Rita West: I started singing in the school choir in 11th grade and learned to play guitar 2 years later while serving as a missionary with NET Ministries, Inc. So I've been leading worship and songwriting since I finished with them in 2010. Music has always been a part of my life, though. I have many fond memories from childhood of my whole family just singing at the top of our lungs to the radio. Last year, I wrote a song called "Heart of Mercy" with my friend John Finch. It was my first experience of recording and releasing a song and the whole process gave me the push I needed to get into the studio for this EP.

Rita: I love Audrey Assad and Amanda Cook, both in their unique sounds and styles of leading worship, but also in the honesty of their lyrics. I listened to Natalie Grant a lot growing up as well, so I feel like her music factors in somewhere as well!

Rita: haven't gotten that before, but you can bet I'll be listening to more Flyleaf to test that out! I've gotten Hayley Williams from Paramore before, which I think is hilarious and an honor all at the same time.

Rita: Thank you! "Chosen" was the first song I'd ever written that I really felt like the Lord was calling me to share with people. It was inspired by John 15:16 - "It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you" - and what I believe to be a universally human desire to be chosen.

I'd also heard about an ancient wedding tradition, where the groom would tattoo the name of his bride on his hands as a sign of his devotion and faithfulness to her. Similarly, when Christ the Bridegroom came to lay down His life for His Bride the Church (aka - us!) , they pierced His hands with nails. The scars on His hands bear our names. They're a sign of the lengths that Love will go to show that He's chosen His beloved. As I wrote "Chosen," the Lord brought that story back to my heart, which is where the first line of the chorus came from.

"Looking" is honestly just a cry of my heart, and again, I believe the cry of humanity's heart. We are searching for something that will satisfy the deepest longing of our hearts, but we don't recognize that we're trying desperately to fill an infinite space with the finite. We look to relationships, success, etc. but those things will never fill us - and they aren't supposed to. They can lead us to know the Lord more, but only in Him will our desires ever be fully satisfied. And I think once we can be honest about the longing in the looking (rather than numb the longing, which can seem easier), we can hear the Father's promise and taste the truth of His fullness.

Rita: I speak to all age groups! I love developing a message for the audience I'm speaking to. I cover different topics when I speak, but I'd say the heart of most messages I give is that the Father longs for us. As much as any one of us can say that we long for Him, or love Him - He longs for us and loves us infinitely more so. I love using Scripture stories to bring this truth to life - the Blind Man Bartimaues, Doubting Thomas, the Woman at the Well. These people encountered the Lord and each one of us can as well!

Rita: I don't have a tour currently planned, but all my events are listed on my website ritawest.com/tour

Rita: Simplicity. I tend to overcomplicate prayer, when the Lord just desires that I'd relate to Him what's on my heart and then rest in His. Psalm 23 and 139 are helping me with that!