Kerrie Roberts Chats with Hallels About Her New EP "My Heart's Lifted"

Multiple Dove Award-nominated Kerrie Robert's vocal talent has been described as dynamic yet intimate, uniquely emotive and soulful. Earning a degree in Studio Music and Jazz Vocal Performance at the University of Miami, Roberts has since released two acclaimed, full-length albums for Provident Label Group/Sony Music before going independent and releasing her Thank You Child Christmas EP in 2013.

Having penned not only her own songs, but tracks for Mandisa, Laura Story and others, her song "Rescue Me" was also featured in an ABC Once Upon a Time promotion and her "Unstoppable" for an American Idol promotion. She has made guest appearances on Third Day's "Sound of Your Voice" and on Red's "Hymn For the Missing," while touring with such acclaimed artists as Casting Crowns, Newsboys, Big Daddy Weave, NewSong and Mark Shultz, and even serving as a background singer with legendary icon, Engelbert Humperdinck.

On December 16, Roberts returns with her EP "My Heart's Lifted" via the Fuel Music.  We are so honored to be able to catch up with her for this exclusive Hallels' interview.

Hallels: Kerrie, let me start by saying I'm a big fan of yours! I am so excited about your new EP "My Heart's Lifted." Why have you decided to go the independent route in releasing this EP?

Thank you so much for reaching out! I really appreciate it! This project is independent because I hate losing momentum!! Shopping for new deals and all of that really takes a lot of time and it's so important to me to keep creating and releasing music whatever my current situation is. In the future there might be a label involved or maybe not. I'm actually LOVING life as an independent artist.

Hallels: Are there any disadvantages and advantages in releasing this EP independently?

Some great wisdom I think is realizing that being independent doesn't mean doing it ALL ALONE. I have an awesome booking agent, radio promoter and even a distribution deal with The Fuel Music. I would say that the disadvantage in being independent is that you're paying for everything yourself- that you're taking on the risk. But to me that means there's just more opportunity for reward. The challenge is deciding what ideas to chase and what to leave until later. You absolutely will deplete yourself in every way if you go after every creative thought in your head.

Hallels: Why have you decided to release a 5 track-EP rather than a full album?

My plan is to have a more constant "conversation" with the fans. I'm going to be releasing 5 songs every 6 months instead of a full album every year or 2 years.

Hallels: One of the songs on the EP that really moved me is "Come Back to Life." I believe it deals with suicide. For our readers who may not have heard it yet, can you tell us what the song's about? Why did you decide to write on this subject?

I'm so happy to hear that the song moved you. It's a subject that I think we need to speak directly to. I had a few friends in a short span lose loved ones to suicide and that inspired me to write the song. It's for anyone in a dark place, whether they are depressed, dealing with addiction or contemplating hurting themselves in any way. I want to point them to word of God that I KNOW is true. Romans 8:11 "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you." We might be feeling dead inside, but we DO NOT have to stay that way.

Hallels: I also love "Seek Your Face;" it sounds like it could be a worship song sung across churches. Whenever you co-write your songs, is it also your intention for just yourself or do you also write with congregational worship in mind too?

Sometimes you have to be intentional about where a song is going to live. I much prefer to just let the song grow into what it should be and not force it and not overthink it.

Hallels: Have you ever thought of releasing a live worship album?

This past year I've thought about that more than ever. I grew up singing on the praise and worship team my whole life and it's something that definitely feels like home. And I love that I'm being invited more and more to lead worship at churches, conferences and camps. We'll see what the future holds!!

Hallels: For our readers who would like to purchase your new EP or find out more about you, where can they go?

The best place to find out information is at my website www.kerrieroberts.com. There's a lot going on in the next month or so and I'm excited to share with them!

You can already purchase the single, "My Heart's Lifted" on itunes. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/my-hearts-lifted/id940274981?i=940275050

The EP will be available for purchase on Dec 16th on iTunes. It will be 5 new songs, with bonus acoustic versions of the songs as well.

I'm giving away my Christmas EP FOR FREE for the holiday season. Check that out here. http://noisetrade.com/kerrieroberts/thank-you-child

Through the next few weeks I'll be posting new videos EVERY week. So subscribe to my youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/kerrierobertsmusic or keep a look out on facebook.com/kerrierobertsmusic or twitter.com/kerrie_roberts

Thank you so much!

 

 

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