Grappling with the ups and downs of life Christianfrom disappointment and disillusionment to forgiveness and hope, Elias Dummer, songwriter–interpreter Juno and GMA Canada Award winner Covenant, delivers his highly anticipated second solo set, The Work Vol. II, July 29. The 10-song recording laments the failures of humanity while ultimately amplifying God’s lavish grace – His finished work on the cross that offers new mercies every day.
Dummer co-wrote the entire project and co-produced The Work Vol. II with Brent Milligan (Steven Curtis Chapman, Tauren Wells). The album also includes songwriting collaborations with David Leonard; Tim Timmons; Benji Cowart; Zach Bolen (Citizens); Eric Fusilier (La Cité Harmonique); and Gary Rea (Land of Color), among others.
The exuberant album opener “Expectation” showcases Dummer’s signature style as it gradually builds into a soaring chorus proclaiming the assurance of Christ’s promises, while the self-indicting “How Much songs needed to save the world? » finds the artist reflecting on the motivation from his heart: “If I sing a new song, it better be the one I live by/Not just on Sunday mornings/Cup of coffee, high notes and donations/You want us faithful/We negotiate for power/You want everything/I offered an hour.
“I love the Church and believe deeply in what it can and should be, but if we’re honest, we’re not doing a very good job of being that thing,” Dummer admits. “The Work Vol. It is for the disappointed who refuse to give up hope, whether their faith hangs by a thread or whether they have the gift of years of perspective. It is for those who suffer, who refuse to give up on mercy, knowing that we need it above all else. It is for the tired, longing to find rest for the soul but exhausted by clichés and cheap maxims. These songs are for those of us who realize that even though we may have missed the mark together, Jesus remains faithful to his every word.
“Ultimately, it’s a collection of worship songs, some for Sunday and some for Monday through Saturday,” he adds. “I made this record for me and for people like me. These songs are prayers that I needed to pray, and if you can relate to these things, this music is for you too.
The Work Vol. It is also a multifaceted showcase of collaboration. “When my co-producer, Brent, and I started working on this album in 2020, it was a remote process,” Dummer explains. “However, using the power of the Internet, we were able to bring together a virtual choir from around the world to feature on several tracks, and one of my co-writers arranged and recorded string parts for us from Australia . When we finally returned to the studio, we were also joined by musicians incredible in person.
Key collaborations on the album include “See Clearly,” a plaintive indie-pop anthem featuring acclaimed singer/songwriter Sandra McCracken; “Kyrie Eleison (It’s Mercy We Need),” with Seattle Citizens; the gratitude-filled “Carry,” featuring singer/songwriter JJ Heller, and Land of Color’s contemplative feature, “The Gospel Is Rest.”
Elias Dummer co-founded and led one of Canada’s most acclaimed worship bands, The City Harmonic. As’songwriter The group’s principal, he helped write hits such as “Holy (Wedding Day)” and “Mountaintop,” as well as “Manifesto,” which served as the theme song for the 2011 National Day of Prayer. The City Harmonic has won 12 GMA Canada Covenant Awards and a Juno Award (the Canadian equivalent of the GRAMMYs), before disbanding in 2017.
Dummer released his first solo album, The Work Vol. I, in 2019 and was named Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the 2020 Covenant Awards. Both as a solo artist and with The City Harmonic, Dummer’s music has garnered over 100 million streams to date.
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Author: Herb Longs
