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Heather Clark [Overcome] | Posted June 15, 2012
Jesus Culture Music introduces British Columbia-based worship leader and songwriter Heather Clark with Overcome, an 11-track, live recording available on Kingsway June 19. Known for her intimate lyrics and passionate worship, that have earned comparisons to Rita Springer and Kim Walker-Smith, Clark crafted Overcome to bless both congregations and individuals alike with its range of high praise moments and slower points of longing and pursuit. Recorded at Bethel Church in Redding, California, and produced by Jeremy Edwardson, Overcome features 10 original songs written by Clark along with a stirring version of “How Great Thou Art.”
I’m very impressed by her powerful vocals which remind me of the other passionate female Jesus Culture singers, Kim Walker-Smith, Kristene DiMarco and Steffany Frizzell, as well as mainstream singer Sarah McLachlan. Overcome opens with a great upbeat invitational song, “Come In,” which has piercing and sincere vertical lyrics perfectly setting the tone for this great album: “I have come to greet the King, I have come to give myself in total abandonment, I’ve come to lay down all that holds me back from You, I’ve come to lay down all that holds You back from me.” Amen to that! The album has a mesmerizing, contemplative vibe and every song invites the listener to join in with Heather as she praises our Savior and Lord Jesus with all of her heart and soul. “Overcome” captivates me with the completely biblical and confessional lyrics: “I’m coming to be touched by the coal, I’m coming that You’d reach out Your hand and make me whole, I walked by this Fire so many times, but now I’m coming in...Purify me Lord, Burn away the things that don’t please You, create in me a light that shines.” My life verse is Isaiah 6:8, and the title track’s sentiment ties in with Isaiah’s meeting God and saying, “woe is me, I am a man of unclean lips.” I find myself meeting God in every song on this album which is an incredible blessing. I find myself singing along loudly with Heather with all of my heart, “Let the fire burn in me for the pure in heart will see You Lord, baptize us in the Holy Spirit, baptize us in Fire!” Heather invites listeners to worship along with her and you can’t help but get swept up in the emotion of the song. These opening songs set the tone for a special worship experience. No matter what you are going through in life, God’s promise to His children is that one day we will overcome.
The next songs blow me away with how vulnerable and personal they get. “Undivided Focus” has become my personal worship anthem and keeps the cohesive theme going with the gorgeous and prayerful offering reflecting the yearnings of my heart: “Holy Spirit, I surrender to You, take my life I lay it down, all my gifts, all my crowns, take my life and lay it down, I am Yours, I am in love with undivided focus, I am in love with You.” There is incredible comfort and biblical Truth in this song and Heather’s passionate vocals will have you hanging on every word, especially during the bridge which wrecks me—“I wanna be a lay down lover, filled with You, I wanna be a fearless lover, filled with You.” What an incredible prayer to our King and Savior. There is great comfort in knowing Jesus and being known by Him in every detail of our lives. “Kisses Of His Mouth” stops me in my tracks as Clark slays me with her confessional and prayerful vocal style, opening with the imploring and intimate lyrics, “Kiss me with the kisses of Your mouth, Your love is better than wine.” It is one of the most compelling songs I’ve ever heard and perfectly captures the intimacy of our relationship with Jesus and He is our Bridegroom and we are all His bride. “Lamb of God” has another confessional lyric that also really grabs me: “Stuck in the entanglement of sin, The shame of past that haunts us deep within...Where’s the power to leave it all behind?...the Lamb of God makes me clean.” Heather lives in British Columbia with her four children and travels internationally singing, leading worship and speaking, calling people into a greater place of wholeness, healing and freedom in their lives and in their relationship with God.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Heather is clearly in love with Jesus and how these songs convey her relationship with our Lord and Savior in these songs is truly inspiring and convicting. If you like albums with God-focused worshipful lyrics, musical diversity and engaging female vocals with a lot of range then you’ll want to check out Overcome by Heather Clark. Every song on this album has quickly become a staple in my playlist of my favorite worship anthems. The songs are all worshipful and catchy. The vertical worship and number of songs I could imagine singing in union with fellow believers in a corporate worship setting is another highlight of this very solid album. Some of the songs that would be great additions to church services are “Come In,” “Overcome,” “Undivided Focus,” “Shadow Of Your Wings” and “Lamb of God.” This is one of the most emotionally moving albums I’ve ever heard. Heather’s remarkable singing voice and her interesting music and lyrics are truly captivating. For sure, this will be among my top worship albums of the year.
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