Centricity Music

Release Date: June 24^th 2022

Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre

Katy Nichole – Katy Nichole (EP) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

1. In Jesus Name (God of Possible)
2. Jesus Changed My Life
3. God is in This Story (feat. Big Daddy Weave)
4. Things I Wish I Would’ve Said
5. Jesus, Thank You
6. In Jesus Name (God of Possible) (Piano Version)

Just like how Anne Wilson debuted ‘My Jesus’ last year to almost-instant critical and commercial acclaim, so too has another artist followed in Anne’s footsteps this year, to possibly become one of 2022’s most anticipated new artists…maybe even on the same level-playing field as Anne last year. Katy Nichole burst onto the scene with her powerful and life-giving testimony through the song ‘In Jesus Name (God of Possible)’ back in January 2022, and the rest is history. Signed to Centricity Music (home of artists like Unspoken, Jason Gray, Andrew Peterson, Lauren Daigle, PEABOD, Apollo LTD and Jordan Feliz, to name a few), Katy’s songs are poignant and compelling, and together with Anne Wilson, we can see two up-and-coming new female singer-songwriter artists that have a great possibility in taking up the mantle of being a female artist representative within the realms of CCM, carrying the torch that was once carried by artists like Natalie Grant, Rebecca St. James, Britt Nicole, Mandisa, Kari Jobe, Nichole Nordeman and Ginny Owens, to name a few. Whilst an artist like Lauren Daigle is quite possibly single-handedly ‘carrying the torch’ and representing female artists within CCM now (alongside Francesca Battistelli to some extent); artists like Katy Nichole (and Anne by extension), are fast becoming artists that we as fans of Christian music, look up to; admire and respect. For Katy, it’s been literally one song, ‘In Jesus Name (God of Possible)’ that has put this exciting new artist on the map, and as of July 2022, Katy’s released her first collection of music, under the EP title Katy Nichole EP. Comprised of 6 songs full of hope, encouragement and joy (inclusive of a piano-only rendition of ‘In Jesus’ Name’), this is a must-have if you enjoy similar-styled artists like Anne Wilson, We The Kingdom, Francseca Battistelli, Matthew West, or Big Daddy Weave. While Katy may not be at the same stage in popularity as Anne Wilson (yet!), she’s well on her way, as this 6 song EP, for me, is fast becoming my favourite EP of 2022 thus far.

Released as the first single from the project, ‘In Jesus Name (God of Possible)’ was released to radio in January 2022, and almost immediately, it was playing on radio stations and it was catching fire, in people’s lives, hearts, on the airwaves, and basically overnight, this song was being sung by people around the world, in what I would personally call, one of Christian music’s most surprising and quick uptakes of a new song released, maybe even quicker than a song like ‘My Jesus’ (Anne Wilson) or ‘Chain Breaker’ (Zach Williams). ‘In Jesus Name (God of Possible)’ is by far one of my favourite songs of 2022 thus far. There’s no question. It’s a song that embodies hope and encouragement, but also is a reminder to keep singing and to keep asking the bold questions, even if healing doesn’t come. Because more often than not, healing will come to us in a way that we don’t expect it, or healing may not even come at all. And yet we keep declaring the powerful words of how ‘…I pray for your healing, that circumstances would change, I pray that the fear inside would flee in Jesus name, I pray that a breakthrough would happen today, I pray miracles over your life in Jesus name…’, that even if we don’t receive the breakthrough, the healing or even the miracles, doesn’t make the lyrics of the song any less true, nor does it make the Lord’s power in our life, any less true. Because Christ knows better than us, and what we may perceive to be as healing, God has something better in store.

We may not see it now, we may not even believe it in the moment, that God’s got it all under control, and that He knows better; but what I’ve learnt from this song, is that He’s using this track as being the healing for people, even more so, than healing itself. This song has reminded Christians around the world, to keep pressing forward, to keep holding on, even if what we see around us is telling us the exact opposite. ‘In Jesus’ Name’ is hopefully allowing us to ponder and think- yes, we pray, and yes, we ask for healing, but we do so in Jesus’s name…why? And then a discussion may take place, and then the question of ‘who is Jesus to you?’ is asked, and that is a good thing. Even if we don’t get healing the way we want it, we still engage with people who may believe differently to us, and we can use such a song as this, as a springboard into discussion, dialogue and friendly debate and banter, as we delve deep into conversation with our friends and family who may not know Christ as we know Him. And so, if a Katy Nichole song, especially ‘In Jesus Name’, can evoke civil conversation around heavy and weighty issues, then I suggest that this song has served it’s purpose, right? Well done Katy for such a powerful and challenging song. Hope to see the Lord continue to use such a track for His glory and our good, in the upcoming weeks and months ahead.

‘…this song was originally called “God of Possible.” The night before I was to go into the writers’ room to create this song, I had a panic attack. I was dealing with a lot of anxiety at the time. I felt God leading me to the piano and I wrote out a little chorus that I brought with me to the writers’ room that God had given me that calmed me down during my panic attack. We went in and the part that I initially meant to be the bridge ended up being the song’s chorus, “I pray for your healing, that circumstances will change, I pray that the fear inside will flee in Jesus’ name.” I decided to post that part of the song to TikTok because it was something I needed now, and it was a prayer that I needed to pray over myself to feel relief and the presence of God. I thought maybe there was one person who needed that as well. I didn’t go back to look at the post for hours. When I saw it, the video had reached a lot of people. I knew I needed those words, but I didn’t realize how many other people needed those words. People were saying they needed these words to pray over a sick loved one, a broken relationship, or whatever circumstances they were facing. After my label realized the reaction the small part of the song was getting, they suggested I write a song that was a prayer in Jesus’ name. The original version was more of an up-tempo piece. I wrote out the verses, and it felt like it was a gift from God. It was nothing I could have done on my own, but they were words I needed from God to speak over my own life. I’m in awe of how God is using this song to reach people. This song stems from my prayer journal. I was praying these words over myself for the last two years, and now I get to pray these words over other people. The greatest gift I can give is praying for God’s Word. He does bring healing. Circumstances can change. God always shows up…
1 Peter 5:7 is my life verse. I always remembered this passage when I was praying big prayers. We can’t put a limit on God because He’s so much bigger than we can think or imagine. He has so many promises, and He is a promise keeper. We can ask Him anything. I truly believe that with my whole heart. The song is about having a bold faith which He asks us to have every day. I know that God can bring healing and miracles. Not everyone has seen that and it’s hard for people who haven’t seen it to believe. I want to invite people to give everything to the Lord and invite Him into their lives. A cold and closed-off heart isn’t ready to receive Him and surrender to Him. This is a prayer for everyone. I want people to know the power of prayer. This song is one of the greatest gifts God could ever give me. I want to be a good, faithful servant to Him. I’m grateful to be His vessel. I went into my second surgery, and when I came out of it, the smoke cloud of depression was gone. I encountered the Lord at that moment. When I got my X-rays after surgery, my spine was straighter than when the rods had been in it. So, when I say that God can do miracles, I mean it, because I’ve seen it. There’s no story that doesn’t matter to God. Every story was written by Him (He’s the greatest author of all time). God has healed me, so I know He can heal someone else. I’m going to share my story and hope it encourages others to go and share theirs…’

Throughout the rest of the EP, we see Katy deliver powerful songs and heartfelt melodies, songs that could, in the next few months, become just as popular as ‘In Jesus Name’. Unveiled as her second single early June 2022, ‘God is in This Story’ features accomplished band Big Daddy Weave in this collaboration of the song, as we see Katy powerfully declare that ‘…God is in this story, God is in the details, even in the broken parts, He holds my heart, He never fails, when I’m at my weakest, I will trust in Jesus, always in the highs and lows, the One who goes before me, God is in this story…’; something that we can often forget, in the midst of life and the busyness that comes from being immersed in today’s worries. We forget that God is in all of it, and yes, in the brokenness when we can’t even see Him, and especially in the moments where we can even declare Him not even being present. God is there, and God is moving. He’s working and He’s weaving our story for His glory and our good. And that is something we have to believe, because He’s said countless times in the Word, of how He’ll never leave us, that He’ll never forsake us, that He’ll be with us to the end of the age (Deuteronomy 31:6, Matthew 28:20). And that is surely reason enough to rejoice and declare this song out loud, right?

‘Jesus Changed My Life’ is a powerful testimony-song where Katy places on her very own ‘Anne Wilson’ hat, as we hear this song and think to ourselves, ‘gee, is Anne Wilson singing this’, because especially in this track, both Katy and Anne sound very similar vocally. The song itself is something that could crossover to country radio if it wanted to- it has the ‘country’ southern-feeling, but it’s a song about the testimony of Katy herself. It’s a personal song, and I’m not sure if country radio would grasp this song with two hands. Nevertheless, Christian radio should take the song to radio regardless, as this track could be an anthem for many people and listeners around the world as we declares alongside Katy, that ‘…grace came calling my name, lifted my soul up out of that grave, was hell-bound, lost and then found, look what You’ve done, You’ve turned it all around, and I can testify, I’m not the same, like lightning from the sky, Jesus changed my life…’ ‘Things I Wish I Would’ve Said’ is a song full of regret and lament, as we see Katy sing the things that she wish she would’ve said to…a parent, a friend, a loved one, someone else entirely? While it’s ambiguous as to who Katy is actually singing to, one thing is for sure. That whatever relationship, romantic, platonic, or even familial, that she had with this person before…she doesn’t have with them now, and there’s this weight of sadness that is over the song. Nothing bad or good, just this weight, and a reminder to always say the things we need to say, to the people we need to say them to, because in the end, we may feel as though we have all these regrets. Even if relationships may not end the way we think we want them to, at least we have to know within ourselves, that we’ve said all there is to be said to these people, and something as simple as ‘I love you, I miss you’ to them, could go a long way- maybe this song can help people find healing in their own broken relationships, whatever they may be? The EP is then rounded out with song about thanking Jesus for all the great things that He’s done in our life, in the song ‘Jesus, Thank You’. It’s a song that is fun and joyful, and a way for us to publicly declare our thanks to a good God, acknowledging what He has done for us, and who we were (and sometimes still are) when Jesus saved us from sin, death, and hell. And it is in light of who we were when Jesus saved us, that we can say ‘thank you’. It’s when we look back in our own lives and see the hand of God in things that may not necessarily be explained scientifically, as we understand that sometimes, all the explanation that can be, is just God. Just God in circumstances where no other answer makes sense. And for that, we say thank you. It’s a great way to end the EP, with a gospel-infused track full of gratitude, and a great way to be introduced to arguably one of 2022’s most exciting new artist prospects within the realms of Christian music.

Christian music, especially women in Christian music, is looking bright, with the introduction of artists like Katy Nichole and Anne Wilson. My Jesus and Katy Nichole EP are certain bright spots in CCM in 2022, and not only that, these two projects from up-and-coming artists, are just good, and exciting, fun, and hopeful. Long has it been said that CCM where it stands, is a tired and cookie-cutter music genre. With the introduction of both Anne and Katy…well, not anymore. These two young women of God have changed the game of CCM (if CCM was even a game in the first place), and have breathed life into a genre, that could’ve been interpreted by people as being ‘tired’. There is a resurgence within the music genre, and both Anne and Katy are leading it- I don’t think that it’s any coincidence, that ‘My Jesus’ the song received ‘Breakout Song of the Year’, and ‘In Jesus Name (God of Possible)’ received ‘Worship Song of the Year’ at the K-Love Fan Awards in May 2022. Well done Katy for this stunning, prolific, and compelling 6 song EP. Looking forward to seeing whatever the Lord has in store for these songs in the upcoming weeks and months ahead. A full-length album in the near future? Here’s hoping and praying that we don’t have to wait too long!

‘…going deeper with God is being intentional with Him and taking moments in your day–the free moments that you have–to praise Him. Honestly, I’m a busy person, but there’s always at least one moment in my day when I can praise Him (and that could be multiple times a day, too). The thing is that there’s no better time to praise God than any time. So, I wake up in the morning and I thank Him, and I go to bed at night, and I thank Him. And if that’s the only moment that I have with God, then that’s okay because I’m still in love with Him. I’ve tried to grow deeper in my relationship with God. To me, growing deeper means diving into the Word and studying the stories and the true life that saved us all, and that’s Jesus. I have a prayer journal. That’s my way of praying. My prayer journal is my lifeline. I’ve spent so much time writing in my journal. I can even say there was a season where I was spending three to four hours reading my Bible and talking to God. I don’t think that anyone is any less of a Christian if they’re not doing that. So, this is not me being like, “Oh, I’m a good Christian because I do this.” But it was truly what I needed at the time. Everyone’s relationship with God is different; there’s no right or wrong way to do it. Just be with God. Just have those moments in whatever way you feel close to Him. I know that there are so many difficult moments that we go through where it’s hard to talk to God. We ask, “Why is this happening to me?” But my encouragement is that you always ask hard questions. Stay honest and unafraid to share every little detail of your heart. He already knows the details, but He still wants to hear them…’

3 songs to listen to: In Jesus Name (God of Possible), Jesus Changed My Life, Jesus Thank You

Score: 5/5

RIYL: Anne Wilson, Francesca Battistelli, Matthew West, Big Daddy Weave, Zach Williams, We The Kingdom, CAIN