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Philippa Hanna speaks from heart in Norwich

International Christian singer-songwriter Philippa Hanna spoke from her heart to Network Norfolk before her concert last night (November 28) at the King's Centre in Norwich as part of the ChurchBigNightIn with Stuart Townend. Keith Morris reports.

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Philippa Hanna on supporting Lionel Richie: “I was blown away and terrified but thought that this was not something I could pass up on. It was epic, massive and just such a great opportunity.”
 
On her new album Through The Woods: “Is quite different for the Christian market in the UK. It is very folksy with fairy tale themes and trying to bring over ideas in a different way.”
 
On moving into the mainstream market: “I don’t have any kind of a plan. I just let God do the aiming. God has opened some great doors into the mainstream market. But it is not my intention to change my message or identity in any way.”
 
On her journey to faith: “I was very interested in the supernatural and had a bunch of books about angels and astrology. I was open spiritually and a bit vulnerable… I made some really bad choices about relationships and lifestyle and came out of my teenage years a bit jaded and disillusioned with life and struggling to get my musical career together.”
 
“I met some really nice purpose-filled Christians... and went to a worship meeting and found myself praying out of pure desperation. From the next day onwards this kind of chain of events unfolded which kind of spiralled upwards and before I knew it I was leading this full Christian passionate evangelistic life.”
 
On her Christian faith: “For me it is everything. I wouldn’t be here without it. I was in such a bad place and becoming a Christian just gave me life. I really couldn’t see past tomorrow without it.”
 
On writing very songs from the heart: “It is a way of working through emotions and experiences and is great that people can relate to them as well. It is quite an exposing thing… talking about my struggles about moving into a new faith.”
 
On Haiti visit with Compassion: “It was like being hit with a train of reality.”
 
On writing her autobiography, Following the Breadcrumbs: “I just put everything in there… the transition from being a broken and fed-up young woman… via tiny little miracles into the big miracle of a new life…”
 
On what’s next: “Supporting Wet, Wet, Wet, my own headlining tour in 2014 with the new album and book and hopefully recording some new material.”
 
On Norwich: “I will be back… I love this part of the world.”
 
Click on video above to hear the full interview and see pictures of Philippa and Roo Walker (pictured above) live in Norwich.
 
http://philippahanna.com

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