Though performer Jasmine Murray considers herself a "newbie" to the world of concert touring, she is certainly no novice at holding the spotlight. At just 25 years old, the Season 8 "American Idol" finalist, 2014 Miss Mississippi title holder and subsequent finalist at Miss America 2015 just released her first studio EP and is in the middle of her first nationwide tour with fellow "Idol" alumni Mandisa and Danny Gokey.
"I'm still learning, but I feel like I'm learning from the best. It really just feels like a family," the singer shares. Murray is one of the opening acts on Mandisa's "Rise Out of the Dark Tour," named for the Grammy Award winner's new album.
FAQ
Mandisa’s ‘Rise Out of the Dark Tour’
with Danny Gokey, Love & the Outcome, and Jasmine Murray
WHEN — 7 p.m. Sunday
WHERE — Springdale High School Pat Walker Performing Arts Center, Springdale
COST — $16.75-$49.50.
INFO — jasminemurrayoffici…
"One of the biggest things we've been trying to be intentional about throughout the tour is spreading unity," Murray goes on, "and I really feel that [among] everyone on the tour, everyone is very united and very together, and it just feels like such a cohesive team."
The tour assembles the contemporary Christian artists, including Love & the Outcome, to spread a message of joy and coming together in Christ, Murray offers. She says the blend of uptempo tunes, heartfelt ballads and worship moments from all the artists on the tour provide the audience with a nice balance of different vibes -- variation she hopes they feel in her EP as well.
"I love all kinds of music, so being able to basically throw [in] all of my inspirations and all the things I feel make me the person I am and that [have] inspired me, it was really important to me to put that in the EP," Murray reveals, while maintaining that her voice and her vision are not the priority of her work. "At the end of the day, I'm not trying to get people to follow me. I'm trying to get people to follow God because I feel like I'm a vessel that's being used by Him to lead people to Him. It's not about me; it's truly about Him."
Writing from personal experiences, Murray's songs have high-energy worship moments, but also consider themes like understanding one's place in the world, fitting in and her own struggle with intense anxiety. Though being vulnerable in her music was a scary prospect, she says having the courage to dig into her own difficulties will hopefully encourage others and help them realize they are not alone.
"I think so many people have trouble with the same things, so it's really neat when you can be able to speak to that and see how other people connect to it," Murray offers. "Unity has always been an [important] message, but with all the recent events [going on], it's even more important for us to stand together and to lift each other, and be there for one another, and pray for each other. This is a time for us to love on each other even more."
NAN What's Up on 10/20/2017