Growing up in Cochrane, Ontario, Faith Grace released her
debut faith based album FREE, as a Kitchener, Ontario resident. That album had genuine artistry written all
over it! Now some three years later,
this mother of two is back with her second recording, a mainstream album that
was ten months in the making. THERE GO
MY DREAMS (2016) was produced, mixed, and mastered by Brad Dugas. The players on this album are: Faith Grace (vocals,
keys, melodica, accordion, cowbell), Dan Grace (electric guitars, acoustic
guitars, mandolin, drums, background vocals), Brad Dugas (acoustic guitars,
electric guitars, bass), and Trevor Martin (keys).
Starting things off is ‘Lovely’, a bouncy, upbeat love song:
“I’ve decided that you are lovely in every single way/And if you would just
hold me, I’d feel happy every day/If you ever go away/I just don’t know what I
would do/I’d be lost if I lost you/And if you turn and leave this place/Leaving
only memories of your face/I’ve decided that you are lovely in every single
way”. ‘Let it Rest’ is an adult
contemporary ballad of encouragement: “I’ll walk with you sister, I got you my
brother/You’re gonna be okay/But you know what’s in your heart is gonna take
some time to make itself right/It’s gonna take some time/It’s gonna take some
loving/It’s gonna need some grace/If you just let go, let it go, let it go/If
you could just let go, let it go, let it rest”.
‘Can’t Sleep’ begins with these very relatable lyrics: “Sometimes the
troubles of this life get me down, yeah, they can drag me down so low/They can
blind my eyes till I can’t see the light that I know wants to light up my
soul/And I don’t sleep at night/I don’t sleep so well, sometimes/I lie awake
till the daylight breaks”.
This brings us to the title track, ‘There Go My Dreams’, a
breezy pop song of loss: “How did that happen?/Thought I paid attention/My life
was goin’ on just fine/But you threw me that curveball while I wasn’t
watchin’/I’ve never been a good catcher so I lost/And there go my dreams/There
goes my future/Everything I loved, back at square one, oh/Well, I just blinked
and looked away/I just blinked and they slipped away from me”. ‘I Come Running’ is a heartfelt song of
devotion to one’s partner: “Don’t close the curtain on us/No baby, don’t close
the curtain just yet/Baby, I’d come runnin’ into your arms/Whenever you might
call/I’d drop everything for you love, any time at all/Well, the show is not
over for us”.
‘Believing’ is remarkably the only song out of eleven that
Faith did not write! It was written by
Tami Hinesh, Emily Shackelton, and Kate York.
Fans of the TV show ‘Nashville’ will be familiar with the song. This country influenced ballad is one of
gratitude: “When I get the feeling that my prayers have hit the ceiling/And
those darker days when my faith has lost all meaning/You keep me believing/My
fears are safe here held in your hands/When I’m broken you put me back together
again/All that I once was, all I could be/When I’ve forgotten/Baby, you remind
me”. ‘Crashes On’ is a beautiful, poetic
song about being a faithful partner in life: “You say we have a future/You say
you can hold me closer/That you can be my healer, free my fears, forgive my
faults/But my heart drifts away/On oceans deep it sets sail/On rolling waves it
bounces round, stumbles and gets lost/But your light is always true/It stays
the storms, it breaks through/Your love is the rock my heart always crashes
on/Oh, your love is the rock my heart always crashes on”.
‘When I Run’ is sparse instrumentally and is like a modern
day Psalm lyrically: “Even when I run, even if I hide/Every time the daylight
turns into the night/Darkness tries to tempt me, covered in its shadows, covers
me in lies, lies, in lies, lies/You’re always looking for me wherever I might
run/You’ll always come and find me/Whenever I’m alone, I’m not alone/Because of
you”. ‘I Don’t Want You’ is a somber
masterpiece both lyrically and musically: “I don’t wanna see another happy
couple/I don’t wanna be on the outside of anything/I don’t even care if you’re
happy with her/I’d rather just walk on my own way than feel anything at all/If
I’m telling the truth/If I can’t have all of you/Then I don’t want you at
all/If I’m telling the truth/If I can’t have all of you/Then I don’t want you
at all”.
‘Overflow’ is a lovely duet with husband Dan Grace: “What
happens to a heart that loves more than one body can hold?/What good things can
come if you don’t hold it in but let love overflow?” Last up is ‘Strong’, an adult pop song of a
warrior: “I’ve been battlin’ demons, getting shot down by grief/Trippin’ up,
fallin’ out/Givin’ up and rising on my feet/And I love who I see now/Because
that reflection is strong”.
Much like fellow artists who have gone before her, such as
Amy Grant, Jars of Clay, and Switchfoot, Faith Grace isn’t content living in a
Christian bubble. In fact, she says:
“This is not a Christian album, not intentionally not, but I’m not targeting
the church crowd audience this time around.
But it’s not NOT a Christian album.
It’s just not about Jesus. It’s
about life”. With THERE GO MY DREAMS,
Faith has hit a home run! These songs
are intimate, emotional, honest reflections on romantic relationships. The words she uses to convey her feelings are
well chosen. Listening to this album,
one feels as if they are holding Faith’s heart in his/her hands. Faith’s lyrics display a great degree of
vulnerability. She is an exciting,
personable, young lady who deserves a record deal! Musically, the album is light adult pop and
adult contemporary in nature. Her vocals
and the instrumentation are just beautiful.
They bring the listener a calm warmth, so lacking in our world
today. My only suggestion would be for
her to next time include a couple faster paced songs for variety. I’m rating THERE GO MY DREAMS 90%. The pics of Faith included with this project
are simply beautiful. For more info
visit www.facebook.com/faithgracemusic
or purchase the album on iTunes. Faith
will be holding a CD release party on Wednesday, November 9th, 2016
at Rhapsody Barrel Bar at 179 King St. West in Kitchener, Ontario at 7pm.