For most students, the closest they will get to a televised awards show is their living rooms. For April Nicole McInturf, a music freshman, the Country Christian Music Association Awards was a live reality.
On Nov. 6 McInturf, who goes by April Nicole in the music world, was in Nashville for the live broadcast of the awards show on the Great American Country channel. She was nominated for the “New Artist of the Year” and “Youth in Music” awards and also presented at the event.
“It was a really good experience for me,” she said. “I didn’t win, but I didn’t expect to win.”
Her single “Where You Are” reached number two on the Country Christian Music charts earlier this year and stayed in the top 10 for 11 straight weeks. She recorded this song and others during her senior year of high school at Parkview Baptist High School. Wade Sutherland, band director at Parkview Baptist, taught McInturf when she was part of the “Praise Team” choir at the school.
He said she possesses and is in command of “a unique and beautiful alto voice.”
McInturf said she has been writing songs since she was 13 and has been performing throughout the area, including Chelsea’s open mic night, and in church for years.
College has provided a much different experience for her. She said she had to audition twice before she was finally accepted to the LSU School of Music.
A music degree provides credibility, she said.”I’ve been singing opera [during school] and it’s really hard on my voice,” she said. “College is harder on my voice than any other subject.”
She and her band are a close-knit group with different tastes in music. While she lists her influences as Tom Petty and the Judds, her band has more rock roots.
Shane Madere, music education freshman, plays electric guitar in the band and said his influences are of the Dreamtheater and Police genre.
“I don’t adhere to country, but April lets us all be part of the creative process,” he said.
The rest of the band is made up of P.J. Comeaux, Benny Dichiara and Scott Davis, all University students.
McInturf is adamant about “not being a sellout” and remaining true to her Christian values.
She said she was offered a spot on the Louisiana Cavalcade but refused it because they wanted her to dress “inappropriately.”
“I was offered a contract to do strictly country, but I refused it because I wanted to do Christian music as well,” she said. “That’s why I chose an independent label because I don’t want to be something I’m not.”
With the mainstream success of recent artists such as Mercy Me and Stacie Orrico, a crossover is a possibility. McInturf plans to cross over into country to reach a bigger audience, but still will keep Christian songs on her album.
“People will listen to any music as long as it’s good,” she said.Being a labeled Christian artist presents its challenges. She said she, and all Christian artists, are held to a higher standard and when they mess up they are called hypocrites.
“I don’t drink, but I don’t judge people who do. We’re all human and make mistakes, so labeling Christian artists as hypocrites when they do something is wrong,” McInturf said.
She said the party atmosphere of college won’t change her attitude.
“It is possible to enjoy LSU and Tiger Stadium without drinking and still maintaining my Christian values,” McInturf said.For more information about McInturf’s music, visit aprilnicolemusic.com.