Christian singer Krystal Meyers juices latest CD, performances with fun dance-pop

Krystal Meyers is 20 years old. She's too young to remember the exhilarating dance-pop sound that joyfully engulfed much of mainstream radio in the '80s.

But you'd never know that from listening to her third album, Make Some Noise, an addictive merger of percolating synthesizer lines, hooky propulsive choruses and inspirational lyrics.

The contemporary Christian singer-songwriter did a musical about-face after recording two discs, 2005's Krystal Meyers and 2006's Dying for a Heart, marked by a penchant for the Avril Lavigne style of pop-rock.

Ms. Meyers, sounding exuberantly idealistic and youthful, sees her artistic switch as a boon for her stage performances.

"You want to write something that's fun onstage," she says by phone from Columbus, Ohio. "That's one thing that is exciting with this new record. That fun, dance, '80s feel to it brings a new element to the stage. There isn't a lot of this in the Christian music industry. I've been listening to this a lot and I want to bring the fun, pop feel to the ministry. I wanted to make a record that I would have fun performing, too. That's always a key element in making a record."

Ms. Meyers realizes she may have picked up a few new fans thanks to the style of Make Some Noise.

"It's been cool 'cause it's been appealing to young adults as well 'cause it takes you back to listening to Cyndi Lauper, high school prom and all that other stuff," she says. "It really does appeal to the teenage audience, but it can also appeal to adults."

The teenage audience, specifically teenage girls, will be her focus Friday night and Saturday afternoon at American Airlines Center. Ms. Meyers is part of the Revolve Tour: All Access, an event aimed at sixth- through 12th-grade girls that addresses issues such as friends, body image, self-esteem, relationships and faith in God. Music, dramatic re-enactments, videos and personal stories are used to get the messages across.

Ms. Meyers, Natalie Grant, Group 1 Crew, Hawk Nelson and Danielle Kimmey, formerly of Out of Eden, are the Revolve Tour's musical lineup.

"It's a coming-of-age experience for girls," she says. "The audience is from 13 to 17, all teenage girls. It's a big deal. The great thing is that the tour doesn't come and tell you how to solve your problems. 'OK, you're dealing with peer pressure, relationship problems, parents – here's how to fix it.' That's not it. Everyone talks from their personal experiences, the good and the bad, what they've learned from their relationship with Christ. The audience can pull from that. Be honest and real, not sugarcoating anything."

Ms. Meyers probably will perform "Shine" from Make Some Noise. The song, which she co-wrote, features the uplifting line, "You can't get in the way of my shine." That's an example of her ability to craft tunes that balance the spiritual and the universal.

"I am a Christian," she affirms. "My relationship with Christ really does dictate what I do. As an artist you write about what you know. So that is the core of what I sing. But I like to put it in a way that isn't immediately going to drive someone away. Ultimately I want them to hear what I have to say, who Christ is. At the same time you want to write songs that are fun and that don't have to have some deep spiritual meaning. I'm a Christian. But we can have fun music, too." Plan your life

The Revolve Tour: All Access with Krystal Meyers, Natalie Grant, Hawk Nelson and others is from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at American Airlines Center, 2500
Victory. $54 to $74. www.revolvetour.com or www.americanairlines center.com.

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