It has sometimes been said (by Americans themselves!) that the spirituality of America is a thousand miles wide and two inches deep.
Hearteningly, some of the offerings of the newer solo singer/songwriters in North America belie that gross generalisation. The Gospel Coalition recently highlighted some of the newer writers, and I found myself strangely warmed by their songs.
Will Carlisle, from Christ Covenant Church Atlanta, works with Jordan Kauflin, and has put some OT Scripture to song. His recent recording of Shema (Hear O Israel) from Deuteronomy 6, with his Marcus Mumford style of singing, makes for edifying listening. Or, for more energy, try the more upbeat Rivers.
Kelsey Breedlove has a strong testimony on what it means to be ‘in Christ’. This infuses her songs, which have a Romans 5–8 focus. Listen to the contemporary sounding Hyssop or Northern Lights which bring out the sheer joy of our identity in Him. Delightful.
Canadian Elias Dummer has three songs that brought the wow factor! The stress -relieving The Gospel is Rest; Kyrie Eleison with its choral feel, and Enough, are the kind of songs you are probably going to need at some point this year.
Land of Colour have an insightful take on 1 Corinthians 13 and James 2 with the song Show Me What it Means to Love. Try this counter-cultural lyric: ‘All I stand to gain on the final day is the love I gave away’. Exactly.
Joshua Leventhal writes a moving song called Lepers. The use of a vocoder (I won’t explain it!) has an intense effect on the listener, such that you believe the Lord does indeed reach out to untouchables.
And finally, one Canadian writer who has been around for a while, but needs rediscovering. Carolyn Arends, who teams up with the talented Spencer Capier, has written great songs such as Seize the Day, and more recently with Amy Grant, Without Music. But I found myself wanting to finish by quoting an older favourite song of mine, Reaching. It captures our experience of the ‘Now and the Not Yet’.
We are reaching for the future,
we are reaching for the past,
and no matter what we have,
we reach for more.
We are desperate to discover
what is just beyond our grasp,
well maybe that’s what Heaven’s for.
As you’ll discover, all these songs are much much more than two inches deep.
