even though I face these mountains I still soar
To the sun
But I need you here
To show me how to feel
‘Cause I’m tired of living for myself

CHORUS
When this theory of flight
This question of life that goes on
And I struggle and try to be the light of your love

I fall into the sea waves crashing over me
And You wash me clean from the sin I have seen
So many reasons why
I could lose sight
Yeah but feel fine
Yeah but feel fine

CHORUS

BRIDGE
I lift my hands to the sky
I lift my hands up to the sky

Even though I’m firmly planted on the ground
I still run
And even though I face these mountains I still soar
To the sun
And I’m crying
And I’m praying
And I’m holding on to You
‘Cause this life that You gave me
I will give it back to You

CHORUS

I raise my hands into the sky

WAKE UP

Wake up another day, it’s funny how you put
yourself in cruise control
You say your life is very plain
Waiting for a spark to light the coal inside
And that is when you feel alive
But that’s just where it starts
Are you too comfortable in the dark

CHORUS
You threw it all away
You had so much to gain
You threw it all away
Now there’s nothing left to claim
You threw it all away
You had so much to gain
You threw it all away
Now there’s nothing left to claim
And now you’re lost inside of you
What am I supposed to do

Generation lost
All for everything until it comes to the cross
A fear of faith becomes their cage
They’re getting used to
Feeling weightless
Breathing fakeness
Dreaming faithless

CHORUS
To talk to you

Feeling weightless
Breathing fakeness
Dreaming faithless

CHORUS

What am I supposed to do

FLY

I believe that there’s more to life than what I see
And I believe that I can still fly with my broken wings
I believe that this picturesque beauty will fade away
With His help I will gather my faith so one day I will fly

CHORUS
Well this I feel and this I know
That there’s a God who made us all
And on His throne He reigns on high
And waits for us until we fly, fly away

I’ve been searching for a love divine to fill this open space
I’ve been yearning for a peace of mind I can only find through faith
My head’s been spinning round
To find some kind of ground
But through this Savior I’m found

CHORUS

FLY
FLY

CHORUS

Well this I feel and this I know
That there’s a God who made us all
And on His throne He reigns on high
And lifts us up so we may fly away

JADED

Something’s different between you and me
And I’m not sure if it’s good or bad
And all I know is from what I’ve seen

Maybe it’s I who has changed
The feelings I had rearranged
The space that’s between us
Becoming a hole as I’m growing older

CHORUS
I’m almost faded
Passions jaded
Passions jaded
By my heart

Something’s changing between you and me
A bond that is melting so painlessly
A weight has been lifted from you and I

Maybe it’s better this way
I can’t help but feeling ok
This sweetly is forming and molding my soul
As I’m growing older

CHORUS

If this is true, God set us free
Perhaps you and I are not meant to be
And if in the end we drift apart
I want you to know God used you right from the start

Maybe it’s better this way
I can’t help but feeling ok
This sweetly is forming and molding my soul
As I’m growing older

CHORUS

FALLEN FOR YOU

As though the world wearing black
And You were wearing white
Your love for me shines through Your eyes
Like a brilliant fire
And it’s clear to me
You’re the only one I see

CHORUS
I have fallen for You
And You have fallen for me

My heart longs to be near to You
So I can be made whole
And in Your arms alone I feel
As precious as a rose
Not matter how far or close I am
You will always remain
You have my heart
You are my soul
The more I’m with You the more I know

CHORUS

NEAR TO ME

I close my eyes to take it in
You’ve found me
I breath Your mercy once again

You are so holy
I long to know you
Like You know me

CHORUS
It’s Your love that makes me alive
It’s Your love that makes me alive
And I feel it everytime you’re near to me
You make my heart sing
You’re near to me
You are my everything

I sing to You
I bring to You
All of me that You see

I’m letting go
All my fears so

CHORUS

You are so holy
I long to know you
Like You know me

CHORUS

BRIANNA’S SONG

I watched you grow to be so bold
To wear your faith
Have it shine through your face

CHORUS
I see you as lovely that none can compare
And I see you as dancing although you cannot stand

And you have shown me how to know Him and to trust Him
You gave me a fire want to feel life and embrace life
And to give life as though it were not your own
And there’s nobody else who has shown me myself

CHORUS

CHORUS
I see you as lovely that none can compare
And I see you as dancing although you cannot stand
And I hear you you’re singing your passion I’m feeling
It makes me it breaks me I long to sing like you

NO GOODBYES

If I could look back on me what would I see?
I’d see this as a dream coming to a place that’s

Been our heart and soul
See the pieces in our life
Falling faster into time
And in the end I want to say

CHORUS
No goodbyes
Just smile
Don’t cry
To embrace Life
Live in this time

I don’t know how long or far we’ll go
But I know that You have called us so

Been our heart and soul
We’ve done it all with no regrets
And to be the first who says

CHORUS

I CAN’T SING

I’m tired but I can’t sleep
‘Cause when awake I’m daydreaming
About your lovely face
Just in case you haven’t noticed
I’m not over you

CHORUS
And I can’t sing when you’re away baby
I can’t sing when you’re away
I can’t sing when you’re away baby
I can’t sing when you’re away baby

We talked the other day
It’s funny you didn’t have much to say
“Please leave a message after the beep”
I didn’t have much choice
I had to hear your voice

CHORUS

Some might call it desperate
Some might call it crazy
I just long to be with you
There in San Clemente

I’m not over you
I’m not over you
I’m not over you

CHORUS

SEEM TO BE

CHORUS
I see you for yourself
Intentions on a scale
I weigh them
You are not who you seem to be
I weigh them
You are not who you seem to be

It’s getting harder so it seems
To be the ones we onced dreamed
It’s getting easier to fall apart
To loose our hopes before they start

And what you did
It left a mark
Of things unspoken
Things undone

CHORUS

We’ve come a long way since you’ve gone
We kept our faith
We still stayed strong
And through it all it has made us start
To trust in God and guard our heart

And what you did
It left a mark
Of things unspoken
Things undone

CHORUS

And to forgive you
Learn to love you
To accept you
To try and trust you

CHORUS

ONE WHITE TULIP

I was just thinking about how time flies
And that we’re all drifting like clouds in the sky
And you have always been there
And now we have all changed
And it’s been one beautiful life

I was just wondering on how to recall
The wonderful memories and how they all fall
Into place, like the smile on your face
Like the kisses and the tears that we’ve shared
And it’s been

CHORUS
It’s been one beautiful life
And I know it’s tasted its trials
It’s been one beautiful life
And I know it’s tasted its trials
And it’s not over
It’s only begun

But never alone
Like one white tulip
That stands on its own

And you will always be here
And we will stay the same

CHORUS

Brother-and-sister duo LaRue were named the favorite new artists in this year's Reader's Choice Awards. Their sophomore album will hit shelves early fall. (The questions for Phillip are in blue; Natalie's in orange.)

FULL NAME: Phillip Paul LaRue
WHAT YOU WISH YOU WERE NAMED: Leroy Lebowitz the Second
BORN WHERE AND WHEN: Paradise, CA, Oct. 9, 1981

FULL NAME: Natalie Marie LaRue
WHAT YOU WISH YOU WERE NAMED: Joe
BORN WHERE AND WHEN: Phoenix, AZ, Dec. 28, 1983

FAMILY STATS: 3 sisters, two parents and a pet tree
PETS: a tree

FIRST JOB: Selling Magic Pens at a mall with my dad when I was 12 (yes, 12)

CURRENTLY IN THE CD PLAYER: new Counting Crows, Bleach, Neil Finn

MOST ANNOYING HABIT: Biting my nails, or pens, pencils, straws ...

BEST GROSS-OUT STORY: I grabbed the first tube I saw, and brushed my teeth with Clearasil

MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT: After giving a brilliant speech in elementary school about why I should be student body class president, I fell off the stage

GUILTY PLEASURE: I like to enter beauty pageants

THING YOU CAN'T DO TO SAVE YOUR LIFE: Have rhythm

THING YOU CAN'T DO TO SAVE YOUR LIFE: Win a beauty pageant

GOOFIEST THING YOU BELIEVED AS A CHILD: That there were really teenage mutant turtles inside the sewer. I used to whisper to them as I walked by the gutter.

First CHRISTIAN album you bought: DC Talk, New Thang

WORST TROUBLE YOU GOT INTO AS A CHILD: Phill and I decided to be creative and paint a playhouse with paint. The problem with this, you ask? It wasn't our playhouse.

WORST TROUBLE YOU GOT INTO AS A CHILD: I always wanted a little playhouse when I was young. I was jealous of my neighbors', so I painted it. (This was last month.)

MOST INCREDIBLE DATE: I'm still waiting for that one

IF MUSIC WASN'T YOUR CAREER, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING? I'd be a youth pastor or pet therapist

IF MUSIC WASN'T YOUR CAREER, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING? Probably an occupational therapist or missionary

DREAM CAR: Wrangler Jeeps with the pop-off tops...oh yes ...

DREAM CAR: A Miata, but my mother says it's "not going to happen." "Deathtrap" was mentioned.

MOST PRIZED POSSESSION: My collection of fortune cookies, unopened

IF YOU WERE AN ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD YOU BE? A cat. It's unoriginal, but all I can say is fat cats are cute.

PHRASE YOU MOST OFTEN OVERUSE: "Awesome"

SCAR STORY: My sister shut our sliding glass door on my cat's tail, and I was standing ever-so-conveniently by the cat. He grabbed my leg, clawing all the way down my calf. Great fun, great pain.

FUTURE PLANS: Getting married, having eight children and using them to make quilts

MOST MEMORABLE CONCERT EXPERIENCE: We were at a festival and this youth pastor said he was getting married in an hour and asked if we would play at his wedding. It was in the woods, and it was awesome.

WRITE YOUR OWN EPITAPH: "He loved Jesus, life and his family. Plus, his eyes were as beautiful as sunflowers."

WRITE YOUR OWN EPITAPH: "She had a lot of shoes, but always went barefoot."

COLLECTION: Unopened fortune cookies

BEST DISH YOU CAN PREPARE: Pizza rolls. It's an art.

MOVIE THAT MAKES YOU CRY: Lady And The Tramp

IF YOU WERE AN ACTION HERO, WHO WOULD YOU BE? Catwoman

BEST PRACTICAL JOKE YOU'VE PLAYED ON SOMEONE: I always call people in a weird voice or accent

BEST ADVICE YOU'VE EVER BEEN GIVEN: "If you don't know, don't tell."

FAVES & RAVES
VACATION SPOT: California
PIZZA: Hawaiian
BIBLE STORY: Esther
TV SHOW: Space Ghost Coast to Coast
BIBLE TRANSLATION: New American Standard
FAST FOOD DRIVE THRU ORDER:#1
PASTIME: Painting, relaxing and enjoying life
AWARD SHOW: Best Meal Of The Decade
TOOTHPASTE: Clearasil
COLOGNE: Joop
MOVIE SNACK: Popcorn... it's a law
ARTICLE OF CLOTHING: A nice little sweater
BOOKS: The Zion Chronicles and Anne of Green Gables
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 49:16
HYMN: "I Surrender All"
FOOD: Anything Oriental
HOT DRINK: Chai tea
CITY: Chicago
BREAKFAST CEREAL: Cinnamon Toast Crunch
ICE CREAM FLAVOR: Heath Bar Crunch
'70s TV SHOW: Taxi
PASTIME: Making movies
GUM: I don't chew gum; I use Mentos
PERFUME: Tea Rose
DRIVE THRU ORDER: Jack In The Box eggrolls and tacos

Pick up the latest issue of Release Magazine at your local store or check out their website for more artist interviews.

Used with permission, Release Magazine