Bruce Von Stiers

There is a new singer on the Contemporary Christian music scene. His name is Freddie Colloca. In a video interview, Freddie said that his name is pronounced like “ko yo ka” not “Freddie Coca Cola or Freddie Coyote.” Freddie says that his mission is to “bring people to their feet in celebration of God and then to their knees in worship of him.”

Freddie’s family came from Argentina when he was 5 years old and settled in Miami. His father started a church there and this is where Freddie began his faith journey.

With secular music being populated with Latin artists like Ricky Martin and Mark Anthony it is not surprising that Contemporary Christian music would trot a few of their own. Freddie Colloca is an example of how the industry leaders hit the mark once again. Freddie has released four albums, most of them to a generally Latin market. He has just released a brand new album that travels back and forth between a Latin sound and Christian Pop. This new album is titled Unconditional. The album was produced by One Voice Records and distributed by Provident Music Group.

There are 10 songs on Unconditional. Each one of them is based in scripture. Me Libero was based on Galatians 5:1 where it is shown how God has liberated all of and set us free as part of his grace.

The first song on the album is the title track. It has a good beat to begin with. Then Freddie goes into some light lyrics. The chorus is bouncy. The song is about God’s unconditional love for us.

The second song is Savior My Savior has a Latin dance beat to start it. As with the previous song, the lyrics are light, with a slight backbeat. The chorus has you tapping your feet and moving around. The song is another praise to God and how he controls the things in the world.

You Chose My Heart is the third track on the album. It is more of a ballad than a dance tune. Freddie sings about all the things that God has done for him and, even though he was unworthy, chose his heart. Close is the next song and it is a slow song that asks the Lord to direct the singer’s heart to where it needs to be.

Surrounded picks back up the pace a little. It has a pretty solid backbeat and the chorus makes you want to move your feet and body around once again. The song is about how God surrounds us with his love.

Song of My Heart is in the style of a Ricky Martin. It has a solid backbeat and then the chorus kicks up it a little with a Latin twist. The chorus goes “You’re the beat that makes me groove.” The chorus is repeated in Spanish.

Your Love My Heart is another ballad type of song. This song is about how God has given us his love and the strength that he gives us. Instead of Me is about how Jesus died on the cross for our sins. It is a slow song that shows Freddie can carry a song without having a lot of instruments as a backdrop. Me Libero is a song that sings of the freedom that God has given us by fullness of his grace.

The last song on Unconditional is called Just When I Needed You Most. It is yet another ballad that brings praise to the grace that God has given us.

Unconditional is a wonderful praise album. It has elements of Latin music mixed in with pop and more traditional praise music. With catchy songs like Unconditional, Savior My Savior and Surrounded, Freddie Colloca‘s new album is sure to be voted one of the best albums of 2002.

To find out more about this exciting new artist, visit Freddie’s web site at www.freddiecolloca.com. You might also want to check out One Voice Records at www.one-voice.com.