Sponsor Spotlight: Yancy Not Nancy

Today we are chatting with Yancy of Yancy Not Nancy.  She will be at The Declare Conference sharing her music with us and we thought we would introduce you and have you get to know her a bit.

What message do you hope comes across the loudest in your music?
That Jesus is the greatest. Living your life for Him is always the best way. You were made for a purpose and for your life to honor and bring praise to Jesus!

How did you get involved in children’s praise music?
My Dad was a children’s Pastor my whole life (He still is) So I grew up around it and a part of it in my local church. I started making music long before doing kids music. I stumbled into writing kids music because I wrote the theme song for a summer camp program for several years as well as sang on some projects for others and then thought, I could make a kids CD. So I did back in 2006. Definitely one step led to another, but increasingly it became more clear that was where I was seeing fruit and connecting the most was with kids. So by 2008 I was full-time making music for families!

Is Yancy your real name? Where did it come from?

Yes, it is. It means Englishman 🙂 It was my step-grand father’s last name. So it’s a family name for me. I love it!

When did you start writing songs?  What is that process like for you?

I started writing songs officially in my teen years. I did my first concert at 15, first CD at 17 and the rest is history. Each time it can be different. Sometimes I get to write just cause I’m inspired to do so and then other times it’s a scheduled appointment (like when I wrote “I Don’t Want to Go” recorded by Avalon. Other times I’m writing within a box drawn for me like when I write for Standard Publishing’s VBS curriculum or the First Look curriculum for preschoolers done in churches all around. There is something very specific they need it to say so a box is drawn and I work within that. On my “Roots for the Journey” project I started with a list of scriptures I wanted to include…sat at my piano and started putting those scriptures to music. So I guess the short answer is it all depends on the day!

What’s your favorite thing about doing music for kids?

That I get to be a small part in their journey of knowing and experiencing Jesus!

What was one of your favorite songs as a child?

I listened to CCM like nobody’s business. 🙂 Amy Grant, Cindy Morgan, Margaret Becker, Out of the Grey and Leslie Phillips were some of my all time childhood/teen faves. Of course dcTalk way back in the day. But, favorite song….hmm…oh geez, who am I fooling. I can’t name only one!

What is your favorite song now?

Landslide by Fleetwood Mac is one of my all time favorites and Desert Song by Brooke Fraser is one of my favorite worship songs, so timely for me. “I Stand Amazed” would be my favorite hymn to sing.

How can bloggers partner with you in spreading the word about your ministry?

Well, I can honestly say I want to partner with you and I need you to help be the voice that spreads the message about what I do. I realize the power of that personal recommendation and after a few dead ends with various publicists and such I realized the public is who is going to help me get my message and music out there. It’s a shame that I literally have had PR people come back and say “does she have more of a testimony that would make for a better story?”. Sad the media doesn’t congratulate kids who grew up in church and chose Jesus every step of the way…and now make kids music and is a mom of a two year old. I think it’s a great story and I’m proud of it…..I realized I need the help of normal people to tell my story when the press and media won’t.

Music is an amazing way to connect with kids. The songs they learn as kids stick in their brains (I can recite many Psalty, Colby and Donut man songs I learned as a kid). I love getting to have that same affect on this generation of kids, planting God’s word in their hearts knowing it will stick with them for years to come!  I’d love to partner with you and your blog. You can do reviews, interviews, testimonies of how your family loves the music. I’m open. I can offer giveaways and even an affiliate program. Thank you in advance for helping me tell other families about the music and resources I make. I’m just a girl who loves Jesus and wants to do all I can for this world to experience who Jesus is!

Make sure to stop by Yancy’s vendor table at Declare, pick up some of her music and chat with her about how you can partner together.