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Audrey Assad

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Audrey Assad
Audrey Assad in 2013
Audrey Assad in 2013
Background information
OriginSecaucus, New Jersey, U.S.[citation needed]
GenresContemporary Christian music
Instrument(s)vocals, piano
Years active2002–present
LabelsSparrow Records, 2010-2012
Fortunate Fall, 2014-present
WebsiteAudreyAssad.com

Audrey Assad is an American singer-songwriter and contemporary Christian music artist. Her debut album, The House You're Building, was released through Sparrow Records in July 2010 and went to be named to the Amazon.com list of Best Christian Music of 2010,[1][2] and as the Christian and Gospel Breakthrough Album of the Year on iTunes.[3][verification needed] She worked and toured with other CCM artists such as Chris Tomlin,[4] Tenth Avenue North, Matt Maher and Jars of Clay.[5][6] Her most recent album, Evergreen, was released in 2018.

Early life

Audrey Assad's American mother was from Virginia and her father is an Arab-American of Syrian descent.[citation needed] She was raised as a Protestant, in the Plymouth Brethren denomination.[7][8]

Assad started to play the piano at two, and spent her youth moving around New Jersey before settling in Scotch Plains from ages 7 to 18.[8][9] She attended public school until middle school, where her experience there caused her to ask her mother to homeschool her, which she did.[8] Assad spent her adolescence being homeschooled, working at her father's businesses, and attending church events.[10]

Music career

Early career in Florida

In 2002, when Assad was 18, her family moved to Florida and she spent the next six years there.[11][12][13] 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.[8][14] Around 2003 Assad recorded a four-song demo[11] with Drew Middleton, a member of the CCM band Tenth Avenue North at the time, whom Assad toured with occasionally.[13][14]

Nashville and the Firefly EP

In 2008 when Assad was 24, she decided to move to Nashville, Tennessee to continue and focus on her music career. She raised $7,000 from friends and fans to support her move from Florida.[8][15] In Nashville she worked with producers Paul Moak and Phillip LaRue, recording a five-song EP, Firefly, which sold at shows and featured a handwritten cover made of a brown paper bag.[11][14] 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. This time together around Maher's home base of Phoenix, Arizona, would later prompt Assad to move there from Nashville.[11] During this time Assad signed on to work as a staff writer for EMI Christian Music Group Publishing, doing songwriting work with other artists.[8]

Sparrow Records

In 2009 Assad signed with Sparrow Records, who had been talking to Assad after the release of her EP.[12] For her first album, Assad then met and played for producer Marshall Altman, who would agree to produce what would become The House You're Building. Altman and Assad recorded the album at the Galt Line Studio in Los Angeles.[11] 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 “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.[16]

Her second album, Heart, was released on February 14, 2012.[17] 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.[18][19] In large part it was a further development of the ″piano-driven style and lyrical depth″ that The House You're Building had shown.[20] 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 has said she loved seeing and hearing in Sister Act 2 when she was young.[21]

Fortunate Fall Records

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."[22] Assad ran a Kickstarter campaign with the help of her husband that reached double its goal by its finish on April 15, 2013.[23] 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.[24] On July 10, 2017, Assad announced via her Twitter page that she was recording her first album of original material since Fortunate Fall, indicating a release in February 2018.[25][non-primary source needed] The album, titled Evergreen, became available for pre-order via PledgeMusic, with 5 percent of campaign proceeds going towards Preemptive Love Coalition.[26][better source needed]

Musical style and themes

Assad grew up in a religious household but listened to secular music growing up through her mother's influence, including The Carpenters, James Taylor and Celine Dion, as well as French and Middle Eastern music from her dad's influence.[13] Later she discovered and began listening to Christian music such as the Newsboys, Nichole Nordeman and Cindy Morgan.[5][7] When she was 2 she started playing the piano, but it wasn't until she was 19 when she began leading worship[11] that she started 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".[8] The Firefly EP that she recorded with Paul Moak was also described as folky and rootsy.

Her current style is a mix of religious and non-religious themed songs that draw from her Catholic faith as well as literary references from her love of reading literature and poetry.[7][10][11] A majority of her religious songs are written in a way that emphasizes being sung to God rather than about God.[5][13]

Personal life

Assad was raised in a Protestant religious household; she reconfirmed her faith at the age of 19.[6][7] Assad converted to Catholicism in 2007 in Florida.[27]

Assad met her future partner in Arizona, while on tour with Matt Maher in 2008; the couple married on February 19, 2011 in Phoenix.[citation needed] On October 19, 2017, Assad gave birth to their second child, a daughter named Camila St. Clare.[28][non-primary source needed]

Assad has spoken in public about pornography and masturbation, including in her concerts,[29] and in discussing her own past addiction to these, recommended "confession, accountability and counseling" to overcome them.[30]

In July 2019, Assad announced that she and her husband had begun divorce proceedings.[31][non-primary source needed]

Discography

Albums

Singles

The following are peak position on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart:[32]

  • "Winter Snow", featuring Chris Tomlin, peaked at number 14, on January 8, 2010
  • "For the Love of You", peaked at number 25, on June 11, 2010; and
  • "Restless", peaked at number 31, on January 14, 2011.

In addition:

  • "Lord, I Need You" from Matt Maher, featuring Audrey Assad,[33] peaked at number 4, on October 26, 2013.[34]

References

  1. ^ Amazon Staff (2010). "Best Music of 2010: The Best Christian Music... [List]". Seattle, WA: Amazon.com. Retrieved January 7, 2020. 27. The House You're Building—Audrey Assad
  2. ^ The following source cites this same Amazon list, but misstates it as an apparent award rather than an entry on a list. See Atwell, Billy (January 17, 2011). "iTunes and Amazon recognize Catholic musician, Audrey Assad". Catholic Online. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  3. ^ See Atwell, Billy (January 17, 2011), op. cit.
  4. ^ MWN Staff & Assad, Audrey (March 3, 2010). "Interview with Audrey Assad". MeninWorshipNetwork.com. Retrieved July 19, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ a b c Carter, R.J. (June 25, 2010). "Audrey Assad: Heaven is Breaking Through". The Trades. Archived from the original on April 4, 2012. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  6. ^ a b Rea, Rose. "Audrey Assad interview". Radiant. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  7. ^ a b c d Lurwick, Bill & Assad, Audrey (November 23, 2010). "Audrey Assad: Brick by Brick". NewReleaseTuesday.com. Boise, ID: NRT Media. Retrieved January 7, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Amos, Evan & Assad, Audrey (June 30, 2011). "Audrey Assad interview". Retrieved July 19, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Flores, Raúl A. "For openers", San Antonio Express-News, September 11, 2009. Accessed July 21, 2011. "Audrey Assad Young new artist from Scotch Plains NJ weaves her melodic voice with keyboard acoustics and lyrics that explore faith through music."
  10. ^ a b Griffith, Wendy (July 7, 2010). "Audrey Assad Explores Faith Walk in New Album". CBN. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g NRTeam Admin (November 11, 2011). "Audrey Assad Artist Profile". NewReleaseTuesday.com. Boise, ID: NRT Media. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  12. ^ a b Monger, James Christopher. "Allmusic profile". allmusic. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  13. ^ a b c d Rose, Jen & Assad, Audrey (July 10, 2010). "Audrey Assad: Building Something Special". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved July 19, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ a b c Moore, C.E. & Assad, A. (July 8, 2010). "Talkback with C. E. Moore: Sparrow Records recording artist Audrey Assad". TCM. Retrieved July 19, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ Murphy, Jenna (August 24, 2010). "A Songstress for the Soul: Part II". Salt + Light. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  16. ^ "The House You're Building - Audrey Assad | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  17. ^ CNN Entertainment Staff (February 13, 2012). "Ahead of the Curve: Weekly Pop Culture Calendar". Marquee.Blogs.CNN.com. Retrieved January 7, 2020. Tuesday... 'Heart' by Audrey Assad. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  18. ^ Van Pelt, Doug. "Audrey Assad gets five-star reviews". HM. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
  19. ^ UCN Staff (February 23, 2012). "Audrey Assad's Heart Receives Rave Reviews, Highest Sales". Urban Christian News. Archived from the original on June 25, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
  20. ^ Carpenter, Chris (February 14, 2012). "Heart by Audrey Assad". Christian Broadcasting Network. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  21. ^ Goodwin, Hannah. "Audrey Assad speaks to the Heart". Christian Broadcasting Network. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  22. ^ Stafford, Patrick (April 2, 2013). "Audrey Assad Shifts Gears". Christianity Today. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  23. ^ "Audrey Assad's First Indie Record". Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  24. ^ Hoganson Media Relations (March 15, 2016). "Audrey Assad's "Holy, Holy, Holy" Hits Radio Today". NewReleaseToday.com. Boise, ID: NRT Media. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  25. ^ Assad, Audrey (July 10, 2017). "Evergreen will be my first full record of all original material in four years, coming to you in Feb. 2018 :)".
  26. ^ "Audrey Assad: Evergreen: New Album From Audrey Assad on PledgeMusic". web.archive.org. January 20, 2018.
  27. ^ Rossi, Toni (July 28, 2010). "God Has Been a Relentless Pursuer of My Heart". Patheos. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  28. ^ [1], October 20, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  29. ^ Schmitt, Brad (December 11, 2016). "Christian artist talks about her porn addiction at her shows". USA Today. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  30. ^ Gould, Sarah (November 30, 2014). "Women's Pornography, Really?". Dynamic Women of Faith. Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Retrieved January 7, 2020.. This article first appeared in the author's blog, in November 2013. Accessed January 7, 2020.
  31. ^ [2], July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  32. ^ Billboard Staff (January 20, 2020). "Chart History—Audrey Assad, Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Retrieved January 7, 2020. Billboard 200... 0 No. 1 Hits | 0 Top 10 Hit | 3 Songs... Winter Snow/Audrey Assad Featuring Chris Tomlin—Peaked at #14 on 1.8.2010 / 5 weeks on Chart; For Love of You/Audrey Assad—Peaked at #25 on 6.11.2010 / 9 weeks on Chart; Restless/Audrey Assad—Peaked at #31 on 1.14.2011 / 17 weeks on Chart.
  33. ^ "Lord I Need You (feat. Audrey Assad) by Matt Maher". K-Love. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  34. ^ "Matt Maher Lord, I Need You Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2019.

Further reading

  • Billboard Staff (January 20, 2020). "Chart History—Audrey Assad, Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Retrieved January 7, 2020. Billboard 200... 0 No. 1 Hits | 0 Top 10 Hit | 4 Songs... Inheritance/Audrey Assad—Peaked at #81 on 3.4.2016 / 1 weeks on Chart; Heart/Audrey Assad—Peaked at #86 on 3.2.2012 / 1 weeks on Chart; The House You're Building/Audrey Assad—Peaked at #154 on 2.4.2011 / 1 weeks on Chart; Fortunate Fall/Audrey Assad—Peaked at #190 on 8.30.2013 / 1 weeks on Chart. As quoted, notes four songs to break Billboard 200 as of January 2020.
  • Fradd, Matt & Assad, Audrey (November 15, 2013). "My Interview with Audrey Assad on Female Porn Addiction". MattFrad.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Interview by a Catholic apologist that is referenced in the subject-related sources appearing.
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