Breaking Away: When Group Members Have Separate Projects

Tricia Brock w/ Superchick

On Tuesday, Tricia Brock, the head singer of rock group Superchick, dropped her own album, The Road, her debut worship album. Recorded in between new Superchick records, The Road was produced by Brock's husband, Nick Baumhardt, who has also produced for Christian bands Stellar Kart and Thousand Foot Crutch. Listening to it now, it showcases another side of Brock; I've always seen her more in the pop/punk rock mode. With this record, she's more mellow, yet still powerful. "If you are a fan of Superchick, Zoe Girl, or Sheryl Crow, you may like this artist," suggests the Family Christian Stores website. CCM Magazine gave it a four-star review, saying, "The beautiful melodies, immediate hooks and resonant lyrics pervading Brock's solo debut, The Road, is a dynamite release and this large bandwagon is intended for far more than Superchick fans already in-house."

This week's release of The Road inspired me to find more artists that broke away from their well-known groups (temporarily or for good) to record their own sound. It's a move we always see in secular music, so it's no surprise that it happens in Christian music as well. Who knows why these artists broke away: maybe they wanted to expand their ministry; maybe it was just time to move on. Whatever the reason, these artists have turned out some great music throughout the years. Here's a short list of a few artists that broke away, if only for a little while:

Avalon (Today)

Avalon, with former members Jody McBryer (top right) and Melissa Greene (bottom right)

Avalon

-Present members: Janna Long, Greg Long, Jeremi Richardson, and Amy Richardson
-Notable past members: Jody McBrayer
-Side Projects: Greg Long has been working on solo projects even before joining wife Janna in Avalon in 2003. His last solo album was Born Again in 2004. Janna herself had a self-titled album in 2002. Also, McBrayer, who left Avalon in 2007 due to health issues, released This is Who I Am in 2002.

dc talk

Michael Tait's band, Tait

"Stereotype Me" was Kevin Max's first solo album.

Toby mac's newest album

-Members: Michael Tait, Kevin Max, and Toby McKeehan
-Side Projects: Although the group have been on break since about 2001, each member has been busy with their own projects. I have been blogging about McKeehan's solo projects since the beginning of this blog (you know him as TobyMac). Kevin Max have released five albums three EPs and is preparing material for his newest band "The Bad Omens." Michael Tait spent time with his own band, Tait, whose last album Loveology, is still unreleased. Michael is still attempting to release the album while he's fronting...

Newsboys (Today w/ Michael Tait as lead singer)

Newsboys, with former members Peter Furler (front center), Phil Joel (front right), Bryan Olesen (top right), and Paul Coleman (front left)

Newsboys

Bryan Olesen's band, VOTA

Paul Colman's newest album "History"

-Present members: Michael Tait, Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips 
-Notable past members: Peter Furler, Phil Joel, Bryan Olesen, Paul Coleman
-Side Projects: Tait replaced Peter Furler as front man for Newsboys in 2009 to focus on a solo career. His first album On Fire, will be released on June 21 and the first single, "Reach" is currently climbing the charts. Furler also worked with former band mate Phil Joel on a song from his latest album deliberateKids 2, which was released last year. Bryan Olesen created the band VOTA (formerly Casting Pearls), whose latest album VOTA Special Edition Digital Download was released in 2008. They are working on another album, but need help from their fans (I'll let them explain...) Paul Coleman has been recording his own music before, during, and after his time with Newsboys, releasing an album of cover songs in 2009.

BeBe and CeCe Winans' most recent album

BeBe and CeCe Winans 

-Members: Benjamin Winans and Priscilla Winans 
This brother and sister duo have been releasing albums since the 80s. However, both have done well with their solo albums since 1997. They reunited for the 2009 Grammy-winning Still. 

Know of any more Christian artists who broke out their groups to make their own sound?