I also appreciate Andy Gullahorn’s music, it’s well-crafted and takes an honest look at brokenness and healing. Jason Gray has been another songwriter who has influenced my own writing, he continues to write songs (sometimes with Andy Gullahorn actually) that express doubt and questions, and talk about woundedness and grace. JJ Heller was also a big early influence for me, she was playing in coffeeshops and churches around Phoenix when I was in college. She wrote about anxiety and identity and her songs showed me songwriting could be a way to bring all I was feeling to God. I would also point to early Shane & Shane, particularly their Psalms album that sought to write from the model of the Psalms, and Andrew Peterson’s music, in anchoring my own story with all its longing and uncertainty in the story of scripture.
Bethany Barnard’s All My Questions album was such a gusty offering, “Who Else” expressing anger, “Tears on Your Face” the fact that our sorrow is shared by our Savior, “Tears Are Smoke” that tears are a gift. Early on in my journey, Nichole Nordeman’s first two albums showed me honesty, creativity and embracing mystery were a part of the journey.
A friend shared this article with me. Really great stuff, thank you!
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I also appreciate Andy Gullahorn’s music, it’s well-crafted and takes an honest look at brokenness and healing. Jason Gray has been another songwriter who has influenced my own writing, he continues to write songs (sometimes with Andy Gullahorn actually) that express doubt and questions, and talk about woundedness and grace. JJ Heller was also a big early influence for me, she was playing in coffeeshops and churches around Phoenix when I was in college. She wrote about anxiety and identity and her songs showed me songwriting could be a way to bring all I was feeling to God. I would also point to early Shane & Shane, particularly their Psalms album that sought to write from the model of the Psalms, and Andrew Peterson’s music, in anchoring my own story with all its longing and uncertainty in the story of scripture.
Bethany Barnard’s All My Questions album was such a gusty offering, “Who Else” expressing anger, “Tears on Your Face” the fact that our sorrow is shared by our Savior, “Tears Are Smoke” that tears are a gift. Early on in my journey, Nichole Nordeman’s first two albums showed me honesty, creativity and embracing mystery were a part of the journey.