28 year-old New Jersey native Audrey Assad propelled to the forefront of Christian music with her debut album on Sparrow Records titled The House You’re Building. Produced by Marshall Altman (Brooke Fraser, Natasha Bedingfield, William Fitzsimmons, Marc Broussard), the record released in the summer of 2010 to much acclaim. An avid reader, poems from Gerard Manley Hopkins and books were amongst Assad’s inspirations in her songwriting. Her collaborations with everyone from Chris Tomlin to Jars of Clay have marked her songwriting and vocal talent. Assad’s fresh sound was named among the best of 2010 from Relevant Magazine, Rhapsody.com, Gospel Music Channel online and more and was even profiled on CNN Online. In addition, The House You’re Building was named Amazon.com’s “Best Christian Music of 2010” and iTunes ® Christian & Gospel “Breakthrough Album of the Year.”
Now, Audrey returns with a live iTunes SoHo performance, available exclusively on iTunes.
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Audrey Assad [Live from SoHo]| Posted August 29, 2011 Audrey Assad-Live from SoHo is a stellar eight song live performance recording at the Apple Store in SoHo, New York. Since Audrey’s debut album The House You’re Building released, I can’t get enough of Audrey’s singing voice and the incredible and introspective messages of her great songs. The collection opens with a brand new song, “Sparrow,” which features Audrey’s flawless vocals and her signature introspective and prayerful message as she yearns “why should I be lonely…when Jesus is my portion, and a constant Friend I know, I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, His eye is on the sparrow, His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He’s watching me, I sing because He loves me, I sing because I’m free, He’s watching you, He’s watching me.” I love listening to Audrey’s comments throughout the album as she is so genuine and like-able. “For Love of You” was inspired by the Gerard Manley Hopkins poem “As Kingfishers Catch Fire” and is one of my favorite songs on both her studio album and this live recording. There’s no struggling or wrestling, it’s simply a celebration of the idea that there are traces of God everywhere.
“Breaking Through,” “Garden” and “Come Clean” really grab me with the transparent, prayerful and relevant messages. The songs are great examples of how Audrey easily connects with listeners as she gorgeously sings her songs of hope based on her relationship with Christ. “What It Ought To Be” is a fun relationship song that she wrote to her husband. “Carry Me” has prayerful and very emotional lyrics, “As I carry this cross, You carry me” and is a stand-out moment on the recording as she sings the song as a stunning closing medley along with her hit song, “Restless,” which comes from the confession of Augustine, “My heart is restless until it rests in You.” Audrey has a phenomenal singing voice and reminds me of the top female vocalists in the business, Brooke (Fraser) Ligertwood, Christy Nockels and Adie, which is amazing company in my opinion.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Audrey Assad is my favorite new female vocalist, and this live recording really captures the beauty and sincerity of her incredible vocals and stirring songs. Her ability to captivate me as a singer is unmatched in any genre and I'm thrilled that she's been selected for this intimate and personal live recording which includes some of her best songs, "For Love Of You," "Breaking Through,""What It Ought To Be," "Come Clean," "Carry Me," "Restless" and new recordings of "Garden" (Matt Maher), "Hungry Heart" (Bruce Springsteen) and her brand new song "Sparrow." Don't miss any of these passionate and emotional songs. This mesmerizing recording of Audrey Assad-Live from SoHo is my top live album of the year!
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