Life & Work with Chris Lockwood of Spring Hill

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Lockwood

Hi Chris, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Born & raised in Mobile, AL, I’ve had a love & passion for music since the day I was born.

While attending the University of Mobile, I dove headfirst into the world of songwriting, recording, & touring, performing hundreds of concerts across the Southeast. After college, I hit the road and started playing guitar for contemporary Christian music group, Truth – known for its powerhouse, Chicago-like, live performances. In many ways, Truth was known for being a launching pad for many folks who have gone on to do great things in the music industry. It was a great opportunity.

After Truth, I moved to Nashville and started a group called 33Miles. Over the course of nearly 10 years, we toured thousands of miles, were nominated for “Best New Artist” at the GMA Dove Awards and lost (laughs), celebrated numerous hit radio singles, even receiving ‘BMI Song of the Year’ for our song “One Life to Love”. But I think it was when NASA played our song “There is a God” for their wake up call during one of the shuttle missions that we knew it was all downhill from there (laughs).

After 10 years, I wanted to be home more with my family, so I came off the road and a door opened for me to begin contributing creatively at World Outreach Church, in Murfreesboro, TN. So for the last decade, I’ve had the honor & privilege of being a worship leader, arranger, and guitarist there, while continuing to write & produce. Truth be told, sometimes my work life feels a bit random & chaotic, but it’s a gift to be able to contribute in so many different faucets.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being a musician is a wonderful life, but it’s not for the faint of heart. If it was easy everybody would do it, and I’m not necessarily talking as much about being talented as I am the will to embrace & endure the struggle. When I hear people talk about their regrets of giving up on their dream(s), I feel for them, I do, but then I also don’t think they realize how much second-guessing, heartache, and anxiety they sidestepped by choosing to take a less risky route. In the world of the arts, the highs are high, but the lows are insanely low. Having faith in Christ, a solid home life, a dependable community, in or outside the world of music, has been my saving grace. My wife’s love, support, and encouragement to keep going has truly been a Godsend throughout the years, especially when I’ve wanted to throw in the towel. She’s amazing.

When I started, all I wanted to do was make music, live the dream, have fun, etc., but nobody tells you that you’re really stepping into the world of business & entrepreneurship. It wasn’t until I was neck deep into things that I began to realize that. It sounds petty and immature, but the facade of the music industry is that it’s always a party. When you’re young, you don’t know any better. As you get older, start to mature, have a family, with more and more bills to pay, it can be a pretty rude awakening if you’re still chasing the dream but not building a business. I wish I had that understanding of what I was getting into when I first started. Every young musician who wants to step into the world of arts & entertainment should take courses, read books, subscribe to podcasts, and find mentors in the world of business and entrepreneurship.

Then there’s the clock. As of late, I’ve begun to question my place in the world of music, because the story that gets blasted is it’s a young person’s game. So I find myself second guessing my talents, the things in which I’m confident, and even excellent, simply because of my age, which feels weird just saying that, but it is a concern. However, I do believe there’s wisdom in taking time to often reassess where you are in life, what’s in your heart, being honest with yourself, and refocusing your efforts. It’s not easy but worth it.

The good thing is what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I believe the Lord uses the hardships of our lives to make us sharper, wiser, and more effective. So whether you’re a mom, dad, computer whiz, accountant, teacher, musician, whatever… it all has its various forms of hardship. The question is, “What are we gonna do with the cards with which we have been dealt?” Life is a process of falling, getting back up, learning, trying again, falling, getting back up, learning, trying again, and by the grace of God we learn, we grow, and we keep getting back up. It’s life, there’s no escaping it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Since the day I was born, I was always singing, but it was the guitar that has most often helped get my foot in doors. Of all the things I do, musically-speaking, playing guitar is where I still feel most like a kid, as it’s been much like that childhood friend with whom you get to enjoy growing old. It’s been there through so many seasons of life, the good, the bad, all of it. I’m quite certain that I surpassed the 10,000 hours to mastery decades ago. That’s not to say that I’ve completely mastered it, as there’s always something new to learn, but that is to say that we’ve spent quite a bit of time together. Nowadays, I’m often having to play multiple instruments, especially being in the role of producer, and I love that I get to do that, but I do feel most at home with a guitar in hand.

I’ve always been a singer, a high singer, but it took time for me to figure out the marriage between being the guitarist I am while singing in the stratosphere. I apparently was born too late to embrace my true calling as the frontman of an 80’s hairband (laughs). What’s great about being hardheaded, as I am, and staying the course is the school of hard knocks only makes you better. So after working for more than 3 decades, performing thousands of concerts, recording in the studio for thousands of hours, as well as leading worship at a church 4-5 services a weekend, things eventually find their place.

I was always dabbling in writing & producing, but as soon as I moved to Nashville I knew that was where I wanted to steer my focus. When I started 33Miles, I was thrown into a whirlwind, writing with many of Nashville’s finest songwriters, working with producers like Brown Bannister, Nathan Nockels, and other legends, which just scratched the itch even more. I love performing, the stage is like home, but so is the studio. It’s hard to say that I do one or the other, because, at the end of the day, I really see myself as an artist in the purest sense of the word. I simply love all aspects of the creative process, whether it be writing, recording, arranging, video shoots, the business, the stage… I love it all. Maintaining a sense of curiosity has always helped keep things new & interesting.

It’s been a long time coming, but I’m actually in the process of recording my first full length solo album. I’ve always been pried and asked about doing it, but the timing just never felt right, or something else was always more pressing… better late than never, I suppose. I spent all of 2023 writing the album, and in 2024 I hit the ground running with the production. It’s taking some time, as I’m literally doing everything myself, outside of mixing & mastering, but it’s gratifying to take the time in finding all of the right pieces and placing them right where you want them. The release date is TBD, but it will be sometime this year.

In the end, I do have to say that, more than the entertainment industry, this is the service business, and keeping that in mind has served me well. Striving to maintain a humble disposition, treating people with respect, and simply bringing your best work goes a long way, even more than talent. That’s not to say that I’m perfect, or that I don’t have my off days, God knows I do, but this, like any business, is a people business. So, from the studio assistant to the backstage security guard, and everybody else in between, I always do my best to be kind and respectful.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I’m all over the socials (chrislockwoodmusic), so if anybody is looking for a creative director/partner, singer, guitar player, songwriter, producer, a friend to talk to, whatever… I’m often there. I have a website (www.iamchrislockwood.com), as well as an in depth guitar course specifically for beginner’s (ages 7+), where you can learn guitar from the comfort of your own home, at your own pace. All you need is a device and a guitar. Visit www.EverybodyPlayGuitar.com.

If anybody’s interested in supporting me, just come give me a follow on my socials, and stick around for the release of this album. I want people to like it, but I’m honestly less concerned with that and more interested in just giving it my best effort, taking my time, letting the process be what it needs to be, and leaving the chips in the Lord’s hands. I trust he’ll know where best to place them.

Most weekends you can often find me at World Outreach Church, among friends. If you’re looking for a place to call home, we’d love to see you there.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.iamchrislockwood.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrislockwoodmusic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrislockwoodmusic
• Twitter: https://www.x.com/clockwoodmusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9xUo7SA1XNlYjtqxLCie2g

Image Credits
Rory White on the table photo and the black & white image. The other 3 were shot by friends.