No stranger to the struggle of balancing work and family, Christian artist Ileen Laura’s hopeful and inspiring new single, “Sit Beside Me,” documents the process she and her husband went through to figure out how to prioritize her musical career in the midst of their family responsibilities.
“In 2020, the pandemic had just become a reality,” the singer-songwriter recalls. “Schools were closed, and as a high school music teacher, that meant planning school concerts and music festivals was put on hold.”
During quarantine, time belonged only to Ileen Laura for a moment, and she began to consider her life and purpose – concluding that something was missing.
During one of the first nights of the stay-at-home order, she and her husband were discussing why she had stopped writing music after they got married and had huge disagreements. “I had blamed it for missed opportunities,” she shares. With previously released offerings including 2013’s “Letters To My Daughter” and 2010’s “Joy,” as well as opening for Walk Off The Earth, Justin Nozuka, and the Scene Music Festival, she had also just resumed her musical career. was now behind her – despite her husband’s willingness to support him.
“I wrote ‘Sit by Me’ after hearing my pastor speak at our church one Sunday on the topic of ‘Spiritual Gifts,’” she says. “He talked about how as Christians, we are all given these gifts, but it’s up to us to use our gifts to glorify God.”
“It was like he was writing the sermon just for me. I realized I hadn’t used my gift at all.”
A year later, she had written a full-length album, fully recommitting herself to her craft and higher power; I Am Yours is slated for release in spring 2022.
Meanwhile, “Sit Beside Me” begins with a tinkling piano that gradually grows richer and fuller-bodied as the song progresses. Punctuated by moments of dramatic percussion, Laura’s voice is clear and soaring as she sings with tenderness and conviction about the church sermon that ultimately brought her back to her music.
Let’s take a minute to find the words first
Things get out of hand and we close the door.
I go to the steps of the church where I will hear him preach,
You can sit next to me and we can hear him teach.
Sing with all your might,
Let all the words fall from your mouth,
Listen to the bells, let them ring for all the lost souls.
“Sit Beside Me” is available now.
The post office Ileen Laura Celebrates the Lord and Music with “Sit Beside Me” first appeared on TCB.
Author: Jessie Clarks
