In writing and recording this new record, A Little Closer, I welcomed the tension of writing as freely as an eight year old, while continuing to develop my craft and build clear and powerful songs. During my times of writing I have constant conversations with God, much like praying. A song usually takes over a whole season of my life and stays with me even through the night. In this way, this record is written out of worship. Even as the songs don’t necessarily lend themselves to corporate worship, I pray that people will find this record to be healing and inspiring in this journey we are on. A life of faith requires our hearts to be engaged in all that is going on around us and inside of us. Hopefully these songs will point toward tender places in your heart where God is asking you too to move a little closer.
So, it is safe to say that I have not just been taking a journey back to the freedom of an eight year old in my creativity but also in my personal relationships and in my relationship with God. There was innocence in those formative years of loving people and having no fear. As children we aren’t afraid to ask and I’m finding that a lot of life requires asking. Whether we are asking for help, asking why or asking for what we need, this kind of reaching out and being okay with the small and big mysteries of life keeps our curiosity alive and leaves room for God to move us to a new place. Standing in the middle of my life, my marriage, my church, my friends, my art, my memories of NYC, Syracuse and Carlsbad, I’ve tried to allow the songs to be born out of day to day life and my deepest need for the love of God in the midst of it all. God has always reached me through music and I’ve seen that music is the most effective way for me to communicate my heart back to the world.
Much like sitting on the beach lookin...
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While her name might not be familiar to many, Anadara Arnold released her debut album, Into the Unknown, on the Spring Hill Worship label in 2005. Her song, “The Name”, co-written with Joe Beck and Billy Sprague, was nominated by Worship Leader Magazine for “Best Scripture Song” the same year. September sees the talented Ms. Arnold releasing her independent, sophomore project: A Little Closer.
Ms. Arnold’s vocal quality brings to mind Diana Krall and Ann Wilson (Heart) during their more pop/tranquil moments, but there is an overall resonance with songstress k.d. Lang’s style. Her voice and delivery is quiet and sensitive, conveying a delicate strength. Anadara’s compositions tend toward being relationally-oriented, with several having an obvious inclination to the vertical, but avoid relying on excessive sentimentality. The overall tone of the album is balanced between a mature, reverent introspectiveness and an innocent, child-like joy.
The music of A Little Closer is mature, contemporary pop. Guitar and piano, with the restrained use of keyboard, strings and drums, create a blithe and spacious soundscape. If you enjoy the faintly urban pop/jazz-flavored works of artists Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, and Shelby Lynne, as well as the reflective and quietude endeavors of artists Margaret Becker, Natalie Grant, Jadon Lavik and Aaron Shust then, by all means, give a listen to A Little Closer.
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