Neysa Rodriguez-Battistini: Fifteen years ago, Lannie was performing at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa when he first heard 15-year-old Ciara Brittany performing on the same stage. He was mesmerized by her powerful voice and introduced himself to her and her mother, inviting her to visit his studio. From that first meeting, Ciara has frequently collaborated with Lannie, contributing vocals to other artists' albums, singles, and background tracks.

Back then, Lannie told her he hoped to one day produce an album for her. Over the years, he wrote many songs specifically for Ciara, and she penned the title track of this album nearly nine years ago. Life delayed the project, but in 2024, the timing aligned, and together they brought this Christian album to life.

Between 1998 and 2000, Lannie served as pianist and keyboardist for iconic Latin pop artist Olga Tañon. This collaboration earned a GRAMMY® Award for Best Merengue Album in 2000 and a Latin GRAMMY® Nomination in 2001 for Viva Olga, Olga Viva, which also achieved Platinum status.

From 2019–2025, Lannie received numerous accolades, including:

• Latin GRAMMY® Award as producer for Buenos Diaz by The Lucky Band
• 2025 GRAMMY® Award for engineering and piano on Brillo Brillo (Lucky Diaz)
• Multiple Global Music Awards for albums and compositions, including Moving On, jazz compositions, a live Latin Jazz video, a piano/bass duo album, and two Best Christian/Gospel tracks from Let It Shine

Christian music: Michael W. Smith, Lauren Daigle, CeCe Winans, Kirk Franklin
Jazz (Lannie): Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Duke Ellington
Pop/Christian (Ciara): Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, CeCe Winans

Ciara: Raised Baptist, she did not have a personal relationship with God until age 15 and received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at age 30. She is non-denominational and serves as Lead Worshiper at Yeshua House of Fire and on the worship team at Brandon Chapel.

Lannie: Raised Catholic, he didn’t actively practice religion as a child. Twice before age 19, he experienced life-threatening situations where he felt God’s presence. After meeting Neysa, who returned to her faith, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior in 2004. Since then, he has served as music and worship director for five Hispanic churches.

As a producer, Lannie has worked on over 250 albums and singles for independent artists, spanning multiple genres, including approximately a dozen Christian albums, as well as Pop, Country, and R&B. He has also released numerous jazz and instrumental albums of his own. Many of the songs on Let It Shine were previously written and later adapted as Christian music, inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Although this album was 15 years in the making in terms of vision, inspiration, and songwriting, the actual production, recording, and bringing all the songs together took approximately six months. The collaboration between Lannie and Ciara was effortless and joyful, as they have worked together on many projects over the years. Lannie is like a mentor and a father figure in Ciara's musical journey, and creating this album together was a deeply rewarding experience.

Ciara: My creative process is deeply guided and inspired by the Holy Spirit. When God gives me a word or a message, it flows directly into my writing, shaping the lyrics and the emotion behind each song. For example, the title track, Let It Shine, began when I was a teenager and matured with me over the years. I revisited and rewrote it at age 33, during a time when I truly needed a light in a very dark place. Sharing this song with others allows it to serve as a beacon of hope, encouraging listeners to find their own light and shine even in the midst of darkness, as God calls us to be a light in the world.

Lannie: While producing and writing for other artists, the desire to release a personal Christian album remained. In 2024, I gathered songs written over 15 years and invited Ciara to lead. Ciara rewrote her title track, which became the album's name, while I arranged and produced the rest. Working with Ciara is always seamless; she is incredibly gifted and talented, and it has been pure joy collaborating with her on this project.

Both Lannie and Ciara identify "Let It Shine" and "Since You Came Into My Life" - the latter a Global Music Award-winning single - as the tracks that best represent the album.

Definitely not a one-time collaboration-more albums are planned!

Let It Shine is available worldwide at all major music stores and streaming platforms, including:

• Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/let-it-shine/1827352073
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0FH1DN6X9
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/35RNATue3Ws2LoMgIxkUUZ?si=EZhTbnNrTU6TzpW-p7C0Gw

Ciara: This album has been revitalizing, allowing me to contribute to God's kingdom while working alongside a trusted mentor and friend. It has been a deeply fulfilling experience.

Lannie: This album marks a pivotal moment in my life as a professional musician and producer. My mission is to take the message of Jesus Christ to the nations through music. Every award or recognition I've received holds little meaning unless it serves to glorify God and advance His work. I am thrilled to finally release this Christian album and look forward to seeing how God will use it to reach people worldwide.