BEC Recordings

Release Date: April 26^th 2024

Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre

Olivia Lane – Who I Thought You Were (Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

1. Who I Thought You Were

Christian music and country music have always been two genres that would often collide every once in a while, delivering artists that would teeter the line and traverse in both musical genres. Artists like Anne Wilson, Carrie Underwood, Danny Gokey, Lauren Alaina, Chris Tomlin, Steven Curtis Chapman, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Hilary Scott, Randy Travis, Josh Turner, and even Johnny Cash, have had success in both the CCM and the country music martets, and it has been these such artists above, that have reminded us listeners, that God can speak to people through a variety of genres and music, and if it is through CCM, or through country music, then…so be it. Artists have been delivering great music with great artistry and craft for quite some time…so to add to that list, is another CCM/country artist, that has just released her newest song not too long ago- Olivia Lane, with her testimonial track, ‘Who I Thought You Were’.

Similar to her CCM/country music contemporaries at the moment like Emily Faith, Katy Nichole, Anne Wilson, Brennley Brown, and Emerson Day; this new-ish singer-songwriter from Houston, Texas; has delivered a powerful and soul-stirring country-esque CCM melody. The song itself, is a reminder to each of us, to keep being amazed and in awe of who God is, and that oftentimes, who we thought He was in certain situations, and who we thought He was, in various circumstances, isn’t necessarily the case (in all the good ways possible). We ought to be encouraged, that God has shattered our perceptions of who we think of Him to be, it may not look like what we think He is, in the situation we’re in now, and He may not undertake things in our lives, that we may expect Him to. But what God has in store for our lives, is far beyond what we can even imagine or even conceive. What we have for the future and what we want, is just a fraction of what He knows our lives are going to be- and how He’ll use us for His glory and our good, goes far beyond our own possibilities. My first introduction to Olivia Lane was as a collaboration between her and seasoned CCM pop artists Sidewalk Prophets on the song ‘I Believe It Now’. This solo song by this up and coming artist is a standout amongst the songs of 2024 thus far.  Maybe…listening to this track, can intrigue me enough to listen to Olivia’s first faith-filled album Heart Change way back in 2021? Or listen to the likes of Emily Faith and Emerson Day next? Well done Olivia, for this powerful and emotive track. Looking forward to more Christian Country artists coming up and getting radio exposure, in the upcoming months ahead.

‘…If you’ve had a complicated relationship with God, I wrote this song for you. For too long I had a lot of wrong preconceived notions of who I thought God was. Was he this always judging me type God or maybe this kind of parental figure type who had all these rules with no explanation? When I hit one of lowest points of my life back in 2017, I was confronted with needing healing outside of myself. God then met me at the bottom of my broken. I’m so glad I gave God a chance to show me who he really was in 2018. This song is a testament to a loving God who leaves the 99 to go after the one and how he never stops his loving pursuit of his children. Looking back, I can see that God was with me all along; he was merely waiting for me to want to truly know him, see him and believe in his goodness…’

Score: 4.5/5

RIYL: Katy Nichole, Anne Wilson, Tenille Townes, Carrie Underwood, Rebecca St. James