August 14th, 2012 was the release of my first single, “Happiest Girl” on music platforms. It was my debut as an artist and the start of something new and exciting. I watched videos from release day and looked through old posts which I usually avoid, but this year, I wanted to acknowledge that time instead of ignoring it.
I was a young girl with dreams of being a rockstar after my friend, Jazmyn, introduced me to Christian Rock. I fell in love with Barlow Girl, Natalie Grant, Skillet and RED as I entered my emo phase as bizarre as that may seem. I signed with a new independent label after losing a Shine.FM “Shine Factor” contest. You couldn’t tell me nothin’.
After all these years, I just started to talk about the experience after moving past the damaged relationships and disappointment. I was bitter for a long time and it impacted my desire to write and to be on a worship team. I had to be refined. I had to heal and move forward.
Today, I want to approach this differently by being grateful for my mentor at the time who saw potential in me as a young girl, the experiences, the recording sessions, the gigs at churches (and a bar lol) in Chicago, the fancy studios and witnessing a man I looked up to work as a writer and producer. Leaving this season, I was bitter. Today in my 30s, I can see how the Lord has worked on me. How I love Jesus, the song of my heart for Him, my heart for the local church as a worship leader has all developed in a way that I needed it to after years of not writing and shedding all the baggage.
Twelve years later, comes “Eternity”, a song that the Lord blessed me with that I had the privilege writing and recording with V1 Worship from V1 Church. The song that we got together to bring to life on a Friday and sang at church that Sunday. The song that I was blessed to register on ASCAP and record at a studio in New York with my peers. The emotion that I felt listening to the final mix of this song was so sweet the I cried aloud as I listened. This song was like a promise fulfilled. It was years of going through the process to get to this point refined and humbled, yet still learning.
So, I share the song “Happiest Girl” written and produced by Cornell Burton Jr that released on this day, 12 years ago.
This song meant a lot to me then and still does today.
Twelve years later, I am honored to share with you, Eternity by V1 Worship. This song, this video, this band, this church is so precious to me. I am so thankful for Mike and Julie Signorelli. Available on itunes, Apple Music, Spotify.
The Lord is faithful.
