Th… Read Full Bio ↴ZOEgirl was a very successful Christian pop rock band from 2000-2006.
The group was started with the three ladies: Alisa Noelle Girard, Chrissy Conway and Kristin Swinford. The three have each gotten married since then and go by the following names: Alisa Childers, Kristin Schweain, Chrissy Conway-Katina.
With more than 1 million albums sold worldwide and an impressive track record that heralds them as the fastest-selling debut artist in the 26-year history of Sparrow Records, ZOEgirl has managed to create a success story that continues to get bigger and bigger with the release of each new album. Performances at venues like New York's Madison Square Garden, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Walt Disney World have helped ZOEgirl become one of the top female pop groups in Christian musica platform upon which Chrissy Conway, Alisa Girard and Kristin Swinford keep building brick by brick. ZOEgirl exploded onto the scene in 2000 with the group's self-titled debut (ZOEgirl), scoring four Top 5 radio hits. They followed with a sophomore album, Life, which continued to propel the girls' blossoming career. Those first two projects placed ZOEgirl in front of hundreds of thousands of fans on stage with artists such as Newsboys, Plus One, Avalon and Carman. Following the late 2003 release of their last album, Different Kind Of FREE, ZOEgirl hit the ground running as a featured artist on the 25-city Shoutfest tour before heading out on their first headlining tour in early 2004.
The FREE Experience tour, which also featured Superchick, Joy Williams and Focus on the Family speaker Susie Shellenberger, was a huge success with audiences across the country. The FREE Experience tour saw sell-out attendances in many markets during a year when the touring industry was taking a hard hit. Now, with Room To Breathe, their first new album in over a year, ZOEgirl is moving forward with some of the most compelling music of their career. Produced by Mark Heimermann, Double Dutch (Robert Marvin), Josiah Bell, Shawn Shankel, Tedd T and Dan Muckala, Room To Breathe encompasses ZOEgirl's growth as singers, songwriters, artists and women. "I think with each album we've been able to integrate more and more of who we are," Alisa says. "We've really seen a need and have been trying to fill that void for young girls to have a different option when it comes to pop music, and we've done it without trying to fit into any kind of mold or demographic. I think we've just really focused in on who our listeners are and what they want to hear." As every recording artist knows, longevity does not come easily in a fast-paced music industry that is constantly chasing the next big trend. But ZOEgirl's biggest accomplishment is their unending ability to connect with their fans around the world. "Our audience is constantly expanding," says Chrissy. "We've got younger girls, teenagers (including boys!), and parents coming to all of our shows and they are having a great time.
We've had some great conversations with them and we really love getting their feedback."
That feedback whether it comes through letters, after-show meetings or one-on-one time spent with young girls on recent mission trips translates into some of the real life moments Chrissy, Alisa and Kristin write about on their albums. Room To Breathe captures those poignant moments that come straight from the heart. Filled with soaring harmonies and brimming with a personal style that is quintessentially their own, the CD's tracks include the album's first radio single, About You, an up-tempo pop melody about learning to take the focus off yourself and make it all about God. Dead Serious, the track ZOEgirl calls the most fun song on the album, is a tribute to "all of those kids who really are standing up for what they believe, even though it's not always the most popular thing to do", Kristin explains. The album's title is pulled from a song called The Way You Love Me, written by Chrissy and songwriter Lynn Nichols. "This song talks about how it's so unfathomable to realize how much God loves us despite what we do every day", Chrissy explains. "We can't ever fully grasp how he could love us so much that he died for us. The lyrics say, You gave me room to breathe, a place to get away. I'm standing in your presence with a debt I can't repay".
One of the album's most honest and affecting songs is Scream, a lyric and music written by Alisa and inspired in part by some painfully revealing stories told by girls the group met on the road and while on a mission trip. "There are girls out there who admit to all kinds of self-destructive behaviors like eating disorders, drug abuse, drinking and cutting themselves out of a desperate need to numb the pain and cry out for help," Alisa shares. Does anybody know how I feel? Sometimes I'm numb; sometimes I'm overcome...Do I have to scream for you to hear me? Do I have to bleed for you to see me? Because I grieve and you're not listening to me. The song was a shower of emotions for Alisa, who was jointly inspired by hearing the deep hurts shared by the girls she'd met, and in honestly grieving her own personal pain and dealing with depression. "It took me two hours to write the whole song, and it was as if in that two hours I went through the pain of it and the healing of it. It was as if God just poured it out of me. It was so powerful." Having traveled on summer mission trips for the past two years, Chrissy, Alisa and Kristin have gained a renewed passion and vision to reach the world. As part of that effort, they have launched ZOEgirl Missions, a way to partner with their listeners in reaching out to areas in need. The first official ZOEgirl Missions trip took place last summer in Quito, Ecuador. Partnering with Big World Ventures, ZOEgirl took a missions group to visit retirement homes, play with children in orphanages, perform drama and music, and participate in various work and building projects for churches in Quito. This July, ZOEgirl is planning a second trip to Ecuador, partnering again with Big World Ventures, and taking various teams with specific gifts. Chrissy, Alisa and Kristin will bring with them construction teams, music and worship teams, and teams that will visit nursing homes and orphanages. They will spend time with the residents, nurturing and serving them with whatever they need, whether it's a haircut, a hug, or someone to sit with them and hold their hand. It's ZOEgirl's hope that they will touch those who experience so little human touch. "If we hadn't done these trips we wouldn't be the group we are now," says Alisa. "The girls who have gone on these trips have inspired more songs than they know." "These trips have really opened my eyes to the world,"
Chrissy adds. "It has given me a new appreciation for life and has taught me so much in the process." Glancing back, in the rear-view mirror of their career, it's the relationships they build, the lives they touch and the impact they make for Christ that fuels this trio of women more than anything else. "At the end of the day, in 20 years, I want to get a letter that says, I gave my heart to Jesus at a ZOEgirl concert,'" Alisa says. "To me, that's success. It's great to sell albums and win awards, but we aren't truly successful if we aren't leading people to heaven. That's eternal." Chrissy adds, "If we were remembered for anything else it wouldn't seem like we had fulfilled what we know God has called us to do."
ZOEgirl after 2006:
After Chrissy Conway's 2005 marriage to one of the Katinas, she now goes by Chrissy Conway-Katina.
When ZOEgirl announced their disbandment in 2006, Kristin took some time off but in spring of 2007, started working on solo material. Her tentative solo album was set to release on March 1, 2008 but in March 2008 announced that on her official MySpace that she will no longer release a solo album in favor of forming a new musical group ColmanBlue. As of May 2008, the group consists of Kelli Trontell and herself. Chrissy was interviewed by Amy Hagberg in April 2008: The hour long interview can be heard here.
Waiting
ZOEgirl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've come this far by yourself
Faced the world on your own
No one heard your cries for help
You thought you were all alone
I've got a different story to tell you
'Cause I've been there before
But there is so much more
You could wait
But there may not be tomorrow
Can you take
A minute just to listen and to let it go
This is the time
This is the place
This is the love
That was given to us by grace
Don't turn away
Today is the day
Open up your heart
His love is waiting, waiting
(Forever waiting)
Now, I know that you have so many questions
Deep down you're wondering
But when you're driven by doubt
You question everything
And I know that you've been so disappointed
But you are not here alone
So let me show you that you don't have to be on your own, anymore
(No)
You could wait
But there may not tomorrow
Can you take
A minute just to listen gotta let it go
This is the time
This is the place
This is the love
That was given to us by grace
Don't turn away
Today is the day
Open up your heart
His love is waiting, waiting
(repeat twice)
(He's waiting He's waiting)
He's reaching out to you with open arms
(So patienly waiting)
So open up your mind
And open up you heart
(He's Waiting, He's waiting)
All it takes is just a spark
(Oh yeah)
You know he'll bring a way
A brand new day
He's waiting
This is the time
This is the place
This is the love
That was given to us by grace
Don't turn away
Today is the day
Open up your heart
His love is waiting, waiting
Waiting He's waiting
So patiently waiting [repeat]
He is love
He is love
In the song "Waiting", ZOEgirl encourages listeners who are feeling lost and alone to open their hearts to God's love that was given to us by grace. The lyrics suggest that waiting on God may lead to missed opportunities, and it's better to act now and accept his love. The song speaks to those who may feel like they are stuck or lost and encourages them to trust in God's plan for their lives. The lyrics tell a story of hope and reassurance, letting listeners know that they are not alone and that there is someone who loves them unconditionally.
The first verse describes the feelings of being alone and unheard. The chorus then encourages listeners to take action and not wait out of fear of missing out on something better. The second verse addresses doubt while the bridge speaks of God's unwavering patience and love. The song ends with a powerful reminder that God is love.
Overall, "Waiting" is a hopeful and uplifting song that encourages listeners to trust in God's love and plan for their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
You've come this far by yourself
You have made it this far without anyone's help
Faced the world on your own
You have dealt with life's struggles by yourself
No one heard your cries for help
You felt alone and unheard when you needed someone
You thought you were all alone
You believed that no one else could understand what you were going through
I've got a different story to tell you
I have experienced similar situations and can offer a different perspective
'Cause I've been there before
I have faced similar hardships and can relate to what you are going through
I know you feel so much
I understand that you are feeling a lot of emotions right now
But there is so much more
However, there is hope for a better future
You could wait
You could choose to delay taking action
But there may not be tomorrow
But there is no guarantee that there will be a future opportunity
Can you take
Can you spare
A minute just to listen and to let it go
A small amount of time to listen and release your worries
This is the time
This is the moment
This is the place
This is where you are right now
This is the love
This is the unconditional love
That was given to us by grace
That we do not deserve but have received anyway
Don't turn away
Do not look away
Today is the day
The present moment is the time to act
Open up your heart
Be vulnerable and receptive to love
His love is waiting, waiting
Unconditional love is available for you right now
Now, I know that you have so many questions
I understand that you have a lot of doubts and uncertainties
Deep down you're wondering
You are questioning things within yourself
But when you're driven by doubt
When you let doubt control you
You question everything
You begin to doubt everything in your life
And I know that you've been so disappointed
I understand that you have been let down before
But you are not here alone
But you do not have to go through this alone
So let me show you that you don't have to be on your own, anymore
I can help you and you do not have to face this alone anymore
He's reaching out to you with open arms
God's love is open and available to you
All it takes is just a spark
It only takes a small amount of faith to ignite hope
You know he'll bring a way
You can trust that God will provide a solution
A brand new day
A new start and a brighter future await you
He is love
God is the embodiment of unconditional love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALISA NOELLE GIRARD, CHRISTINE CONWAY, JESSE KATINA, KRISTIN SWINFORD, ROBERT MARVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind