By Teino Evans, Staff Reporter
Chang
LIKE MANY professional singers today, Ian Chang started out on his high school choir (Kingston College Chapel Choir, 1989-1996). However, he says his ministry as a gospel singer came after, in 1994, when he started to sing with the 'New Life Gospel Band'.
According to Chang his voice wasn't fully developed, as persons would describe his singing as 'annoying'.
That was before the leader of New Life Gospel Band, Leary Marshall, introduced him to the Portmore Vision Choir in 1997. There Chang got not only voice training, but also developed his confidence in professional singing.
He then joined Christ Ministries International (CMI), which is a combination of ministries, including dance, 'Psalming', intercession and teaching of the word.
"I saw a trend in my life, where God was really preparing me in terms of a solo ministry," Chang said. Hence, Chang sees his early experiences in these groups/ministries as a training ground.
While understanding the fact that God was preparing him and that there was a special calling on his life to minister, Chang started writing songs based on his own experiences and knowledge of the word. Chang said he would share his songs with people and they would encourage him to do recordings.
With inspiration coming from both international gospel artistes such as Dennis Jernigan and Michael W. Smith and Rayan Baugh and Ziggy Soul on the local scene, Chang embarked on a journey to spread the gospel through his singing.
"The first recording I did, Wind of the Spirit, was entered in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) song competition in 2000," Chang recalled. Despite not making it past the second round Chang was not deterred, as he later went on to record some other songs he had written.
DEBUT ALBUM
Chang has now released his 12-track debut album entitled Change My Heart, which he completed in January of last year. "It's mainly a praise and worship album, with two tracks being reggae-gospel," he described it. It is available at Sam Wisdom music store and a few others.
"In terms of the selling of the album, it has not done too well, but the reception from people has been good," he said. Many of the songs on the album, including Come Let Us Taste, Sweet Holy Spirit, I Love to Praise and Radically Ordered receive regular airplay.
While working on the production of his album, Chang has been involved with a number of other gospel artiste and groups. "I did back-up singing for persons like Ziggy Soul, Marvia Providence, Robert and Jeneive Bailey and Sandy Smith (finalist in 2002/2003 Gospel Song Competition)," he said.
Chang is currently working on his second album, which is being produced by Alex Martin-Blanken. In between that, however, he is a part of the recently formed 'For God', under the management of Johnny Clarke from the Katalys Band.
"Mi woulda like fi reach people all over the world with my music," Chang says, as he hopes that by his spreading the word, people can build a relationship with God.
Ian Chang, attends the Mountain View New Testament Church of God and has been a member there for over 11 years. He ensures that his contribution is counted, as he often leads praise and worship sessions and also sings on the youth choir.
