New American pop singer/pianist RONNIE FREEMAN fielded some probing questions from David Bain.

1. Are you married?

Yes, for the last six years. I have two kids, Hannah, who's four, and Josia, who's two.

2. How did you get involved with Michael W. Smith's Rocketown Records?

Oh, my manager wanted me to play for him. So I did. It was a private viewing; just myself, Michael and my manager. It was very scary. I remember I didn't have anything to wear. I didn't just want to wear t-shirt and jeans, so I went and bought some new clothes! But when I started playing the first few songs, I felt completely comfortable. After the second song Michael said, "Give me a few weeks and I'll have you a deal." He also asked me some questions that also mattered about family, church, and why I wanted to release music.

3. Has it been easy coping with media attention?

It's been different. For the last five years I feel as if I've been in preparation for this season. During that time I think God knocked all that glitter off the idea of being in the spotlight. So by the time I was given this opportunity, it was simply a chance to expose my heart to a wider audience.

4. What is the strangest job you've done?

Once, I worked for this wealthy man in our church. We would take these military vehicles, in this huge warehouse that had no air-conditioning and we'd sand them down and repaint them. Every day you'd get home and all the rust would be all over you. That was a crazy summer job!

5. What is the most exciting thing you've read in the Bible recently?

I've been honing in on Philippians 1 and 2; where Paul talks about the "privilege of suffering". I've been praying a lot to God to explain that to me. I think he's been teaching me that whatever hardships and troubles I go through, that they are all for his glory and that, through it all, he is right there with me.

6. How did you come to be a Christian?

Well I grew up in church, so I don't remember a specific date of conversion. But in collage, that was when I felt the faith that I had "adopted" from my parents became my very own.

7. How long does it take to come up with a song?

It varies. For one song, I'll write part of it straight away and then it'll take a year sometimes to get the second verse! And then there are the ones that you write with co-writers and you're done in about eight hours with a finished track.

8. How do you feel, being compared to other artists, like Michael?

I've interpreted that for myself, in a way that's not so intimidating. I think if there is a comparison to be made it's a comparison of our hearts and personalities. He's a great visionary, and I don't know if I have that vision-capacity! We're both fathers and husbands, we both play the piano and we both write and sing, so there are some obvious comparisons. But musically, I don't think we are that similar, although we are both prone to write ballads!

9. Are you happy with the debut; do you feel you can do better? (I know it's really two questions!)

Absolutely on both points! I'm happy with it. This first record is a finding out who I am and I'll always be thankful for that. Of course you want to improve; I'm already writing stuff for a second album. To be truthful, I think the best stuff is yet to come!

10. Batman or Superman?

Superman! Batman always has his butler running the show. Superman is a bit of a nerd, as his alter ego, but he seems to be the brainier!