New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Rachel Lee Ann's debut single, the powerful and inspirational "Jesus, I Adore You," is the title track from her forthcoming five track debut EP "Jesus I Adore You" due out in January 2016. The single is serviced to Christian radio October 2nd. The project was produced by Brian Steckler and features co-writes and guitar by her husband and musical partner Scott Prentice. It's the dynamic culmination of a period in which Rachel - after years of exploring more worldly life choices and the pursuit of secular music success - began searching for the truth about where she stood with Jesus Christ. After a period of intense soul searching, she found her way into a realm of fresh new musical possibilities.
In the summer of 2014, Rachel's spiritual awakening led to her decision to stop playing secular music and concentrate on living her new life in Christ. Considering the success she (performing under the name Rachel Steele) and her band Road 88 had experienced over the previous decade opening for such top country stars as Big and Rich, Gretchen Wilson,
Trace Adkins and Alabama, her decision to abandon country music entirely was a courageous one that could only be fueled by tremendous faith.
"The song 'Jesus I Adore You' is really about learning to let go of my old life" Rachel says. "When I started writing this album I was just writing about the things God was teaching me because I didn't want to forget the truths I was learning. I was really writing for myself at that time.
Music is and always has been in my soul, but I had no real intention of recording an album or performing as a Christian artist. My husband suggested we try to record some of the songs, and not long after we met Brian Steckler and he agreed to produce them. I think the EP really reflects my spiritual journey over the past year and a half.
There are many encouraging signs that Rachel's new musical road will be one of acceptance, love and blessing. She was recently hired as worship director for
Journey Church, a non-denominational evangelical congregation in Elk Grove, CA. In May 2015, she made her live debut as a Christian music performer at the Elk Grove Western Festival, a fair in Elk Grove where she had sung country music many times. Also performing at the festival was one of the genre's top young artists, Phil Wickham. Ironically, her old band mates, feeling uncomfortable with her change in direction, bowed out just weeks before the gig - but a drummer friend brought in musicians from local churches to fill in for a gig that turned out to be amazing. Rachel later performed at a night of worship that featured five-time Grammy nominated singer
Brandon Heath, two time winner of "Male Vocalist of the Year" at the GMA Dove Awards . Rachel was invited by
Brandon to sing his hit song "No Turning Back" along with him.
"I think of myself more as a worship leader and facilitator rather than just an indie artist." she says. My goal is to use my musical gifts to lead other people into that place of worship where they are praising God for who he is. In other words, this music isn't about me. It's sharing the truth about God through music to people who enjoy and are touched and inspired by it."
website: https://rachelleeannmusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelleeannmusic
