Musician hears the stories of his audience

As songwriter and musician, Joseph Vogels has toured and played music all over the world, and he has encouraged people in the audience to talk about their lives.

“We tell people, ‘We are here to listen to your story,’” the Mooresville-based musician said in a recent interview. “‘And we don’t care if it takes until three o’clock in the morning. We get people crying their eyes out.

“We find many Christians who are devastated for all sorts of reasons.”

Vogels said that he and his wife, Victoria, have heard stories from people who are angry, shut down and disappointed about something that has happened in their lives. They encourage people to “go and fulfill this gift inside you.”

Their message is encapsulated in the song “Ring the Bell” on Vogels’ new album, “Cymbal Minded.” The album is Vogels’ fourth; he wrote his first 15 years ago, and his song “The Victory Chant” is one of the most recorded worship songs in the last 25 years.

Vogels said that “Ring the Bell,” a gentle rock song, has had a “stunning impact” on listeners. He tells stories about meeting middle-aged artists who have started pursuing their talents for the first time and others who have found personal freedom by talking about their lives and stories for the first time.

Born and raised in New Zealand, Vogels began writing songs when he was in college and recorded solo albums in the late 1990s. He lived in Australia for 12 years and founded a company called The Australian Songwriters Kompany to help others develop their musical talents.

Vogels moved to North Carolina in 2004 to work with producer Elijah Mosely, now of Threshingfloor Audio in Lincolnton. Within months, he had met and married his wife Victoria.

They settled in Mooresville and were long involved with RiverLife Fellowship. Vogels will play a concert there featuring songs from his new album in the coming months.

“Cymbal Minded” is produced by independent record label Tate Music Group. It contains 13 tracks, which range from an African chant to Celtic-inspired music.

Vogels has been working on songs for the album for several years. He co-wrote “I Believe” with a friend from his church who wrote several verses in response to doctors recommending that his wife abort their first child because she had a heart condition and could die in pregnancy.

“She said, ‘No way,’” Vogels said. “She was on bed rest for four months. Their son is 7 and healthy.”

Her husband wrote the song after getting up early to pray and asking that his wife and child wouldn’t die, Vogels said. Vogels added the chorus, which repeats variations of, “I believe.”

He also worked with an African-American choir in Maryland on “Hallelujah Chant,” “There’s Only You,” “My Father Loves Me” and “Amazing Always.”

“They practiced for two months,” Vogels said. “When they sang, it was stunning.”

Vogels may promote his album with a tour in Australia and New Zealand in 2013, and he also plans to continue working with musicians to help them produce outstanding albums.

He has written songs for almost 40 years, and Vogels uses his experience to help songwriters craft strong lyrics and songs.

He said that people still tell him they listen to his first album all of the time.

“We just love it,” Vogels said. “It’s selling as well as my new albums, (even though) you’d think it would be out of date.

“I want to hand whatever I have learned to other Christian musicians.”
Marty Minchin is a freelance writer who covers faith and ministry for The Observer. Email her with story ideas at martyminchin@gmail.com.