Louder Than The Music

LTTM caught up with singer/songwriter Audrey Assad to talk about her new album 'Inheritance', and found out a little more about the inspiration behind the songs.

Tell us a little bit about this new album of yours?

Inheritance is a collection of hymns and a few original songs - it is cinematic in its approach and aims to create a space for prayer that is faithful to the original texts and melodies, but that highlights the atmosphere and intense beauty of these marvelous songs.

Which is your favourite track on the album and why?

“Holy, Holy, Holy” is my favorite currently, because I think we found a way to take what is traditionally such a majestic hymn and bring some intimacy and vulnerability to it. In the studio when we cut vocals on it, I sang it as a prayer for a little girl named Avery Kalk who has heterotaxy syndrome the words had never felt so real to me before. It was almost as if, in singing that massive melody and those confident words, I was holding her little body up in my mind's eye before the throne of God, and I knew that He saw all her needs perfectly.

If you could work with any songwriter, who would it be and why?

Probably Sia Furler, because I have loved her and her fiery, crackling voice since my early twenties, and I think she writes some of the most literate, emotionally intelligent pop music I've heard in years.

Do you prefer playing live or working in the studio?

Studio, hands down.

How would you describe your style of music and what are your influences?

In my worship music, I think I fuse a few genres together to create a rather orchestral, lush, dark-tinged folk sound. My influences as a songwriter range from Paul Simon to Sarah McLachlan to Agnes Obel.

How would you define success in your career as an artist?

Keeping the bills paid and feeling that fans are generally moved and blessed by what I'm doing. I don't really need much else to feel like the work is worth it!

What is your favorite album of all time?

It changes year to year, but generally it's one of five or six. As of right now I have to go with Surfacing, by Sarah McLachlan.

You're stuck on an island, it's hot, you only have enough battery life left to listen to one song on your mp3 player. What track is it?

I can't possibly pick a serious song under this kind of pressure, so I'm going to go with "Feeling Hot Hot Hot" by the Merrymen!

What does the next year hold for Audrey Assad?

I'll be releasing Inheritance, and an Advent project is in the works, as well as a book! Lots going on and it'll be a busy year but I am looking forward to it. Thanks, LTTM!

Find out more at audreyassad.com