Where do you draw inspiration from as an artist? Who would you consider to be your greatest musical role models?
I believe all gifts, talents, inspiration, and creativity come from God, our Creator. So, I draw inspiration as an artist from my faith in Christ. I am inspired when I look at God’s creation, the universe, the earth, and humanity.
Growing up, my most significant musical role models were gospel greats like Andre’ Crouch, The Hawkins Family, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and The Winans. I also enjoyed listening to and being inspired by legends like Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, and so many more artists.
At what point did you realize you wanted to take your music more seriously and enter the industry professionally? How and when did you first get into making music?
Growing up in church, I was inspired to sing by the incredible singers and musicians in our music department. My denomination always had exceptionally gifted and talented musicians and singers around. So, I knew I wanted to be a recording artist at an early age.
Marcus Williams is my most significant influence and gave me my first opportunity to make music. In the early 90, ‘s Marcus’s mom, renowned entertainer Candi Staton was my pastor; that’s how I got to know Candi, Marcus, and the entire family. Marcus believed in me and invited me into his studio. He took me under his wings and recorded and produced my first songs.
What was your inspiration for “I Feel Your Love”? What was it like recording this hard hitting, influential single in the studio with Marcus Williams?
I was leading worship in a prophetic service, and the pastor asked me to sing the phrase “like a wave of the sea.” From that moment on, that line stuck with me. I could feel the potential of a great song, but for years, there was nothing. It was very frustrating. And then, one day, the complete song came to me all at once. So, the inspiration for the song came to me in church.
Marcus is like a brother to me and a close friend, so I was thrilled when he agreed to produce this song. Marcus is super talented and a beast in the studio. He has a great ear for music and will not settle for anything less than one’s best. Marcus is an encourager. He not only gave me technical advice on delivering the song but also gave pep talks and inspired me to be my best. Marcus is also fun to be around. He always keeps a relaxed and easy-going atmosphere in the studio.
How do you personally connect with the message of “I Feel Your Love,” and what is the main takeaway that you hope will resonate with your listeners?
“I Feel Your Love” is about my journey of faith and search for a deeper relationship with God. I began to study the message of God’s grace, and what I learned radically changed my life for the better. Now I understand that God’s love is free, and we can’t earn it through our performance. Everyone matters to God, and He loves us all unconditionally. He doesn’t love me because of what I do, nor because of how great or good I am; He loves me because He is God, and God is love.
My song is about helping people understand that we can experience God’s unconditional love, grace, forgiveness, and acceptance through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Understanding this powerful truth took the pressure off of me from striving to earn God’s approval. No matter how much I tried in my own strength, I always fell short. Peace came into my heart when I understood the price for my sin and failures had already been paid in full by Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection. I’m so excited to share this simple, yet, encouraging truth with everyone who will listen to my song.
What was your experience shooting the “I Feel Your Love” music video? How did the video assist in matching relevant visuals to the lyrics?
“I Feel Your Love” is my first music video, so I didn’t know what to expect. As I stepped out in pursuit of this dream, it made me feel nervous and a little afraid of uncharted territory. But, in the end, it was an incredible experience. Shooting the video felt very natural, and Brian and Marcus created a great working environment for the whole team.
The ocean is a metaphor for God’s love. I wanted people to imagine wave after wave of God’s love washing over them. We are so used to seeing God as a judge that we overlook His overwhelming love for us.
My creative vision for the video was always to be on the beach dressed in white. I shared that with Marcus and Brian and gave them complete creative control. They didn’t let me down. The video was everything and more than what I hoped it would be.
Are there any other projects in the works that fans can be on the lookout for?
I am currently in the studio working on some new songs. In the short term, my goal is to release a new single and video soon. I’ve also been working on completing a new album of 10 to 12 original songs.