Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Melissa Fennell
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE


Melissa Fennell
You Find Me EP

Album length: 6 tracks
Style: Indie Worship
Street Date: February 2023
Visit: Instagram



Columbia, South Carolina is home to Weird Tower, a faith-based collective of artists who exist to build each other up and bring out each member's best. One such member is singer/songwriter Melissa Fennell, who is gearing up to finish out 2022 and subsequently jump-start 2023 with a slew of singles, which will culminate in her debut EP, You Find Me.

Much of You Find Me sounds like the Psalms where the psalmist questions his ability to follow the Lord while simultaneously praising God's ability to get us through. The majority of the songs spend more time on the latter, though, which makes for an ultimately uplifting listen. "This Is Our God" gets right to the point: "We may walk through a valley of sorrow / there is One who holds tomorrow / He keeps watch over His own / when days are long and nights are longer / like the dawn, His light will conquer / He has said He will be near." "Hold On" follows suit: "I know you're afraid / I've seen it written on your face / and a broken world shouts louder, 'let go of your faith' / but there's a still, small voice / strong enough to save / and every fear will falter at the mention of His name." The sentiment is echoed throughout all six songs, as Fennell acknowledges the difficulty of being a Christ-follower in a broken world, but also knowing that Christ Himself had the same struggles, can relate to us, and guides us through them into everlasting life - again, from "Hold On": "He will surely carry us through every pain / by His grace alone, He will guide us home." Even Fennell's rendition of "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" has a new bridge to make it a little more on-theme without detracting from the beauty of the song as it already was. The truth of God's loving kindness toward us found in Fennell's lyrics is encouraging and lacks the bloatedness and pomp of many modern day worship songwriters.

You Find Me is an EP of six simple songs that are designed for easy digestion and singability. It's largely piano-based, but "This Is Our God" leans more into a full-band country gospel sound; "Soar" and "Hold On" incorporate some ambient keys in the background; and "What A Friend" closes it out with somewhat of an amalgamation of it all (minus the drums and electric guitar from "This Is Our God"). It's a wholly pleasant listen and should be very appealing to fans of artists like All Sons & Daughters and Ellie Holcomb. Singles will be rolling out over the next few weeks, with the full EP releasing in February. If you like the softer side of worship music, and/or you want/need more salve for a weary soul, keep an eye on Melissa Fennell.

- Review date: 11/21/22, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

. Record Label: Weird Tower
. Album length: 6 tracks
. Street Date: February 2023
. Buy It: WeirdTower.com (Digital / CD)

  1. Guide Me Home
  2. This is Our God
  3. Soar
  4. Hold On
  5. You Find Me
  6. What A Friend

 

 

 

go to main Indie review page
go to Indie Review Index

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Sunday, February 2, 2025
SINGLES
His Kingdom Suffers Lord Open My Eyes - Single [The Charon Collective]

This Friday, February 7, 2025
ALBUMS
Impending Doom Towards the Light EP (independent)
JOHNNYSWIM When The War is Over (independent)
Living Fire Christ Supremacy [Thumper Punk Records]
Leigh Nash The Tide, Vol. 2 - EP [Visionary]
Pyramid Park Cyclones & Silence (independent)
Wilder Woods Curioso [Dualtone]

SINGLES
Alexxander Tres Deseos - Single [Reach]
Anchor Hymns Where Can I Go That My Maker Won't Be? - Single [Integrity]
Luke Barbosa Cinnamon - Single (independent)
bodie whisper and the wind (feat. Gracie Binion) - Single [Provident]
Brennley Brown Sanctuary - Single [Provident]
Steven Curtis Chapman Forever the Love of My Life - Single [The Fuel]
Forrest Frank SUNRISE - Single (independent)
Free Worship Una Y Otra Vez - Single [BEC]
FYR FYTR Father Time - Single (independent)
Gather Worship The Image - Single [Integrity]
GRAND MOTEL I Have Come To Set The World On Fire, And I Wish It Were Already Burning! - Single (independent)
Jason Gray Sparrows Acoustic - Single [Centricity]
Matt Hammitt No Matter the Cost - Single (independent)
ICF Worship New Heights - Single [Integrity]
The Kingsmen I'm Saved - Single [Horizon]
Tasha Layton Faithful Still - Single [BEC]
LIFE Worship He's My God - Single [Integrity]
Vic Lucas P31 - Single [Syntax]
MIAJAIRIAN Help Me God - Single [Syntax]
Kevi Morse Hyper Focus - Single [Syntax]
Tenielle Neda Wisdom of the Cross - Single (independent)
River Valley AGES Best Thing - Single [BEC]
Rusty Shipp All Aboard! - Single (independent)
Xander Sallows Highlight - Single [DREAM]
Matt Sassano Not Unreachable - Single (independent)
Small Voice The Ring - Single (independent)
Solachi Voz Double Helix - Single [Syntax]
TobyMac Can't Stop Me - Single [Capitol CMG]
Visitor Pass Hope We Die - Single (independent)
We Are Messengers Somewhere In Her Dreams - Single [Curb]

Next Friday, February 14, 2025
ALBUMS
Sidewalk Prophets Looking Up [Curb]
Denison Witmer Anything At All [Asthmatic Kitty]

SINGLES
7eventh Time Down His Mercy is More - Single [BEC]
Diatheke The Creator - Single [Rottweiler]
Fine China Fraught With Danger - Single [Velvet Blue]
Olivia Lane Who God Says You Are - Single [BEC]
Abe Yellen Float Streams - Single [Support Staff/DREAM]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out the newest JFH Metal compilation - FREE!
Get JFH's 13th free indie compilation now!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images