Recommended tracks: “this far down,” “gonna have to trust you”
Artists you may like: Coldplay, bodie, Hans Zimmer
For Georgia-born Christian singer-songwriter Stephen Stanley, whatever challenge he may come across—be it a childhood accident causing him to lose hearing in his left ear or struggling with mental health challenges as an adult—music and faith have always outwardly been his escape.
His second full-length album, released today, April 25, entitled trustfall encapsulates complex feelings of doubt in oneself, yet he finds resilience on the other end through emotional, imagery-filled lyrics that tell a heartfelt story. The 12 tracks featured on the album are co-written by Stanley himself, which allow for an honest, authentic look into his headspace at the time of writing this work.
Drawing influences from every major category of music and striving to write out of his comfort zone, this genre-bending album displays a diverse musical selection that has shaped the trajectory of his overall sound compared to what he has stuck to in the past. In his own words, this album “represents my earliest ambitions — imagining what my album would sound like as a kid.”
The opening track, “<?>”, sets the tone for the rest of the album with a beautiful opening piano collapsing into the lyrics, “gonna have to trust you,” pouring in authentic, raw emotion that can be felt through both the backing instrumentals and melodies alike. With insightfully personal lyrics being such as, “I’ve been to dark places / I lost my foundation / I’ll scrape my knees begging for something new,” listeners can infer that the rest of the album is just as intense and introspective.
With “hell or high water,” Stanley seems to start questioning the bounds in which his faith lie, which feels like a leap of faith in what could be a somewhat taboo direction. Where will he have to wander, and what will he be challenged by or endure before he makes it out on the other side of the conflict with some kind of guidance? What will he learn from it? The beautiful guitar backings in this piece as well as “find some peace of mind” make the songs a very easy, chill listen despite the rather deep, thought-provoking lyrics.
The song “this far down” feels like the climax of the album, wherein you can feel the true passion and strength in his voice come across vividly from the very start of the track. Stanley shares his perspective on the universal feeling of confusion about who you are or who you’re destined to be when life seemingly throws nothing but chaos your way. This track keeps in line with the overall theme of the album; it seems to say “I will have to let go of my preconceived notions and put trust in my faith, even if I’m unsure of what will come next.”
The final and ultimate surrender comes within the last few tracks of the album, “signs” and title track “trustfall.” These beautifully intense ballads, each of which has opposing rising and falling moments within the music, provoke emotion out of both audiences and Stanley himself. These songs invoke messages proving that acceptance of future unknowns is not only possible, but it’s inevitable to have a healthy relationship with faith.
Stream Trustfall below.
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