Adult Contemporary
Jaci Velasquez
A'postrophe
Records
CBN.com
There are many ways to describe Jaci Velasquez. She is
a confident woman who stands strong on her talent in the entertainment
business and has fought through many obstacles of being a successful
individual facing challenges in her professional and personal
life. Through it all, however, she has remained influential in
all she does. All of the experience has now brought her to a new
album that not only is taking her on a new journey artistically,
but also personally. Appropriately titled Beauty Has Grace,
the album represents a true representation of where Jaci Velasquez
is today.
It all began three years ago when Jaci began listening to pop/folk
styles of Leona Ness and Shea Seger. After much searching, she
realized that it was time to branch into a world of music that
she held dear to her heart. Taking the step of faith, she flew
to London, England and met with British producer Martin Terefe
(Coldplay, Ron Sexsmith) and asked him to produce her new album.
Jaci says, "When I first met Martin, he was surprised that
I would be interested in having him involved, but anxiously agreed."
One of the goals in having his involvement was to make an album
that would reach her original fans, but also would broaden her
career to new fans that would not normally affiliate her with
the Brit pop/rock sound. Jaci states, "My hope in recording
an album in this style is that it would help open people's minds
to the diversity of music."
Not only did Terefe produce the album, but he also co-wrote several
of the songs with Jaci. This was another original fact to Beauty
Has Grace as Jaci has not in the past taken on the songwriting
aspect of her albums. "I wanted to add to the album my personal
creativity and feelings," Jaci says. "It has always
been important in my career that people get to see a bit of what
I really am, and songwriting is something that I feel gives people
a glimpse." The dedication to this goal was accomplished
and the album was written and recorded in four short months in
a studio in England called Kennsington Sessions.
Several of the songs that Velasquez (lyrics and melodies) and
Terefe (music) wrote together include "Reason To Believe"—a
song describing our need to find something bigger than ourselves
to believe. Jaci adds, "This world is a very confusing place
at times for all of us, we just need to look up and see the light";
"Supernatural" reminding us that the God we serve is
a supernatural being that we can't fully grasp, but spend our
days longing to see; and "Prayer to Love" which defines
love. "Everyone is searching for love but the only perfect
love is with God," states Jaci.
Another collaborator on the album is Birmingham, England native
Michael Clark who co-wrote with Jaci the first track on the album,
"I'm Not Looking Down," and sang with her on the pop/rock
worship song "Tonight," which explains the desire to
live in a world free from chains and escaping daily into God's
presence.
After ten years in the business, her successes are many, including
nine albums—both English and Spanish—and more than
3 million albums sold. She has claimed the No. 1 spot at radio
for 16 of her singles as well as numerous awards in both the Christian
and general market. Her maturity, drive, and talent over the last
ten years has brought her to the forefront of the entertainment
world and poised her for the success she deserves. This album
has a bit of the old school Jaci feel, but it also has a "new"
Jaci feel. A feel that Jaci hopes will translate the true meaning
of what life is about … Love. Velasquez is a person who
has been blessed to carry a destiny for humble greatness—she
is stunning, poised, and kind. Her beauty has grace.
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