It sounds a bit unusual to call a group a “veteran” act when two members have yet to celebrate their Sweet 16th birthday, but in just a few years pureNRG has accomplished more than most artists twice their age. Combining finely tuned pop sensibilities with a high-energy stage show, the members of pureNRG have become seasoned pros. In a mercurial business, they’ve earned the respect of their peers, not only for their musical skills, but for a passionate desire to spread the gospel that has taken them everywhere from their native Tennessee to Norway. Those experiences coalesce on pureNRG’s vibrant new release “The Real Thing.”

pureNRG, comprised of Caroline 14, Carolyne 14, and Jordan 16, first burst on the scene with their 2007 self-titled Fervent Records debut and became a hit with both mainstream and Christian music audiences. Buoyed by exposure on Radio Disney, the group immediately developed a loyal fan base, who embraced pureNRG’s upbeat pop anthems, fused with soul nourishing spiritual truths. Since then the trio has followed with their 2008 sophomore set “Here We Go Again,” “A pureNRG Christmas” and a remix collection “reNRGized,” released early in 2009. They’ve also released three DVDs including, “Sing and Dance” and “Live and More.” They’ve also maintained a hectic tour schedule including such plum performances as Disney’s Night of Joy, the Winter Jam tours in 2008 and 2009 and opening for Casting Crowns on their Christmas tour.


“We all really loved Disney and just getting to perform at Night of Joy was so amazing,” says Caroline. “Getting to go on the road with Casting Crowns, tobyMac and all the other artists we’ve toured with, it’s kind of surreal. When you take a step back, it’s really cool to see what we’ve accomplished.”

A conversation with the young artists is an enjoyable experience filled with a sense of fun and unbridled zest for life that is infectious. Yet there’s also a sense of purpose and dedication to service that is surprisingly mature coming from three teens. “I think that one of the main things that keeps us focused on the hard work is that God has brought us three together,” says Carolyne. “We were chosen to be on this mission to get the word out to all these children about His name and what He’s about. Sometimes when it’s hard going to rehearsals, we just know that’s what it’s all about. We go into rehearsals knowing that it is to make us better prepared for what He has planned for us.”

The group spends countless hours learning choreography and perfecting acrobatic-laced dance routines that bring such fan favorites as “Here We Go Again” and “Are You Ready?” to life on stage. They take that same work ethic and sense of professionalism into the studio when recording a new album and “The Real Thing” is the group’s most ambitious effort to date.

“It was definitely a lot different on this fourth album,” says Jordan. “We had a lot more input into the songs, the styles and the whole feel of the album. We were definitely more comfortable with the studio and more confident in our singing.”

pureNRG once again worked with producers Mark Hammond and Rob Hawkins, who steered their previous projects. “The new CD has more of a progressive and sophisticated sound and like Jordan said, we got to have more input,” adds Carolyne. “All the songs are easy to dance to and easy to sing to, but at the same time they carry the message of God’s Word.”

The young trio took the song selection very seriously for the new project. “We got together and listened to songs and we did a little rating chart and rated them on a scale of 1-10,” says Caroline. “We chose songs we really felt would spread God’s word to people. We look for songs kids can relate to and that will give them a positive message. We want parents to feel they can let their kids listen to our music.”

The members of pureNRG are mindful of their role model status and eager to impart positive messages to the younger members of their audience. “Cover of a Magazine” is a new song that deals with societal pressure to conform to the airbrushed images in magazines. “It’s saying that ‘no matter what the people look like in magazines or on billboards or in advertisements, remember you’re special. You’re the way God made you and you’re beautiful in your own way. You don’t need to look like those people. They aren’t really perfect.’”

“The Real Thing” includes the upbeat pop sound that fans have come to expect from pureNRG such as “Radio,” an infectious anthem with a catchy hook. “Savior” expands the group’s musical territory with a more hip-hop flavor. “It’s All About You” showcases the trio’s signature vocal blend and teems with energy that makes listeners anxious to sing- a-long. For those looking to participate more fully in the pureNRG experience, the last three tracks, “Here We Go Again,” “Radio” and “Footloose,” are included as sing-a-long versions.

“A lot of people will come up to us and ask for a karaoke version or some way to sing the song so they could really practice performing them,” explains Caroline. “The sing-a-long songs that were added are a result of direct input from our fans, so we just decided to pick some of the more popular songs as sing-a-longs.”

“Live To Worship” gives the young artists a chance to give glory to the One they celebrate with their lives and music. “When we were in the studio doing that song, I really was worshipping while I was singing it,” says Jordan. “It was really a cool experience.”

“The Real Thing” features some of the boldest songs of faith the group has ever recorded. “We are getting older and starting to realize more the impact of our words to kids, adults and anyone in between,” says Carolyne. “So it was a priority that we get the message out there even more than we ever had before.”

Their song sense, showmanship and spiritual maturity have earned pureNRG the respect of fellow artists in the Christian community and the three young performers received lots of encouragement during this year’s annual Gospel Music Week convention. “Sometimes we prefer being the kids,” Caroline admits, while acknowledging that others in the industry are treating them more like peers. “We like being considered adults because through this process, we’ve really grown a lot. We’ve grown up quicker than some of our friends because we’ve kind of had to. Now we’re starting to be taken seriously, and it’s really cool.”

Getting a pat on the back from others who serve God through music is nice, but the real affirmation comes from young fans and their families. “Parents are constantly coming up to us and telling us how much our music has impacted their kids’ lives,” says Jordan. “That’s really special for us. Sometimes the kids are too shy to say it, but when they do, it’s really special because it makes our work and everything we’ve done worthwhile.”

Adds Caroline, “That’s another thing that really keeps us going is just to know that we’ve touched lives like that.”

Along their journey, they admit God has taught them many things, most importantly how much He can use a willing, obedient heart. “Sometimes people say we’re too young to have a voice,” says Carolyne, “but God has taught us that He’s put us on this mission and that we have His voice. We are the body of Christ and we have the biggest voice of all because we have Him on our side. So it’s been really cool to experience that and see the way that He’s worked in our lives and how His voice in us can really reach so many people.”