Angela Kaset - ChristianMusic.com

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About Angela Kaset

After years of putting her beautiful, thought-provoking words in other people’s mouths, Angela Kaset’s debut album, “Underneath a Vincent Van Gogh Sky,” features eleven of her own songs with her own voice, which rivals that of any of the many stars who have performed them.

“Yeah, I’m my own FedEx now,” she tells ChristianMusic.com. Whether joking or contemplative, it’s easy to see, or rather hear, how she’s a gifted writer. Beautiful, clever lines flow from her naturally, as does the insight.

Though a native of Nashville, Angela’s songs are not typical of the company town. “I don’t do twang,” she jokes. “I was born without a twang.” Her first writer’s deal, in 1978, was with Tree Publishing, which was looking to start a pop division. That road, a little more paved than country, has been her home ever since, though she has been named the SESAC Country Songwriter of the Year.

Her most famous song perhaps, “Something In Red,” has become the theme song of country star Lorrie Morgan, and was also recorded by Broadway star Elaine Paige. Meanwhile, Wynonna Judd is performing her song “Peace in this House.”

“I had never spoken to Wynonna before. I was in New York and I got this message. Not a very good connection,” Angela says. “The woman on the other end said, ‘This is your Mama.’” Or at least that’s how it can sound when Wynonna pronounces her name. Angela called back and was less than accommodating until the true identity was revealed.

Right now, Angela says, Judd’s version of her song “Peace in this House” is her favorite. The feeling seems to be mutual. A video of Judd performing the song starts with her saying, “When I heard this song, it gave me a reason to continue to sing.” Such immense praise is echoed by Judd’s tears at the end of the song. Angela adds, “Wynonna sings it so beautifully, and sings it like she believes it. What more could any composer ask for?”

Though Judd plays guitar, of course, Angela accompanies herself on piano, which she’s played for only a little longer than she’s been writing. “I started playing when I was seven,” she says. “I loved it. The minute I got home from school, I would run to the piano. I’ve always performed. I’ve always had something to say. I don’t understand where people put it if they can’t write.”

One wonders, especially after hearing the album, why it took TenTen so long to have Angela perform her own music. “We’ve always had a wonderful relationship,” Angela says in response to questions along those lines, then adds, “On Wikipedia, I’d put their picture under perfect music publisher. They really do champion the music. I’m not using that term lightly. They champion the songs.”

The songs reflect a deeply spiritual person who is a Christian in spite of her fundamentalist upbringing. The song “Letter from God,” which some mistakenly believe was in response to the popular book “The Shack,” speaks volumes. “I literally had that dream. I was worried about how people weren’t getting along in the world,” Angela says.

The semi-autobiographical “Jesus with the Light Brown Hair” explains a lot. “I grew up in a very fundamentalist household,” she says. “They weren’t snake handlers or spoke in tongues, but they were just shy of that. ‘Iced tea laced with guilt…’” Angela adds, quoting from the song. “I used to lie awake at night, scared to death. I was worried that I was going to hell that night.”

“I’m a practicing Christian, but not in somebody’s four walls,” Angela says “Been there. Done that. If there is anything that describes me or my religion or my philosophy or my way of life, that’s it -- The Tender Middle -- If I approach everyone from that place, I don’t think I can go wrong.”