Janelle Reinhart's new day

Local singer releases album, appears at WYD, has baby on the way

By RENATO GANDIA
WCR Staff Writer
Radway

There is more. The 22-year-old expectant mother wants to contribute high-quality Catholic music both locally and nationally.

"We wanted to put out something that will speak to the heart of young people, both those that are following Christ and those that are not," Reinhart told the WCR in an interview.

Her first solo album called New Day, released in Toronto during the World Youth Day, sold more than 3,000 units in its first week of release.

"I want to prepare now for what I will be living in eternity." - Janelle Reinhart

For an independent recording artist this is quite an accomplishment because in Canada a good independent record would normally sell 1,000 units per year.

Since WYD, Life Visions Communication has been receiving requests from stores in the U.S. that want to carry her album.

Of the 11 tracks in the pop-rock Christian album, seven songs were written by Canadian songwriters, including Quebec's Father Robert Lebel, who penned The Light of the World, the official WYD theme song.

Gerald Montpetit and John Connelly both contributed some songs to the album while Janelle and her husband, Jason, composed two songs.

"We thought it's appropriate to call the album New Day, because there are so many new things happening in my life in this past year."

The young singer, who grew up in Legal, believes Christ has been a part of her career. "There's no way that I could have accomplished what happened this year by myself," she said.

Because of her talent, a lot of people ask, "Why do Christian music, when you can very well be a mainstream recording artist?"

"Christ really is my reason for living, my ultimate purpose. In reality our life here on earth is fleeting and I want to prepare now for what I will be living in eternity," Reinhart said.

Her goal is to make sure everything she does on earth helps out towards her journey to God. Needless to say, she would not trade Christian songs over secular songs.

"That's really what I want to convey and I want to encourage the people to do as well."

Convinced that life on earth can be a difficult journey, she claims Jesus as her strength. "It is a great journey when you're doing it for Christ."

Presently, her single track Everlasting, an upbeat ditty, ranks number five on a Calgary radio station and is being played on the air waves in Ontario while Edmonton radio stations are still to air her songs.

She doesn't mind her songs being played on secular radio stations because that's part of her mission: to reach out to people who don't know Christ.

However, she doesn't want to compromise her message. Reinhart is also a spokesperson for Christian Child Care International.

During the WYD in Toronto Reinhart performed at various locations including Exhibition Place and Downsview Park, where the main events were held.

More than six months pregnant at that time, she did not seem to lose energy. In between performances the friendly singer willingly signed autographs for pilgrims.

When the WCR talked to her after a concert in Toronto she mentioned how a lot of people have been blessed to see her perform in spite of her pregnancy.

"Some people told me it was such an amazing witness. So the baby itself has been doing ministry even without knowing it."

Although physically exhausting and very emotionally taxing being a pilgrim-performer was an incredible experience for Reinhart.

Being on the stage, seeing thousands upon thousands of people gave the expectant mother a "real sense of the universality of the Church."

"It was really touching. I don't think I'll forget that. It was very grace-filled.

New Day can be purchased by calling Toll-Free 1(866) 286-LIFE(5433) or visit http://www.Janelle.cc.

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