Christian reggae artist Nolan Brown has grown both personally and professional in the past two years.His second studio album “New Journey” gives listeners an honest glimpse into that spiritual and mental awakening.“My whole focus and outlook on life is totally different from when my first album came out and even my writing ability has improved,” he said.“The majority of songs on the CD just came out. A few I just went into the studio and just sang them on the spot.”Mr Brown, who goes by stage name “Missian”, said he wanted to create songs that would empower the community and share his love of God.“I just want to bring a positive message to people so if you are going through a down situation it can uplift you,” he said.He will be performing ten songs from his new album at a CD release concert on Friday, June 28. The event will also feature performances from Troy Anthony, Whopper Benz, Nova, Samantha Trio and United Tehilla.Tickets are free for children under 12 — and Mr Brown hopes young people will take the opportunity to come out and be encouraged by his music.When it comes to young people particularly he wants them to find their God-given purpose in life — and said it won’t just fall into their laps “sometimes you have to reach for it”.One song off the new album “Far Away” was written while the artist was going through a challenging time in his life.Out of work and physically and mentally stressed, Mr Brown said he went to the Lord and asked Him why all these burdens were falling on him.“The answer I got is ‘You are too far away’ and I asked him to pull me closer,” he said.“Even though I am a Christian I still fall short and it’s something I have to work at everyday, so sometimes you just have to find yourself again and take a look in the mirror.“You have to think of what you can do for yourself first before you go and tell people about stuff. It’s a part of the new journey as well.”The title track “New Journey” talks about his younger years and how he would occasionally drink, party and hang out with people who were a bad influence.Although he has transformed his life now, he said there were still people trying to judge him for his past.“A lot of people have a lot to say and people say ‘He is just faking. What he is doing isn’t real’. But that’s what the song ‘New Journey’ is about.“If God said I am new than whatever else anyone wants to say is of no consequence, so if they want to talk they can talk because whatever I am doing is not for them.“I hope they can be uplifted by it, but at the end of the day whatever I am doing is for God.”Mr Brown grew up as one of seven children in a single parent home in Jamaica. Although they struggled his mother Ambrozene Rhoden took them to church and taught them to love and respect others, he said.His mother also played a lot of gospel and country music in their home and he began singing country music as a teen.“But in Jamaica it’s a reggae country, so a black man singing country wasn’t working,” he said.In 2001, he entered a gospel competition, with one of his own songs making it to the semi-finals before being eliminated.Then in 2004, he joined the same competition with a singing group called Komplete and won two gold metals in the finals.“That’s where it all started and I haven’t turned back since,” he said.He has had the opportunity to share the stage with popular performers like Beanie Man, Gyptian and Mary Mary.Through social networking sites like Facebook and YouTube, his music has made it to places like England, America, Kenya and Nigeria.Missian’s ‘New Journey’ CD Release Concert will take place at Heritage Worship Centre on June 28 at 7.30pm. Tickets, $30 or $50 for patrons, are available at the Heritage Worship Centre book store and Jamaican Grill on Court Street. Students under age 12 are free.