Paul Colman first made a splash in the U.S. as part of a trio, then as a solo artist, then as guitarist for newsboys. He resigned that position last month to go solo again, starting off with History, a collection of some of his best songs.

Do you miss playing with newsboys?

Paul Colman: I am the kind of person that when I move on I don't look back. I had a complete blast being the guitarist for the newsboys. They were three of the best years of my life, for sure. Now, though, I am very focused on the next season and I am working very hard on singing, speaking, and writing.

On your website, you say you "needed to re-assess your heart, mind, and soul" when you left the solo thing and joined newsboys in 2005. Why?

Colman: I had been recording, promoting and performing my own music at a whirlwind pace for a decade. It takes a lot of work and drive to do this. I found that I had become too driven and had lost my way in terms of trusting God and his love. I needed some time to decompress, rehabilitate, and refocus. I wasn't sure how it was going to look. It ended up being a season in the newsboys. Pretty good three years off, hey?

What's it like being solo again?

Colman: It feels the same and also very different. I think I have a lot more to say and people tell me I seem more connected and passionate than ever. This would only be possible because of what God has done in my life.

History is a retrospective of sorts. Why go this route as opposed to drawing from a fresh well?

Colman: The fresh well isn't finished yet. I have about 25 new songs and ideas and I will begin recording them this year. History was a good line in the sand. Now people can buy some of my best work on just one record. History is a good retrospective, and the best is yet to come I hope.

Why did you decide to do a remake of Toby Keith's "If I Was Jesus"?

Colman: I've always loved that song. It happened in a few hours in the studio and the label decided it was the first single. It is a very true, funny and clever song. Some religious people will hate it I guess 'cause they think it may be flippant. To me it is not at all. It is totally biblical and very clever.

Copyright © 2009 Andree Farias subject to licensing agreement with Christian Music Today. Click for reprint information.

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