The following interview from May, 2003 gives you a chance to meet Marla and find out a little more about what makes her tick.

Guide - Tell me about the other members of your ministry.

Marla - Well . . . There is only one person from my 1st band still playing with me due to many things ... my guitarist, Manny Huerta. I would consider him one of the best guitarists that I have ever worked with and I am so glad to have him helping me on the CD that I am currently working on. He also helps me lead worship at the church in which I am the worship leader. Other than that, my husband is an enormous help. Without him I wouldn't even be able to do this! He is the one who not only foots the bill for all the recording, but he watches my two young children while I go out "gigging" each weekend. I love him for that! It is a great break from being a stay at home mom.

Guide - Speaking of "gigging", do you appear at churches for the most part or at other places?

Marla - I originally thought that I would finish my first project, tour some local churches and play. Well, God had VERY different ideas for me. Although I have played at a few churches and women's retreats, every weekend I play at one of the many Border's bookstores here in So. Cal. I have also played at coffee shops and even a few bars! (laughs) I have never drunk a thing in my life. The response has been great at all the venues. One of the last placed I played at was called the "Gypsy Lounge."

Guide - Do you have people come up to you afterwards and ask about salvation?

Marla - I have not only talked to people about salvation, I had the opportunity to lead one person to Christ. He was Jewish and we are still really good friends to this day. I even wrote a song about it called "Fields of Green", where I ask my friend to dance in Heaven on fields of green. It has some symbolic meaning for me.

Guide - Who were your musical influences when you were growing up?

Marla - Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith. U2, White Heart. I primarily listened to Christian music. I had a hard time listening to secular stuff because I found it influenced my thoughts on life too much. Don't ask me what influences me now! I have to listen to Vegi Tale CD's and Disney songs a little too often with my two kids!

Guide - Do you feel like the message outweighs the medium that it's presented in? In other words, with metal, rock, hip hop, etc. and all of the debate - where do you stand?

Marla - I have no problem with any style of music or sound as long as the lyrics are clean. We had some teens do a punk song for offeratory one Sunday morning and I thought it was great but their was a lot of backlash from the older generation. I feel you have to "be all things to all men that you might win some".

Guide - What were your expectations from your first release?

Marla - I honestly didn't even think ahead when I recorded my first CD. I was just so excited about having my songs all recorded professionally that when I got 1000 shipped to my door I was like "oh, I have to sell these!".

Guide - Tell me more about your upcoming release.

Marla - It is called Treasure in the Pain. It is primarily acoustic piano based rock. I am just in the early stages of recording but I expect it to be done by early fall. The title track is my favorite. The chorus is "Diamonds can't shine unless they've been polished, flowers can't grow unless they've had rain, it's been a long long road but I've learned this one thing, the greatest treasures in life can be found in the midst of the pain". The song ends with "the greatest treasure in my life is Jesus, and it came through His pain".

Guide - Do you have any tour plans to promote your new release?

Marla - Of course I am going to continue the "Border's tour" as I like to call it. Other than that I am not really sure where I am going to go with it. That is really up to God to determine I guess! I am supposed to have a little bit of distribution in the So.Cal. Borders bookstores. That will be great. I am pretty content with where I am right now. I want whatever opportunities for outreach God has for me though, big or small.

Guide - Final question. What's your favorite bible verse?

Marla - Oh there are so many. "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength". There is a verse that I am not so fond of but that God keeps reminding me of! "Humility comes before honor, and pride comes before a fall". That keeps everything in perspective for me.

Guide - Thank you for talking with me Marla. I really appreciate it and enjoyed meeting you.

Marla - No problem. The pleasure was all mine.

Visit Marla Reid's official web site at www.marlareid.com