Sommer Floyd’s bio begins: “If you look up ‘All American
Girl’ in the dictionary, chances are the definition will be accompanied by a
picture of Sommer Floyd. Growing up in
Texas Hill Country, Sommer was an honor roll student, gifted athlete, beauty
queen, and a genuinely nice person”.
Becoming a young single mother to daughter Heidi led her to draw nearer
to God and her family. She began to
write songs. She says: “Putting my
brokenness on paper helped to get me through the hard times and the lyrics
started to turn into worship”. Her debut
album RAY OF LIGHT (2016) was produced by Steven V. Taylor, who has worked with
the likes of Michael W. Smith, Matt Redman, and Veggie Tales. Sommer’s co-writers are: Chris Lockwood, Ira
Shane Floyd, Phil Holt, Shyler Floyd, David Floyd, Terri Floyd, and Heidi
Floyd.
The title track, ‘Ray of Light’, is up first. This country/pop song inspired by a lazy
summer afternoon with her young daughter Heidi, was a #1 Christian radio hit
for Sommer. It expresses her desire to
make a positive difference in the world in which she lives: “I wanna be a ray
of light/I wanna show the way You shine/I want the world to fall for You on
their knees/For all You’ve done in my life/Lord You made the sacrifice/I wanna
touch the world like a ray of light/Redeemed by the cross/I will share of how
You touched my heart”. ‘Stronger’ is a
beautiful country ballad written for one of Sommer’s friends battling
leukemia. The chorus is a heartfelt
prayer: “Meet me in this place/Down here on the floor/Shower me with
grace/Cause I need You more/Lift me up so high/Help me overcome/With Your
healing hands/Only You can make me/Stronger (3X)/You make me/Stronger
(3X)”. ‘How You Love Me’ is a fantastic
worship song: “What a sacrifice, what a perfect Savior/You died upon the cross
to save a wretch like me/You are worthy, worthy/I fall down at Your feet/Crying
holy, holy/Your love is all I need/And Your beauty takes my breath away from
me/And how You love me”.
‘Drop and Run’ is a melodic song of spiritual invitation:
“Drop and run/To the Keeper of the stars/Drop and run/He’s there with open
arms/He loves you more than you’ll ever know, more than you’ll ever know/So,
lay down your burdens/There’s no need to fear/Whatever you’re holding/Give it
all to Him”.’Children of God’ is an adult contemporary worship song: “In Your
presence we belong/Hear our voices sing this song/’We are the children of God/Hallelujah/We
are the children of God/Sing His praises/Almighty is the King/He is our
Victory/And we are the children of God/Hallelujah!’ (2X)”
‘I Need You’ is a pretty country ballad that acknowledges a
need for God: “Even in the night, You will be my light/Faithful, You are
faithful evermore/So down this path I pray/You bring me back to truth/So, I’m
calling out, I’m calling out to You, oh.../To cast my fears away/Renew my hope
and strength/And lift me up to heights I’ve never been/Every moment of this
day/I’m holding on by faith/So lift me up to heights I’ve never been/I need
You”. ‘Working on Me’ includes the
following bridge more of us need to grasp fully: “The past is in the past/And
there’s no more looking back/There are greater things in store/Because of You”.
The next song, ‘Let it Rain’, has Christian Adult Contemporary
Radio hit written all over it style-wise!
The lyrics are poetic: “Pour Your mercy down upon me/Wash me in Your
grace/When I call out Your Name/It’s more than I can take/Who am I that You
would hear my cry/There’s joy and there is pain/But there’s power in Your
praise/Cause You open up the flood gates in my life/Lord let it rain”. ‘Little Boy’ is a marvelous inspirational
story song: “Little boy all alone/Always wondered who God was/He begged ‘Mom,
Dad, please can I go?’/Never heard between the yelling and slamming doors, the
little boy was gone.../Little boy met a girl/So lost in this big world/She said
‘I don’t know what you see in me’/Little boy took her hand and told her God has
the perfect plan.../Little boy leads a church, little girl amazed how God
works/Bringing people to the Word of God...”
‘Lighthouse’ delves into the rock music category, but I
would have made it an even heavier, grittier track! On it, Sommer praises God: “Every fear has
been washed away/I`d be lost if it weren`t for grace/With my eyes on You/My
faith is strong/In the darkest nights I will carry on/You will be my Lighthouse
whoa/Lighthouse whoa/Whoa, oh, oh”. A
very slow, traditional version the classic hymn ‘Great is Thy Faithfulness’
follows. The original writers are Thomas
Chisholm and William M. Runyan. It fits
well on this album.
‘He is Good’ reminds me of the light pop/worship stylings of
Twila Paris. It declares: “He is good,
He’s so good/He’s the Master of creation/He carries you and me/He is good, He’s
so good/The fulfiller of the empty/The sound of joyful praise/He is good/Oh
salvation/Living Water/The Lover of my soul”.
On the final song, an easy listening one, ‘Live Like Jesus’, Sommer
shares her deepest desires: “Live like Jesus lived/Love like Jesus loved/Help
just like the healer of the universe/Pray like Jesus prayed/Give like Jesus
gave/Shine for Jesus rose on that third day”.
Sommer Floyd is a beautiful Christian lady and this, her
debut album, RAY OF LIGHT, is also simply beautiful. What a tender, moving, passionate voice God
has given this lady! It is great to see
that she is using it for His glory.
These are songs that document the intimate relationship we can have with
our faithful, loving Father God. The use
of The Nashville String Machine is a big bonus on this peaceful, soothing
album. What sets Sommer apart from so
many female CCM artists is first, her country music vibes sprinkled throughout
RAY OF LIGHT, and second, her refusal to be flashy and to conform to a set
musical formula. Sommer sings from the
heart and we all benefit from it! This
record is a breath of fresh air. I’m
rating it 88%. For more info visit: www.sommerfloyd.com or connect with her
on Facebook.