Crystal Padilla has been making music with her band for four years, pushing the envelope with passionate pop-infused praise music that finds a home a youth rallies, on radio and on Sunday mornings at church.

There's no doubt that the Georgia-based singer/songwriter has talent, but she'd be the first to tell you that the musical journey God has her on goes far beyond her name. That's why the band--formerly known as Crystal Padilla Music--goes by the catchier, less Crystal-focused acronym, CPM. 

"Crystal Padilla Music can be a mouth full," Padilla says, "[but] this has always been so much more than just about me and what I can bring to the table. We all work so hard together, and I feel like the 'CPM' reflects us as a whole."

This lead-singer-not-solo-act mentality permeates the mission and vision of this fast-rising Atlanta-area group, and I asked Crystal nine questions to introduce people to CPM, its music, and bright future.
 
Tell us how you got your start in music. 

I got my start in music when I was around 11 years old. I remember watching the drummer at my church and wishing I could rock out like him, so I began to teach myself my way around a drum kit and quickly fell in love with it.  
 
And indeed you're a drummer, Crystal! Do you get to indulge that much these days?

Actually I do! Once in a while, I'll have friends or churches ask me to help them out at events. I am always excited to have those opportunities to serve from the kit and go back to my "first love."
   
Your background is Honduran, and you speak fluent Spanish. How has that opened doors of ministry for you? 

Yes, both of my parents were born in Honduras. My mom always encouraged me to speak in Spanish and practice so I would be bilingual, which I am so grateful for! It has helped me do things with my music and band that I never imagined. We have had doors open for us to do mission work overseas and write and record music in Spanish that has, in turn, been played on the radio in at least 12 different countries! It has been awesome to see God use our music in places that we are not able to physically go to yet.
 
Share what your live experience is like, for people who haven't had the privilege.

We try and create a fun, high energy, and worshipful atmosphere for people of all ages. Obviously we want to put on a good "show," but even more than that, we desire for people to walk away from our concerts refreshed, encouraged, and renewed by God. 
 
You describe your music as worship, as it's vertically focused. What's the ideal environment for these pop-laced tracks? Personal worship? Corporate on Sunday mornings? What have you heard from fans?

You are exactly right, we consider our music to be worship because it is totally Christ-centered and focused, but most of our music has taken more of a "pop" sound. Even with the pop influence in our music, we have always aimed to create worship music that can be flexible to its environment--music that no matter how it is performed, the lyrics still ring true. For example, if we lead a church service, often times we'll strip down a song to be more worshipful, and at a concert, we'll amp it up a bit.
   
You're the worship leader at Church of the Grove in Atlanta. What do you glean from that experience that helps you and the band? 

I cannot express enough how important it is for bands to be connected and involved in a local church or ministry. Being the worship leader at Church at the Grove has allowed me to grow in many different ways, from having the constant support and prayers from my church family, to having the accountability from church leadership and staff members. It teaches you values like commitment, teamwork and challenges you in so many ways that reflect so much of what you do with your band while you are on the road.
 
How'd you meet your band members? 

It's funny, because every single band member has a different story of how we met. One I met in college, another I met at a church worship leading seminar in Memphis (Tenn.), and the rest I met at different churches I have served at through the years. 
 
What is your calling as best as you can tell?

Our calling is to love, serve and lead people to know who Jesus is. For the longest time I had said my calling was to "make music" and I almost made music my identity. In the past few years, the Lord has been refining me, shaping me and teaching me that music is not my identity and music cannot save people no matter how beautiful, well produced or catchy it is. My identity is that I am a child of God called to be a light in a dark world. My calling is to lead people to the only one who matters and who can give them life--Jesus. 
 
What's next for CPM? How can people be praying for you?

CPM is currently booking for a tour we are a part of in the fall and spring of next year. We are also working on new music and a couple of other fun projects. Be praying with us on direction in what God would have for us next! We are praying the Lord would open new doors for CPM to continue to do what we love so much. All in all, we simply pray and desire to continually walk in obedience on the path the Lord has set before us.