Following his calling

Young Chang

Jami Lula was praying four years ago with the woman who would

eventually become his wife when he interrupted the session saying:

“Excuse me, I gotta go. Something’s calling me, something’s going

through me.”

What this New Thought singer and songwriter meant was that he felt a

song coming on, because prayer often does this to him.

The title song on his first solo album is “Something’s Calling Me.”

The track talks about wanting to go deeper in his relationship with God,

about wanting God to take over every part of him.

“I just feel like people are more open to the message that I’ve been

bringing forth,” said Lula, who will perform Sunday at the Center for

Spiritual Discovery in Costa Mesa. “I’ve wanted to create something

that’s more inspirational and uplifting . . . how I’ve transcended some

of the biggest challenges.”

Jim Turrell, pastor at the Center for Spiritual Discovery, credited

more than just Lula’s lyrics as being uplifting.

“Jami Lula has the most phenomenal voice and inspirational style I’ve

ever heard. And his commitment -- his stylistic commitment,” Turrell

said, on what makes watching him so moving.

Lula’s biggest hurdle was to overcome “not feeling good enough about

me.” The Los Angeles resident said he was cured of this challenge with

the realization that God is within him and that everything he needs is

within him.

But when Lula refers to God, he isn’t talking about a God of a

specific faith.

“I believe that the spirit of life is within every human being,” he

said, trying to explain his beliefs. “God expresses itself as me living

my higher purpose, as me following my calling.”

Lula, who is the former leader of the band Lula and the recipient of

many awards, including Best Vocalist of the Year by L.A. Music Awards,

said his goal is to provide a “healing experience” through music. His

shows often have people singing as they leave in a more uplifted state.

“When I do my shows, there’s a lot of audience participation,” the

performer said.

Lula started singing when he was 3, with what he calls his own radio

program in Detroit. He would pretend to read the letters that had been

sent in and make up songs. His mother would say it was time for bed.

“I would basically sing myself to sleep,” Lula said.

He and his friends performed covers of Kiss, Rolling Stones and other

popular groups when they were in high school. Lula did musical theater,

touring Texas with “Hair” in the early ‘80s, and received acclaim with

his band Lula in the second half of the ‘90s.

Now on his own, Lula’s mission is to sing about his life experiences

and move his listeners.

“I believe that my ministry is the music that I do, the music that

moves through me,” he said.

FYI

WHAT: Jami Lula, a New Thought songwriter and performer, will perform

WHEN: 7 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Center for Spiritual Discovery, 2850 Mesa Verde Drive East,

Costa Mesa

COST: $10 or $12

CALL: (714) 754-7399