Pastor, songwriter, recording artist, and founder of The Garden Worship Center, Norman Lee Schaffer is embarking on an exciting new chapter with the launch of Twang Worship Music Inc., an independent record label dedicated to championing Christian Country Gospel music. Backed by a catalog of more than 100 original songs and a passion for sharing the Gospel through authentic country storytelling, Schaffer believes a new wave of faith-filled country music is on the horizon. In this exclusive interview, he reflects on the vision behind his new label, the ministry that has shaped his songwriting, the inspiration for his upcoming album, and why he believes there's never been a better time to worship Jesus "with a little twang."
Q: Congratulations on launching Twang Worship Music Inc.! What inspired you to start your own independent record label, and what vision do you have for it beyond releasing your own music?
Thank you very much we are excited about the new adventure here at The Garden Worship Center. I have 100 songs that I wrote in my catalog starting from 2003, and I am working on the new album with 10 more songs so it seems like the next logical step was to start an Independent label as a brand to house and market the music. In the future we hope to release not only my music but other artists as well.
Q: You've described this as part of a coming "Christian Country Gospel Music Revival." What do you believe is fueling the renewed interest in the genre, and why do you think this is the right moment for its resurgence?
We perform these songs, this style, this genre not only at The Garden Worship Center church services but also in concert at other churches. People love the easy straight forward lyrics and the country blend of instruments in the songs. There is all kinds of music and we are giving people just one more way to sing, praise and worship Jesus with a little Twang!
Q: As a pastor, songwriter, recording artist, and founder of The Garden Worship Center, how do those different roles influence one another, and how does your ministry shape the songs you write?
There is no question that being a Pastor for 16 years has certainly made me a better writer of Christian songs. There is also no question that being a pastor for 16 years has certainly made me a little bit more crazy.
Q: You now have a catalog of more than 100 original songs produced by Trace Collins. How did that songwriting journey unfold, and what have you learned about communicating the Gospel through country music?
The journey started back in 2003 when I took the song "God Is With Me" the first Christian song I wrote to Trace Collins' recording studio and after we cut it, we liked it so much we did 99 more. Up until that first song I only wrote country songs. I was always and will always be a big fan of country music. Country music is about telling a story and that's what Country Christian music should be. Telling the greatest story ever told! Jesus Saves!
Q: Your upcoming album will be the first major release from Twang Worship Music Inc. What can listeners expect from the project, and are there any songs that hold special significance for you?
We are pulling out all the stops on this project. Trace Collins, Ronny Cates and myself are in Super Twang Overdrive. All 10 songs are up tempo on the album except for one ballad. My personal favorite is the song called "Twang Worship" which will be the first single released.
Q: Looking ahead, do you see Twang Worship Music Inc. becoming a home for other Christian Country Gospel artists as well? What are your long-term hopes for the label and its impact on the genre?
Our goal is to keep the brand alive and move forward promoting, marketing and creating my music globally and hopefully other artists along the way. No matter where we go or what we do God gets all the Glory.
Connect with Norman Lee Schaffer:
https://www.facebook.com/normanlee.schaffer
https://www.instagram.com/normanleeschaffer/
