Arends began her career as a songwriter at Benson Music Publishing. In 1995, Carolyn began touring and releasing albums as a singer and guitarist. Her debut release that year (I Can Hear You) was released through Reunion Records. I Can Hear You reached No. 37 on Billboard Magazine's Contemporary Christian Chart in 1996. Feel Free peaked at No. 10 on the chart in 1997. More recently her albums have been distributed by Signpost Music (Steve Bell's label). She is the winner of two Gospel Music Association Dove Awards and six GMA Canada Covenant Awards. Carolyn co-hosted the 29th Annual Covenant Awards in 2007 (with Leland Klassen) and the 31st Annual Covenant Awards in 2009 (with Arlen Salte).
Books
Feel Free (1997)
Living the Questions: Making Sense of the Mess and Mystery of Life (Harvest House, 2000)
Ragamuffin Prayers (2000, by Jimmy Abegg, contributions by Carolyn Arends and others)
We've Been Waiting for You (2002)
Wrestling With Angels: Adventures in Faith and Doubt (Harvest House, 2008)
Collaborations
co-wrote lyrics for "Diamonds from the Other Side" with Steve Bell on his album: Waiting for Aidan (Signpost, 2001)
co-wrote lyrics for "Not So Hip" with Bec Abbot on her album: Not So Hip (Signpost, 2005)
Notable appearances
Parachute Music Festival (January 1997)
Cornerstone Festival (July 1997)
Kingdom Bound (August 1997)
Cornerstone Festival (July 2002)
harmony vocals on "He Will Listen To You", "Rest", and "The Peace of Christ" on Glen Soderholm's album Rest (Signpost, 2003)
duet on "One Heart" on Greg Magirescu's album Sweet Surrender (Angel Cake Café, 2003)
harmony vocals on "Approach My Soul The Mercy Seat" and "Come Ye Disconsolate" on Glen Soderholm's World Without End (Signpost, 2006)
vocals on Jacob Moon's "Winter Song", "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear" and "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel", This Christmas (Signpost, 2007)
Songs in other projects
Vancouver Seeds VI, "No Trespassing" (1991)
Music You Can Believe In, "Seize the Day" (Reunion, 1995)
Noel, "What Child Is This", with Brent Bourgeois and Derri Daugherty (Via, 1995)
Noel, "Angels We Have Heard on High", with Jenny Gullen and Stephen Murray (Via, 1995)
Orphans of God: A Tribute to Mark Heard, "Love Is So Blind" (Fingerprint, 1996)
Within the Sound of Your Voice by Amy Morriss, "Has to Be You" (Myrrh, 1997)
Songs 4 Life: Renew Your Heart, "Seize the Day" (Madacy, 1998)
Keep the Faith 2000, "Love Is Always There" (Chordant, 1998)
Awesome God: A Tribute to Rich Mullins, "Jacob and Two Women" (Reunion, November 10, 1998)
Prince of Peace, "Seize the Day" (Brentwood, 1999)
Sing Me to Sleep, Mommy, "You Bring Me Joy" (Brentwood, April 27, 1999)
Yes I Believe in God, "Happy" (Reunion, 1999)
Songs for the Soul: Grace, "Seize the Day" (Madacy, 2000)
Songs for the Soul: Joy, "Happy" (Madacy, 2000)
Rock on Christian, "This I Know" (Madacy, 2001)
Rock on Worship, "Father Thy Will Be Done" (Madacy, 2002)
Signpost Collections, Vol. 1, "Dance Like No One's Watching" and "We've Been Waiting For You" (Signpost, 2003)
Sons & Daughters by Steve Bell and Sarah Bell, "Getting Ready For Glory" (Signpost, 2004)
28th Annual Covenant Hits, "Something To Give" (CMC, 2007)
Sea to Sea: The Voice of Creation, "Land of the Living" (CMC, 2007)
