Stepping Up
Posted August 12, 2016
By DwayneLacy_NRT, Staff Reviewer
I am an extreme lover of music who looks at album credits and has a great appreciation for the musicians and the background vocalists. There is something to be said about great singers who serve other artists. There are some names that you see on the credits and instantly know that the background vocals are going to sound amazing.
Candy West is a great example of one who has served others gracefully. She was a member of God's Property and One Nation Crew, and she has been an occasional vocalist for Kirk Franklin for almost twenty years. She is currently singing with Myron Butler and Levi while also being a part of the TD Jakes' quintet, GRACE. In addition to all of this, she is a worship leader at Potter's House in Dallas, Texas. Now she is finally releasing her debut independently released solo project, Candy West Live. Candy co-produced the album with Myron Butler and Deonis Cook while writing six of the ten songs. Candy's sister Chelsea "Peaches" West is on background vocals along with Chadney Christie, Myiesha Duff and other great singers.
When listening to "Reign" (written by Candy's best friend Shanieka Bereal and husband Mike) and hearing her sing "Open up my eyes Lord / Help me to see / Open up my ears Lord, help me to hear... / please always stay in my life forever," you know it is sincere because that is the only way for her to do all that she is doing for so long. The melody and the vocals move fluidly throughout, and it has a simplicity that will make it easy to incorporate into praise and worship set lists.
Things get heavy with "My Praise Is My Weapon," although the title would make one think that the song is going to be an uptempo song with a serious drive. However, it takes an easy listening jazzy musical edge, giving way for Candy to interpret why praise is not just a set of fast songs, but a potent "weapon" than can change things.
Candy has led the praise and worship classic "Great and Mighty Is He" on several occasions when she is worship leading, so it is not a surprise that she recorded it with an added twist: a classic vamp that Candy drives home! "Contentment" is a break from the norm with a pop feel (in 3/4 time) to accent the more lyrical approach. We can all identify with lyrics like "Help me trust Your heart when I can't see Your hand / Because You're never without a plan / And You know what's best for me." Her voice is toned down and wonderfully melded with the guitar, but I predict that this will be a fan favorite. The bridge alone will tug at many hearts!
The Bottom Line: This is how you release a debut album. Everything Candy has endured and all that she has learned was built for this moment, and she knocked this one out the park! Like she stated in the powerful "Small Seed," "Small seed, great faith can produce beyond impossible." Stellar Awards, get ready to nominate Candy West for New Artist of the Year!
Song to Download Now:
"Contentment" (Get it on iTunes here.)
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