Audrey Assad | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Audrey Nicole Assad [1] |
Born | [2] | July 1, 1983
Origin | Secaucus, New Jersey, U.S. [3] |
Genres | Contemporary Christian music |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, piano |
Years active | 2002–present |
Labels | Sparrow, Fortunate Fall |
Website | audreyassad |
Audrey Nicole Assad (born July 1, 1983) is an American singer-songwriter. She has released six studio albums and four EPs.
Audrey Assad's mother was from Virginia and her father is a Christian Syrian-born refugee. [4] [5] She was raised Protestant, as part of the Plymouth Brethren denomination. [6] [7]
Assad started playing the piano at age two, and spent her youth moving around New Jersey before settling in Scotch Plains from ages 7 to 18. [7] [8] [9]
Assad's musical career began in contemporary Christian music. Her debut album, The House You're Building , was released through Sparrow Records in July 2010 and went on to be named on Amazon.com's list of Best Christian Music of 2010, [10] [11] as well as the Christian and Gospel Breakthrough Album of the Year on iTunes. [12] She has worked and toured with other CCM artists such as Chris Tomlin, [13] Tenth Avenue North, Matt Maher and Jars of Clay. [14] [15] In 2018, she released Evergreen.
In 2002, when Assad was 18, her family moved to Florida and she spent the next six years there. [16] [17] [18] At 19, she briefly attended college and supported herself with odd jobs while beginning her musical career, writing and composing songs for the first time. Assad spent the next five years playing at various venues, performing original songs and covers. Venues ranged from restaurants, weddings, and coffee shops to leading and organizing worship concerts at church. [7] [19] In 2003, Assad recorded a four-song demo [16] with Drew Middleton, a member of the CCM band Tenth Avenue North at the time. Assad toured with the band occasionally during that time. [18] [19]
In 2008 when Assad was 24, she decided to move to Nashville, Tennessee, to continue focusing on her music career. She raised $7,000 from friends and fans to support her move from Florida. [7] [20] In Nashville, she worked with producers Paul Moak and Phillip LaRue and recorded a five-song EP, Firefly, which sold at shows and featured a handwritten cover made of a brown paper bag. [16] [19] She supported herself by working as a nanny before meeting fellow Catholic musician Matt Maher. Maher took Assad under his wing and brought her to various gigs, where she sang back-up vocals and played sets during his shows. The time they spent together around Maher's home base of Phoenix, Arizona, would later prompt Assad to move there from Nashville. [16] During this time, Assad also signed on to work as a staff writer for EMI Christian Music Group Publishing, doing songwriting work with other artists. [7] [21]
In 2009, Assad signed with Sparrow Records, who had been talking to Assad after the release of her EP. [17] For her first album, Assad then met and played for producer Marshall Altman, who eventually agreed to produce what would become The House You're Building . Altman and Assad recorded the album at the Galt Line Studio in Los Angeles. [16] The House You're Building was released on July 13, 2010, and the title track was featured as a free download on iTunes Discovery Download. The album performed well commercially and critically, going on to become the Amazon.com's "Best Album of 2010" in the Christian Music category, as well as being the best selling new artist in the Christian Music category of 2010 according to SoundScan. The album reached No. 12 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart and No. 6 on its Heatseekers chart. [22]
Her second album, Heart , was released on February 14, 2012. [23] The album sold 7,300 units in its debut week, an increase of 185 percent over her previous album, and reached No. 18 on the overall iTunes chart. [24] [25] For the most part, the new album was a further development of the "piano-driven style and lyrical depth" that The House You're Building had shown. [26] The track "Sparrow", was released as a single, and similarly did well.[ citation needed ] "Sparrow" was based on the classic gospel hymn, "His Eye Is on the Sparrow", which Assad said she loved seeing and hearing in Sister Act 2 when she was young. [27]
Wanting to steer her music closer to liturgical and worship music and attracted by the economic advantages of independent production, Audrey Assad parted ways with Sparrow Records "on good terms". [28] Assad ran a Kickstarter campaign with the help of her husband that reached double its goal by its finish on April 15, 2013. [29] The proceeds paid for Assad's third studio album, Fortunate Fall , which Assad produced herself under the name "Fortunate Fall Records", as well as a live concert EP, O Happy Fault, and a film of the concert.
Assad released her second independent album, Inheritance, on February 12, 2016. Besides two original songs, both co-written with Matt Maher, the rest of the album contains new renditions of traditional church hymns such as "Holy, Holy, Holy" and "Be Thou My Vision," as well as a new rendition of the Latin-language hymn "Ubi caritas." "Holy, Holy, Holy" saw radio airplay after its release as a single on March 15, 2016. [30] In early 2018, her next album, Evergreen, became available for pre-order via PledgeMusic, with 5 percent of campaign proceeds going towards Preemptive Love Coalition. [31] [32]
Assad grew up in a religious household but listened to secular music through her mother's influence, including The Carpenters, James Taylor and Celine Dion, as well as to French and Middle Eastern music through her dad's influence. [18] Later, she discovered and began listening to Christian music, such as Newsboys, Nichole Nordeman and Cindy Morgan. [14] [6] She began using her piano talents at 19, when she led worship [16] and began writing and performing her own music. Assad played in local Florida venues with a style she described as folky and "average girl with a guitar/piano stuff". [7] The Firefly EP that she recorded with Paul Moak was also described as folky and rootsy.
In 2010, her style of music was a mix of religious and non-religious themed songs that draw from her Catholic faith as well as from her love of literature and poetry. [6] [9] [16] A majority of her religious songs are written in a way that emphasizes being sung to God rather than about God. [14] [18] [33]
Assad was raised in an Evangelical Protestant religious household; she reconfirmed her faith at the age of 19. [15] [6] Assad converted to Catholicism in 2007 in Florida. [34] [35] On March 3, 2021, Assad announced that she was no longer a practicing Christian, [36] despite continuing to work with and platform groups such as Porter's Gate, which is considered to be a progressive Christian band. [37]
Assad met her future husband in Arizona while on tour with Matt Maher in 2008; the couple married on February 19, 2011, in Phoenix. [38] In October 2017, Assad gave birth to their second child, a daughter named Camila St. Clare. [39] The couple divorced in 2019. [40]
Assad has spoken in public (including in her concerts) [41] about her past addiction to pornography and masturbation, while recommending "confession, accountability and counseling" to overcome them. [42]
The following are peak position on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart: [43]
In addition:
Rebecca Jean Fink, known professionally as Rebecca Jean or Rebecca St. James, is an Australian American contemporary Christian singer, songwriter and actress. She began performing in Australia in the late 1980s and released her first full-length studio album in 1991. She was signed to ForeFront Records in 1993, releasing her major label debut the next year.
Sanctus Real is an American Christian rock band formed in Toledo, Ohio, in 1996. The group is composed of Chris Rohman, Mark Graalman (drums), and Dustin Lolli. The band is best known for their number one singles "Lead Me", "Forgiven", "Whatever You're Doing", "I'm Not Alright", "Don't Give Up", "We Need Each Other", "Everything About You", and "The Fight Song". Since 2002, they have released five albums through the Sparrow Records label, an independent EP This Is Love, and "Changed" on Framework Records.
ZOEgirl was an American Christian teen pop and pop rock band formed in 1999. The group comprised Chrissy Conway-Katina, Alisa Childers and Kristin Swinford-Schweain. They were signed to Sparrow Records from 1999 to 2006 and released their debut single "I Believe" in 2000. This song and their self-titled debut album ZOEgirl helped them become Sparrow's fastest selling artist of all time. With All of My Heart, the lead single for Life, was the group's only No. 1 Christian contemporary hit radio (CHR) single and led to the group receiving a GMA Dove Award for New Artist of the Year in 2002. By the end of 2003, over one million albums from ZOEgirl were sold.
Matthew Guion Maher is a Canadian Roman Catholic, contemporary Christian music (CCM) artist, songwriter, and worship leader from Newfoundland, Canada, who lives in the United States. Three of his nine albums have reached the Top 25 Christian Albums Billboard chart and four of his singles have reached the Top 25 Christian Songs chart. His notable writing credits include "Your Grace Is Enough", "I Will Rise", "Because He Lives (Amen)", "Christ Is Risen", and "Lord I Need You". Maher has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards in his career and was awarded the Songwriter of the Year at the 2015 GMA Dove Awards.
Brittany Nicole Waddell, better known by her stage name Britt Nicole, is an American singer and songwriter. She has mainly charted as a Christian pop artist, but in 2012 found her debut mainstream single, "Gold" and in 2013, "Ready or Not", in the Mainstream Top 40. Her fourth studio album, Gold, was nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album at the 55th Grammy Awards. She is signed to Sparrow and Capitol Records.
Susan Ashton is an American contemporary Christian music and country music artist who topped the Christian charts throughout the 1990s. In 1991 she began using her mother's maiden name, Ashton, when she recorded her first single, in order to distinguish herself from fellow CCM singer Kim Hill.
The discography of American alternative rock band Switchfoot consists of 12 studio albums, four live albums, three compilation albums, five video albums, 10 extended plays, 43 singles, nine promotional singles and 39 music videos. The band, originally called Chin Up, consists of singer/guitarist and primary songwriter Jon Foreman, bassist Tim Foreman, drummer Chad Butler and synthesizer/keyboardist/guitarist Jerome Fontamillas. Lead guitarist Drew Shirley left the band in February 2022.
"You're Not Sorry" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her second studio album, Fearless (2008). In its lyrics, Swift's narrator calls out an ex-boyfriend for his betrayal. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, "You're Not Sorry" is a rock power ballad with a sound that critics describe as mournful or dramatic: its verses are driven by piano and fiddle, while its refrains incorporate dynamic, crescendoing electric guitars.
Hillary Dawn Scott-Tyrrell is an American singer and songwriter who rose to fame as the co-lead vocalist of the country music group Lady A. She is signed to Big Machine Records.
Kari Brooke Jobe is an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter. Since her first album in 2009, she has received two Grammy Award nominations and ten Dove Award nominations, six of which she won.
Alive Again is the second studio album by contemporary Christian musician Matt Maher, released on September 22, 2009. It is his second album with Essential Records. It reached #6 on the Billboard Christian albums chart, and reached #128 on the Billboard 200. The single "Alive Again" became the top selling Christian and Gospel single on iTunes Rewind. The song "Hold Us Together" was the No. 1 K-LOVE song of 2010.
Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship is the first Christmas album by Chris Tomlin. It was released on October 6, 2009. It peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Holiday albums chart and No. 79 on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2010, it re-entered the Billboard 200 and peaked at No. 19. It was recorded live in the studio and features a duet with Matt Redman, as well as two tracks featuring Christy Nockels and Audrey Assad.
The House You're Building is the debut album by Christian artist Audrey Assad. It has been met with positive reviews by critics. In late 2010, it was re-released for Christmas with two extra tracks.
The Love in Between is the third studio album by contemporary Christian musician Matt Maher, released on September 20, 2011. It is his third album with Essential Records. It was released on September 20, 2011.
Heart is the second studio album from contemporary Christian music artist Audrey Assad, released on February 14, 2012. The album features songwriting contributions from Matt Maher, Derek Webb, Christopher Stevens and Sandra McCracken. The first single from the album, "Sparrow," was released on November 2, 2011, and is based on the classic hymn "His Eye is on the Sparrow."
All the People Said Amen is the first compilation album by contemporary worship music recording artist Matt Maher, released on April 23, 2013. It is his fourth album with Essential Records, and his seventh overall release. The album was produced by Matt Maher and Paul Moak.
Fortunate Fall is the third studio album by contemporary Christian music artist Audrey Assad, which was released independently by Fortunate Fall Records on August 13, 2013 and was produced by Assad herself. The album has seen commercial chart success and critical acclaim.
Lauren Ashley Daigle is an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter. After being signed to the label Centricity Music, she released her debut album, How Can It Be, in 2015. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart, has been certified Platinum by the RIAA and produced three No. 1 singles on the Billboard Christian Airplay chart.
Inheritance is the fourth studio album from Audrey Assad. Fortunate Fall Records released the album on February 12, 2016.
Cory Hunter Asbury is an American Christian musician, worship pastor, songwriter, and former member of the Bethel Music collective.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)27. The House You're Building—Audrey Assad
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link){{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)[ permanent dead link ]Tuesday... 'Heart' by Audrey Assad.
Billboard 200... 0 No. 1 Hits |0 Top 10 Hit |3 Songs... Winter Snow/Audrey Assad Featuring Chris Tomlin—Peaked at No. 14 on August 1, 2010 / 5 weeks on Chart; For Love of You/Audrey Assad—Peaked at No. 25 on November 6, 2010 / 9 weeks on Chart; Restless/Audrey Assad—Peaked at No. 31 on January 14, 2011 / 17 weeks on Chart.
Billboard 200... 0 No. 1 Hits |0 Top 10 Hit |4 Songs... Inheritance/Audrey Assad—Peaked at No. 81 on April 3, 2016 / 1 weeks on Chart; Heart/Audrey Assad—Peaked at No. 86 on February 3, 2012 / 1 weeks on Chart; The House You're Building/Audrey Assad—Peaked at No. 154 on April 2, 2011 / 1 weeks on Chart; Fortunate Fall/Audrey Assad—Peaked at No. 190 on August 30, 2013 / 1 weeks on Chart.As quoted, notes four songs to break Billboard 200 as of January 2020.