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Veritable veterans in this
stage of their career, Karima, Ebony & Heather are the dynamic women
of Virtue and they are once again ready to hit
the world with their fourth album…A boundary-breaking
project featuring elevated vocals and production
entitled FREE .
As a body of work, FREE displays
the group's maturity, growth and evolution vocally,
mentally and spiritually. It also displays a
growth in their experience and understanding
of the recording process. “At this point in our
lives we are growing and we've let go of so many
things in order to grow…we gave it to God and
He said to free yourself of everything,” said
member Heather Trotter. “That's how the title
came up…and many of the songs speak to that…free
of negativity, free of self-doubt, free of whatever
it is that holds you back.”
The group's signature on this
album is unmistakably honest and personal music.
The majority of the project is dedicated to
the value of loving yourself and all your perfect
imperfections. Combining rich melodies, warm
vocals, rhythm-strong beats and a simply stated
yet profound message – Love
yourself!- VIRTUE encourages and inspires their
listeners.
“You have to free yourself of insecurities…people
or things that prevent you from reaching your
purpose,” said Karima. “As we've grown up we've
learned you can be anything you want to be, if
you believe in yourself and in God…and you have
to be free to do so!”
Three distinct women, personalities
and voices seamlessly mesh to provide an incredible
listening experience. Surprisingly each member
is equally comfortable with lead vocals, easing
the burden of choosing a star- they all share
the spotlight. The music on this album reflects
the risks and experimentation that they are
now willing to take musically. “Our message and our aim has
been the same, the way it is being presented
is being evolved. We've grown in terms of experimenting
a lot…and now as sisters gone back to our roots…straight
up singing His praises,” said Ebony.
Lush harmonies and incredible
vocal riffs are peppered throughout the project.
They have managed to find the balance they
need to sing from their hearts, a deeply personal
space. Though the world may think it's the
first time they've heard VIRTUE sing more churchy/praise & worship music,
the girls know they've had that all along. “We've
got stuff on here that most people didn't think
we could sing…but we're singing it now,” said
Heather.
Returning to their roots,
they joined forces with Alex Ward to deliver
some of the most powerful, yet remarkably simple
Praise & Worship songs
heard in a long time. “Lord, I Lift My Hands” & “Worthy,” both
lead singles on the album, are a refreshing reminder
that the three young girls who began singing
in the church, have become the same three women
to lift and magnify His name. These sweeping
worship ballads are so heartfelt that you feel
them from beginning to end. In their own words
they describe it as a way in which “we can be
more honest, it's easier, effortless and there's
chemistry. Everything fits the way it's supposed
to…that's the kind of freedom when you are in
sync with God,” explained Heather.
The range of music on this
latest work is in part due to the myriad of
hit-makers enlisted to contribute their own
flavor. The list of noteworthy producers includes
some of the industry's best. Among them Asaph
Alex Ward (Yolanda Adams, Kim Burrell, Karen
Clark-Sheard), PAJAM (NSYNC, Hezekiah Walker,
Kelly Price, Dorinda Clark-Cole), Younglord & Ryan
Leslie (Beyonce, P. Diddy, Faith Evans, DMX,
New Edition), and Mark & Joey Kibble (Quincy
Jones, TAKE 6, Darwin Hobbs).
Virtue brings a new aspect
of storytelling to their latest effort. With
the fervent drum and bass kick in “Only God's In This” & “Healin'” the
album opens up in strong fashion. These up-tempo
tracks will keep heads nodding, feet tapping & bodies
moving all in the name of Jesus.
The rock-tinged title tack, “ FREE ” bears
a viable comparison to R&B trio Destiny's
Child “Independent Women.” The song speaks to
being free of all negativity. “A lot of the songs
say you are free to worship, free to praise.
Once you can be free of things that weigh you
down, you are free to be yourself and worship
God for who He is,” said Ebony.
Another great ballad on the
project, written by J. Moss, is “You Will Win If You Try.” “It's
got a timely message…in the era of American Idol
and all these shows everyone wants to be a star,
people think you have to have luck,” said Heather
and Karima. “Luck is just a reason not to believe…you
have to remember that everyone has a season to
be received. We're just saying don't give up
on your dreams…you will succeed when it's your
turn.”
The album simply flows…for example, a treat
on the album is the laid-back, mid-tempo track, “Thankful” which
is so smooth, it's reminiscent of a comfortable
summer breeze. It speaks of the importance of
being thankful for the little things that we
take for granted. Gorgeous vocals add to profound
lyrics…”it's a wonderful thing to go to sleep
and wake up in the morning…you're breathing.
It's so easy to take it for granted, but we're
alive only because He allows it.”
Probably the most personal
of the songs on the album is “You Just Be You,” an acoustic groove
that all three sisters had a hand in writing,
the song promotes self-esteem. It is a song that
sister Heather says is inspired by her own testimony. “I
had a difficult time growing up and I always
used to question, ‘why I looked different from
my sisters,'” she said. “But I realized through
Christ that He made us the way we are for a purpose…we've
got to love ourselves.”
With a solid track record
under their belt, Karima, Ebony & Heather
are set to spread their honest lyrics and inspiring
message to young & old alike. FREE is
about faith, strength, perseverance, self-esteem
and encouragement…all of the blessed things in
life are truly FREE ! |
