It Is Not Well With My Soul

Honestly, it isn’t.

I grew up singing the words “It Is Well With My Soul” pretty regularly in church services. Loud, proud, and routine. Through these lyrics, I was taught to believe no matter what life threw my way, it was well. I believed it was my duty to embrace and trust God through the challenges, heartaches, losses, and strife. While trusting God has now become a tenant of my faith, I was taught early on in the Christian walk to surrender my emotions and smile through the pain.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

• Refrain:
  It is well with my soul,
  It is well, it is well with my soul.

1. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
   Let this blest assurance control,
   That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
   And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

2. My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
   My sin, not in part but the whole,
   Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
   Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

3. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
   If Jordan above me shall roll,
   No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
   Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

4. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
   The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
   Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
   Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

5. And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
   The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
   The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
   Even so, it is well with my soul.

The author, Horatio Gates Spafford, wrote this song after losing his 4 daughters in a horrific ship wreck (1873), comparable to the Titanic. While heading across the Atlantic Ocean to be with his wife after this tragic loss, he penned the words after passing over the specific spot where the Ville du Havre sank. (Beth Church Ripon, 2018) As Mr. Spafford and his wife were devout Christians, they made the conscious choice to live their lives on purpose and soon moved to Jerusalem.

A few years ago while watching A Handmaid’s Tale, I started to question how suffering and evil has been explored or used in the Christian church. In the series, one of the characters, Aunt Lydia punishes the main character, June, because she believed that God required pain from us when we disobeyed. Though this show is fictitious, it is not far from history and present-day happenings in the religious world. Many times, in real-life situations, as Christians, we are told to delight in hardships, but my question is this: Is this what our Heavenly Father wants? Does the God of the universe, the greatest Father of all, truly want us to embrace hardships only with joy and without lament?

I’m constantly reminded that Jesus wept y’all. When I look at the life of Jesus, I see that he wept when he learned of his friend Lazarus’s death. And even when he was on his way to the cross, he expressed that he did not want to die yet he still followed through with His Father’s plan. In Jesus paying the ultimate punishment for our sins, I believe we were given the freedom to feel all of the same feelings, he felt, the good ones, the negative ones, and the hard ones.

God gave us all of our emotions. Every one of them came from our Creator. We were meant to feel them, sit with them, learn from them, and welcome them. Sadness and anger are divine emotions meant to be honored and processed, not pushed down into our subconscious and ignored.

One of my best friends used to constantly ask me how I was feeling whenever a difficult time came my way. He would not let me get away with “fine” or “I’m good” when he knew I wasn’t. He encouraged me to genuinely think about how I was feeling and be honest with myself.

Should hard times really be well with my soul? Should I rejoice when heartbreak pops up unexpectedly in my life? Can I truly be asked to see the good in the pain that racist and sexist incidents create in my community? Would you ask that of your children, nephew or niece if they were experiencing challenges and pain?

I will tell you what is well with my soul: God’s hand. His grip on my hand as I walk through and process moments of madness reminds me that He is close and grieving with me. Hebrews 13:3 says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Over and over again, Jesus has provided and validated these words in my life.

As a parent, aunt or uncle, or grandparent, would you want the children in your life to respond with pseudo joy, a fake smile, or “it’s fine” when having to live day to day with a hard moment? Or would you rather them speak truthfully about how they feel? Would you rather them process the pain? I know from deep experience that unprocessed pain, held internally, many times leads to stress, health problems, and mental anguish.

“Stress that's left unchecked can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.” - Mayo Clinic

Sadly, Mr. Spafford and his wife, ended up leading a cult in Jerusalem that began in Chicago. As this was explained in an article by Rev. Angus Stewart (cprc.co.uk), it is upsetting to understand the author of this staple Christian hymn was a “false prophet, a charismatic and a cult leader.” I can’t help but think about how potentially unprocessed grief and pain may have played a part in how Mr. and Mrs. Spafford decided to live in the aftermath of such tremendous heartache.

As God is our “good, good Father,” I cannot see receiving anything but unconditional love and comfort when I am experiencing pain. I cannot see God asking me to ignore the emotions He gave me and not be authentic internally. I cannot fathom my earthly father not giving complete empathy when I am in crisis. With that I do not believe that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit would expect me to be anything less than authentic to my current state while suffering. Therefore, I will advocate for therapy, properly dosed medication and meditation for anyone who needs it to assist with processing grief and pain in a healthy way. The individuals who work in these fields were gifted with the knowledge, heart and compassion for those grieving loss and living with unimaginable life happenings. In acknowledging my pain and sadness, God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit meet me here; reminding me that it is okay to not to be okay.

Resources to Help Process Pain

• Therapy For Black Girls

• Psychology Today

• Stress Management Techniques

• The Abide App - Biblical Meditation

The Faith of An Indie Artist

Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, Darla Baltazar is an established independent singer, songwriter, and producer. In this interview, learn more about her and why her faith in God is at the core of every beat made and lyric she writes.

WG: What inspired you to begin producing, and making beats/music?

DB: When I was in college, I heard Christian R&B Lo-Fi by Jonathan Ogden and I was surprised that that sound even existed. Since I had been recording lots of covers at that point, I decided to look into music production to learn how to make more Christian music in my favorite styles.

WG: What is your process for creating a song?

DB: Ideas and inspiration can come from all sorts of places, but when I do get an idea, I usually record them in my voice memos and share them on my computer. Some days, I find myself playing around with music production and writing lyrics over them. On other days, I start with some words and a melody and try to capture some sounds to go with that. I usually produce and write at the same time, and finishing a song can range from one day to even one year! So I periodically review old demos to see which ones are still workable.

WG: As a Lo-Fi fanatic, I am curious to know what attracts you to it, as I am drawn to it’s slower beat patterns and calm chords?

DB: Good question. As much as Lo-Fi music in general is great, I think I’m more drawn to the kinds that feature jazz-inspired elements like certain chord progressions and samples. I think those things give it a nostalgic feel and thereby gives me a sense of calm and safety.

WB: What is it that you hope to accomplish through your music?

DB: I use a lot of my songs to process my emotions, fears, and worries. As I write them, I also turn to Scripture to renew my mind and keep my eyes on God. My hope is that my music will help people to easily remember words in Scripture during crucial times, encourage them to wage war against sin and idolatry, and cling to Jesus in every situation they go through.

WB: As concerts are happening again and the world has opened back up, what has God been showing you?

DB: With the world “opening back up” after the pandemic, God has been warning me of how easy it is for people to just go through the motions again. I want to stay intentional with everything I do and the projects I work on, keeping God at the center rather than just being a busybody.

WG: Which music or artists have inspired you over the years, and more specifically, who has inspired you in creating Lo-Fi praise and worship tracks?

DB: As mentioned earlier, I first heard about Lo-Fi through Jonathan Ogden and continued to discover more artists like Montell Fish, Isla Vista Worship, and sxxnt. Prior to that, I had been listening to popular Christian music, such as Hillsong United. But when I heard Christian indie music, I began to discover a new kind of worship genre that felt more personal. As an introspective person, I knew that writing congregational church music wasn’t for me, but I still wanted to write songs for and about God. So when I found the music of those specific artists, their sound encouraged me to write songs for Him without being pressured by what was “acceptable” at the time as Christian music.

On another note, I really wanted to collaborate with Jonathan Ogden, and I actually did! I am still in awe of our “Be Like You” track.

WG: What are the challenges and joys of being an independent artist?

DB: It’s certainly challenging financially to be an independent artist, especially at the start. But it’s a great opportunity to learn contentment! It’s also difficult if you’re used to being told what to do, because a lot of doing music independently is figuring it out as you go, and making meaningful connections along the way.

One of the things I love about being an indie artist is that I am usually just treated as a normal human and not a “celebrity.” I get to spend time doing the things I love with people I love. It also teaches me to be diligent in doing my work since I can’t afford to be lazy. Most of all, I am completely free in my artistic and creative decisions and don’t get filtered by the standards of people with who I potentially won’t have the same vision. This is something very important to me because I take my mission to share Christ and encourage the body very seriously.

WG: What are the challenges and joys of collaborating with other music creatives?

DB: The joys of collaborating are definitely incomparable! You have the chance to work with people whose strength is your weakness. You achieve unique ideas that you couldn’t have been able to come up with on your own. The teamwork also makes reaching the finish line more joyful since you get to celebrate it together!

The challenges of collaborating mostly come when you are not used to working with other people or if you don’t agree on certain ideas right away with your collaborator. Sometimes some people also have financial conflicts. Nevertheless, I believe that the key to collaboration is clear and constant communication—with each other, and with God, through prayer!

WG: Can you recommend other female producers? As I compile weekly playlists for Wit + Grace, I’ve realized how few I have been able to find with published work.

DB: Xael, Sarah Nathalie, Christian Singleton and Damares Gomez.

WG: Amazing. Many thanks!

WG: What are you currently working on?

DB: These days I'm busy working on my debut album. It's gonna be called "Soul Talk"! Though it's a very long and complicated process to put together an album, it has been very rewarding. Working with several people has been such a joy, and God has been providing faithfully throughout the whole process. Besides finishing the project of course, my greater goal is that God would truly be glorified not just in the output, but throughout the process. I'm excited for "Soul Talk" to be a part of people's soundtrack in their journey with God. And hopefully down the line, we'd be able to put together some intimate gigs where I could share more stories with the Christian community!

WG: Please be sure to add NYC to your list!

WG: What do you think is a current issue that needs to be addressed in our country?

DB: I’m not from the U.S., but it seems like people are growing more accustomed to a “lawless” society, thinking that they have the right to do and be anything they want. It’s not exactly the same case as here in the Philippines, but I think the younger generation is beginning to accept this norm. Families led by God-fearing parents raising up their children in the ways of the Lord are more crucial than ever.

WG: So this was an interesting find that made me happy. What inspired you to create a devotional for the YouVersion Bible app?

DB: The devotional I had the chance to write for the YouVersion app was centered around the song “Search Me." It was an unusual project for me because it was my first time working on something that I had to submit by a deadline. My struggle with fear of man and perfectionism was tested during that season, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to share what God taught me about searching my heart.

WG: So good. I plan to start it soon.

WG: Tell me, who cheers for you the loudest in your community?

DB: My closest friends who supported me in my decision to pursue music, and who continue to affirm the fruitfulness of what I do for the Lord!

WG: Last question. What is your idea of a good day?

DB: A good day is one where I am constantly at God’s disposal!

Darla’s Favorites and Musings

My Netflix guilty pleasure is “Friends.”

My top 3 bucket list items:

1. Travel abroad with some close friends

2. Publish a book

3. Go skiing

My cereal of choice is granola with soy milk.

I have an 11-year-old Chinese Sharpei and his name is Draco!

“Totally Spies” was my favorite cartoon when I was a child.

Tori Kelly is currently my FAVORITE singer.

The last movie I watched was “2 Hearts,” starring Jacob Elordi. I don’t usually watch movies, but I was pleasantly surprised by the story. I liked how wholesome it was and that faith also played a crucial role in giving such a sad storyline a hopeful ending. I guess if there’s something not to like, it’s that God should have been acknowledged more and more accurately (but maybe that’s just the God-lover in me ).

The last book I read was Practicing Affirmation: God-Centered Praise of Those Who Are Not God by Sam Crabtree.

My favorite restaurant? In terms of a Filipino spot, I really like Max’s. It’s a great choice for when I want go-to home-cooked Filipino dishes along with their signature fried chicken!

The Music We Shared

The

Music

We

Shared

By Kendolyn Walker

Music was and still is (as I like to think) a love language shared between my father and me. He was always very honest when he did not like a song or an artist I sent to him. He went into depth with details about the reasons as well. With the same passion, he would explain why he enjoyed the songs and artists he liked.

My father grew up in a family that enjoyed music and concerts. So, it’s understandable why he wanted to share that love with his wife and children. Daddy set the foundation for us all to appreciate music from all genres, created by people from different backgrounds.

When Pandora first came out, he fell in love. He put it on his work computer and enjoyed all of his favorite artists daily. Daddy was so deep into the Pandora realm that he refused to switch to Spotify when I pleaded with him to make the change.

So these are some of our conversations. Some I shared with him and some he shared with me. Others were fond memories. They all spoke to the empathetic and warm heart my father had. Here are six songs to give you a taste of the music we enjoyed together.

“Stomp” by The Brothers Johnson

This is the earliest and possibly only song I ever danced to with my father. In talking to my aunts, they shared that I was about two or so, and would request the song by yelling “Thomp, Daddy, thomp!” What a time.

A groovy dance tune with a celebratory tone about heading out to have a good time on the weekend or any evening. It hits home more as Brothers Johnson was a sibling group, similar to my own.

Fast Cars - Tracey Chapman

Tracey Chapman was an artist my dad constantly had on rotation in his car. Her calming voice and guitar tracks most likely created the foundation of my love for the acoustic genre.

Chapman sings about escaping a current hard situation and beginning anew. The drums and guitar, along with her one-of-a-kind vocals, really emphasize the theme of despair and hope.

You got a fast car / Is it fast enough so you can fly away?
You gotta make a decision / Leave tonight or live and die this way

Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold

This was an artist my father told me about in my adult years. I am sure I had already moved to New York City when he introduced me to Eva Cassidy’s work. My father loved her voice and was sad that she died at the age of 33. When she passed, her music garnered a lot of attention. She was always too shy for the stage or large audiences but used her voice to interpret songs from all genres creatively. “Fields Of Gold” was an original track by Sting. Cassidy took this song, created a slower tempo version, and sang it with a ballad, nostalgic tone.

Fly - Sara Groves

I have been a lifelong fan of Sara Groves. Her lyrics and melodies, along with her calming voice, have been a part of my growing years.

This song, “Fly,” became a special one between my father and me when I sang it at a close friend’s wedding. My dad was so excited and happy he continued to play this song for years. It reminds me of the way he championed me and cheered me on in all things.

Groves also sings about championing your loved ones with these lyrics and “flying” when encouraged by her partner’s love.

Speak in a summer tone / Pause in the after glow
Tenderly whisper my name / Tell me once again why I am your bride
So I can fly
So I can fly
Pause in your busy day / Look extra long my way
Wink at me across the room / Kiss me longer
Touch my arm when I am by your side
So I can fly
So I can fly
Oh, how the little things / Strengthen my tiny wings
Help me to take on the world / When you love me, there's nothing I wouldn't try
I might even fly
I might even fly
I might even fly

Save The Best For Last - Vanessa Williams

My father told me once that the main reason he liked Vanessa Williams was that she reminded him of my mother. I specifically remember him telling me this during our drives in his car while this song was playing. This fondness has been passed down to me, as I, too, have enjoyed Vanessa Williams’ music and voice for as long as I can remember. Not to mention it has been fun watching her become an amazing actress as well!

In “Save The Best For Last,” Williams sings about a friend becoming a partner. The feel of this song immediately sends me to the 80’s. The keyboard, drums, and strings cushion the words with comfort and peace. She laments about the times he shared his dreams and hopes with her yet continued dating others. But finally, love wins out, and they become '“the best” for each other.

Wiyathul - Gurrumul

I honestly cannot remember where I first heard this song. My sister told me that I am always listening to new music and new artists, so maybe I found Gurrumul, an Aboriginal Australian singer, via one of my Pandora or Spotify shuffles. But I sent it to my father soon after, and I don’t think I heard feedback on it for a while.

Then I think I was talking to him one day, and he started playing it. Again, we were most likely in his car on a drive. Daddy told me the song had brought him to tears. Even as the lyrics in this artist’s native tongue of Yolŋu, the tenderness of his voice indeed soothes my soul despite the fact I do not understand the meaning. I can’t recall all of my father’s critiques of this song, but he definitely told me the tune made him cry.

Gurrumul was a blind musician and singer. He played the drums, keyboards, guitar, and didgeridoo. Something that made him extremely unique was his ability to play a right-handed guitar, even though he was left-handed.

My father was an amazing man who loved Jesus and music of all genres. These songs highlight his compassion, insight, and wisdom. I am thankful, as Daddy laid the groundwork of my passion for music excellence. His love for music, along with his faith, I now walk in.

Kendolyn Walker is a singer-songwriter based in Harlem who serves as producer and founder of The City Love Collective: City Love on the Radio, City Love NYC and the City Love Picnic.

Singer-Songwriter Adegail on Being Who God Created You To Be

“I try to use all of my skills to equip, empower, encourage and educate women and men alike to be all that God has created them to be.”

— Adegail

What a delight to chat with singer-songwriter, Adegail (such a lovely name!). Currently based in the U.K., Adegail has two singles available for your listening pleasure, including her latest song Strength. Enjoy this conversation and be sure to follow her on Instagram to keep up with her music.

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WG: Where did you grow up and what were your interests in your growing years?

Adegail: I grew up in church, in England, and for as long as I can remember, music has been a part of my life. I started playing the guitar at age 10 and that continued throughout my life. I also was in a gospel choir in primary school and have continued singing in and directing choirs since then. That developed into leading worship at age 18, doing covers online, and now writing and releasing my own original songs.

WG: When did you start writing and singing?

Adegail: I only started writing properly in 2019 but started singing and performing in church choirs when I was in my pre-teens.

WG: What are you most proud of in the work that you do?

Adegail: The fact that I’m able to empower other people to use their gifts and talents. My work and the effort I put into it inspires others to do the same. I’ve seen this in particular over the last two years when I started doing iRadiate workshops and events to equip musicians globally.

WG: What has been your biggest struggle as an artist/ creative?

Adegail: Being brave enough to do things creatively that haven’t necessarily been done before, while also using the resources I have and just trusting that God will make it all work out …. (He always makes a way!).

WG: Is there a verse, quote, or life mantra that you live by?

Adegail: We are blessed to be a blessing. Shine your light.

WG: What has God shown you as you continue to grow in your craft or career?

Adegail: Obedience is not about our convenience many times. Being traditionally very shy, I have learned to overcome ‘self’ to be effective for the Kingdom of God and my community.

WG: What do you do to rest and pour into yourself?

Adegail: Being part of a loving, like-minded community is important and helps me a lot. I listen to a lot of music, as you can guess. Reading the Bible is also the obvious way to recharge as there really are no substitutes.

WG: Who inspires you and why?

Adegail: I particularly get inspired by women of colour who are trailblazing within their chosen industry - starting from my own mother to Sarah Teibo (UK), Tasha Cobbs, and even my childhood inspiration, Tori Kelly. I take inspiration from a range of creatives known and unknown - I think that’s important.

WG: Tell us more about what you do and how you empower the community of women around you.

Adegail: I’m a singer-songwriter, guitar tutor, event organizer, worship leader, and more. I try to use all of my skills to equip, empower, encourage, and educate women and men alike to be all that God has created them to be. It’s an honor to be seen as a role model in various spaces.

WG: Anything else that you want our readers to know about you?

Adegail: I’m excited to host my third live recording later this year and look forward to sharing some new songs at the right time!

“We are blessed to be a blessing. Shine your light.”

— Adegail

Click to enjoy adegail’s latest single.

Kendolyn Walker is a creative based in Harlem who serves as producer and founder of The City Love Collective: City Love on the Radio, City Love NYC and the City Love Picnic.

Audrey Marie on the Importance of Women in Music

In history, women were known to be a support for men. So much has developed since then, but we still tend to face battles where women are not respected as much as men. Creativity still comes as a surprise when it is from women. As an artist, I want to support other women and share that it is alright to put yourself out there as a creative. We have the freedom to express ourselves!

Audrey Marie is a singer whose purpose is standing up for women and all we deserve in the creative world. She hails from Mississauga, Ontario Canada and recently released a track Fireflies available on all streaming platforms. If you look into her library, you will also find her debut album, Healing, as well. Learn more about her life and work from our recent interview below.

WG: Where did you grow up and what were your interests during your childhood, teen years?

Audrey Marie: I grew up in the city of Mississauga (Ontario, Canada). I was born into a Filipino Christian home. My dad is a pastor and church planter, so I grew involved in so many ministries. I enjoy using my creative mind with different skills, such as visual arts and music. I loved spending time with my family and friends and being part of various social gatherings.

WG: When did you start writing and singing?

Audrey Marie: I started writing songs at the age of 16. I started singing at the age of 2. My Lola (Grandma) enrolled me in voice lessons at eight-years-old, and the journey went on from there.

WG: Who are some singers that inspire you?

Audrey Marie: Musically - I grew up listening to Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland & Billie Holiday and I was vocally very influenced by them. But these days, my music is inspired by Tori Kelly, Stephen Day, Terrian and Jonathan Ogden. These are Christian/ modern artists who inspire me with their personal stories and their musical genre and talents. They choose to put themselves out there as artists, and I have so much respect for that. Spiritually speaking, my family and friends are a huge inspiration. Their love and support has been such a great blessing from God. They reassure me everyday that music is a huge calling I have from God and I should always keep going. Their own personal lives are a huge testimony to that and motivates and encourages me to keep seeking God throughout my musical journey.

WG: What are you most proud of in the work that you do?

Audrey Marie: I am most proud of the community that was built from my music. I love connecting with everyone and hearing their personal stories about how my songs can relate to their life. It’s a chance for God's good news to connect with them.

WG: What has been your biggest struggle as an artist/ creative?

Audrey Marie: My biggest struggle is facing my insecurities. Sometimes I worry about what other people think. Sometimes I take other people's opinions too personally. But at the end of the day though, I know what I am doing is a calling from God and His guidance reassures me that everything will be okay.

WG: What would you consider your life verse?

Audrey Marie: Ephesians 2:10- For we are God’s masterpiece created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

WG: How do you practically live out your faith?

Audrey Marie: My faith is my relationship with my God. He is the best thing about me. He is the one who knows me for who I am and loves me even at my worst. He chooses to continue to give His divine grace to me every day. This fact encourages me to give grace and love to my other brothers and sisters every day.

WG: As you continue to grow in your career, what has God shown you?

Audrey Marie: God has and continues to show me that we are all His masterpieces. He has created us in His beautiful image. We are all made so differently, and the way we face the world is so different from another. So that motivates me to keep sharing my gift with others and encourage others, reminding them that they are a masterpiece.

WG: During the pandemic, what brought you joy?

Audrey Marie: As much as it's been very hard during the pandemic of 2020, I have gained a lot of blessings during that time. I could not see a lot of people, so I started to put myself first and focusing on my craft as a musician. I spent a lot of time in rest, silence and personal time with God. From those moments, I learned how to value and love myself. I wouldn't have gotten the courage to release music if it weren't for the pandemic.

Since I started releasing music recently, I haven't gotten the chance to perform anywhere. I have performed live virtually to a song I made last year called "Painted Smile.” Also, I am a worship leader so I love leading worship for a ministry called Mississauga Connect. It is hosted in a Dance studio called Kindred Culture Headquarters.

WG: What song do you currently have on rotation?

Audrey Marie: Right now I am listening to “This Year” by Sire. It is such a great song!

WG: How can our audience follow your work?

Audrey Marie: You can find me on all musical platforms (Spotify, Apple music, Amazon music, youtube, Pandora & Deezer). I have a Instagram account where you can see my visual work @Audreymarie.co and I have a YouTube channel where you see my music videos and interactive videos via Audrey Marie.

WG: How do you make time for rest?

Audrey Marie: I love to make crafts. I am currently making candles for fun. I also play video games, watch movies with friends and have prayer time with God.

WG: What show did you most recently binge?

Audrey Marie: My most recent TV show binge was “All Of Us Are Dead.” I really loved it, but not because the show was amazing. But because I watched it with my best friends and we cracked jokes while watching the show.

WG: Who cheers for you the loudest in your community?

Audrey Marie: My top three best friends: Tori Flores, Shyanne Ocray & Charmaine Castro

WG: How do you empower the community of women around you?

Audrey Marie: I am currently working as a Graphic Designer and a Worship Leader. I love to interact with people in a very artistic way. I know it can be very intimidating to put yourself out there as a woman. In History, women were known to be a support for men. So much has developed since then, but we tend to face battles where women are not respected and men. Creativity still comes as a surprise when it is from women. And as an artist, I want to support other women and share that it is alright to put yourself out there as a creative. We have the freedom to express ourselves!

WG: Any final words you want to leave with our readers?

Audrey Marie: I love to connect with other people! If ever you want to reach out and have a fun conversation, feel free to message or interact with me on my Instagram via @Audreymarie.co. Don't forget that you are God's masterpiece. You have a wonderful purpose in this world. He is using you to do great and amazing things! Lastly, since we are all children of God, I love you all.

The Official Lyric Video for “Focus” which is also featured on our March playlist celebrating Women’s History Month.

Kendolyn Walker is a creative based in Harlem who serves as producer and founder of The City Love Collective: City Love on the Radio, City Love NYC and the City Love Picnic.

A Cozy Chat with Natalie Forteza

Natalie Forteza and WG Music Editor Kendolyn Walker in conversation.

As Natalie Forteza sat in her Mid-Hudson Valley office and me in my Harlem apartment, we discovered that we share a love for Sadé, Jimmy Fallon, and Ted Lasso. During our Zoom call, we exchanged laughs and her passion for music was evident as she enthusiastically spoke about the writing process, performances, and her journey as an artist.

Natalie’s latest tracks, "What Christmas Should Always Be" and "Who's She" are available on all streaming platforms. I encourage you to take them in, and while you do, continue reading below to learn more about this brilliantly authentic New York-based singer-songwriter.

WG: Tell us more about you and your background - where did you grow up and what were your interests growing up?
Natalie: I’m Texas-born but New York-raised. Around the age of 3 or 4 years old my family—my mom, dad, brother, and I moved to NY from Texas. Up until the age of 12 or 13 we moved every few years. We never lived in NYC, we lived North of the city in different towns of Westchester County, and later we migrated further North to Putnam County. When I got married, my husband & I moved to lower Dutchess County and have remained here for the past 15 years. The Hudson Valley area, and my family upbringing, are the frame in which I’ve grown into the person I am today. It’s always hard to say where I grew up because we moved around a lot the earlier part of my life, and while I have treasured memories in every place we’ve lived, home was always felt wherever my family was.

I was raised by amazing parents. My Mama, Nannette, is Venezuelan-born with some French lineage (and Spanish ancestry somewhere in there too), and my Dad, Antonio, was Puerto Rican with Spanish ancestry [Antonio was my step-dad on paper, but he was always "Dad." He’s the father that raised me to the fullest of its meaning]. My Dad and my Mom gave me my baby sister Adriana. My biological father, Omar, was Colombian, and although I never had the chance the share this world with him, he gave me my brother Anwar, and two sisters Jessika & Alejandra.

Growing up my interests were many, like nature (we often went camping), animals, really anything art! Photography, drawing, painting… I loved it all! I was in my glory when I got new art supplies and even now I still have to exercise restraint in an art supply shop! The pinnacle of my art store visits was when I got a Bob Ross painting set (I never could get those landscapes right though). While I loved it all, i I don’t think I was that great at the visual arts (although I’m thankful my Mom is so sweet to still have some of my watercolors proudly on her wall lol).

“The constant current underneath it all has always been my love for music. I have always been in love with music.”

The constant current underneath it all has always been my love for music. I have always been in love with music. My mother joined the church choir, and she played the Cuatro occasionally at home, but we weren’t necessarily a musical family in the sense that we had musicians in the family, we were just a family that deeply loved music. Music was always on. We listened to a lot of different genres of music: Pop, R&B, Jazz, Opera, Classical, Latin, New Age, and World music. I was fascinated with Opera when I was really little. I’d be held in a trance staring at the TV watching PBS specials, in awe of the spectacular sounds coming out of their mouths! I might be the only kid that wanted to invite other kids over to watch Opera (no surprise that no children came, just Mom). Other than blasting The Police in the car, the music that floods the soundtrack of my childhood the most was Brazilian jazz like that of Joao Gilberto (along with Stan Getz, Astrud Gilberto, and company), along with Venezuelan folk music like that of Serenata Guayanesa. All of these, hold a golden place in my heart.

It's so hard to explain what it does to my soul when I hear this music, it feels like home. When I hear that music, I close my eyes and reminisce on the afternoons we spent in the yard, swinging in the hammocks, playing with my little sister in the sandbox, Mama’s pitcher of iced tea, being in the kitchen while she cooked, setting the table for company, the many walks we did around the neighborhood and the smell of campfires. Like they say, music transports.

WG: Tell us more about what you do and how you empower the community of women around you.
Natalie: I'm a singer and songwriter. While I look forward to the day that writing, recording, and touring (and being on Jimmy Fallon) become my full-time vocation, I also have the honor of working part-time for a woman-owned and operated health + beauty brand, Cold Spring Apothecary.

It’s hard for me to say how I might empower the community of women around me, as they would know more than I. I’d like to think that I offer them the kind of space to be themselves, to be heard and listened to and to be seen without judgment; how I would want to be empowered and supported. We can be awfully hard on ourselves, so I do feel that it’s important we surround ourselves with people we admire, who we can be honest with, who can see who we are and who we can be even through our shortcomings, and can intervene or come to our defense when we’re not kind or true to ourselves.

WG: When did you start writing and singing?
Natalie: I always sang, I sang in the car wherever we went, I sang in the shower (for the acoustics of course), but it was always timidly in the comfort of my nuclear family. It wasn't until my mid-teens that I worked up the nerve to put myself in front of people, starting at church, then Chorus and concert productions in high school. Even though I had vivid dreams of being a singer, an artist, it felt like a faraway dream and an unlikely reality.

I chickened out auditioning for a music school, so I studied Communications in college, got a job, and tried to ignore those vivid dreams to be “more realistic.”

Before I got the chance to reconsider, in 2001 my Dad, Antonio, passed tragically in the American Airlines flight 587 crash. Needless to say, the only thing I could focus on then was my family.

I ran into a high school classmate years later, and he was surprised I hadn’t “ended up in music,” because he remembered me singing, and loving music so much in school. What he said stayed with me, and with my Dad’s passing, it was a reminder of how life can change so suddenly, so I thought I should do something about it.

I started to look for opportunities to perform, I joined a local jazz group for a short while before I felt I needed to start my own thing. There’s a long list of people I’m grateful for that led me to that decision, and that ultimately led me to who I am today. Some I had short conversations with, and others I have known for years. Having collected words of support, kindness, and encouragement from various sources led me to believe that if I was going to pave my own way, I had to find my own voice, and learn to write my own songs. I NEVER thought I’d be a songwriter. I didn’t have the chops, I didn’t come from a family of musicians, I didn’t go to school for music, I didn’t play an instrument. All these reasons were stacked up in my head. However, through the beautiful degrees of separation that is the music community, I found my musical “hermanos,” my friends and bandmates. I’ve had a blast performing and writing with my writing cohorts: Akie Bermiss (keys) and Anthony Candullo (bass) for the past 10 years.

WG: Who inspires you and why?
Natalie: Oof. I could write endless paragraphs to answer this question. I’ll try to be as concise as possible [cracks knuckles]. Musically, there are quite a few I could mention.

My foremost and steadfast muse has been and will forever be, Sade. I still pray for the day that I might have the chance to meet her and the band. Every artist/musician has a moment when they say, “That’s it! That’s what I want!” Sade (she herself, as well as the band) did it for me. Sade created a space for me. Sade helped me to find my voice. Sade broke molds. While their music had a signature sound, it blurred genre lines (in a time when hard labels were king). Their music felt organic, not trend-driven, and as a vocalist, she delivered velvety melodies without the acrobatics, and the vibe?! C’mon! She’s the Queen. Watching her was like seeing manifestations of my own dreams—the visuals, the drama, the simplicity, the depth, the stage production, the lighting, the fabric, the instrumentation, the recording production, and on and on. In a time, when labels notoriously dictated what, when and how, she seemed to defy that and live her art on her terms, and sell out huge shows. What I can say is for the young, timid, alto singer I was at the time, who didn't have the mega voice of the chart- topping legends of the time, she released me, she gave me permission to be myself, to find my own voice, and OWN it. I never wanted to emulate her, no one can, but she was living proof of the things I had only dreamed of in my head, and proof that you could be true to yourself and your craft AND still be successful.

I’m always gaining new inspiration from artists I discover, but a couple that have been with me for some time would also be Sting—a songwriter who, in my opinion, can look at a stone and write an amazing song about it! Emily King, a native New Yorker, has also carved out a space for herself and her art. Her authenticity feels so organic it seems like you could call her up to meet for coffee. She has the sweetest voice, and just writes superb, superb songs.

“My mom has had tremendous triumphs and devastating trials throughout her life and has met them both with humility, grace, humanity, authenticity, hope, perseverance, and sacrifice.”

In life, there are also many people who inspire me, but this person is the “Sade” of my personal life. My Mama. My mom has had tremendous triumphs and devastating trials throughout her life and has met them both with humility, grace, humanity, authenticity, hope, perseverance, and sacrifice. She’d never say she “lost” anything, she’ll only tell you what she gained. She truly “sees” people, her compassion is boundless, even if she disagrees with you or you’ve crossed her, she’ll tell you like it is, in her sassy-Latina-like way, but also in the nicest way. We have had some dark times, and even in the middle of it, we could find a way to laugh—like stomach-cramps-level laughing, just extraordinary. She pushes us to be our best, and always accepts us as we are. My mother has loved us at our best and at our worst. She gave us our sense of home and our sense of adventure. She’s both couture and good-ol'-classic-jeans. She’s champagne and beer. She’s whimsical and worldly, and through all of it always solidly on the ground.

WG: What are you most proud of in the work that you do?
Natalie: I keep trying and I keep learning. While I can be pretty hard on myself, I can say that I'm not afraid to work, to keep learning, to keep getting better in as much as I can. Whether it's vocal growth, performance, songwriting, time management, social media, production, or playing an instrument.

WG: What has been your biggest struggle as an artist/ creative?
Natalie: I was just about to list a few things right off the bat I struggle with, but after taking a second to think about it, it all comes down to one thing really--staying out of my own way, and more importantly, staying out of God's way is the hardest struggle. It rears its head the most often in two areas:

1. Vulnerability - mostly when it comes to live performances. I put a lot of pressure on myself, and I get in my own way to take risks, to make mistakes—I know it’s how you grow—but letting go is hard to do, and often the what I need to pray about before performing.

2. Letting go of the pressure of always being “on.” There's a lot of problem-solving involved in trying to achieve big dreams; financial constrictions, limited contacts, not having enough time, not having enough help, not having enough exposure. "how do I get to this point?” There's a lot of pressure to constantly be “on," doing something all the time to solve or work through these challenges. I believe in being a good custodian to the gifts & passions I've been given, by growing, being disciplined, and being driven. If I'm not mindful, I'll get in my own way and in God's way, stealing peace and rest from myself, keeping myself from just living life! In doing so I get in the way of relying on Him. So I need to do a better job of inviting Him, including Him in the process, in the challenges, in the failures, and in the victories. Way easier said than done of course, but it's something I'm trying to be more heedful of.

“If I'm not mindful, I'll get in my own way and in God's way, stealing peace and rest from myself, keeping myself from just living life!”

WG: Is there a verse, quote, or life mantra that you live by? If so, what is it?
Natalie: I've had some wonderful, life-changing vocal coaches, one of which was Sharon Bryant. During our sessions, she'd give me an exercise and she'd see me thinking and calculating before anything would come out of my mouth, so she'd put her hands on my shoulders, look me in the eye and say to me, "Natalie, just sing!" Those words help me to get out of my head. Creators often strive for perfection, but it really gets in the way of just doing whatever it is we need to do, including the need to make mistakes. Something I really don't like! I know it's a necessary part of the process, so I have to tell myself, "don't think, just sing." This translates into other areas too. Her words have turned into somewhat of a Nike-like slogan for other things, "don't think, just write," "just trust," "just rest." I've started to write "Just Sing" on my setlists to give myself permission to let go, and give myself over to whatever comes. Thank you for this Sharon.


WG: What does faith mean to you? How do you live it out practically? Natalie: A question that's hard to answer in just a few words. A basic definition of faith is, "a belief and trust in and loyalty to God." But it's more than that, isn’t it? To me, it's a trust-fall into God's hands. It's believing before I can see versus seeing and then believing. It's trusting God's promises. It’s an invitation, a relationship with God, through Christ.

I live it out practically knowing that I'm not perfect, my faith isn't perfect, but He is. I miss having a dad, and it helps me to understand faith, by seeing Him as a parent, my heavenly Father; He wants to provide. He wants to be invited into my life, and He wants me to trust Him even if I don't understand. And when I fall, He's there, every time. There's no question my mother loves her children; she loves all of who we are, the good and the ugly. So if I can believe that, then how much more does God love us?


WG: What has God shown you as you continue to grow in your craft/career?
Natalie: He constantly surprises me. I've thought of or prayed for something, and ever so gently or suddenly He answers it. He's given me strength-physical and mental-when I've asked for it. He's given me creative clarity and inspiration when I've asked for it. Having spent so much time by myself the last couple of years during the pandemic, when I had been so accustomed to working with others, I had to ask for His help to give me the ability, the mental bandwidth, and patience, and He answered all of it overabundantly.

Ephesians 3:20, "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."

He's also showed me to trust the "no's." Another area I struggle with, but so important to be cognizant of. Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano, known as the duo, Johnnyswim, said it best in their book Home Sweet Road, "...When God closes the door sometimes, walk away from the damn door. [Abner] You're at the wrong door [Amanda]...You're at the wrong house. On the wrong block. You know what I mean?! Keep walking, keep moving [Abner]."


WG: What has brought your happiness while dealing with the pandemic (since March 2020)?
Natalie: So much. At the height of the pandemic when we couldn't really go anywhere, picnics on a blanket in the yard made us feel like we were away, we created little seating nooks in our house, so when we made cortados and cappuccinos it made us feel like we were in a cafe somewhere. The first food we got to-go was a bacon-egg-and-cheese from a local spot in Beacon, NY [Beacon Daily]. We would drive an hour just to get out of the house to our favorite town of Hudson to buy coffee and croissants to-go from one of our favorite spots [Le Perche]. Sitting on the front stoop, watching live stream concerts over several weeks of one of our favorite artists, Amos Lee.

One of my absolute favorite things was (and still is) reading my Ian Fleming, James Bond books! They offered blissful escapism and inspired me so much that I wrote my own "Bond song," called "Love is a Gun." The thrill writing it made me so happy you would've thought Barbara Broccoli had asked me to write it for the last Bond film. We made cocktails to celebrate the song's premiere (aka uploading it to SoundCloud lol) at our favorite lounge (aka, our living room). Above all else, what not only kept us afloat through it all but helped us to find happiness amongst the chaos was, gratefulness. Grateful to be healthy, grateful to have everything we needed; work, food, a home, a peaceful home, and each other, having a partner, the best companion, my hubby by my side through it all was everything.

WG: What are you listening to right now? Who's on your music playlist?
Natalie: Ooooh ok, here goes! RY X has been on repeat for close to 2 years now! His album "Live from the Royal Albert Hall" and various classical music playlists were what got me through some of the toughest parts of the pandemic. Amos Lee is always on heavy rotation. Emily King has a permanent address in my playlists, and artists like Lianne La Havas, London Grammar, Yola, Lauren Daigle, Johnnyswim, Max Richter live in the playlist neighborhood too. Can we talk about Adele's new album, 30?! I couldn't be more thrilled for her. Most recently, I listened to Yebba's "Live at Electric Lady." wow. It's been a while since I've wanted to get lost in headphones listening to a record. She's incredible, I find myself hanging on every note that comes out of her, and what I would've given to be a fly on the wall for that session.

WG: What has been your favorite venue to perform in at this point and why?
Natalie: I have a couple of favorite venues like Daryl's House, owned by Daryl Hall, for its first-class hospitality and tremendous sound design--Pete Moshay is the best. The Falcon, also for its heartwarming hospitality, and community is its heartbeat. Tony Falco, a legend and its founder, was a champion of artists and musicians local and worldwide, and while he's no longer with us, his spirit has stayed with us all. But one of the most recent venues I had the honor of playing was the historic Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown, NY, the sound was crystalline and getting the chance to play a historic stage like that in my backyard per se, left me pretty inspired.

WG: What do you do to rest and pour into yourself?
Natalie: Movies. Books. Croissants. And coffee. I love me some movies and a bag of Bjorn Qorn popcorn (I'm terrible at sharing popcorn though). I loved books all my life, but I feel like, for a long time, I couldn't finish them, or I didn't make enough space for them. But over the past few years, I've been able to renew my book love, and really enjoy diving into a book, so much so that I try to carve out 30 minutes at least three times a week to read. Especially if it's a Bond book, James Bond, 007. If I didn’t emphasize this point before, I am a Bond fanatic! My hubby gave me the first book of the series a few years ago, and since then I've been gobbling up the subsequent books, just loving the escapism in them. But the best is when the hubby & I can find a new or favorite spot to grab a coffee and a croissant, those moments are precious and really renew me.

WG: What was your most recent TV show binge? Why did you like it, or why didn't you like it?
Natalie: Ted Lasso! oh, man. Easily one of the best, and favorite shows ever. It was unexpected, I fell so fast in love with his character, rooting for him, and ended up rooting for so many more characters as the episodes unfolded. The character arcs were brilliantly written and executed. I belly laughed, and full-on cried. Touching on so many relatable subjects it was easy to latch onto the emotions (here comes the deep stuff). Honestly, I kinda feel like Ted sometimes, like I'm the new kid trying to convince people why I'm here. I'm often the obnoxious optimist trying to be the hypeman for myself and others (if I could walk around with a "Believe" sign I would), and I think people assume that because I'm an optimist or positive I must not have any trauma or grievances of my own. But like we learn in Ted Lasso, don't judge a book by its cover. Ted Lasso did a great job of punching through expectations and assumptions, with a full range of emotions and did it in a way that when you finished an episode you couldn't resist a smile on your face.

WG: Which of your songs is your favorite to perform?
Natalie: As of late, "Love is a Gun (a tribute to James Bond, 007)”

WG: Tell me about the top 3 people in your life who cheer the loudest for you.
Natalie: Yikes. This feels like the Hunger Games trying to narrow it down to 3 spots: #1. My husband, Saverio. That's easy. Spots #2 and #3 I'm gonna have to give to my whole family (to avoid a chancleta (a flip flop in Spanish) getting thrown at me. My mother, my siblings, my Abuela (my grandmother), and the whole family tree is shaking, cheering for me, I can feel it.

WG: Lastly, where can people find you or your work?
Natalie: www.NATALIEFORTEZA.com. My music is available on all major platforms and social media via Instagram: @natalie_forteza and Facebook: @nataliefortezamusic.

WG: Anything else that you want to share about your passions or that you want our readers to know about you?
Natalie: Random trivia? Hmm... I have a serious popcorn problem, I loooooove Popcorn. I LOVE shoes. I'm not an excessive person, but I can never have too many shoes. Maybe it's a hidden talent, maybe not, I don't know, but I have this thing, a game really, "Who's voice is that?" When watching commercials, I can usually figure out who the celebrity is in the voiceover—it’s not a superpower I know, but could be a fun talent for a skit on Jimmy Fallon one day.

Kendolyn Walker is a creative based in Harlem who serves as producer and founder of The City Love Collective: City Love on the Radio, City Love NYC and the City Love Picnic.

A Sibling Christmas Playlist

Last week, I had the pleasure of chatting with my younger brother, Jason Walker, about The Music Monday Playlist we collaborated on, “A Sibling Christmas,” which is available now on our Wit + Grace Spotify account.

In this conversation, we talked about our childhood, the holiday traditions our parents maintained, and our love for music. We also, I also… danced. Rare footage y’all of your friendly music editor moving to the beat, or off the beat, at times. In any case, the Los Angeles - Harlem love was felt and we took time to play a few of the tunes to give a taste of the playlist. Enjoy the full video here and then listen to the complete playlist for good times, with a touch of nostalgia.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays from our family to yours!

Kendolyn Walker is a creative based in Harlem who serves as producer and founder of The City Love Collective: City Love on the Radio, City Love NYC and the City Love Picnic.

Meet Damaris Giha

I was so happy when my sister-friend Damaris Giha accepted my invite to sit with me and share her story. I wanted to know what prompted her to take a leap of faith and quit her day job to become a full-time singer/songwriter. In our interview, we talked about her inspiration and how creatives can stay true to the calling that God has given them.

Check out the video and enjoy getting to know her!

What has God shown you specifically about your voice?

Taking this leap of faith forces me to trust that my voice is worth being heard. Like most artists, I’ve struggled at some point with feeling worthy. There are days when I don't feel good enough to reach success. But leaving my job is a statement of faith that I am good enough, that I am called to this, that my voice and my songs are worth being heard. I believe that God is affirming that it's okay, even good, that I write music that's not worship music and that I can still have a successful career and bring Him glory through it. My voice still blesses people.

What was the inspiration to do so?

I knew since 2019 that I wanted to pursue music seriously, and I tried to do it while working "full time +,” as I like to call it. But really, Ari Herstand's "How To Make It In The New Music Business" was the real push. It's like a Bible on how to be a successful independent musician. The passage on day jobs really resonated, specifically his conviction that creatives need to have day jobs where they work with their hands so they can preserve all the precious brain juice for their art. And then I read the section about the one-year plan. This involves getting the highest paying job you can (or staying in my current corporate job, for me), aggressively saving up, seeing as much live music as possible, and preparing to leave in a year for full-time musicianship. Reading that, something in my heart clicked. I knew this was what I had to do. There was no question, no "Maybe I'll consider this." My heart quickened, and I knew there was no other option for me. I believe that was the Holy Spirit confirming this desire in my heart.

What do you do to rest and pour into yourself?
I read a lot of fiction, mostly fantasy and sci-fi, or fiction by Black women authors. I recently read Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams, a novel about a young black woman trying to make sense of her heart and past trauma after a breakup, and I "Oooooh, chile!"-d A LOT. I stress-baked quite a bit during the pandemic, which ideally I'd like to take into a less-stressed life. I practice yoga regularly and love taking care of my body, which includes skincare, stretching, self-massage, and walking around my Crown Heights neighborhood. When I can get out of the city, I adore hiking, kayaking, and most outdoorsy or water activities. Moving my body and striking up conversation with folks, strangers or otherwise, always makes me happy! Also, naps.

What was your most recent TV show binge? Why did you like it, or why didn't you like it?

There are three:

1) The Chair - Sandra Oh is DIVINE in absolutely everything she does; the lady has a Midas touch. Watch it simply for her, or her incredibly funny on-screen co-professor Holland Taylor.

2) Lupin - I missed the first wave when Season 1 aired last year, so I caught up recently and watched Season 2. It's a fun James Bond x Sherlock Holmes x Ocean's 11 vibe that we don't get to see Black people in a lot, and just loved seeing Assane win in super impossible situations.

3) Modern Love - A cute and mostly compelling anthology show, although I felt the lack of major protagonists of color. I'm about to embark on the second season, so I'm looking for that to be better this time around.

If you could collaborate with three people, on a song, who would it be and why?

Ugghhh, an impossible question. Off the top of my head, there are three pairs, kind of an either/or situation.

Childish Gambino to bring a vibrant, "produced R&B" sound to one of my songs (which tend to feature more live instrumentation), Doja Cat to rap on this feature and be sexy in a music video with (I've got a major crush on her).

Donny Hathaway or Aretha Franklin, as the King and Queen of Soul. Both were incredible songwriters and I find myself imitating them.

PJ Morton, as he is another one with a Midas Touch. The man is a genius, so much soul, and melts me every time.

Kendolyn Walker is a creative based in Harlem who serves as producer and founder of The City Love Collective: City Love on the Radio, City Love NYC and the City Love Picnic.

Anika Dara Reminds Us To "Enjoy The Moment"

By Kendolyn Walker

“Whatever inspires or influences me I want to reflect that but I don't want to ever feel like I have to use someone else's voice.” - Anika Dara

Meet Anika Dara, a Brooklyn-based singer, and songwriter whose self-described simple yet eloquent lyrics are accompanied by whimsically soulful vocals.

I had the awesome chance to talk with her the day after her very first release, Enjoy The Moment. We had a delightful conversation about her inspiration and process for writing the song as we sat in our Harlem and Brooklyn homes via Zoom. We also discussed the meaning of the song and how it applies to the beginnings of a relationship. This tune has a nostalgic 90s R & B feel, with a memorable chorus, which reminds you that every good relationship is built from friendship.

Kendolyn: Anika, thanks for joining us today. On your website, you describe your voice as soulful, I would love to know what God has shown you specifically about your voice as you wrote and recorded "Enjoy The Moment"?

Anika: During the recording process, God used someone else to let me know that I have a fast vibrato that needs to be under better control & that I need more studio experience. This was great because no one's ever told me that and I appreciated the constructive criticism. God also showed me that I'm ready, despite not being able to do all the things I wanted or planned. I've always been confident in my vocal ability but had been feeling out of it. During the recording process, my voice was under a lot of stress and I felt ill-prepared. I was encouraged to hear that my vocals came out well under the circumstances, but knowing that I can do way better made me excited and gave me something to look forward to.

I can't escape the fact that I still need to embrace my own sound. I used to pride myself on being able to sing anything but, during the recording process, I realized the last thing I want to do is make music for me while sounding or feeling like it would be better if I sounded like someone else. I want my highs to be my highs and my lows to be my lows. Whatever inspires or influences me I want to reflect that but I don't want to ever feel like I have to use someone else's voice.

Kendolyn: What was the inspiration for "Enjoy The Moment"?

Anika: It was inspired by an unlikely friendship that turned into one of the closest relationships I've ever had. Walking through life navigating through all the demands, expectations, truths, and realities of the relationship. Being present throughout the process and learning experiences. And enjoying the moments meant to be enjoyed along the way.

Kendolyn: What do you do to rest and pour into yourself?

I say no. I need regular alone time. I usually only do what's necessary and what's edifying. I try to lead a well-scheduled, well-disciplined life, and other than that live in a place of rest. I have fixed times to spend with God other than the unscheduled times with Him throughout the day. I try to go to bed at 9 PM, take naps, eat well, and exercise. I also try not to neglect hobbies excluding singing, dancing, listening to music, etc.

Kendolyn: What was your most recent TV show binge? Why did you like it, or why didn't you like it?

Anika: Last night I binge-watched "The 12" which is an animation based on the book of Revelation. I also watched "The Dark" which is an end-times kind of series as well. I liked the action and the drama of it. I also like how it relates to the world today. I wish "The Dark" had more seasons & perhaps a bigger budget. I wish there were more episodes of "The 12" as well.

Kendolyn: If you could collaborate with three people, on a song, who would it be and why?

Anika: Three people on three different songs? If I could collaborate with three people on a song it would be Peter Collins, Matthew West, and Jonathan McReynolds. Peter Collins is amazing on guitar and I'm interested in hearing what the vocal harmonies would sound like. Matthew West and Jonathan McReynolds are just two of my favorite songwriters. Matthew West is so creative. Jonathan McReynolds also expresses himself well on topics that really resonate with me.

Learn more about Anika and her inspiration for Enjoy the Moment by watching our video conversation below and visiting her website.

Kendolyn Walker (music editor for Wit+Grace Magazine) talks with singer Anika Dara.

“Enjoy The Moment” is available on all streaming music platforms.

10 Things to See and Do This Summer

by Kendolyn Walker

SUMMER 2021 is not one to be missed, specifically with the challenges, loss and heaviness that came with the pandemic last year. I am excited for each moment of these next three months and however you decide to spend your weekends, Summer Fridays or happy hours, may these new memories provide a beautiful backdrop to a new chapter. With that, this is Kendolyn Walker (music editor for WG) giving you my top ten events and spaces for summer happy.

Virtual Vibe: Bamboozled by Jesus by Yvonne Orji (@yvonneorji)

Ah, one of my favorite actresses and comedians. Every time I see the “Live” button on IG, I quickly tune in. Yvonne Orji speaks boldly about her love for Jesus and faith. In being a tremendous encouragement to me as a fan, I can only imagine the goodness her book, Bamboozled by Jesus holds. This virtual event with Ayesha Curry (hosted by The Lit Bar) will take place on May 25th and a book is included in ticket purchase. You can RSVP here.

Uptown Night Market (@maschospitality)

Harlem VIaduct by Matthew Chimera Photo

“The new Uptown Night Market, described as "a global celebration of cuisine, community and culture" will happen monthly in West Harlem from 4–10 p.m., starting June 10. It will continue on the second Thursday of the month through October.” From Patch.com 

This event is close to my heart and my home y’all. Beginning next month, this Harlem goodness will be taking place under the Riverside Drive Viaduct.

Blended Festival - Nashville, TN @blendedfest

This 3-city festival kicks off in Nashville, August 13th - 14th at First Horizon Park and is produced by My Wine Society. Tickets are available on the event website.

“Like a fine wine, their talent line up is a curated blend, with something for everyone to enjoy. Main stage kicks off at 4pm on Friday, and 12pm Saturday. The format in earlier hours will feature local DJs and bands... As the party progresses into evening hours, festival goers can expect live shows by some of the biggest names in Country, Pop, and EDM music. The line up compliments the overall Blended experience, with artists announced as they are booked.” 

From NowPlayingNashville.com

BK Yoga Club Events - Brooklyn, NY (@bkyogaclub)

Source: Harlem World Magazine

Let’s talk about BK Yoga’s summer movie series, intentional candle making classes and book clubs. This black woman-owned spot in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn has all the events! A personal movie favorite of mine, “Love Jones” will be playing on August 27th at 8PM.

Good Co. Bike Club (@goodcobikeclub)

Last year, my sister introduced me to this positive organization whose mantra “WE GOOD” reminds us to enjoy the moment. This bike club started in 2020 amidst the pandemic. They regularly meet up on Sundays and cover NYC terrain. Follow their Instagram account or subscribe to their website for details on their summer rides.

Roller Wave NYC (@rollerwavenyc)

Photo Courtesy of Shawn-Herbert Felton

I learned of this group after my brother bought his first pair of roller skates in 2020. This collective gave him a safe space to meet people, skate and enjoy good music during the pandemic. Roller Wave NYC meets regularly on Sundays, outside, at different playgrounds and parks in the NYC boroughs to simply skate. A DJ is almost always present. Follow their Instagram account and/or website for details on their upcoming events.

Love Has No Limits (@1dayla)

Graphic Courtesy of 1DayLA

Our very own, Niyah Rahmaan (WG Creative Director) is helping to put on a week of outreach and service where 20,000 people from across the globe will come together to simply love on the city of Los Angeles. 
1DayLAinvites you to join the Love Has No Limits team to serve and love LA for a full week, July 18-24, 2021. Practical, youth, sports, homeless, and medical outreaches will cover every corner of LA for a historic impact. Then on July 24, 2021 we will gather for a moment together to celebrate 1 year of LOVE HAS NO LIMITS. Click here to learn more and register.

Newport Jazz Festival (@newportjazzfest)

Photo by John Rudoff

Well this is pretty exciting. The well-known Newport Jazz Festival is returning this summer, July 30 - August 1 to Fort Adams State Park in Newport, Rhode Island! Three days of intimate jazz concerts respecting all Covid 19 precautions. Tickets will go on sale soon so to stay in the loop follow their social media and/ or their website. The organization that puts this event on, The Newport Festivals Foundation, provided financial relief to over 460 musicians last summer as well, clearly showing love for creatives is the heart of their mission.

Songwriter Workshop 2021 (@saragroves)

courtesy of saragroves.com

I have been a lifelong fan of all things Sara Groves. Her music, her lyrics, the way she uses her platform to fight for justice and her love for Jesus. Songwriter Workshop 2021 is an annual event she puts on, with this year making adjustments due to COVID-19:

“We are excited to welcome you to the 2021 AHN Songwriter Workshop, August 13 & 14! Like most venues, our doors have been closed since last March, and we are trying to be thoughtful about how we re-engage with live and virtual audiences. We batted ideas around for quite a while, but decided to make the workshop a fully virtual event for one more year. We have shortened up the schedule, adjusted pricing, added more songwriting feedback group time (and not over the lunch hour!), and have invited a stellar group of teachers/artists!”

Register here for the August 13th - 14th experience.

From www.saragroves.com

French Lick Resort - French Lick, Indiana (@frenchlickresort)

@travelingblackwidow and her daughter, @dr.lizarrito - courtesy of https://www.frenchlick.com/

Guys, I have to mention a getaway oasis in my list. It’s only right, and who doesn’t want to take a day, weekend or week trip to a space with hiking, pools, horses and bikes!? I chose the Midwest to pay homage to my growing years. My family took a vacation there recently, and it was the first time I had heard of French Lick Resorts. Then I saw @travelingblackwidow, one of my favorite IG personalities, visited there as well and posted lovely photos. 

“Voted Best Hotel in Indiana by Travel & Leisure Magazine, French Lick Resort is family-friendly, business-competent and perfect for a planned or impromptu getaway. Come experience Old World opulence amid modern comforts served with Midwestern charm — close to home. We’re an easy drive from Louisville, Indianapolis and Cincinnati.” From Frenchlick.com

Why Lois Francois Is So #Thankful

The radiant, lovely Lois Francois.

by Kendolyn Walker

Meet this agent of change who is helping those in need, while continuing to use her voice to sing about her first love.

Guyana native Loiś François has been singing since the age of eight and while using her voice to bless many over the years, she also opened up a nonprofit organization, God’s Love Nest Foundation, with the aim of restoring families.  More recently, Ms. Francois has been working on her debut album, Miracle Working God (due Spring of 2019), a collection of songs God gave her while fighting Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. This holiday season we are thankful for this woman who follows her heart and seeks to make the lives of the people in her community better.

We recently spoke with Mrs. Francois about her music, daily routine and passions. Here’s what she had to say:

Where are you based?

Lois: I am based in Richmond, Virginia.

Are you married, single? Children? Pets?

Lois: I have been married for 34 years, have four children - ages 28, 25, 22 and 20 along with a grandson who recently turned 1. The family’s pet is a 6-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, named Robin.

Do you have a bucket list? If so, what are 2 of the items on it?:

Lois: 1. Visit Israel  

2. Build a retreat home to help families going through crises.

Are you a reader? If so, what was the last book you read?

Lois: I am a reader. The last book I read was God’s Creative Power by Charles Capps.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Lois: A singer or a nutritionist/dietitian.  

Why did you choose music and what do you hope to accomplish through it?

Lois: My mission, through my music, is to make listeners aware that God’s love for them is limitless and unconditional. He specializes in the impossible. He is their source, strength, provider, deliverer and healer, and desires that they live a productive, enjoyable life. Through my music, I hope to bring encouragement, joy and hope to the listeners. I also pray that their faith will be strengthened to believe God for their healing, deliverance and provision.

What has God revealed to you in writing and singing?

Lois: In writing and singing, God has revealed His unconditional, unfailingly love, His healing power, His provision, and His desire to give me His best at all times.

Do you have any projects coming out in the future?

Lois: In addition to working on this album, I am now working with individuals and groups as a certified independent, John Maxwell speaker, coach, and trainer. My purpose is not only to help propel individuals into their place of power and purpose, but to mobilize them to reach their realm of influence, and maximize their potential. 

I offer workshops, seminars, keynote speaking and coaching for both personal and professional development. I also work with organizations at large. In my workshops and coaching sessions, I provide the tools, training and support needed for individuals to successfully accomplish their goals and dreams. Please visit- http://johnmaxwellgroup.com/loisfrancois for more information.

I was reading about your nonprofit organization. How do you balance running such a powerful ministry with your passion for music?

Lois: In my nonprofit organization, I have been blessed with a wonderful group of individuals (board members) who volunteer their time in helping me accomplish our mission (which is to sow into the lives of families in crisis so that they may fulfill God’s purpose for their lives).

What current issue definitely needs to be addressed in this country?

Lois: Loving and respecting each other as God desires. Loving our neighbors as we love ourselves.

What artist do you dream of collaborating with?

Lois: Sinach

Where can our audience find your music?

Lois: CD Baby, Apple Music, Amazon, Deezer, www.godslovenestfoundation.org,

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

Favorite Food:

Grilled salmon with baked sweet potatoes & spinach

Favorite Netflix Guilty Pleasure: 

The Blind Side, The Sound Of Music

Favorite singer now:

Sinach

Favorite Cereal:

Special K Nourish Coconut Cranberry 

Favorite cartoon when you were a child:

Mickey Mouse

Coffee or Tea?

Tea

Morning Person or Night Owl?

Night Owl

She’s an author too! Mrs. Francois enjoying a copy of her autobiography, I Serve You The Back of Jesus.

Beauty In the Weeds

By Kendolyn Walker

“Ah… another brown girl.” Liz Vice said with contentment when we found each other near Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn, New York. We made our way to FEED Cafe on Water Street and settled in for our interview.

Since February of this year, Liz Vice tunes have been in my regular rotation on Spotify. My mother’s church was playing Empty Me Out as background music before the service started. My ears immediately tuned in and I asked Momma, “What song is this? Who sings it?” I soon started listening to Liz’s album and tried to find out all that I could about the Portland native.  When I found out she had recently moved to Brooklyn, I immediately reached out for an interview.

As we sat down sipping coffee and tea in the cafe, Liz spoke of Portland, music, the times we live in and her relationship with God. She was gracious and transparent right from the start. I soon put away my prepared list of questions and just listened. Here’s what she had to say:

 

“Freedom is scary.”

I love NYC. It’s hard not to. I love the diversity of brown people. Yet, as I reach the one year mark of being here, I feel an ache. I feel an ache to go back to where I was known. I feel a longing to go back to my “Egypt,” my place of comfort, where, even as I stood out and everyone knew me, I felt enslaved to who I thought I was because of what people told me I was. What I allowed myself to believe about myself. Does that make sense? Even though I was once called "a different kind of black girl," I could at least walk into any place in Portland without having to tell my story. And although I felt like I couldn’t breathe a lot of times because of people’s caricatures and ideas, comfort held me captive.

I think it is easier to be enslaved than it is to be free because freedom is scary for some reason. Freedom is not something everyone does well because it [is a choice that] gives you the ability to become enslaved in the first place. Sometimes feeling enslaved feels safe. Controllable.

In Portland, I felt like I was missing out on a part of myself. As a black woman, I dealt with questions and comments like “You're a different kind of black girl,” “You people and your attitudes,” and “they’re not treating you this way because you’re black. It’s in your head.” Comments and a journey of ill health and beyond led me to attend film school awhile back. I wanted to tell the bigger stories that exist about us. I wanted to make movies my niece could watch and say “that girl looks like me.”  

Just sharing what is on my mind this week. I am a little less emotional now than I have been for the past couple of days.

On many occasions, a church I attended in Portland would preach about callings and walking in your purpose. I just knew I would learn, on those Sundays, that my calling was not music. Friends would come to me, wincing and bracing themselves, to share “You know, I think you should be singing.” I just didn’t want to do it.

One day my pastor said, “Liz, I  have these songs, and I think they are for you. I want to be selfish and keep them for myself but I think they belong to you.” So we recorded a full album, two years after my pastor told me these songs “belonged to you.” I didn’t have management. We had an album release show at a local venue and sold out in 10 days. The venue booker then asked me to open up for Cody Chestnut. Each show opened up another door.

After attending an artist retreat, I met a man who believed I had the gift of song.  I would meet in his office once a week for three months during the day and he would give me exercises to help me write songs.

 

“Hey, would you be interested in leading worship at our church?”

I knew the wife of the pastor I currently work with in Brooklyn. When he first reached out to me about becoming a worship leader for a church plant, I said no. I did not want to work for a church. Yet, no matter how frustrated I got or how I tried to run from using my gift of music, I was more committed to the mission of love, grace, mercy, and hope. I had to see beyond myself and practice seeing people the way Jesus sees them by using my gift of music to bring people of all backgrounds together.

So, I now lead worship. After a year I said yes. I am learning to feel safe in a church setting there and have learned to give myself the grace to do something I never wanted to do because it’s new and uncomfortable to grow and learn to lead as you lead.

“I told God I wouldn’t do another record unless He gave me the songs.”

ME: God, don’t you see what is happening in the world? Have mercy, have compassion.

GOD: What are you going to do about it? You are my hands and feet right now. What are you going to do about it?

What is my little black voice going to do for change? I don’t want to sound like an angry black woman, but I am. I am mad and disgusted, but that is the very essence of compassion; an issue hits you so hard in the gut, you feel sick if you don’t do something about it. I don’t have a million dollars to fix Puerto Rico, rebuild homes in Houston or provide therapy to those affected by the Paris terrorist attacks, but I can write songs.  I can provide a space for people to gather and not think about how a person is different from them. I don’t want one to be color blind though. I actually hate that term. I want you to see my black face and I want to see what makes you different from me, what makes me beautiful.

I have been sad, and I am licking my wounds as I continue to see the trouble in the world around us. So again I question.

ME: God where are you?

GOD: Hello, I put my Spirit in you so you can be my hands and feet and my mouthpiece. What are you gonna do? How are you gonna show up in this?

These are things I think about before I go to bed at night.

How do I use my Blackness-Jesus-loving privilege to sing songs of hope?  Even as I might sound vintage to one person, I am singing songs of Light. I am not trying to save you, I am trying to let you see the light that is in you.

If your gift is to write, then you need to write about these things. If your gift is to sing, sing about the issues that you want to change the most. If your gift is to dance, dance about the things you are most compassionate about. Rise up out of the ashes and show us something beautiful.

I can’t tell if this album fits the genre of typical artists. But I feel like… well, I am not trying to compete.

ME: Hey, I am just gonna start singing over here, if you want to join feel free. You might have to buy a ticket, but anyone can come.

I don’t feel like I am in competition. That has not been my story. It’s actually really awkward for me to be on stage.

ME:Why do I do this to myself?

I get nervous before every show and am definitely not the singer who feels as though they were made to perform.  

My album is getting there. It’s close to being finished. I don’t feel comfortable with this statement. It’s definitely going be different from the first record. One song I included was a track I used to sing at age 15. This song is my foundation.

I decided that if I am going to take this calling seriously, I need to meet with people who are willing to write songs with me to articulate these feelings that I have. I decided that I am just going to show up.

One of my producers shared a story with me that left a lasting impression. Before he lived in his house, the backyard had weeds hip-high. There was a next-door neighbor whom the previous homeowner had befriended. Every day she would sit on the fire escape and throw seeds into his backyard. When he asked why she did that, his future neighbor responded: “I just want to see a little beauty amongst the weeds.” This neighbor soon passed away. When my friend moved into the house, he soon began clearing the weeds out of his backyard so that he could build a patio or deck. He came upon some flowers and wondered if the flowers just might have come from his neighbor’s seeds. The woman wanted to see some color amongst the weeds. When I think of this story, it reminds me of what I think we are supposed to do. We are not the heroes of this world but we can add some color to this mess.

So I have this call on my life, to bring people together. I am learning to surrender.

ME: If this is what You’ve called me to do, then I’m in. I don’t know what’s behind the door of each new morning but I’m in.

And that is me throwing seeds to see some beauty in the weeds.
 

Off-The-Record Quotes from liz vice

3 - “Can you cry to your own voice?”

2 - “And that leads me to A Handmaid’s Tale.”

1 - “...when all you want to do is stay in bed and watch Keeping Up With the Kardashians or The Only Way is Essex.”

Official music video for "Empty Me Out" By Liz Vice © 2015 Ramseur Records http://vevo.ly/USszU5

To learn more about Liz Vice, visit her website.