Music Monday: Reviews of New Music Releases
May 2024 Music Releases
“The Conversation” is DeNeya Joi’s single from her upcoming first album, “Audience of One.” While DeNeya and I are related, I am super excited about this project because she has a voice and gift that I know the world is waiting to hear. “The Conversation” features a lyrical pattern of a conversation the artist is having with her Heavenly Father. As she shares her journey from pain to understanding her purpose, you hear the soft refrain as the call of God to “come, and run to me.” While a new solo recording artist, DeNeya is no musical novice. She has sung with the group, “The Prathers”, ministered as a guest psalmist at many churches, and leads praise and worship at her parent’s church.
I Do it For Hymn is the first album for award winning producer, author, and well known musician, Tim Clinton. The album begins with “Invocation” featuring the late beloved leader of the Pentecostal Assemblies of World (PAW), Bishop Norman L. Wagner followed by the late Bishop Iona Locke. While most of the chosen hymns have an expected classical sound, each is somehow reworked, without over doing it. A couple of songs are departures from the others like, It is Well (feat Jarrell Little) and “Be Still” (feat. Olivia Whittington). I’m transported to a coffee shop then theater/concert hall during It is Well, while Be Still features a sweet violin with full orchestra (or sound), then a futuristic sound I can’t describe. Unsure if this was intentional, when listening it feels like the journey from start to finish of a worship experience- the Bishop’s invocation to the cathedral choir’s benediction. I would say this album bridges the old with the new, without taking from the sacredness of the hymns.
Lisa Nicole aka Lisa Kimmey Winans, is the former leader of the 90s CCM musical group Out of Eden. The group of sisters had seven career albums released from 1994 to 2006, including the critically-acclaimed Lovin’ the Day, More Than You Know, and Hymns, the trio garnered two Dove Awards and earned a Grammy Award nomination (ugospel.com). The group’s Love, Peace, & Happiness album was the soundtrack to my high school senior year and that summer. I’ve continued playing their music and had been playing OoE’s song, “Window”, on repeat for the last month. So, I was so happy to hear Lisa’s sincere, smooth voice again. The single samples Fred Hammond’s “Just to be Close to You” with an R&B touch. You will also find a Brandy reference and Fred Hammond’s closer that close lyrics. For fellow fans of OoE, I’m calling the new release Just to Be Close to You a 2.0 version of the song Meditate (iykyk).
The Sidewalk Prophets are back with their new single, Hurt People (Love Will Heal our Hearts). The chorus says, Hurt people, hurt people, broken hearts break hearts, and although I feel the popular phrase has been overused lately, I love how the prophets use it. Next month I plan to cover the topic of Grief and Loss, so I was comforted and excited to hear those message being released right now.
Below are additional releases that I have not had the time to fully sit with. There are so many new releases in the month of May but I notice themes of worship, hymns, artists releasing their first projects, and sounds that are new and fresh.
