Centricity Music
Release Date: May 12th 2023
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
Skye Peterson– Where The Winter Was (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Real Love
- Susan
- Cedar Of Lebanon
- Resurrection In You
- Suburbs
- Not So Sure
- Wonder Of It All
- Just Like Them
- Can’t Escape
- New Year
You know the saying ‘the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’? That saying applies immensely to Skye Peterson’s debut album Where The Winter Was. Known as the daughter of folk/singer-songwriter/worship extraordinaire Andrew Peterson (in my opinion one of the most prolific songwriters ever!); if you want to know more about Andrew, you can read our blog about him and his songs here. Recently signed to Centricity Music; Skye has certainly followed in her father’s footsteps in a melodic and a lyrical sense. But for those of you who feel as if Where The Winter Was drags a bit; you’re not wrong. It takes a while to get into this album and appreciate it for a ‘singer/songwriter’ album rather than a worship album; but once you get into the groove of Skye and her music, you will find songs rich in substance and content- although those wanting an album just for background music will have to look elsewhere.
You need to listen to this album in more than one sitting. Where The Winter Was is abundant with imagery and metaphors, and if you want to decipher all of the meanings of what this song means and what that song means, then you’ll be frustrated and you’ll be going around in circles for a bit. You’ll probably conclude from the outset that Skye’s music goes over your head. To be fair, it probably will; but I firmly believe if you sit with this album long enough, you’ll find treasures and beauty that transcend anything the pop world has to offer. Similar in lyrical richness to both of Taylor Swift’s albums folklore and evermore; Where The Winter Was highlights Skye’s faith all throughout and speaks about a wise woman well beyond her years. This doesn’t sound like a debut album, and Skye’s songwriting ability is incredible. “Real Love” speaks about surrendering to God’s real love, “Susan” delves into a complicated relationship and friendship with a young girl whom Skye has lost touch with and is lamenting about what could have been a beautiful friendship; while “Wonder Of It All” and “Cedars Of Lebanon” are Skye’s versions of worship songs that are truly magical and exquisitely out of this world in every way. The album ender “New Year”, “Not So Sure” and “Suburbs” are probably Skye at her most vulnerable as she admittedly reveals within each and all of these three tracks that she isn’t sure about a lot of things, and needs God’s guidance daily; and “Resurrection In You” speaks about Skye’s personal testimony of how she came to Jesus. “Just Like Them” speaks about Skye admiring all of her heroes from the Bible and trying to emulate them, all the while asking God to guide her steps in life; while “Can’t Escape”, the brightest and liveliest track on the album, and dives deep into the reality that we can’t escape God’s unending and infinite love, even if we wanted to.
There you have it… Skye Peterson’s debut album Where The Winter Was, in a one paragraph mini-review. It’s a powerful album that deserves multiple listens, and Andrew ought to be proud of this effort from Skye. Sky’s the limit for Skye (no pun intended!), and this project reminds us that Jesus is always here with us no matter what season of life we’re in. If this album however doesn’t resonate with you, then that’s fine. This is not a pop album, nor a worship album, so I expect the listener base for this to be very niche. But.. if you love lyrics, then give this a chance. I guarantee, you may resonate with something here. Skye Peterson is a rising star, and we’ll all be singing her praises in the coming months and years!
3 songs to listen to: Resurrection In You, Wonder Of It All, New Year
Score: 4.5/5
RIYL: Andrew Peterson, Johnnyswim, David Leonard, Jenny & Tyler, The Gray Havens, Bethany Dillon, Amanda Cook