It's been a long, long wait, but Terrance McCoy is finally ready to share his heart with the world. 

The singer/songwriter has been involved in music much of his life, but it wasn't until God brought him out of decades of darkness--caused by people around him and his own decisions--that he found his unique song. 

Now, the once homeless, once hopeless artist is now expressing a heart full of the love of God with his appropriately titled debut recording, Transparency. 

I chatted with McCoy about his story, and about how God is using it in powerful ways, positioning him to impact many, many people who are needing to emerge from their own dark times. 

You started making music as a teenager after a difficult childhood. What did music mean to you, and how has that changed/stayed the same over the years?

I felt very disconnected as a child. There were custody battles between my mother and my grandparents that were going on. I wasn't sure where I belonged. Music became a connection with my brother, sister and me. We would listen to the 45 records most days of the week. It was, for me, an escape to a happier place. There was no more confusion or fighting.

As a teen, I used music to make myself feel bigger than I thought I was. I had very little confidence. I was skinny, had few friends, I was poor, dirty and awkward. I kind of found myself when I joined
choir in eighth grade. I was good at it. The last thing I would have ever done is abandon it. 

Music became my confidence. I used it and abused it in every way I possibly could, to build leverage of my status and stature. It stayed that way all through my adult years, until a few years ago. I lost everything. My decisions had caused me to hit rock bottom. I blamed my musical abilities for allowing me to use people and pretend I was something I wasn't. I had to relearn to think. I had to take responsibility, not be a victim. In that process, I no longer viewed my ability as a curse but as a purpose. I had a story worth telling. God had given me an ability in music, to tell it. 
 
Talk about your musical history leading up to now.

From 8 to 14 years old, I  filled in at my church as the song director when my grandfather was too sick to attend. I would wave my hand around, mimicking him. I led all 10 of those folks in musical greatness! Ha! All while my grandmother tore up the keys on the old church piano. 

I sang in church choir, high school choir, high school show choir, college choir and show choir, church quartet, college quartet (Southern Gospel), college worship bands, college opera, and Paradigm Ministries at Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas. Shane Barnard [of Shane & Shane] used to come to Paradigm and help me roll up my cords and load up my equipment. I had no idea who he was. Ha, I do now! 

I have played in numerous Christian bands and church worship teams through the years. I started writing at the end of my college years around '96. My songs were terrible but I loved being able to write out my thoughts and feelings. I have played in my church's worship band for the past 12 years. I played piano and sang back up at River Valley Church to this day. 

Transparency is your first record. Why was now the time to do this?

Transparency is my first album, yes. I did it now because my writing is no longer poisonous. Tony Wood once said, "To try and balance writing for the Kingdom and living in a lifestyle of sin, would be like poisoning the water in a well and giving it to people to drink anyway." I exhausted myself trying to do both. I have to be fully surrendered to Him, to offer others something safe to drink.

You perform at bars, prisons, and homeless shelters. Talk about your heart in that!

I'm so glad when I was struggling with sex addiction and losing everything I owned, everyone that helped me didn't analyze me first. I'm so glad that God put selfless, genuine, loving people in my life to pull me out of the mud. 

All people make mistakes. Some people make more mistakes than 30 other people combined. All I have is my story and my family's story. 

I was homeless, but not hopeless. My dad was incarcerated but not finished. Many people have told me they are in a bar trying to drink their problems away. There are so many people that are at rock bottom like I was. I find them completely lovable and usable and changeable. Look who God used in the Bible, time and time again. Not pretty, but pretty awesome!
 
What are some stories you've had from performing in these environments?

I have performed my CD release party and two neighborhood concerts. All my venues are lined up starting at the end of October. I'm not embarrassed to admit that. God has orchestrated all of this in His way and in His timing. 

We have had one miraculous conversation after the next and they all have led us to the venues in our future. I go to my dentist and get two homeless shelter gigs. I serve my local homeless shelter and pick up seven more. I have my CD release party and a man approaches me with a number that leads me to book eight prison events. 

God tells me to go visit a friend in the hospital. I walk out with a phone number leading to a rehab prison ministry all over Louisiana! I go to the post office to mail off a CD to a friend and come out with numerous bar venues to play at. How? God! Stick around. There will be stories!

What's your live experience like? What defines your performances?

I've only done a few concerts. It's entertaining, it's energetic but more importantly, it's transparency at its very best. I'm telling about something real, life-changing, life challenging and that will encourage your socks off. 

My wife, Lisa and I have found ourselves in the midst of a powerful and miraculous situation. The fact that we are here is a miracle in its truest form. We can't wait to see you out there!

You have a lot of different styles expressed on Transparency, from Southern bayou rock to contemporary pop to dance rock to vertical worship. Talk about the musical and lyrical diversity of this record, and what you were going for.

Ha, you noticed that, eh? I'm going for truth when it comes to lyrics. I want and need to tell my story. I told my writing mentor, John Chisum, to teach me unapologetically. I wanted to become a solid writer that will not water down what I have to say. 

We kept some songs, delayed some for another project, possibly, and we tossed some. I surprised myself on some of these. I didn't think I had a feel like "I Am Yours" in me. I found out, it was coiled down deep within me. 

When I found it, I started finding myself as an artist. I look at the concept of what I am saying and find out how it should sound. I don't want to be a one-trick pony. I love the semi-diversity in this project. Where does the bluesy side come from? I'm not sure, for now, I will just blame the Rocky soundtrack from my childhood!
 
Transparency has some shades of classic CCM. Are any of the artists from that era influences for you? Which ones?

Steven Curtis Chapman is my all-time favorite artist. I never knew much about him until I read his book, Between Heaven and the Real World. What an incredible man that I am beyond honored to mention in this interview! I love the way he creatively stretches while never leaving his roots behind. Other artists would have to be Rich Mullins, Al Denson, Russ Taff, Michael W. Smith and Twila Paris as well as many, many others. 

Talk about the "do something" anthem, "Put A Little Love In It." This had to come from somewhere. What led you to write it?

I think the easiest thing in the world to do is to complain. We've all had a waitress that is having a bad day or someone doesn't perform up to par in our path. Do you know them? Their struggles? Their situation? Their story? Of course not, so open the door for them. Give them a kind word or ask them about their story. 

If you allow a little margin to serve someone or hear their story, you may be surprised. Pleasantly! I have become so tired of hearing about the fighting and protesting and hating. My wife and I decided to go out and change the world, one person at a time and yes! I also wrote a song about it! It is so much fun too. You should try it!

What gets you excited these days?

Date night with my wife. My daughter's soccer game and playing Pokémon Go with my stepdaughter. Don't get me wrong. I love music but not before my wonderful family. Like Mother Teresa said, "If you want to change the world, go home and love your family."