Birth Name: Avion Blackman
Birth Place an… Read Full Bio ↴Artist Name: Avion Blackman
Birth Name: Avion Blackman
Birth Place and Date: The 30th of January
Official Bio
From the band Christafari comes Avion Blackman with a sound described as "Sade meets Norah Jones with world music undertones."
"Swimming with alligators sounds a lot more dangerous than it really is," said Avion (while twisting her dreads and describing her adventurous days as a tomboy living in a tropical rainforest with 17 brothers).
Born in the bustling city of San Fernando, Trinidad, Avion lived in luxury as a daughter of the famous calypsonian, Lord Shorty. As a young dreadlocked child, she was very outgoing and began singing on stage in front of massive crowds at the tender age of four. That year, her life drastically changed when on a spiritual quest, her father transplanted his massive family to the jungle.
She spent the next twenty years of her life living seven rugged miles from the remote Indian village of Piparo in a log cabin with no doors or windows, plumbing or electricity and few groceries--but plenty of music. She was home schooled with her brothers and sisters, and her family lived primarily off the land--growing virtually everything that they ate. Their days were filled with Bible studies, intense rehearsals, various tour dates and regular performances for visitors. As a child in this modern day Robinson Caruso-like family, Avion loved climbing trees, swinging from vines, fishing, and of course; swimming with alligators.
Avion learned the art of harmony while touring and singing chorus for her father, who took on the name Ras Shorty I after his conversion to Christianity. He was the inventor of Soca and Jamoo music. She learned how to play a number of instruments from many of her 24 brothers and sisters. At the age of fourteen she began playing bass for their family band, "The Love Circle". Her first solo studio recordings were "Oh Why" and "So Free", for The Love Circle's "Children of the Jamoo Journey" release. Years later, she recorded the initial versions of "Sweet Love" (for their "Homegrown" album) and "Heaven Above" (for Lion of Zion's "The Gathering" project).
In 2003, she moved to Los Angeles, CA, married Mark Mohr and joined Christafari as the bassist and a vocalist of the group. She became well- known internationally for her ethereal lead vocals on Christafari's "Hiding Place" and "My Sustenance" on the group's critically acclaimed Gravity release. Still performing with Christafari, Avion has toured a good part of the world with her husband, band front man Mark Mohr. All of the above set the stage perfectly for releasing her solo debut.
In January of 2005 the recording began for Blackman's first album "Onyinye" (pronounced 0we-neen-yay). Thirteen smashing songs were produced by Mark Mohr (alongside co-producers Solomon Jabby and Avion Blackman-Mohr). The music was performed by members of Christafari and an all-star cast of the best session players in Los Angeles (including live strings, acoustic guitar, Peruvian pan flute, horns, and even turntables). The album was recorded and mixed at Zionic Sounds Dub Lab and mastered at Lion and Fox Studios.
On this heartwarming gospel release, Avion sings tender songs about her love for God and man. It was a family affair as Avion, her husband and other members of the family wrote the infectious tracks that make up this musical masterpiece. This is an intimate album that contains a blend of reggae, R&B, jazz, jamoo, Indian and African rhythms.
In promotion of "Onyinye", Avion and her band are currently traveling the world performing with Christafari, Solomon Jabby, and others on the Reggae Redemption Tour. "Onyinye" means Gift in the Nigerian language Igbo. Live on stage Avion sings of the greatest gift of all--Life eternal.
Exclusive Interview with GospelReggae.com
1. (GospelReggae.com): Avion, can you give us your brief testimony?:
Avion: At the age of four my parents got saved, so they brought me and my siblings up in the way of Christianity. But it was really at 14 years old that I personally dedicated my life to Jesus, got baptized and began my spiritual journey.
2. (GospelReggae.com): You mentioned your siblings, I have read that you come from a very large musical family. Can you give us a brief run down of what your brothers and sisters are up to?
Avion: Three of my brother's (Sean, Daniel and Gary) are in Asia playing music, they formed a band by the name Abstract, they've been to India, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and China. I also have four brothers in California; Derek heads up the punk/reggae group Dominion Status. Haile leads two bands, Upstream and Breadfruit Collective and also runs his own sound company, Johnny plays drums for a bunch of groups including Majek Fajek and Sean Penny developing his solo career.
3. (GospelReggae.com): Describe some of your fondest memories as a child:
Avion: Fondest memories, hmmmm… there are lots of them. I had just turn five years old, I remember moving to the jungle with my family, I've been waiting anxiously for that day counting down the days, when we finally move I barely got any sleep that night waiting to see daylight so I can run and roam the jungle. I remember taking my toy bucket and filling it with mangoes, I sat on the bench outside in the bamboo grove sucking the most sweet, juicy, mango ever! I was in heaven!! Later in the evening when it started getting dark, my brother and I went labelle hunting, they are giant flying insects that light up like fire flies. I probably caught a whole jar full that night and used it as a lantern.
4. (GospelReggae.com): Do you have any favorite verses?:
Avion: Psalms 119:9-10, Prov 4:20-27 and James 1:5-8.
5. (GospelReggae.com): How about favorite foods?:
Avion: Ethiopian food. Thai, Trinidad Roti and doubles and fettuccini Alfredo.
6. (GospelReggae.com): What about musical influences?:
Avion: My father (jamoo/soca) African, East Indian music, post modern dub/reggae, and celtic music.
7. (GospelReggae.com): Any hobbies?:
Avion: Spending time with my husband, listening to music, biking, painting, sewing clothes for myself and shopping, I really love to go bargain hunting!
8. (GospelReggae.com): What is the most valuable lesson that you learned from your Mom or Dad growing up, that you still apply today?:
Avion: Trusting in God to provide and not worrying.
9. (GospelReggae.com): If you could share the stage with any Christian or secular artist in the world (living or dead) who would it be?:
Avion: Zap Mama
10. (GospelReggae.com): What Bible character do you most identify yourself with?:
Avion: Esther. That was my favorite story growing up.
11. (GospelReggae.com): What do you most about touring and what goes through your mind before you go onstage at an average show?:
Avion: I love seeing new place's. I enjoy knowing that I'm doing this for God and hanging with the band member's they are my best friends! Before I go on stage I pray that someone would get saved, or be encouraged in their spiritual walk. I also pray to God that I will play well--which make's me a bit anxious.
12: (GospelReggae.com): Why do you do music? What is your primary goal?:
Avion: Because It's in my blood--running through my veins and in my soul. Because it's so much apart of me, I choose to do it for a higher purpose--that purpose is God.
Ministry
"Onyinye, (pronounced 0we-neen-yay), means Gift in Igbo, which is a Nigerian language. On this album I sing un-compromising lyrics about the greatest gift of all--Life eternal through Jesus Christ alone."--Avion
Atonement
Avion Blackman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Paid by the Servant,
Who saved me
And died for me.
Atonement,
At one with the Servant,
Who saved me
And cleansed me of my sins.
He has broken the stranglehold of sin,
And brought us back into His fold,
So we can begin a new life,
And set the old one aside.
He has ransomed
The captives from slavery,
He died for us, paid the price,
So we can be free from captivity.
Atonement,
Paid by the Servant,
Who saved me
And died for me.
Atonement,
At one with the Servant,
Who saved me
And cleansed me of my sins.
I was never deserving of His Love,
Till put in right standing with God above.
Through His one and only Son,
The anointed One.
Separated by sin
Tlil He built a bridge,
Of love so I can cross over it,
To the other side, eternal life.
Atonement,
Paid by the Servant,
Who saved me
And died for me.
Atonement,
At one with the Servant,
Who saved me
And cleansed me of my sins.
I have been cleansed.
(At one with God)
I've been forgiven.
(At one with God)
I've been redeemed.
(At one with God)
He paid my ransom.
(At one with God)
I have been cleansed.
(At one with God)
Yeah I've been forgiven.
(At one with God)
I've been redeemed.
(At one with God)
My sins are forgotten.
(At one with God)
The song "At-one-ment" by Avion Blackman is a vibrant Christian song that thrills the listener with the joy of the salvation that has been made possible through Christ. The lyrics of the song speak of the atonement - the reconciliation between God and humanity - that has been made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The song highlights that it was the Servant, Jesus, who paid the price for the sins of humanity, died and rose again, so that whoever believes in Him receives eternal life.
The lyrics express that the atonement has broken the stranglehold of sin and brought humanity back into God's fold. It has set people free from captivity, through the ransom that was paid by Jesus. The singer admits that she was not deserving of the love of God, but through His Son, who built a bridge of love, she can now cross over it to the other side, which is eternal life. She has been cleansed, forgiven, and redeemed - thereby enjoying eternal life.
At its core, "At-one-ment" is a song of worship, gratitude and longing for God. It affirms that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the ultimate act of love and salvation, through which humanity can be reconciled to God.
Line by Line Meaning
Atonement,
The process of being made right with God through the sacrifice of Jesus.
paid by the Servant,
Jesus, the servant of God, paid the cost of our sin with his death.
Who saved me
Jesus is the savior who rescues us from sin and death.
and died for me.
Jesus died in our place, taking the punishment we deserved for our sin.
Atonement,
The process of being made right with God through the sacrifice of Jesus.
at one with the Servant,
We are united with Jesus, the servant of God, through his sacrifice.
Who saved me
Jesus is the savior who rescues us from sin and death.
and cleansed me of my sins.
Through his sacrifice, Jesus has washed away our sins, making us pure in God's sight.
He has broken the stranglehold of sin,
Jesus has freed us from the power of sin that held us captive.
And brought us back into His fold,
Jesus has brought us back into the family of God.
So we can begin a new life,
Through Jesus, we can live a new life free from the power of sin.
And set the old one aside.
We leave behind our old life of sin and follow Jesus on a new path.
He has ransomed
Jesus has paid the price to set us free from the slavery of sin.
the captives from slavery,
We were once slaves to sin, but Jesus has set us free.
He died for us, paid the price,
Jesus willingly gave his life as a sacrifice for our sins.
So we can be free from captivity.
Through Jesus, we are no longer held captive by the power of sin.
I was never deserving of His Love,
We don't earn God's love, it is freely given to us.
Till put in right standing with God above.
Through Jesus, we are made right with God.
Through His one and only Son,
God sent Jesus, his only Son, to save us.
the anointed One.
Jesus is the one chosen by God to save us.
Separated by sin
Our sin separated us from God and his love.
tlil He built a bridge,
Through Jesus, God has provided a way for us to be reconciled to him.
Of love so I can cross over it,
Through Jesus' love, we can come to God and find new life.
To the other side, eternal life.
Through Jesus, we have the hope of eternal life with God.
I have been cleansed.
Through Jesus, our sins have been washed away.
(at one with God)
We are united with God through Jesus.
I've been forgiven.
Through Jesus, our sins have been forgiven.
(at one with God)
We are united with God through Jesus.
I've been redeemed.
Through Jesus, we have been set free from the power of sin.
(at one with God)
We are united with God through Jesus.
He paid my ransom.
Jesus paid the price to set us free from the slavery of sin.
(at one with God)
We are united with God through Jesus.
My sins are forgotten.
Through Jesus, our sins are not held against us, they are forgotten.
(at one with God)
We are united with God through Jesus.
Writer(s): MARK MOHR
Contributed by Evelyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Felix Encinas
Lord forgive my sins, thanks for dying in that cross to give me your salvation.. come into my heart and give me a new life in Christ.. in the name of Jesus.. Amen.. God bless you! :)
Mr cool
Good music Avion Blackman
Let God be PRAISE
GERSON LOPES
DUM, DUM, DUM, DUM, DUM, DUMMMMMMMMMM IS THE BEST OF THE BASS BOSSTED. WOWWWW!!!!!
Kalolos Hawaii Vibes KHV
Levi 2