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Offering fresh pop mixed with an urban flare, Stacie Orrico is using her platform to address the challenges facing her and her peers—issues like insecurity, peer pressure and anorexia. Drawing musical comparisons to mainstream's Christina Aguilera and Lauryn Hill, Stacie's message is filled with the hope she has found in Christ. She recently spoke with FamilyChristian.com about her music, her family and her desire to reach her generation for Christ.

FamilyChristian.com: Who are you and what are you about?

Stacie Orrico: I am 14 years old. My music is kind of like pop mixed with an urban R&B side. Starting out, we didn't know exactly what I wanted to do. I was 12 years old and still trying to define my style. The label was thinking a little bit more toward the pop side and I was thinking a little more toward the urban side and we kind of mixed it and it came together as this cool little R&B thing. It's been fun.

FamilyChristian.com: Who are your musical influences?

Stacie Orrico: When I was younger, I listened to Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion. When I got a little older all I listened to was alternative music. I was totally out of the whole R&B big ballad thing. It didn't make sense for me to sing alternative music, because I don't sound like that so I started getting back into the R&B music.

[Ever] since I saw Lauryn Hill in Sister Act II when I was in second grade, she's been my favorite as far as writing. She just blows me away! She's definitely my number one musical influence. As far as spiritual influences in Christian music, I would say Crystal Lewis—a lot of her songs especially. The ministry she has through her songs has really hit me.

FamilyChristian.com: You're pretty young to begin music career. What made you decide to record an album now?

Stacie Orrico: I get that question a lot. Even from the very beginning people were saying, "Stacie, you don't have to do this now. You're 12 years old; you've got your whole life. If you can sing now, you can sing for the rest of your life. You'll only get better." So I was sitting there thinking, "record deal—wait, record deal—wait." This could totally change things around, maybe for the better or for the worse. We knew nothing about the music. [We were] total music dodos. I was really thinking about that and praying about that. A few months later we still hadn't made any final decisions.

It was really on my heart one day and I put in the Crystal Lewis CD, Gold, and this song, "For Such a Time as This," came on. The lyrics are, "For such a time as this/ Isn't it much too great a risk/ I've never flown from the edge of a cliff/ Never walked on the water/ But if I turn away/ How will I know what I have missed/ How I waited all my life/ For such a time as this." I was sitting there thinking, God has given me this opportunity right now. He's placed it in my lap and He's trusting me with this, which is an honor in itself. Who am I to question if this is the right time? Who is my family to question? Who are the retailers to question? Since then it's been like, let's go for it. Let's do it and if it's in God's plan, He'll give me the words to say. It's not up to me. Paul couldn't do it on his own. David couldn't do it on his own. We all need Jesus. I'm going to need His strength and I'm going to need His help.

FamilyChristian.com: What has it been like to be a new artist?

Stacie Orrico: It's been fun. A lot of people ask me, "Is it so cool getting to meet all the artists?" It's kind of weird because my whole perspective has kind of changed. At first it was like, "Oh my gosh, they're artists!" Now, it's not that big of deal to meet them as artists anymore. I'm even more taken away by their hearts. Everybody is just so precious. Everybody is on your side and it's so cool that we're together and it's not a competition thing. They sing and do a pop thing and I sing and do a pop thing and it's so cool how we can just totally support each other. We're reaching the same age group, but it's a plus that I don't have to reach them all by myself. It's a major supportive family.

Genuine by Stacie Orrico

It's one thing for the people in the industry to know who you are, because they've heard about you earlier. I have friends calling me from the Christian bookstore because there's a poster on the wall. It's just weird. I had one girl come up to me in the mall and she was like, "Are you Stacie Orrico?" She had seen me sing somewhere. People know who you are when you've never met them. For them, through interviews and seeing you perform, they feel like they know you and you've never seen them before. It's really different, but it's awesome.

We all want heroes and we all want somebody to look up to. I was watching ER and there was this little boy who always dressed up as Superman. He thought he could fly and do all that. And it got me thinking about heroes and how we should be like that little kid wanting to be like our superhero and looking up to them so much and wanting to be just like them and dressing up like them and wanting to do what they do. God is that. God is a hero.

FamilyChristian.com: What would you share with parents of teenagers?

Stacie Orrico: I went away to camp this summer and had kids from all over the country telling me about the situations with their families and their parents. I just realized how much time [my parents] spend and invest in my life. They have invested so much time in my life and I feel that that has helped me. I wouldn't be able to do this if I hadn't had that time invested because it gives you that security and that confidence and dignity. I think that's really important.

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