Long-time gospel act Mary Mary is back in a big way, with a new album Go Get it (out on May 8, 2012) and a new reality show on We tv simply called Mary Mary. Sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell (who has three children) and Tina Atkins-Campbell (who will give birth to her fifth child in August) took some time to catch us up on all their latest projects.
Hope: Why did you decide to include some classics on Go Get it in addition to the new material?
Tina: Mainly because they are amazing songs. Sometimes you have singles that lead the record and you have others that minister and inspire but don’t get the same attention. Some, we’ve done over and recorded live so they have a much newer feel. Others are just as they were recorded initially but all of them are inspirational and make so much sense on this album.
Hope: What’s your favorite song on this album?
Tina: Hands down, the single “Go Get it.” It just speaks to us.
Erica: It talks about where we’ve been in our career; knowing that we’ve worked hard, we’re ready for everything that God has for us so we’re going after it and hopefully that motivation will serve as an inspiration for our fans. You know life don’t play fair. The economy is still as bad as it was a few years ago and people are not going after what they want – they’re sitting back and chillin’ and we want this song to push people forward.
Hope: How did the reality show come about?
Tina: It came about in God’s perfect time. We’d been solicited before, but it’s a lot to let someone into your personal space. Our lives as Mary Mary are very public and to bring that into your personal life is a big jump. We weren’t sure we wanted to that but when we realized we had healthy families and moms of multiple kids, happily but not perfectly in business together for 12 years – those stories can be inspiring so we decided we’d let the cameras in and continue to inspire people beyond our music. WE tv was the perfect home because they understand women and tell their stories well.
Hope: Did WE tv expect a certain amount of drama on the show?
Tina: Fortunately or unfortunately, there’s enough real-life drama so we didn’t have to trump up or exaggerate anything for the show. We’re real sisters and sisters get into it. We’re also in business and also have lives and were both pregnant on the show. There were hormones flying everywhere so we didn’t have to fake it.
Hope: Were they comfortable with you talking about your faith?
Tina: Erica and I are both executive producers on our show so we have a certain amount of control over what is presented. It was very important for us – we don’t go into business where we don’t have a major say in how we’re represented. On this show we’re gospel artists and that’s who we are; because we are Christians everywhere we go, if we say Jesus, read the Bible, speak in tongues …the Christ that is in us finds a way to filter into our lives. This show is not a church show; you won’t necessarily see us going to Sunday morning service though we do that. But if we are Christians, God is a part of our lives every day on or off the stage. The network is perfectly fine with that.
Hope: How do you balance all your commitments as artists, wives, and mothers?
Erica: It’s absolutely not easy. But we desire to have a healthy family. A lot of times we sacrifice sleep more than anything else. I don’t have an A-B-C on how we make it happen. We just take it one day at a time and sometimes we have to put family first. But because we have incredible husbands and wonderful children, they do understand when Mommy has to leave. Sometimes we have to take a moment to ourselves and go to the spa and just breathe because it does get overwhelming. But we’re committed to our careers, our families and our ministry. So we just roll and make it happen!
Hope: Erica, you wrote on Essence.com, “I’m tired and I need a break and I think God has lost my address!” How do you get through those times when you feel God is distant?
Erica: Pray and refocus. I think time with my children is what helps me to be OK because there is so much love and joy and good stuff coming from them. If not, I listen to music or just get on the phone with my husband and he’s such an incredible encourager so I deal with it.
Sometimes it’s just a low point. I knew God hadn’t really left me; it just felt like it that day and I was being honest and transparent. After that blog, I got calls from a few friends who were like, “Hey why didn’t you call me?” But sometimes God allows you to go through these moments. Every moment is not supposed to be sunshine and flowers. Sometimes you’re supposed to feel low so that when you are on the mountain top you can appreciate it just a little bit more. But I’m good, I’m back on the mountain top – I’m rolling with it.
Hope: Do you find your relationship with Jesus is different now than when you were younger?
Tina: You become stronger and more rooted in your faith; you become more of a believer; you become a little more unshaken. You also become a little more realistic. A lot of times when you’re a new Christian, you’re overzealous and you expect every day to be a day of euphoria and everything will go perfectly. But the Bible never said everything will go perfectly. It says that everything will work together for your good if you love the Lord. So as we mature in our faith walk, we understand that even when days are bad, or when we fail, God is able to pick us up again and make horrible things work out for our good. God is able to forgive you and redeem you and bring you back to a good space when you put your faith and trust in him. So we’ve learned over the years to never ever leave God because he has proven over the years he will never ever leave me.
Erica: Preach!








