Jess Ford – My Strength Is In The Lord (2024)
While some may know Jess Ford as the vocalist of the multi-awarding-winning group Karmacoda, she has been working in the music industry for approximately two decades. From the innovative Karmacoda (whose album You and I was reviewed by The Other Side Reviews a few months ago) to confident performances across the USA and writing with legendary artists like Duane Deemer, Ford is a prominent singer-songwriter. She has been declared one of the US’s premiere vocal coaches training artists and helping singers earn places on American Idol and NBC’s The Voice…. This is, of course, only a hint of Ford’s illustrious background. Today, we take a gander (or rather a listen) at her new single ‘My Strength Is In The Lord’.
Ford might have received numerous awards over the years, been placed in the Business Hall of Fame, and wrote award-winning songs for films; however, her leap toward Christian music is noted as one of her most important accomplishments. Shifting from the soulful pop and RnB tunes of Karmacoda, the US-based artist embraces the power of Christian-based folk music woven with tinges of indie-rock.
One might consider Ford slightly crazy to leap from a mainstream pop scene to the less-followed realm of gospel music; then again, some of the best things emerge from acts of spontaneous craziness. Joined by producer and multi-instrumentalist Michael Puwal, ‘My Strength is In The Lord’ combines hard-hitting drums, a bold bass, soaring guitars and hits of moving keys in a powerful few minutes of sound. Interestingly, while the melody has rugged energy, sophistication flutters from the tune with Ford’s rich vocals sending chills down your spine.
A tribute to the all-consuming change people can find when turning to a greater power, ‘My Strength Is In The Lord’ brims with resilience and empowerment. Yet, while the track is a powerful rush of acceptance and hope, Ford retains a lilt of vulnerability and innocent sincerity within the melody. Bold and powerful but with an understanding of human fragility all wrapped in a sentimental sonic wrapper.
In addition to the single, Jess Ford released an official music video for ‘My Strength Is In The Lord’. You can view the video below and on her YouTube channel.
Find out more about Jess Ford on her official website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Spotify.
Listen to more folk-pop songs on The Other Side Reviews Folk Pop playlist: