Brandon Heath has become one of the premiere singer/songerwriters of the Christian industry in the past several years with hits like "I'm Not Who I Was" and "Give Me Your Eyes". He is currenty on tour with TobyMac and he shares in insights on his new Christmas album Christmas is Here (available now) and what has been going on this last year. 

We would like to thank Brandon for taking the time to speak with BreatheCast.

BreatheCast: How is your time going on the 'Hits Deep Tour' (2013 w/ TobyMac) so far?

BH: "It's great. I did it last year and as soon as I heard that Toby was doing it again I was super excited that he invited me back. It's probably one of my favorite tours that I've ever done. It's a lot of collaboration with some of my good friends and favorite artists and honestly I only sing like 20 minutes a night, so it's like one of the easiest gigs ever (laughs) but its been a lot of fun."

BreatheCast: What is different about the tour from last year?

BH: "We've had a couple of new people join us (this year). We've got Colton Dixon instead of Britt Nicole and we've got a new group called Capitol Kings instead of Group 1 Crew. So those are the new additions to the tour this year, but it's been great so far."

BreatheCast: So before we talk about your Christmas album, this is a good chance to share your strict Christmas music policy. 

BH: "Yea, I'm pretty strict about no Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. There is a time and a place people (laughs). I just love the Fall and I don't want to skip over it, you know what I mean? I think consumerism has driven us so early to go to the stores and just buy, buy, buy, it's just so obvious consumerism. I don't consider myself to be a hippie or someone who wants to buck the system, but I think Christmas needs to be protected. Lets wait for it. It's a good thing, but too much of a good thing is a bad thing."

BreatheCast: So I'm assuming that you are not OK with the new trend of stores opening earlier and earlier into Thanksgiving evening now?

BH: "No, are you kidding me, absolutely not. That means that people have to work when they should just be hanging out with their family and loved ones. In a world full of distractions that we live in, it's just yet another way to tear the family apart in my opinion. I just think things are sacred and need to be projected. I am somewhat traditional, conservative kind of guy, but just don't give me Christmas in August (laughs) but don't give me Santa in August, I'm not ready for him quite yet."

BreatheCast: Your new Christmas album 'Christmas is Here' released a few weeks back (Oct 15), tell us about it. 

BH: "I like to say that this album oozes nostalgia. I really wanted people to immediately remember Christmas's past when they listened to it. When I listen to a Christmas record, that's what I want to do. I'm not normally a fan of Christmas albums that have a bunch of modern takes on classic songs, although it's good to have variety. I just like to have a good classic record that sounds like it belongs on vinyl, which we did get some of the albums printed on vinyl this year."

BreatheCast: What makes your Christmas album different from others (that they should listen to it)?

BH: "Honestly, if you just want to know what my Christmas soundtrack would sound like, it's this album. I grew up listening to Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, I kind of do my best shot at crooning on this one. If you are a Brandon Heath fan and like my storyteller approach I've got this song "Just a Girl" which is probably my favorite song on the whole record and it talks about the inn keeper and I give them the story. I probably had the most fun writing that song of all of the songs on the record."

BreatheCast: Is this your first Christmas album?

BH: "Yea. I've been wanting to do one for years and this is the first year that it made sense for myself and the label, so it worked out."

BreatheCast: (FAN QUESTION): What was it like touring with Amy Grant & what is the funniest thing that happened?

BH: "I've always wanted to tour with Amy and I'm a huge fan of hers. I still get a little star struck when I talk to her but she would laugh at that because we've become friends. I was honored to be able to play in front of her crowd because her fans are very loyal. It says a lot when a artist like Amy allows you to come out and open for her and she featured me and brought me out in the middle of her set every night and I just loved that, felt very honoring. Amy can say some funny things, she just does not care. She can throw things out from left field and they kind of put you on the spot a little bit but that is what I love about her. Just being out with her and her band, I love playing with her band, they are amazing. Probably the most fun thing was Amy invited me to come to Aspen and sing with her and Vince for a benefit they were doing and it was probably the highlight of the whole tour, it was amazing."

BreatheCast: What advice would you give to up and coming Christian bands/artists? 

BH: "I would say that it is just important to be yourself. I stand by that because I think God created us the way that He wanted us to be. I think we should really focus on just being that and not duplicating what someone else is doing and I think ultimately that is what is going to make you stand out. I think it is important to remember that the individual part of who we are is what God really celebrates."

BreatheCast: I was at the taping of your K-Love Christmas Special (for Up Network, Dec 9th) that you guys recorded a few weeks back. What was it like getting to share that night with your musical peers?

BH: "I love it. We got to hang out a lot back stage which was pretty fun. Any opportunity that we get to hang out together we are pretty excited about it."

BreatheCast: If you could collaborate with one Secular Artist and one Christian Artist, who would you choose?

BH: "Christian artist would be Steven Curtis Chapman and secular would be Sting."

BreatheCast: What are your music plans for the New Year 2014?

BH: "After Christmas I will be off for January and then we are back out with Toby in Feb/March and then Mandisa and I will go on tour together, we called it 'Brandisa', in March and April, then I will settle in and start working on a new record."