Southern girls at heart, the Foto Sisters call Baton Rouge, Louisiana their home. For over seventeen years, this classically-trained sibling trio has grown up singing and performing at many different venues, including churches, conferences, schools, cantatas, weddings, and charity events. They have studied music with many internationally acclaimed artists, including Louisiana State University professors, cellist Daniel Lelchuk, and violinist Borislava Iltcheva. In their music, we can experience their love for people and passion for Biblical truths. From music videos to the stage, they have one goal, and that is to point others to the only Savior, Jesus Christ! Kevin Kapchinski interviews the Foto Sisters - Katelyn and Gaylyn - in this episode of ‘Beats’.

Home-schooling led them to discover the music that they love so much today. Each of the three sisters plays a very unique role when putting together a song. When their sister Adelyn who would also sing and play the viola and piano with them retired, the band was at a loss but the sisters fondly cherish her new life with her husband and children. Coming from a family of first-generation believers, faith was a very important part of their lives.

The Foto Sisters were invited to perform for the National Day of Prayer held at the Louisiana State Capitol, appearances at the Louisiana Governor’s Prayer Breakfast, a performance at the National Quartet Convention, regular appearances at the Creation Museum, and performing the United States National Anthem at two NFL games. They have also had the opportunity to perform with many nationally acclaimed artists.

In addition to their regular appearances as a trio, the sisters have individually won concerto competitions, soloing with the Rapides Symphony Orchestra and the Louisiana Youth Orchestra. They have also held leadership positions as concertmaster, principal violist, and principal cellist in the Louisiana Youth Orchestra. 

Episode Breakdown:

03.00 - The Journey of Music

08.00 - A Childhood Faith Life

09.45 - The Musical Process

12.42 - The Role of Each Sibling

14.00 - Making of In God We Trust?

18.33 - The Holy Spirit’s Working

Songs:

1.I Will Wait For You

2.Our Father

3.In God We Trust?

4.The Shepherd Knows Your Name

5.It Is Well My Soul

Ever wonder what it takes to be a Christian music artist in a world that is engrossed in secular music? The life of a Christian music artist is one of excitement, fear, joy, and challenges. Here is a peek into the life, faith, and music of the Foto Sisters.

Foto Sisters: https://www.fotosisters.com/

Shalom World: https://www.shalomworld.org

Support us: https://shalomworld.org/donate

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalomworldpodcasts/

Teresa Peterson is a worship leader, speaker, and singer/songwriter. She has played at a number of major festivals, and conferences. She openly shares the struggles she has faced in her walk of faith and her music to inspire hope and courage for what is to come. With a wealth of musical experience, Teresa Peterson draws people into God's presence; her intimacy with God shines through her music. Kevin Kapchinski interviews Teresa Peterson in this episode of ‘Beats’ 

Teresa grew up in a musical family and her father was a worship leader as part of the Charismatic Renewal in the 70s. She started pursuing secular music singing songs that were honest but, God had other plans for her. 

During Adoration at a NET Retreat, Teresa heard the Lord’s voice loud and clear: “Teresa, I want you to sing for Me and I want you to sing for them.” From that moment on, she carries and fosters the words of God. Teresa strives to serve the Lord and bring His beauty and goodness to all she meets. Worshiping God and creating an intimate atmosphere for God to move drives Teresa’s passion.

In 2014, Teresa Teresa Peterson joined her prayer to her craft and this gave way to writing songs and leading worship where the heart of Jesus can be tangibly encountered. 

Episode Breakdown:

02.31 - Catholicism and Music

05.50 - Carry and Foster the Word of God

08.35 - The Support of the Family

10:35 - Working of the Spirit

13.50 - He’s Calling Me Higher

15.00 - Most Inspirational Song 

Songs:

1.Faithful

2.He Makes All Things New

3.Calling Me Higher

Ever wonder what it takes to be a Christian music artist in a world that is engrossed in secular music? The life of a Christian music artist is one of excitement, fear, joy, and challenges. Here is a peek into the life, faith, and music of Matt Faley.

Teresa Peterson: http://www.teresapetersonmusic.com/

Shalom World: https://www.shalomworld.org

Support us: https://shalomworld.org/donate

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalomworldpodcasts/

Matt Faley, an Indianapolis-based singer-songwriter, is the Chief of Mission for the Diocese of Peoria. He has been working in ministry full-time since 2008, with 10 years as director of a young adult ministry outreach and 3 years as executive director of the archdiocese’s Secretariat for Pastoral Ministries. He has enjoyed sharing his songwriting and leading music at youth rallies and conferences around the country. Hannah Martin interviews Matt Faley in this episode of ‘Beats’ 

Starting with a guitar and a drum set in 7th grade, Matt Faley followed his desire to become a musician. To him, the Lord made it clear that music was his path; the effect that his music and lyrics had on his audience gave him the affirmation that music was given to him to be shared. Through Matt’s music, inspired by the Holy Spirit, he is able to share what God’s people want to hear.

Growing up, though he was slipping away from the faith, Matt had a moment of surrender in his life that led him back to God. In the midst of this, he experienced a spiritual re-awakening of his gifts to be shared with the world. He shares the message of “vulnerability and authenticity” with the sharing of his heart with his listeners. 

In Matt Faley’s project, we get to see a side with love songs and another with praise and worship songs. The song “The Little Things” was inspired by his marriage and the little things that came with it; we “find the depth of God’s heart in those little things.” The Marian songs that Matt Faley writes come from deep reflections on the humanity of Mother Mary.

Episode Breakdown:

01:22 - A Desire for Music

03:58 - A Song Written for Me

06:50 - A Moment of Surrender

08:56 - The Fullness of Self in Music

11:35 - Inspiration for “The Little Things”

16:20 - A Devotion to Mother Mary

Songs:

1.Ave Marie

2.On My Own

3.The Little Things

Ever wonder what it takes to be a Christian music artist in a world that is engrossed in secular music? The life of a Christian music artist is one of excitement, fear, joy, and challenges. Here is a peek into the life, faith, and music of Matt Faley.

Matt Faley: http://www.mattfaley.com/

Shalom World: https://www.shalomworld.org

Support us: https://shalomworld.org/donate

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalomworldpodcasts/

Marie Miller is a folk/pop singer/songwriter and recording artist living in Nashville, TN. Amazon and Apple Music playlisted Miller’s singles, and her song, “Imaginary Friend,” surpassed 300 thousand streams in its first two months on Apple Music alone. Miller performed for Pope Francis during his 2015 visit to Philadelphia, opened for the BackStreet Boys, toured with American Idol winner Kris Allen and singer/songwriter Five For Fighting, and had songs featured on pop radio and ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. Kevin Kapchinski interviews Marie Miller in this episode of ‘Beats’.

Growing up in a Catholic family, music, and church helped Marie grow into her faith. At 15, she read St. John Paul II’s Letter to Artists and realized that her love for music was God pursuing her through beauty; Jesus was the One whom she was searching for, the Divine Artist. Her style of music is greatly influenced by the music she listened to as a child and the music her father shared with her. Her surroundings and nature highly influence her style of music too. Marie also plays string instruments like the Bouzouki and the Mandolin. 

In 2018, as her relationship with Jesus was growing, Marie Miller took a step toward being an independent artist; she wanted to create music that talked about Jesus. Her album, Little Dreams’ has songs that encounter moments of doubt, failure, and brokenness; the songs speak about the Father’s love despite all insecurities. Through this album, Marie asks listeners to acknowledge their own spark - the one God created them for, the motivating force that reminds us all why we’ve been put on this earth.

In this Christmas special episode, Marie Miller also speaks about her favorite Christmas song, Away in a Manger, and other Christmas memories.

Episode Breakdown:

02:48 - Making Her Faith Her Own

05:30 - The Strings of Music

08:42 - Choosing to Make Christian Music

11:33 - Making of Little Dreams

14:36 - The Old vs. The New

17:55 - A Christmas Memory

Songs:

1) Angeline

2) Too Late Baby Cover

3) Boardwalk

4) 6’2

5) Little Dreams

6) Silent Night

7) You’re Not Alone

Ever wonder what it takes to be a Christian music artist in a world that is engrossed in secular music? The life of a Christian music artist is one of excitement, fear, joy, and challenges. Here is a peek into the life, faith, and music of Marie Miller.

Marie Miller: https://www.mariemillermusic.com/

Shalom World: https://www.shalomworld.org

Support us: https://shalomworld.org/donate

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalomworldpodcasts/

Francesca LaRosa is a Catholic composer and singer-songwriter who began playing music at Masses with her family when she was 9. While she was the music director at her home parish, she started writing the Psalms and her Mass setting to be used there. Soon, she started filming them to make sheet music videos. Her mission is to help others grow in their faith through music. Francesca continues to compose USCCB and ICEL-approved Psalms in multiple styles and languages creating resources for music directors and cantors. Hannah Martin interviews Francesca LaRosa Rohrer in this episode of ‘Beats’.

Francesca wrote her first song when she was in 8th grade and her first album was recorded when she was in high school - this was an album based on the parts of Mass. Her passion for music and her interest in teaching led to her degree in Music Education. She was offered the role of Music Director at her home parish which completed the full circle in her life.

Her faith comes from her mother who taught her to pray the Rosary and her father who was passionate about music ministry. With musically talented siblings, they even had their own family band! Serving God with their gifts was very important to them as a family. Her personal relationship with God stemmed from her loneliness as a teenager.

Her missionary heart that wanted to work with children created a Children’s Choir so that she could help them through middle school. Her song Into Your Hands was written for a Good Friday production at her school, it came from imagining Jesus being placed in Mother Mary’s hands after birth and after death. In going to Adoration, Francesca felt a pull to gaze upon the Lord and experience a love story between her and the Lord; this was the inspiration for Let Me Sit at Your Feet.

With her music, she hopes that anyone who listens will be inspired to go to the Adoration chapel with their problems.

Episode Breakdown:

06:12 - The Amazing Faith

08:30 - Building the Children’s Choir

09:46 - The Meaning of Into Your Hands

13:28 - Why Christian Music?

17:18 - Writing a Hundred Psalms!

18:07 - Writing Let Me Sit at Your Feet

Songs:

1.We Are

2.Beautiful Miracle

3.Into Your Hands

4.Let Me Sit at Your Feet

Ever wonder what it takes to be a Christian music artist in a world that is engrossed in secular music? The life of a Christian music artist is one of excitement, fear, joy, and challenges. Here is a peek into the life, faith, and music of Francesca LaRosa.

Francesca LaRosa: https://francescalarosa.com/

Shalom World: https://www.shalomworld.org

Support us: https://shalomworld.org/donate

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalomworldpodcasts/

Hannah Schaefer is a compelling Contemporary Christian Artist in the Catholic Church. She is a passionate speaker & a multi-international award-winning singer/songwriter. From winning the Teen Singing Category at the ARTS international talent showcase at the age of 15 to her 2020 release of “Who I Am”, Hannah has served the Lord with music for 10 years. Hannah has opened for renowned artists such as Matt Maher, Matthew West, Fr. Rob Galea, Mac Powell, Building 429, and more, touring internationally and across the United States. Hannah Martin interviews Hannah Schaefer in this episode of ‘Beats’.

Hannah has been singing and dancing since the age of one and she has loved it ever since. When she was 10, her mother took her to watch “Wicked” with the original Broadway cast in Chicago. At that moment, she knew that music was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life! She started writing poetry at the age of 13 when she was lonely and started pouring her heart out to God. She would then take them to her piano and play the keys that would make it a song.

Growing up, Hannah didn’t listen to a lot of Christian music; she was introduced to Pop music when she was in middle school and she fell in love with it. When she was older and had to decide what kind of music she wanted to make, she thought about the two most powerful things in her life - Jesus and Music. So, why not put them together? Looking back at her writing, she realized that they were all a cry out to the Lord. God purposefully pieced everything for her to be here.

Her song Who I Am was written at a time when Hannah was feeling defeated; the song is about self-worth. All the Way came from knowing that God was with her through the fears and the feeling of being unsure.

Episode Breakdown:

01:40 - A Powerful and Defining Moment

05:50 - A Calling to Music

11:19 - “Who Am I?”

12:40 - The Background of Who I Am

17:40 - The Story Behind All the Way

Songs:

1.All the Way

2.Keep Going - Joe Melendez ft. Hannah Schaefer

3.Who I Am

Ever wonder what it takes to be a Christian music artist in a world that is engrossed in secular music? The life of a Christian music artist is one of excitement, fear, joy, and challenges. Here is a peek into the life, faith, and music of Hannah Schaefer.

Hannah Schaefer: https://www.hannahschaefermusic.com/

Shalom World: https://www.shalomworld.org

Support us: https://shalomworld.org/donate

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalomworldpodcasts/

A calling to dive deeper into the heart of God with childlike surrender - this is Dana Catherine’s music. For as long as she can remember, Dana always loved to sing and began to write songs around the time she was in middle school. Blending captivating melodies with raw and honest lyrics, Dana wrote every song on her debut album. This singer/songwriter, speaker, and former youth minister from North Carolina travels throughout the U.S. to encourage and inspire others with her songs and witness. Hannah Martin interviews Dana Catherine in this episode of ‘Beats’.

Dana thought she was going to be a doctor but she had a problem with blood; so, she came to find out that this is not God’s mission for her life. During freshman year, she tried out for The X Factor because of her passion for music but things didn’t work out and she was devastated. Just before the producer said no, she heard two words, “Not yet”, in a small whisper; she brushed this aside. Over the next 4 years in college, she started seeking God’s will for her life. Senior year, she went to a concert where time stood still and God pointed at the stage and said “That’s what I want you to do.” From that point, she started writing songs just for God.

A month later, at Eucharistic Adoration, she laid it out in front of God and asked for His will in her life. The next day a man from her parish asked her if she would like to record a few songs; this was the start of everything. The Lord prepares our hearts for the call he has for us. Dana’s songs reveal what she was going through and they are her “cries to the Lord”. Her song, Surrender, was written to recommit her life to God as a child should. Dana wrote My Savior in Me at the beginning of her ministry; this was the first song she write for a record label. 

Aside from bringing people into a deeper relationship of trust and surrender to the Lord, Dana wants her music to bridge the gap between God and those who have shut the door on God.

Episode Breakdown:

00:29 - The Journey to Music

05:33 - Raw and Honest Feelings Bared Out

09:06 - The Background of Surrender

12:33 - Writing My Savior in Me

17:54 - Bridging the Gap

Songs:

1.Surrender Song

2.My Savior in Me

Ever wonder what it takes to be a Christian music artist in a world that is engrossed in secular music? The life of a Christian music artist is one of excitement, fear, joy, and challenges. Here is a peek into the life, faith, and music of Dana Catherine.

Dana Catherine: http://www.danacatherinemusic.com/

Shalom World: https://www.shalomworld.org

Support us: https://shalomworld.org/donate

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalomworldpodcasts/

Ever wonder what it takes to be a Christian music artist in a world that is engrossed in secular music? The life of a Christian music artist is one of excitement, fear, joy, and challenges. Here is a peek into the life, faith, and music of Aly Aleigha.

Aly Aleigha is an Indie-Folk Singer/Songwriter whose smoky voice and intimate lyrics have listeners tuning in since her musical career began in 2015, after graduating from the Franciscan University of Steubenville with a degree in Theology and Catechetics with a concentration in Youth Ministry. She received the “Emerging Artist Award” sponsored by Jeff Cavins & Relevant Radio in 2016. Hannah Martin interviews Aly Aleigha Schissel in this episode of ‘Beats’.

Aly speaks about the Catholic community in Duluth, MN being on fire and how she is blessed to be a part of that. Here, she worked with the Campus Ministry with Fr. Mike Schmidt and Youth Ministry at the Cathedral. Aly’s music is laced with theology rather than explicitly mentioning Jesus because she wants to present the listeners with the “fullness of authenticity”. She writes poetically expressing the heart of God in a way that we interact with other humans layering the Christian message within it.

Aly’s mission is to build up The Kingdom and use music to bind up the broken-hearted. Her song, Labyrinth, was written in her bedroom during a difficult time in her life; the Lord spoke to her in her brokenness saying that He was with her in the Labyrinth of life. Her song, Alabaster Walls, was written after Aly went scuba diving for the first time in Mexico; she related her experience to the story of St. Peter walking on water with Jesus. Waltz of the Traitor is mainly based on her own conversion experience.

Choosing to create Christian music was a childhood dream for Aly but she didn’t share her music until she was in college. God guided her through it when she asked her for a sign. She strongly believes that God has given her the gift of music and she has to give it all back to Him.

Episode Breakdown:

03:20 - The Layers of Music

04:55 - The Mission of the Music

06:25 - The Background of the Labyrinth

12:12 - Making of the Alabaster Walls

16:12 - Writing the Waltz of the Traitor

24:04 - Choosing Christian Music Over Mainstream Music

Songs:

1.Labyrinth

2.Alabaster Walls

3.Waltz of the Traitor

Bible References:

Isaiah 61:1-3 - “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…”

Aly Aleigha: http://www.aly-aleigha.com/

Shalom World: https://www.shalomworld.org

Support us: https://shalomworld.org/donate

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalomworldpodcasts/