ZOEgirl
Encyclopedia
ZOEgirl was a Christian pop rock band. It was formed of singers Chrissy Conway-Katina, Alisa Childers
and Kristin Swinford-Schweain. In 2002, ZOEgirl received a GMA Dove Award for New Artist of the Year
. Before disbanding, the band released three more studio albums, as well as a remix album
and a limited edition single. More recently, they reunited for a two-hour interview on The Brian Mason Show.
, means life. Through their music, ZOEgirl talks about life in Christ.
, said one day: "I see a need for a girls pop group." He knew Alisa Childers
since 1977, when she was two years old, and "decided to build the [girl] group around her." Together with Lynn Nichols, a writer and executive producer, they approached Kristin (Swinford) Schweain, who was then part of a jazz group. Nichols said: "She [Alisa] had a real writing sensitivity. Then we heard Kristin sing and play the piano. She had a pure pop voice, and it was a really interesting mix with Alisa’s more gritty style. Then we said, ‘Let’s just see what unfolds.’" Schweain felt that it was a difficult decision for her to choose between her jazz group and this new opportunity in a girl group: "I felt like I was betraying them [her previous group], but at the same time I felt a pull to ZOEgirl and felt led to meet Alisa." She ultimately decided to join the girl group.
They wanted a third member, so Kristin remembered that her friend had "a friend in Atlanta who was playing in a band and working with some musicians." Nichols recalls: "It sounded kind of flaky, but I told Kristin to give her a call." This girl from Atlanta was Chrissy (Conway) Katina, who "was on the verge of signing a major record deal." Katina said: "My lawyer thought I was crazy for wanting to join a Christian group. He told me I’d never make any money." Regardless, she chose to become the third member of the group, which has yet to be named.
but needed a name. Their original name was simply "ZOE", all in capital letters, their favourite from a list of possible names they have made. However, there was already a trademark for this name, so they added the suffix "girl" in minuscule letters to form the name "ZOEgirl."
ZOEgirl's first, self-titled release was released on August 15, 2000. While most of the songs talk about their relationship with God, "Give Me One Reason" is about refusing to choose someone else over God, and "Stop Right There" is written to Satan about not being his property, and instead walk towards Jesus.
"I Believe" and "Living For You" both obtained the #4 position on the Adult Contemporary chart, while "Anything Is Possible" obtained the #8 position on the Contemporary Hits chart.
The album itself peaked at position #8 on the Billboard Heatseeker's Chart and sold over 350 000 copies by the end of 2003.
. Christian Music Today said that it "may well be the best Christian teen pop album released to date".
The single "With All Of My Heart" obtained the #1 position for 3 weeks on the CHR Charts, and featured in the top 5 on AC radio charts.
Over 120 000 copies of this album were sold during the first six weeks of its release, and nearly 370 000 copies were sold by the end of 2003.
to pop rock
, Different Kind of FREE
was released. This is the most critically acclaimed album from ZOEgirl, mainly due to its lead single "You Get Me
" and the Radio Disney
single "Feel Alright". Another factor leading to this album's success is the music video filmed for "You Get Me".
However, the single "About You" was not as successful as "You Get Me
"; it peaked at position #5 on both the Hot Christian Songs and AC chart. "Scream" was on the AC charts only for a week, where it peaked at position #40. On the CHR charts, it reached position 25.
They participated in a "Hope 4 Samoa" concert on October 8, 2009. They sang on The Katinas Friends and Family cruise to Mexico in 2010 before disbanding, probably because Kristin Schweain was expecting a child. On September 22, Kristin gave birth to her first son, Callum Ryan Moses Schweain.
Remixes of two other ZOEgirl songs can be found on the Life single
Alisa Childers
Alisa Childers is an American singer-songwriter. She is known for being in the all female group ZOEgirl. She has had a string of top ten radio singles, four studio releases, and received the Dove Award from being with ZOEgirl...
and Kristin Swinford-Schweain. In 2002, ZOEgirl received a GMA Dove Award for New Artist of the Year
New Artist of the Year (Dove Award)
Winners of the Gospel Music Association Dove Award for New Artist of the Year are the following:* 2011 Chris August* 2010 Sidewalk Prophets* 2009 Tenth Avenue North* 2008 Brandon Heath* 2007 Aaron Shust...
. Before disbanding, the band released three more studio albums, as well as a remix album
Mix of Life
Mix of Life is the remix album. This is the fourth album released by ZOEgirl, featuring songs from the Life single and album, as well as their self-titled album.-Track listing:#Dismissed...
and a limited edition single. More recently, they reunited for a two-hour interview on The Brian Mason Show.
Name meaning
The name ZOEgirl comes from the greek word zoe, which, in the New TestamentNew Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
, means life. Through their music, ZOEgirl talks about life in Christ.
Making the group (1999)
Norman Miller, an artist manager for groups such as AvalonAvalon (band)
Avalon is an American contemporary Christian vocal quartet who has earned multiple RIAA-certified gold records, sold four million albums, and released 22 number one Christian hits.- 1995–1997: Formation of Avalon and A Maze of Grace :...
, said one day: "I see a need for a girls pop group." He knew Alisa Childers
Alisa Childers
Alisa Childers is an American singer-songwriter. She is known for being in the all female group ZOEgirl. She has had a string of top ten radio singles, four studio releases, and received the Dove Award from being with ZOEgirl...
since 1977, when she was two years old, and "decided to build the [girl] group around her." Together with Lynn Nichols, a writer and executive producer, they approached Kristin (Swinford) Schweain, who was then part of a jazz group. Nichols said: "She [Alisa] had a real writing sensitivity. Then we heard Kristin sing and play the piano. She had a pure pop voice, and it was a really interesting mix with Alisa’s more gritty style. Then we said, ‘Let’s just see what unfolds.’" Schweain felt that it was a difficult decision for her to choose between her jazz group and this new opportunity in a girl group: "I felt like I was betraying them [her previous group], but at the same time I felt a pull to ZOEgirl and felt led to meet Alisa." She ultimately decided to join the girl group.
They wanted a third member, so Kristin remembered that her friend had "a friend in Atlanta who was playing in a band and working with some musicians." Nichols recalls: "It sounded kind of flaky, but I told Kristin to give her a call." This girl from Atlanta was Chrissy (Conway) Katina, who "was on the verge of signing a major record deal." Katina said: "My lawyer thought I was crazy for wanting to join a Christian group. He told me I’d never make any money." Regardless, she chose to become the third member of the group, which has yet to be named.
ZOEgirl (2000)
The girl group signed to Sparrow RecordsSparrow Records
-Background:Sparrow Records was founded in 1976 by Billy Ray Hearn, then A&R director at Myrrh Records. Purchased by EMI in 1992, it is now part of the EMI Christian Music Group, and has been named by Billboard Magazine as "America's Best Christian Music Record Label"...
but needed a name. Their original name was simply "ZOE", all in capital letters, their favourite from a list of possible names they have made. However, there was already a trademark for this name, so they added the suffix "girl" in minuscule letters to form the name "ZOEgirl."
ZOEgirl's first, self-titled release was released on August 15, 2000. While most of the songs talk about their relationship with God, "Give Me One Reason" is about refusing to choose someone else over God, and "Stop Right There" is written to Satan about not being his property, and instead walk towards Jesus.
"I Believe" and "Living For You" both obtained the #4 position on the Adult Contemporary chart, while "Anything Is Possible" obtained the #8 position on the Contemporary Hits chart.
The album itself peaked at position #8 on the Billboard Heatseeker's Chart and sold over 350 000 copies by the end of 2003.
Life (2001-2002)
The release of Life on November 20, 2001 was better acclaimed than the self-titled albumZOEgirl (album)
ZOEgirl, released in 2000, is the first studio album from Christian girl group ZOEgirl. It was released on August 15, 2000 through Sparrow Records. "I Believe", "Anything Is Possible", "No You" and "Living For You" were released as radio singles....
. Christian Music Today said that it "may well be the best Christian teen pop album released to date".
The single "With All Of My Heart" obtained the #1 position for 3 weeks on the CHR Charts, and featured in the top 5 on AC radio charts.
Over 120 000 copies of this album were sold during the first six weeks of its release, and nearly 370 000 copies were sold by the end of 2003.
Different Kind of FREE (2003-2004)
After a drastic musical change from bubblegum popBubblegum pop
Bubblegum pop is a genre of pop music with an upbeat sound contrived and marketed to appeal to pre-teens and teenagers, produced in an assembly-line process, driven by producers, often using unknown singers.Bubblegum's classic period ran from 1967 to 1972...
to pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
, Different Kind of FREE
Different Kind of FREE
Different Kind Of FREE is the third studio album from Christian girl group ZOEgirl. It was released on September 16, 2003 through Sparrow Records and was produced by Lynn Nichols, Robert "Aurel M" Marvin, Damon Riley and Tedd T. "You Get Me", "Beautiful Name" and "Feel Alright" were released as...
was released. This is the most critically acclaimed album from ZOEgirl, mainly due to its lead single "You Get Me
You Get Me
"You Get Me" is the first single from ZOEgirl's third studio album, Different Kind Of FREE. It was written by Chrissy Conway-Katina and her then-lover, now-husband James Katina....
" and the Radio Disney
Radio Disney
Radio Disney is a radio network based in Burbank, California and headquartered out of the Disney Channel headquarters on West Alameda Ave., from where it has been based since November 2008. Prior to that, the network was based in Dallas, Texas...
single "Feel Alright". Another factor leading to this album's success is the music video filmed for "You Get Me".
Room to Breathe (2005)
ZOEgirl released their final album, Room to Breathe, on January 1, 2005. The album peaked at position 108 for the Billboard 200, and at position #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, making this the most successful ZOEgirl album ever.However, the single "About You" was not as successful as "You Get Me
You Get Me
"You Get Me" is the first single from ZOEgirl's third studio album, Different Kind Of FREE. It was written by Chrissy Conway-Katina and her then-lover, now-husband James Katina....
"; it peaked at position #5 on both the Hot Christian Songs and AC chart. "Scream" was on the AC charts only for a week, where it peaked at position #40. On the CHR charts, it reached position 25.
Disestablishment (2006)
On September 2006, by means of their now-defunct ZOEgirl fan club site, the group announced that they would quit recording music as a group so that members could tend to their personal objectives.- Chrissy Conway-Katina had a baby, and was writing and recording for a solo album titled Beautiful Redemption, though this album was never released.
- Alisa ChildersAlisa ChildersAlisa Childers is an American singer-songwriter. She is known for being in the all female group ZOEgirl. She has had a string of top ten radio singles, four studio releases, and received the Dove Award from being with ZOEgirl...
has released her own self-titled albumAlisa Childers (album)Alisa Childers is the self-titled debut album by former ZOEgirl member Alisa Childers. The album was released on December 1, 2007, and is also available online for download.-Track listing:#The Truth Is...#Take It From Me#Skeletons#I Say#Bar On 59th...
on December 1, 2007. - Kristin Swinford-Schweain gave birth to a baby on February 13, 2007, and recorded her own album, "Days Of Eden".
COLMANblue (2008-2010)
In 2008, Chrissy formed a new group, COLMANblue, with Kelli Trontell. On September 3, 2008, the group announced that a third member would be part of the band, without mentioning her name. Three days later, it was confirmed that Kristin Schweain was the third member.They participated in a "Hope 4 Samoa" concert on October 8, 2009. They sang on The Katinas Friends and Family cruise to Mexico in 2010 before disbanding, probably because Kristin Schweain was expecting a child. On September 22, Kristin gave birth to her first son, Callum Ryan Moses Schweain.
Radio interview (2011)
After more than four years of inactivity and separation, ZOEgirl reunited on February 27, 2011 for an interview on The Brian Mason Show. The group made no plans to create music together, but says that it is still possible.Discography
- ZOEgirlZOEgirl (album)ZOEgirl, released in 2000, is the first studio album from Christian girl group ZOEgirl. It was released on August 15, 2000 through Sparrow Records. "I Believe", "Anything Is Possible", "No You" and "Living For You" were released as radio singles....
- LifeLife (ZOEgirl album)Life, released in 2001, is the second album by the American Christian pop rock band ZOEgirl.-Track listing:All the songs from Life were either written or co-written by at least one ZOEgirl member.-Song by song:...
- Different Kind of FREEDifferent Kind of FREEDifferent Kind Of FREE is the third studio album from Christian girl group ZOEgirl. It was released on September 16, 2003 through Sparrow Records and was produced by Lynn Nichols, Robert "Aurel M" Marvin, Damon Riley and Tedd T. "You Get Me", "Beautiful Name" and "Feel Alright" were released as...
- Room to Breathe
Remix Album
- Mix of LifeMix of LifeMix of Life is the remix album. This is the fourth album released by ZOEgirl, featuring songs from the Life single and album, as well as their self-titled album.-Track listing:#Dismissed...
Remixes of two other ZOEgirl songs can be found on the Life single
Awards
ZOEgirl Press
- ThoughtQuotient.com Interview with ZOEgirl (archive)
- About.com Interview with ZOEgirl
- 30-CC Interview with ZOEgirl (video)
- InTheTimes.com Interview with ZOEgirl (video)