Centricity Music

Release Date: July 28th 2023

Reviewed by: Joshua Andre

Natalie Layne– Amen EP (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

1. Amen
2. Don’t Wanna Know
3. All Joy
4. Fragile
5. Grateful For
6. Arms Of God (Live)

Christian music, especially women in Christian music, is looking bright, with the introduction of artists like Katy Nichole, Riley Clemmons, and Anne Wilson, alongside artists like Lauren Daigle who has gone before. Church Pew, Jesus Changed My Life (Deluxe Edition) and REBEL are certain bright spots in CCM this year and last year. Not only that, these three 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 Riley, Anne, and Katy…well, not anymore. These 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 Riley, Anne, and Katy are leading it- this worship album being the proof of Katy’s prowess as a singer, songwriter and worship leader as well. Well done Katy for this stunning, prolific, and compelling 18 song deluxe edition album. Looking forward to seeing whatever the Lord has in store for these songs in the upcoming weeks and months ahead.

I recently wrote a review championing Katy Nichole, her deluxe edition album of Jesus Changed My Life, and her respected role in rising female pop/worship music that is inspiring and edifying. Above, verbatim, is my concluding paragraph; but is it ok if I sub out Katy’s name and include Natalie Layne’s name as well- as I believe her to be potentially influential in CCM as well? The Centricity Music artist has released her debut EP last year; and right now, this release is a joyous, celebratory, passionate, and hopeful set of songs- and one that inspires us to worship Jesus, to set our roots down in Jesus, and to trust Him for everything. The title track of this EP starts off proceedings, and is as worshipful as it is rejuvenating, as Natalie essentially praises God and sings out ‘amen’ in every circumstance- that we sometimes need to look a tad bit harder for the good in people, and once we find it, we can indeed praise God for it and for the little moments of people helping other people and others being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to a world in need. “Don’t Wanna Know”, a jazz/r&b song, speaks about being grateful for Jesus saving us from our sin, and not ever wanting to know how it feels like to live a life without Him; while “All Joy” is a typical Francesca Battistelli style melody, that asserts and declares through sunny and positive optimism, the truth that ‘…I count it all joy when I run into trouble, I count it all good when the bad days come, ’cause I know that You’re always working, and I know that You’re still not done, so I’m gonna lift Your praise through the trial, ain’t no storm gonna stop my voice, ’cause I’ve lived some life, and I’ve learned that I can always count it all grace, count it all joy…’. The piano ballad “Fragile” eloquently reminds us that Jesus knows exactly what we each need, and knows how to tend to even the most fragile of people; while the poppy “Grateful For” rounds out the EP and encourages us to be thankful and grateful for whatever we have right now at this moment and whatever God has entrusted to us to steward and look after.

With the emotional and honest piano ballad “Arms Of God” also present on this EP as a live recording; this solo EP by this up and coming artist is a standout amongst the releases of 2023.  Maybe…listening to this project, can intrigue me enough to listen to Natalie’s independent albums Be Human and Castles? Or perhaps I could listen to the likes of newcomers Emily Faith, Brennley Brown, Olivia Lane and Emerson Day next? Well done Natalie Layne, for this powerful and emotive EP. Looking forward to more young, female, CCM artists coming up and getting radio exposure, in the upcoming months ahead.

3 songs to listen to: Amen, All Joy, Grateful For

Score: 4.5/5

RIYL: Natalie Grant, Francesca Battistelli, Kerrie Roberts, Britt Nicole, We The Kingdom