Mary Mary is onto something big

Home » A&E, Music

Mary Mary is onto something big

7 July 2011 No Comments

Mary Mary only has 10 minutes to tell me something big — pun intended. En route to a concert appearance in Washington, D.C., the acclaimed gospel duo consisting of sisters Erica and Tina Campbell, has limited time to spare and a lot to say. It only serves to underscore how far Mary Mary has come from its Inglewood, Calif. roots. “We definitely started out with high expectations. We’ve been blessed with everything that we’ve done,” says Erica.

While the sisters knew that they were destined for something greater, the commercial, personal and spiritual success they’ve achieved in a decade’s time as gospel ambassadors has been nothing short of astonishing. “I can’t say that it’s been exactly as we’ve planned,” admits Tina. “We had our plan, God has his and we met somewhere in the middle.”

But Mary Mary is careful to note that its measure of mainstream success — a prodigious bounty of platinum-selling albums, Grammys, NAACP Image Awards, American Music Awards and most recently a BET Award for Best Gospel — isn’t about fame and the material rewards it brings.

“We measure success by the lives we touch and when people get our message,” says Tina. “Any artist would want to win Grammys, sell millions of records and have their music loved by so many people,” adds Erica. “But as artists whose cause is message-driven, if we’re not uplifting and encouraging people through our music and ministry, then we’re ineffective.”

While gospel traditionalists may take issue with the duo’s urban funk-inflected sound, the sisters are more than comfortable with how they interpret and relay the gospel message. “We can only make music that God pushes us to make,” says Tina. “We can only do it the way it comes to us. We don’t force music or our style.”

Erica expands on her sister’s words: “There’s always going to be purists, regardless of genre. But in my belief system, you have a personal relationship with God. It’s still the same message, no matter who’s singing it. That’s what’s allowing us to grow.”

This measure of growth is what defines Mary Mary’s latest album Something Big, a project that takes its trademark sonic fusion of R&B, hip-hop, dance, pop, gospel and jazz to the proverbial next level. More than an album, the Something Big messaging is a campaign that they’ve challenged their family and followers with, encouraging them to live big, love big and give big.

“The album features songs that speak to overcoming and surviving, even though hardships come. They’re songs that basically speak to existing in a much bigger and excellent way,” says Tina. Meanwhile, for Erica, it’s about being prepared for life’s rewards. “Something Big speaks to making sure that you’re mentally prepared for all the beautiful dreams and goals that you have. You can’t just say that you want to do something without changing your level of discipline and commitment,” she says.

As Mary Mary prepares to headline the Truth and Soul concert during the Black Creek Summer Music Festival in Toronto (July 23), the duo committed to making attendees dance. “You better bring your dancing shoes,” Tina advises those who are coming out to see them share the stage with gospel greats such as Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin and The Mighty Clouds of Joy.

For Mary Mary, the concert is an example of the ever-changing face of its musical genre. “I love the way gospel is evolving,” says Erica. “It’s not just the contemporary that’s growing, it’s also the different styles that are moving beyond just the church. Almost everyone on this planet wants to know that they are loved and that they are important. That’s definitely part of the gospel message.”

Adds Tina: “I think that’s why people connect with it. Whether you consider yourself a gospel listener or not, if you had a bad day and you listen to the music, it can make you feel better in your heart.”

While their time is at a premium, speaking to the Campbell sisters gives me the overwhelming sense that they wouldn’t have it any other way. Much like the life affirming hit single Walking, Mary Mary exists on the same trajectory. “It’s about enjoying the journey,” says Tina.