NRT founder Kevin McNeese talks to the artist about new music, anxiety, depression, and her inspirational experience with contemporary artist Meredith Andrews
Katy Weirich (pronounced y-rick) is a singer, songwriter, and worship leader based in southwest Florida. This past year, she celebrated 10 years of marriage to her high-school sweetheart, Jonathan. And, together, they have three daughters. She loves singing, playing piano, and writing music that lifts the name of Jesus and encourages His saints.
I connected with Katy to talk about new music, anxiety and depression, and her inspirational experience with contemporary artist Meredith Andrews.
You’ll be releasing new music throughout 2022 culminating in a new EP, Out of the Blue, in June 2022. Talk about the first two singles, “Majestic One” and “More.”
“Majestic One,” released on January 14th, is an upbeat worship anthem that pays tribute to the grandiose nature of God. Sometimes I find myself trying to fit God into a box of my own making. I struggle with worry or mental exercise in attempting to confine God’s will to my agenda—which is impossible.
The truth is that God doesn’t belong in my proverbial box. He simply cannot fit inside it. Otherwise, He wouldn’t be whom He says He is. So, I guess you could say this song is my ‘unboxing’ of God, a reminder of who God is and isn’t by recounting His amazing attributes outlined in Scripture. My prayer is that “Majestic One” would facilitate worship from a renewed posture of awe and wonder.
“More” will release on February 25th and this song is super special. As a mom of three children, I have unfortunately suffered severe postpartum anxiety and depression after each of my pregnancies.
I wrote the song when I was starting to come out of my second—yet most debilitating—bout of depression. Somehow out of the darkness of that valley, when everything else in my life felt unstable and frail—like having panic attacks that left me unable to stand up and instead of collapsing to the floor—I experienced the closeness and love of Jesus unlike any other time in my life.
His love was so tangible and so constant and assuring that one morning doing the dishes the melody and lyrics of the chorus "My Jesus, I love you more than anything, more than anything: you know me, you love me, more than anything" were sung in a prayer out loud to God. I was so thankful that I wasn't alone in my suffering and for the peace that felt like it was wrapped around me like a blanket.
The rest of the song speaks to the truth of scripture in Romans 8:38-39: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
There’s only one person who has wanted me before the foundation of the world. One person who has conquered death to save my soul. One person who will never let me go. That's Jesus and that’s what this song declares.
Can you share about your journey with anxiety and depression? And how that has shaped your music over the years?
Much of my adult life has been ridden with anxiety and depression. I was first diagnosed at the beginning of my college journey. At first, we didn’t know what the culprit was. I was so badly off at one point that I struggled to walk because the floor felt like it was moving up and down. I was so depressed that it was hard to face the day.
I’ve also struggled with postpartum depression and anxiety after each of my three daughter’s births. These valleys were on a whole new level because of their coupling with a brand-new life to care for.
These episodes were debilitating and the darkest of my life. But through them, I have experienced God’s tenderness, unlike any other time. Out of these dark moments, He’s shown me His faithfulness and taught me to rely on His strength. As crazy as it sounds, I wouldn’t change a thing because of the blessing of growing closer to Jesus through these trials.
My songs are very much autobiographical in nature. They’re about the valleys I’ve walked through, the lessons I’ve learned, and the recounting of truths I’ve found in God’s Word that served as anchors for my soul. The music has given purpose to the pain of my experiences. I pray they minister to each listener wherever they find themselves—especially those experiencing suffering.
Watching popular contemporary artist Meredith Andrews lead worship at a conference was pivotal to bringing you back into worship music after your daughter’s birth. What was it about that experience that gave you the resolve to pursue worship ministry again?
Up to this point, I had pursued seemingly every avenue when it came to music: studying music education in college, becoming classically trained in singing, starting a wedding music business, chasing the secular music dream with my acoustic duo, Barefoot Saturday, teaching music, and the list goes on.
At that moment, it was like a curtain dropped. I saw for the first time, with this aha sort of clarity, the reason why these other things never worked out. God was calling me to do something different.
And while I had hit pause on music when I found out I was to be a mom, there was something so encouraging about seeing Meredith Andrews lead worship while she was nine months pregnant with her third kid.
She was witnessing and experiencing the way that God was using her life, voice, and music to lead others to His throne room. It was so powerful, and His presence was so tangible. I left that conference feeling forever changed and redirected. To see music coupled with advancing the kingdom of God was a beautiful new mission that I’ve been committed to ever since.
Working with Nashville-based producer Tedd T. is quite the opportunity. How did that come about?
This story is a total God orchestration and I love sharing it because of that. Ever since I discovered the music and ministry of Meredith Andrews, I’ve kept tabs on her journey—and that included subscribing to her email list.
The very week that I felt led to start my search for a producer for this record I felt called to put out, I received an email announcing a new single by Meredith which included a behind-the-song video featuring her co-writers and a producer named Tedd T.
I had no idea who he was or knew anything about him (which was probably good, or I don’t think I would have even tried). But I felt a nudge to reach out to him via email. Thankfully, he responded. Out of the five producers I spoke with, I felt the Lord’s direction to work with Tedd T.
It wasn’t until later that I learned and experienced for myself that he is the best of the best at what he does. He’s also a very humble guy, which speaks volumes. I will always consider it a ginormous blessing that I got to learn from him and collaborate on this EP project together.
What are some of the themes you want to communicate to your listeners as you move forward?
Some of the themes I’d like to communicate include the gospel message because when it comes down to it, this is the greatest and most important message of all time, and it cannot be exhausted. Another theme I’d like to communicate is God’s sovereignty in tandem with the mind-boggling truth of His enormous love for us. Themes of surrender in worship, contentment, and battling fear also come to mind.
What’s next?
In the upcoming months, more singles will be dropping leading up to my debut EP, Out of the Blue, which is set for release in June 2022. I’m excited to get started leading these songs in live worship gatherings. In March, I’ll be leading worship for a beachside service, hosted by Coastal Fellowship, in Naples, Florida. Beyond that, it’s a continued adventure serving the Lord.
How can we be praying for you?
I would ask for continued opened doors for where the Lord wants me to go and more opportunities to accomplish His will in my music and ministry. Please pray that God gives me the courage and strength to fight the lies of the enemy. And if you were to pray only one prayer, I ask that you pray that my life and music would glorify Jesus Christ.
Kevin McNeese started NRT in 2002 and has worked in the industry since 1999 in one form or another. He has been a fan of Christian music since 1991.
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