Worthy by The Impact

Worthy by The Impact
 
Intro:
What do you get when you mix of groups of six musically talented individuals, all coming from different backgrounds and cultures, mixing in a passion for people who are hurting?  You get The Impact.  The impact was started as a small youth worship team that lead services in Word of Life Christian Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Before the groups of young adults knew it they were being called into a bigger mission field with a much larger platform.
With a willingness to follow the path that God has set out to the six-piece group, the band began to raise money for their debut album entitled, “Worthy.” Worthy is comprised of twelve songs, many of which are written by the band members themselves. On June 2, 2017 the debut album hit the streets.    
Musical elements:
                As I listened to this album and upwards of seven times, I first had to get a feel for the musical elements, ignoring the lyrical content. As I complied by knowledge of Christian worship albums, I realize that the musical elements are essential for creating an effective worship album. Prior to talking about the musical elements of Worthy, I feel it valuable to discuss the goal of Christian worship albums. In essence, a worship album is meant to take the listener on an emotional, as well as spiritual, journey that will allow the listener to become more vulnerable with God. The worship album will succeed in this through the overall mood that is expressed through the various musical elements, for example if the current song is meant to raise a feeling of joy, excitement, or happiness the band would chose drum patterns, key progressions and guitar riffs that bring out that emotion, or at least make the listener more susceptible to those feelings. At the end of the day, if the audience is not literally feeling the music, then the album will not have the reaction that may be expected.
                Throughout “Worthy” the listener gets an experience of pure worship. From the first track to the final song, the listener is given the opportunity to worship God through the various moods and feelings that the band puts together. Within each song, the audience is filled with courage, joy, peace and a sense of self-worth. The musical elements of this album pulse through the speakers, giving God the opportunity to make a personal connection with the listener. Whether the music is fast paced, given the audience the feeling of excitement; or the music is melodic, allowing the listener to reflect on God’s joyous and good nature, this album allows for it all. The audience will also be given time to reflect in prayer as the lyrics and the musical elements cease to allow a private time of prayer.          
Lyrical content:
                Throughout my other numerous listens of “worthy” I had to focus on the lyrical content. To be sincere, my knowledge of lyrical content is much more developed than my knowledge of musical content. As an avid writer of poetry, stories and even the occasional song, I understand that more often than not the audience will decide whether they like or love a song by the lyrics first, then the music. In the context of a Christian worship album the impactful lyrics are vital. In the realm of Christian worship music, the goal is not only pull at the heart of the listener, but to allow the listener to interact with the mini-in-car-concert by singing along. Therefore the lyrics should be compelling enough to get the listener to reminisce of the difficult that they’ve traveled, as well as simple enough to get the audience singing along as soon as possible, regardless of where ever they may be.  
                As they did with the musical elements, the band also delivered when it comes to the lyrical content of the album. Within the first listening to the album songs like, “All I Need” and “Contagious” quickly allow the audience to sing along and connect to the words that are being sung. As the audience listens further into the album songs like, “Worthy” and “Surrendering All” bring a deeper connection between God and man.    
Implication:
                On The Impact’s website, Iamtheimpact.com, one will see their ministry mission statement: “We are a music group/ministry with a vision to bring back the freedom that has been lost, as we reveal God’s love in an atmosphere of praise, worship and fellowship. Our passion is bringing up the next generation of worshippers with hearts committed to Christ and move with the Holy Spirit to minister into lives.”
                With the release of “Worthy” The Impact is beginning a greater movement that started in a church in Las Vegas; a movement that allows people from all kinds of backgrounds, generations, and ethnicities to gather together and praise the one true God. The Impact is more than just a band and “Worthy” is more than just an album; it’s the beginning of change. After listening to “Worthy” the listener will have a desire to praise the Lord through all that they face, but even more than that, the listener will be empowered to live their lives in a way that shows their lives making an impact on the families, jobs, and communities. Yet, it all started with an obedient group of people and a CD.    
 
“Be the impact the world needs to see.”