Like a New Testament parable, it all began in a dream.
I was in my dorm room and I was thinking about the band and went to sleep and I kept seeing the name Essence
said Sheldon Andrus, the gospel group's founder.
Andrus, an Ohio University sophomore who performs on keyboard and sings lead vocals for the group, formed Essence last year because he wasn't satisfied with any of the other Christian musical groups on campus.
I wasn't able to find (a group) that was really unique Andrus said. (Essence members) are all from everywhere and will perform anywhere.
In order to start his group, Andrus turned to Facebook.
In the search engine on Facebook I typed in 'Christian/playing bass' or 'God/ praise and worship' and 'Christian/drummer ' Andrus said. It's creepy but it works.
That was exactly how Andrus found his drummer, Malcolm Morgan, and many other members of the all-student group. Musicians include Chris Volpini on bass, Joshua Sawdey on saxophone and Zac Brown on keys. Singers include sopranos Mashawn Steen, Kanisha Jackson and Jessica Powell, tenors Leachuin Dean and Bobby Smith and altos Angelic Pinckney, Chidera Nwaokafor and Terri Link.
Being in church choirs and show choirs before they came to college brought the members of Essence together. Although the group performs gospel songs by major gospel writers, they also have a number of original songs written mostly by Andrus and Morgan.
While writing songs can often be a challenge, the band members said their biggest obstacle is delivering a Christian message to a wholly secular culture.
It is definitely a challenge
but that's part of the fun of this (group)
Morgan said. We hope our music will touch someone who comes to our shows G? if we do what we do well
people will come around.
Essence members said they hope to touch people with their music, especially those who do not expect to be affected by it.
My parents are Christian but are turned off by the church right now
Powell said. But my parents came to one of our performances in the Front Room last year and my Dad said 'I'm proud of you
good job' in more than just a you're-my-daughter kind of way G? I think the performance touched him.
Beyond Essence, the band loves to work with other groups. Andrus and Dean are both in Singing Men of Ohio and several members are active in their churches.
The group said they will be able to reach out to even more people by releasing a demo. They are recording their all-original songs with 3 Elliott Studios, and plan to release their CD this spring.
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