Rachael's Bio -

*What is your full name? Rachael Maureen Lampa.

* How old are you? When’s your birthday? Rachael is 17. Her birthday is January 8, 1985.

* What’s your ethnic background? Rachael is 50% Filipino (her dad was born in the Philippines), 25% Hungarian, and 25% Irish -- and completely awesome!

* How tall are you? “5 foot nothing.”

* How many sisters/brothers do you have? 1 sister and 2 brothers

* Are you still going to high school? Yes. Rachael is in her Junior year at Monarch High School in Louisville, Colorado.

* Where were you born? She was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and lived there for 7 years before moving to Louisville, Colorado, where she lives now.

* What activities do you enjoy? “Me and my friends are entertained really easily...we could sit around and just laugh for hours, but other than that, we love movies, go carts, snow boarding, sledding, jet skiing when it’s warm...anything really!!!”

* When did you realize God wanted you to sing for Him? Two days before Rachael was “discovered” at Estes Park by Word Records’ Brent Bourgeois, Rachael was at a youth conference. “I was at a youth conference and experienced something very powerful. It was the last night of the conference and I realized I hadn’t made the most of this weekend. So I got on my knees and asked God what He wanted for me, because it was just a time in my life when nothing was happening. Then, I was asked to go on stage and sing because there were people in the conference having emotional experiences. I felt that was God’s answer to my question, that He wanted me to help show people to His Word.” She realized then that God wanted to use her in this way. It’s been said “as if once Rachael’s eyes were opened to the power of her gift, God wasted no time throwing open the doors.” (Release Magazine).

* What’s your favorite Bible verse? 1 Timothy 4:12: “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example of the believers, in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

* What kind of church do you go to? Rachael is a Charismatic Catholic, and attends St. Louis Church in Louisville.


* What most helps keep you on your walk with God? “To keep a close walk with Christ, I just remember that I need to keep the communication going, I talk to Him all day like He is my best friend and I tell Him everything that’s bugging me and I know that He is listening.”

* What is your most embarrassing moment? When she was in Rome for World Youth Day performing with Cindy Morgan and Burlap to Cashmere in front of 40,000 people... “I was coming off the stage after singing, and I just fell! That has got to be the most embarassing thing I ever did. I’m just glad that not many people saw me.”

* What are your favorite colors? Blue and yellow.

* What’s your favorite song from your album? “Blessed” (because she wants to convey that we are all blessed, have our own God-given gift that He wants us to use for Him, and none of us are necessarily more important in His eyes. He gifts us differently, but equally.) and “Shaken.”

* Who are some of your favorite singers? Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Amy Grant, Leann Rimes, Faith Hill, Christina Aguilera, Jaci Velasquez, Crystal Lewis, Michael W. Smith, Point of Grace, Lenny Kravitz, Tim McGraw, Lauryn Hill (“I could go on and on...”).

* Who are your role models? “My parents. My Mom has determination, the drive and the passion to do things. My Dad is more laid back. He’s got a good heart. Both of those combined...I just want to be like that. And also Amy Grant because of the way she’s kept her audience in mainstream and in Christian. She’s always kept her fans...”

* Favorite song? “Just To See You Smile” by Tim McGraw

* Favorite movies? Dumb and Dumber, Tommy Boy

* Favorite TV show? “Friends”

* Favorite actor/actress? Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston

* Favorite subject? Lunch

* Favorite food? “I like so many things...I love ice cream...cookies and cream, strawberries with whipped cream and sugar.” Also cheeseburgers.

* Favorite fragrance? “My fav smell is this pear lotion from Victoria’s Secret!”

* Fashion favorites? “My favorite clothes are Guess, Laundry, American Eagle, and you can’t forget Abercrombie & Fitch! My favorite make-up brand is definitely M.A.C. My favorite hair care product would have to be Thermasilk because it is good for my hair when I blow dry. And if I don’t blow dry it, my hair gets all kinky!”

* What has been the hardest thing for you, being in the spotlight at such a young age? “Pretty much just getting used to stuff. It’s not that hard, though, because I have such awesome people around me -- my manager, my company, my family and my friends -- everybody has been helping me prepare. So there’s nothing really scary or hard about it. God’s doing it, and God’s going to be with me through it, and it’s just another way of living life.”

* What would you change about the world? Rachael said in Testify Magazine, “If I could change one thing about the world it would be the way the media portrays singers and performers. This is not about me; it’s about God.”

* What do you enjoy doing in your free time? “I really like to write lyrics or letters or anything in my spare time...I wish I had more time and discipline to read, I think it is such an inspiring thing.”

* Who or what influenced you to sing? “My faith has definitely been what inspires me to sing, I have felt God’s love and His calling so intensely that I would feel
out of place doing anything else.”

* Do you do any kind of singing exercises? “Yeah usually I make weird noises and stuff before I sing!”

* What’s the hardest song to sing from Live for You? “‘Blessed,’ but only like at the end of the concert when my voice is tired and stuff.”

* How did you get signed? In the summer of 1999, “I was invited to perform at a late night concert for ‘Praise in the Rockies’ in Estes Park. After my performance, I was approached by several record company executives.”

* How do you respond to critics who say you’re too young? “I’m sensitive when people bring up the point that we young artists aren’t as spiritually mature as older ones. We are all on a journey of faith, and no one is ever at their spiritual height until the day they set foot in heaven. We took action because God called us at an early age. The fact is, people of all ages are just beginning their journeys of faith, and I think people can grow with us instead of feeling like they are growing up to us.”

* How long have you been singing? Rachael has been singing since she learned how to speak. She first sang publicly at church when she was 5 years old (“When I was five years old at a big church in Ann Arbor, MI. There were probably about 500 people there. I was really, really, really nervous. My Mom told me that if I didn’t like it I would never have to do it again, but I walked out there and loved it and wanted to do it for the rest of my life.”) By age 10, she was singing the National Anthem at Colorado Rockies games.

* What is your vocal range? At least 3 1/2 octaves.

* Have you had voice lessons? “I took lessons when I was 11 for about a year. Then I quit. It was mainly breathing that I studied. It helps save my voice and not make me strain as much...keeps it healthy for a long time. I have started back up with a lady in Nashville...sounds, consonants, lots of things....”

* How long will you keep singing? “I am totally set on performing and ministering as long as this world will let me! I feel that God has called me to do much more than break in to the biz and sell a few records. I think God has placed an enormous calling on my heart, and I plan to continue listening to and following Him until I get to heaven.”

* Who would you most like to sing a duet with? Boyz II Men

* Who have you toured with? Rachael has toured with the cast and crew of the Child of the Promise in 2000, and has had concerts with Stacie Orrico, Boyz II Men, Jamie Slocum, FFH, Plus One, DJ Maj, Christopher Harris, Rebecca St. James and Joy Williams.

* When is the next album coming out? March 5, 2002.

* Do you play any instruments? “I teach myself some songs on the piano, and my brother tries to teach me on the guitar, but it’s never worked.” Rachael also played the violin for a while but “I hurt my own ears!”

* What songs did you sing in Estes Park that led to your being signed? Rachael sang a song she had just demoed called “Heart of an Angel” and “I Love The Lord” by Whitney Houston from The Preacher’s Wife Soundtrack.

* If you could sing in any other musical genre, what would it be? “It would be fun to record a Spanish album or song.”

* With all the time you spend on the road, who or what do you miss most? “Although my mom travels with me, I still miss my brothers and sister, hanging with my friends and going jet skiing. It can be hard sometimes, but I have absolutely no regrets, and I wouldn’t trade this life for anything in the world. In my first single, a line says, ‘I know it’s gonna take a sacrifice/ I live for you the rest of my life.’ I made the sacrifice of being away from home, but when God put that calling on my heart, I followed it immediately trusting Him to open the doors for me.”

* With all the competition, what makes your music stand out? “The lyrics of my songs go deeper than most of that in the mainstream market. I do have to say that at the same time, there are many artists in the mainstream that are doing a great job of keeping their music positive.”

* Do you want to reach the secular world? Although all of her songs are “totally Christian,” Rachael is willing to follow God’s will wherever He leads her. “I do want to reach out to the pop world, but if that crowd doesn’t like me, that’s fine. Because my ultimate goal is to get to heaven, and that’s all I really care about.” “I’m putting my trust in Him, and if that means staying in the Christian market, then I’ll do that; and if it means in the mainstream, then He’ll do that.”

* Do you get nervous before singing on stage? “I do get nervous on stage, I get nervous for smaller crowds, I have gotten used to larger crowds so I am used to that environment”

* What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a career in Christian music? “You need to pray about it. I know it may be hard right now to put a lot of trust into Someone you can’t see, but I KNOW for a fact that it will pay off immensely!” “It sounds like it would never work, but you just kinda gotta let things happen for themsleves. You have to take advantage of every opportunity that is put before you. Even if it seems like it’s not worth it...even if it means singing for a crowd of 10 people, one of them could easily have connections and if this is what God wants you to be doing, He will put that person in that crowd.”

Plus One's Bio -

Long before their remarkable Atlantic Records debut, The Promise, went gold, Plus One sang like a band, their vocals testifying to a truly distinctive ensemble power. These days, after two years on the road, they look, act, and even laugh like a band. Together, Nate Cole, Jason Perry, Jeremy Mhire, Nathan Walters and Gabe Combs trade quips, finish each other’s sentences, break up over inside jokes. It’s not just the funkier clothes and sharp haircuts that lend them the air of precociously seasoned musicians. It’s something intangible - a tested sense of commitment and purpose.
And while they’re grateful for their groundbreaking, out-of-nowhere success — there’s no resting on their laurels for these guys. They’re cognizant of the fact that Plus One was the top-selling Christian artist for 2000; they appreciate being honored as the 2001 GMA New Artist of the Year. They look back fondly on the 62 cities they visited on their first tour, opening for Jaci Velazquez. Even more thrilling was their own headlining tour, a 40-city venue and the first-ever tour sponsorship by Trans World Entertainment. They remember guest starring on "Days of Our Lives" and "Touched by an Angel," appearing on "Live with Regis and Kelly," and contributing to the Pokemon 2000 The Power of One Soundtrack. But what they’re really excited about is now.
Specifically, they’re blown away by the experience of making their new album, Obvious.
As Jason Perry explains, "The new album’s about being more specific. Getting down to earth. Applying our faith and our message to real life, to the ways that people live everyday."
"It’s just much more us," enthuses Nate Cole, "On 10 out of the 12 songs, at least one of us has a co-writing credit. We took a lot more ownership creatively. It’s a real move ahead."
"And everyone was really open to the changes. The label’s in complete support, as are the producers," adds Jeremy Mhire. "The album’s much more personal, down to the fact that many tracks were produced by our co-writers, people who had the best grasp of where we wanted to go stylistically."
Obvious builds on a legacy that was started just a short 2 years ago, and extends beyond it. The record drew together a roster of top-notch producers, including Guy Roche, Matthew Gerrard, Peter Zizzo, Klaus/Jeeve & Miklos Malek, Tedd T., Bernie Herms, Peter Kipley and Howard New. In addition to the stellar list of seasoned producers, Plus One members themselves built on their musical development with Gabe Combs producing a track ("Start To Fly") and Nate producing vocals ("Calling Down An Angel"). The group also lent its talents to the fastidious attention to songwriting and vocal expertise showcased through the project. Obvious reveals, in a sense, a new Plus One, a group who has genuinely "come of age."
Musically, with front-and-center guitars and even more infectious beats, Obvious strongly displays Plus One’s growth. "We experimented a bit more," Gabe comments. "We want to keep our tried and true audience, but also expand. And that’s like all good bands - you don’t stay the same, you reinvent yourselves."
Lyrically, that means the new assertiveness of songs like "Kick Me." "It addresses the fact that when people are having troubles," Nathan Walters says, "the tendency is often to pour salt in the wounds instead of carrying each others’ burdens."
"Going Crazy," also reflects a new depth. "It’s about "going crazy" (personally) if you don’t have a strong center, and not being grounded in your faith in Christ," he says. "A majority of our message on this project stems from meeting kids on the road and seeing what their struggles are," Nate then explains. "Their struggles and needs are real, and we wanted to address them and to write songs that bring them some encouragement."
Kicking off with "Camouflage," (a song about not being ashamed of who you are) and progressing through the gorgeous balladry of "You" and "Forever" to the essential honesty of "I Don’t Care" and the memorable "Calling Down an Angel," this is music that not only moves, but matters. As such, it serves as a sort of collective aural autobiography of the group itself.
Indeed, from the yearning power of "Use Me" to the rapturous "Under the Influence" to the questing spirit of "Who Am I," Obvious is Plus One not only stronger but more real than ever before.
Plus One began as the realization of a vision, a vision of music with a message. Renowned music executive Barry Landis, head of Atlantic Records Christian music division, and manager Mitchell Solarek recognized the individual talents of Nate, Jeremy, Gabe, Nathan and Jason and developed a vocal powerhouse whose values would make them inspired messengers in today’s tumultuous times.
"In the beginning," Jeremy reflects, "coming together as a group, our practice came through performance" — at first off-the-cuff gigs in small town churches to quickly playing before stadium-sized crowds." With three of the guys pastors’ kids, and the band members’ hometowns ranging from Madison, Indiana to Lakeland, Florida, life in the cosmopolitan ambience of the music business was a quick growing experience, but one that is proving to be the basis for a solid group of young men seeking to share their mission and their firmly built hope in Christ.
In the beginning also brought the opportunity for an unprecedented relationship with 14-time Grammy Award-winner David Foster, who brought together a virtuoso production team, and the development of a relationship that would soon prove to be a strong catalyst for a debut year of unprecedented success.
Plus One released The Promise in 2000, which soared to RIAA gold-album status in less than 10 months. Of the album’s superabundance of highlights, four consecutive radio singles went to #1 on the CCM charts: "Written on My Heart," "God Is in This Place," "My Life" and "The Promise." "Written on My Heart" also became the most requested song on the Disney Channel, while "Last Flight Out" hit the Top 5 at Radio Disney. The Promise also paved the way for Plus One’s extensive touring and widespread recognition.
Culminating this whirlwind debut year of personal growth and professional success, the content and focus of Obvious reminds us that, for Plus One, three qualities have always been deemed essential: camaraderie ("We’ve always said," insists Jeremy, "that we gotta keep it real, keep it honest"), singing with the utmost of soul, and a clear sense of mission.
Jason Perry elaborates: "Growing up singing in church we learned all about passion. You don’t just get up and sing a gospel song, you pour your heart out. You reach for the highest note you can get. As singers, we’re concerned about tone, sound, phrasing, whether the rhythm’s right ‘in the pocket.’ But mainly it’s about passion." The passion to persuade and inspire - a passion that’s only grown as Plus One have progressed. "You start out thinking that singing in front of 10,000 people is the ultimate success." Jason says, "Well, it’s great. But what’s really significant is singing when you’ve got something real to say — something from the heart."
That "something" remains a message of hope, of renewal, of new beginnings. Perhaps that message is best conveyed in one of their new songs, the glorious "Start to Fly" - "If you just look past your scars/ you will see that it’s not that far/ Don’t close your mind/ Let God inside/ Begin to breathe/ Start to fly…"