If the truth is something you are seeking, it has arrived in the form of Carrie Theobald, Mandee Radford, and Cristi Johnson, the three young women who comprise Rocketown Records’ new prodigy, Alathea. Alathea is Greek for the word truth and that is exactly what this trio wishes to represent.

The truth they portray through the humble beginnings they experienced, hard work, and dedication to their Savior is as honest and straightforward as they are personally. They are the embodiment of the average young person, yet with verve that few today possess.

The trio met while attending Milligan College in the East Tennessee foothills, where they volunteered for Young Life, a relational ministry for high school students who wouldn't normally attend church. These ladies wanted to show the value in God's love and earn the right to be heard, and music was the medium in which they chose to do so.

They started utilizing their abilities in 1999 on the way to a retreat in Florida. A common bond was formed through that experience which still to this day influences their focus on the realness of God's love and their desire to be truthful in expressing it.

The trio has kept its sound veritable, trying to maintain that trueness. They recorded their debut album, What Light Is All About, in the log cabin they share in the foothills of East Tennessee. From there, they take you on a journey through music, capturing a mixture of bluegrass and folk, which they have merged into a blend of authentic Appalachian music.

Alathea's lyrics describe the depth of one’s search for the pureness of God's love and the struggles that are faced in an uncertain world. Take for example, songs like “Indian Creek” that illustrate the desire to be found by God, or “Faithful One”, a song that articulates the struggles we face with faith. Other offerings not to be missed are the hymn with a modern day twist, “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go”, and “Runaway Heart”, which conveys the description of a heart that has lost its way.
As candid as these three are with their struggles and their fears, they place you within their propinquity so as you listen you feel a part of the enveloping presence of God, which is truly what the light is all about.
By: Kris Brown Gabbitas