Dove Award-winner Margaret Becker hasn’t released a new album in nearly a decade, but that all changes this month with Air (0-80856-00242-7, Modern Records/Go Global Entertainment). The independent album has been available for several months on iTunes and at some retail chains, but releases Feb. 10 to independent stores.

Becker has found plenty of things to occupy her time these last 10 years, including speaking and writing—she published a book in 2006, Coming Up for Air (NavPress), that loosely ties into the album—and she seems to be OK with not having music first and foremost in her life anymore.

“My records still come, but they come at a lot more leisurely pace, as they serve the overall theme of what’s going on in my life instead of fitting a niche,” she said.
Air is a collection of mostly electric guitar-pop ballads that is still accessible to mainstream pop fans, but with a surprising and welcome grittiness. And the themes addressed? “I’m coming up for air, I’m going to do a really slow repair,” Becker sings on the title track—lyrics that seem to almost be a defense for taking your time.

The album also has a lot of musical space for folk-rock, which Becker says is intended as the genre complements the message. “I love a lot of different types of musical expression, and as I continue to write and record music, I always try to get the music to match the message,” Becker said. “More than being die-hard to any particular style, I am committed to making the message flow congruently with the music.”

To order Air, visit www.goglobalentertainment.com or call 615-595-2885.