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Original. Few artists in any genre can lay claim to that
title, but for the past ten years Sierra has been inventing and re-inventing the
female power-pop trio sound. Fans have snapped up more than a quarter of a
million copies of their four previous releases. Christian radio has
enthusiastically embraced their songs, as evidenced by their fifteen Top 5 radio
hits, seven of which attained the #1 spot. They regularly perform before
sell-out crowds that number into the tens of thousands at Women of Faith and
Women of Virtue conferences. With all that success you might expect Wendi Foy
Green, Jennifer Hendrix and Marianne Adams to settle for the familiar, the
routine, the tried-and-true. But for Sierra, life is not a familiar commute, but
a road trip - a journey across unfamiliar territory, where the only two
constants are where you've been and where you are going.
"I think change is
ever-present," explains Wendi, the group's founder and principal
songwriter. "There is constant change. Hopefully it is change for the
better - to be more Christ-like, to be more Christ-centered, to be less
self-centered. Sometimes life is tough. Sometimes it requires change to get to
the next place where you need to be. On our last record, Change, we wrestled
with, and ultimately embraced those changes. On The Journey we had to try to dig
a little deeper, to get below the surface, to be more real about life. Ten years
ago my writing was lighter, fluffier. I wrote good songs with good messages, but
as I mature in the Lord I want to paint an aural picture with more colors. The
challenge is this - if you are going to present something, present it from the
depths of your soul." |
"I think we are individually at better
places," Jennifer adds. "We have all come through a lot since Change -
Marianne's marriage, the birth of my second child. Lyrically, I think The
Journey reflects those changes, but from a different perspective. There is less
struggle on this album than there was on Change, perhaps because we are not
going through as many tribulations as we were. It is almost as if we are looking
in the rear-view mirror at the past and saying, 'Thank you God, for carrying us
through.'"
The songs on The Journey do indeed
resonate with a passion and perspective that can only be expressed by a soul who
has been through the fire and walked out refined. There are songs of
thanksgiving, songs of worship, songs of hope.
"I think there was more questioning going on in
Change and there are more answers found in The Journey," Wendi declares.
"'I See' is the transitional song between the two albums. When I wrote the
songs for Change I was really struggling. It took a lot of time seeking God, but
He pulled me out of that. 'I See' says 'Thank you. I have felt your forgiveness
and I have felt your restoration in my heart.' The Journey is exemplary of our
walk with Christ. Each song talks about some aspect of that journey, whether
that is a down time or an exciting time; whether that is a time of worship or
exaltation."
"These songs make people
feel," Marianne interjects. "That's why people love this music. It
makes you want to worship. What I love is that God wants us to worship Him with
our life, not just our music."
While the women of Sierra view life after the trials
and tribulations that punctuated Change as a beautiful rest stop, they are quick
to point out that the journey continues - just at a slower pace.
"We set some pretty strict
boundaries this year," Wendi declares. "We have limited our concert
appearances to six per month in order to make our families a priority. We have
been doing the Women of Virtue Conferences for the past three years, and we will
be appearing at Women of Faith Conferences this year. Encouraging women in their
walk with Christ is an important part of what we do. We also host a weekly
television talk show on TBN called The Sierra Show. But really, our priority is
making sure we keep our families strong."
"Another priority is to keep ourselves strong
in the Lord," Jennifer adds. "I recently started attending a Bible
study at church, because I realized that my quiet time with Him was lacking.
This Bible study forces me to sit down every single day and read scripture, to
pray and ask questions, to study the Bible in-depth. It makes me spend time with
the Lord, and it is wonderful. I want it. I need it. That is why I am forcing
that time to happen."
"And our heart is for
worship," Marianne says. "I know the power of worship. I knew when I
first started talking to Wendi and Jennifer about joining Sierra, that God was
going to bring worship to our concerts, and that through worship God was going
to break our hearts. When you come into the presence of God, that just naturally
happens."
"We always wanted to incorporate worship into
our concerts," Wendi says. "When Marianne came into the group, it was
obvious that she was gifted in leading worship. Our hearts have been drawn in
that direction in our own lives. The Lord has used worship to bring us to a
close-knit place with Him. Worship has been a healing balm to our spirits. I
think that is why we are drawn to 'I Will Exalt The One' and 'Open Arms Of Love'
- because they are worship oriented."
Even as Sierra breaks new ground
lyrically, The Journey also finds the group in uncharted territory musically.
Veteran producer Scott Williamson (Point of Grace, FFH) challenged, cajoled and
encouraged the girls to stretch, rearrange, and experiment with fresh harmonies
and exhilarating vocal flourishes. Co-producer Brian Green urged the use of
non-traditional instruments, such as the accordion and piccolo, to add texture
and weight to the lush acoustic soundscape. The result is an album of rare
beauty and grace, punctuated by haunting melodies and soul-piercing lyrics. At
once classic Sierra and yet refreshingly original, The Journey is an appropriate
soundtrack to this road trip that we call life.
Click here to read the
biography for "Abide" (Marianne and Jennifer's group)
Click here for the
biography for "Change"
Click here for the biography for "Story of
Life"