Update about Upcoming Album Release
Over the last year I’ve alluded to a new solo project in the works. Recently I flew out to Phoenix, Arizona to work on tracking (we really hadn’t tracked anything on it since April). Robert & Morganne Pickett with Nomad Studios are a ton of fun to work and create with (oh, and I got to spend some quality cousin time while I was at it). Because we didn’t have the time constraints that are normal in most studios, we were able to spend a lot of time creating and developing soundscapes and instrumentation to reflect the heart of the lyrics.
I wanted to share a little bit of my vision for this project and let you know what to expect.
You may or may not have noticed that I’ve gone through a bit of a dry spell recently in sharing anything on this blog. This is NOT because I haven’t been writing. In certain ways, I’ve been writing too much and I have trouble narrowing down ideas and knowing what I should share and what I should keep to myself. I’ve also done a lot of writing, praying (lots of praying), organizing, planning, drafting, and editing for this recording project.
This will not be a polished post. I’m just going to pretend that you’re sitting across from me and asking me questions about what this project holds.
You always put a lot of thought into your album names. What will this album be titled?
These Saints.
That’s correct. These Saints. Everyone is usually like “Huh?” when I tell them the title, but you heard me right.
Why These Saints?
Over the last 18 months, I’ve become increasingly aware that we as Christians need each other. There have been moments in my journeying when I was completely unable to feel God and I felt very certain that He was aloof or unconcerned with my circumstances and the situations of those I loved. When I asked Him to prove Himself to me, He did not do so by letting me feel His presence. I discovered the reality of Who He is by the closeness of His people. They slipped close to me when I was in deep despair and became the feet and hands of Jesus to me. Often, these saints have carried me in prayer, or covered me with their love. Many times, they were completely unaware of the strength I drew from their faith and courage.
“One need only meet one saint to believe, to silence the noisy arguments of the world.”
What’s your vision for These Saints?
My vision is that listeners will gain a new appreciation for the local and catholic (universal) body of believers that they are a part of. It is also my prayer that the honesty of the songs will make listeners aware of some of the doubts and questions that even “put together” believers grapple with. This album isn’t about easy answers or feel good lyrics. I want the songs to give listeners space to look their doubts head-on and bring those doubts to a God Who, as Michael Card once said, “invites the conversation.”
What type of songs can listeners expect? In the past you’ve recorded a mixture of original lyrics and cover songs. How will These Saints compare to your other albums in that regard?
First off, I’ve had an overwhelming amount of original songs to sort through. There was absolutely no way I could record all of the songs I’ve written over the last couple of years. While I wrote about half the tracks on Cri de Cœur and only a handful on Treasures of Darkness, every single song on These Saints I either wrote entirely, or helped write some part of it, or collaborated with other writers to complete it. Because we’ve taken such time and care in developing the music, I’ve been able to slow down and edit lyrics, as well as send lyrics to other writers for their feedback and suggestions. Off the top of my head, I can think of about a dozen people that I’ve tried to collaborate with in songwriting over the last several years. This peer review process has been invaluable.
What are some of your personal highlights from the songs These Saints will include?
This is a hard question. Every song is a highlight in its own way.
For starters the album opens with a song that I wrote in memory of my Grandpa and Grandma (Lewis & Mildred) Smith. “Beautiful Inheritance,” views the church they planted (the church I’ve attended my entire life) and the home they established as first generation Christians and just talks about how much I’ve been given. It’s one of the only happy/upbeat songs on the album. It’s a look at two saints who handed to me everything I call my own.
Shortly into the album is a song called “Defenseless.” The music (just piano, cello, and bass) is really simple, but from the start the lyrics are painfully honest, “Stronger than I have fallen/ But weaker than I have stood/ Yet sometimes in the battle/ I’ve doubted if I could”. This is one of my very favorite songs on the album. Absolutely loved the work of Ethan Stoops on the cello on several pieces throughout this project.
The song that I did the least writing for “He’s With Me I Know” will be a welcome relief to listeners. Its lyrics are straightforward and encouraging. The first three verses, chorus, and music were written by a close friend of mine, Carl Knight (he was “Grandpa Knight” to me). He allowed me to add another verse and chorus to his already well-written song. I loved that my cousins were able to join me singing alto and tenor on the choruses. For those of you who like traditional bluegrass/country (rhythm guitar, dobro, fiddle, mandolin, bass, piano), you’ll love this track.
There’s the title track “These Saints” (in the middle of the album). That song is really a story, so it’s hard to pull any of the lyrics out and list them here. The heart of the song is the chorus “This is He/ In the hands that wrap my wounds/ And He can see/ Through the tears that join my own/ And He will be/ With the feet that carry me on home/ In these saints/ He’s with me.”
Similar to “Defenseless” the turning point of the album, “Interlude (Grieve Long, Grieve Deep)” is also really honest and simple. This track features piano, cello, and ocean (yup, ocean. There are several nature soundscapes on this album). This song is a dare to take the time to plummet the depths of one’s grief and there, in the middle of your sorrow, find God faithful. “…Feel it all/ Close out the world/ Dive into the unknowns of your shaking world/ And in those depths you’ll prove/ The Rock that will not move/ So grieve long/ Grieve deep.”
One track in particular “Symphony of Pain,” is different from anything I’ve ever written or recorded. It’s an Easter song (that I never intended to write) that walks the listener through the imagery of Christ’s sufferings. We used a lot of layers of instrumentation to bring to life what we imagined the Crucifixion and Resurrection to maybe sound like. Morganne and Bobby’s experience playing percussion/piano in college band/orchestra was invaluable for developing this piece.
There’s one track, “You Will Know Him,” towards the end of the album that is deeply personal to me. I don’t know that I’m to the place where I can share the story behind it (or if I ever will be to that place), but a few lines of the chorus go like this, “Friend, could I speak/ A word to your wounds/ He will not break/ Beyond what can be used/ The places where/ You once were wronged/ Will be restored/ Will be made strong…”
The album closes with the song, “Of His Suffering” and brings the audience full-circle to the starting track (the tribute to my grandparents). Mid-song, it pans to a recording we have of my grandfather, a saint, praying. The closing lines are simply, “If it means great pain/ Or costs me much/ My only prayer will be/ ‘May the Lamb/ That was slain/ Receive the full reward/ Of His suffering.’”
Every album (Christian or otherwise) that an artist releases is a certain timestamp, or picture, of the place they’re currently at in their journey. How exactly do you see your journey reflected in These Saints?
In the praying I’ve done for direction for These Saints, I’ve repeatedly reminded the Lord that He takes the weak things of the world and uses them. Over the last 18 months, I’ve been made painfully aware of how weak I really am. I do not like weakness and I dislike portraying that weakness even more. The heart of These Saints is the open willingness to lean on one another for strength, and ultimately, bare our weakness to a God Who is so willing to give strength to the weak.
I actually broke down and cried and cried (in front of people!) one night while we were recording instrumentation. My family would be the first to tell you that I don’t do that at home for basically any reason. I have never done that while recording in the past. (And I wasn’t crying because I was overwhelmed with all the work of recording). I still don’t know what to do with some of these lyrics, with some of these unanswered prayers I have, and the only thing I could do in that moment was cry.
These songs come from the deepest places of my heart — these were words I prayed when I didn’t know how to pray, these were questions I asked God when He didn’t make sense to me. And I have felt compelled to share them with my listeners, as raw and open as they are (and even share this behind-the-scenes moment with you).
When will These Saints release?
I honestly have no idea. At this point we have basically all of the instrumentation and vocals done. I am flying back out West (where Nomad Studios has its home, if a studio called “Nomad” can actually have a home) October 21-28 to do as much of the post-recording editing that I can do. Bobby will edit, mix, and master the album. I would like to release it before Christmas, but it might not be until early next year. Once I know what is feasible and reasonable to project, I will keep my listeners posted.
For now, I welcome your questions and feedback! Please pray with me that God would be glorified through These Saints and that His people would be strengthened through these songs.
Photography: Jonelle Hill with Backyard Studios.