For everyone there is a moment. A person. A calling. For everyone there is that something or someone that ignites the spark that lights the fire that simply cannot be extinguished. Singer/songwriter Adia is no exception. The 22-year-old St. Louis-born, Chicago-bred Christian music artist says there have been lots of people and experiences throughout her life that have ushered her to where she is today but the one defining moment that sent her on a profound inward journey was one born out of loss. “My aunt passed away in 2011 and I don’t know why but that experience really got to me,” she says. “I had a come-to-Jesus and re-evaluated where I was in my life and whether I was in alignment or not. I realized that I wasn’t and it all had to do with my music.”

Adia says that for a long time she tried to ignore that nagging tug on her heart -- a calling to sing for the Lord. “It was something I used to struggle with,” she admits. “I did not want to do Christian music because I realize that ministry is serious. Lives are at stake. Souls are at stake. I was running as fast as possible in the opposite direction.” But after her aunt’s death, she no longer wanted to run away from her calling. She was ready to embrace it. Still, she had one concern: She didn’t want to do “churchy” music. “Can I just make music that was truly honest about where I am in my life?” she wondered. Apparently, the answer to that question was yes.

Armed with years of advice from her parents and sisters, the spiritual teachings of her grandmother (and namesake), the influence of her mentor/ producer Fred “Blaze” Crawford, and the calling from the highest power of all, Adia decided to share her spiritual journey, through music, with anyone and everyone who would listen. Joining forces with childhood friend Blaze, Adia set out to create songs that were a dramatic departure from most Christian music. “I’m an artist, not a praise and worship leader on a platform,” she says. “The creative process is very important to me.” She adds, “My ministry is a lot more practical and relevant to our generation. From an artistry perspective we miss that a lot in Christian music. By the same token, I don’t want my message to ever be overlooked or overshadowed by the artistry but I want to make sure that people, when they see any aspect of my ministry, they are spiritually fed and creatively inspired and influenced by what God has given us for the project.”

What God gave Adia for her debut CD “Behind Enemy Lines” (Xist/Malaco) is a treasure trove of songs that are not only message-driven but artistic, engaging, and entertaining. Adia says she and Blaze locked arms to create the dynamic one-two-punch that makes the album so special.”Blaze actually came up with the title and concept for the album,” she notes. “This was truly a collaborative effort.” The first single “Rags to Riches,” along with its story-laced video (conceived by Blaze) is about as honest and transparent as a song can get. “In Christian music we’re very censored,” says Adia. “But these days you can go to anybody’s house and anybody’s computer and look at anything that you want so why do we, as the church community, do that? With this song and video, I just wanted to show people everything that you can get into when you start experimenting with the wrong things.”

Adia is now ready to share all of her inspiration, all of her experiences and every tiny step of her journey with listeners. She wants her music to show people what real life looks like, how real faith works and how music -- in its most real and honest form -- can help to lighten loads and transform lives.

“I have to be honest with where I am,” she says. “I’m a growing Christian just like the rest of us. I just want our generation to first and foremost learn who God is but in a cool way. My friends, when they think about church or gospel music, they think old school church songs, church hats and mother robes but you really don’t have to do that. My goal is to have fun loving God and being a Christian. My mission is to let people know that you’re not living until you receive Christ as your personal savior. I promise when you get Him you can still be you. You just gotta be a better you.”