UpperRoom Releases Sophomore Album 'Land of the Living'
The sophomore, full-length album from UPPERROOM, Land of the Living, already hit No. 1 on iTunes’ Christian / Gospel chart while gathering well over one million streams so far on Spotify alone since its global release March 20. Available now at iTunes, Apple Music, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon.com, Google Play and more outlets internationally through The Fuel Music, the recording captures ten anthems recorded live across several Sunday services at UPPERROOM, the church in Dallas’ creative Design District that started in 2010 and exists to plant praying communities centered around the Presence of Jesus throughout the earth.
Originally scheduled to release later this year, Land of the Living was revealed early as the team at UPPEROOM felt the songs were meant to inspire hope, peace and faith amidst a season where the world is struggling with Covid-19.
“The album has been done and we’re releasing early, not because we are rushing anything, but because the timing is right,” shares UPPERROOM Global Director, Autumn Williams, during a podcast at https://podcast.upperroom.co/episodes/land-of-the-living.
“I feel like this is going to impart hope to a lot of people who may be struggling with hopelessness,” adds Elyssa Smith, who leads worship at UPPERROOM’s main church campus in Dallas, TX. “For it to drop at this moment, having no idea six, seven months ago that we would be living in this time, I see the intentionality of the Lord. And I feel the absolute honor and humility of the Lord trusting our community with these types of songs, knowing that this week was coming for the nation and the earth.”
Like its Good Morning America-featured “Surrounded (Fight My Battles)” featured on its acclaimed debut album, To The One, UPPERROOM’s Land of the Living songs have been uniquely curated by its songwriters as they gathered together to expand melodies and lyrics spontaneously received in the ministry’s Morning/Noon/Night Prayer Room. Produced by Matt Fish and Oscar Gamboa, the new album also includes the title track that began in a night of deep despair for worship leader Cody Ray Lee.
“As I cried out to God that night the verses came to me instantly and they felt like the deep intercession of my soul being poured out to God,” says Lee. “The more I sang the verses I started realizing that the chorus was going to be David’s declaration in Psalms 27:13: ‘I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living,’ a declarative statement for all who need/desire God’s goodness.
“My encouragement to those listening is that no matter the state of being we are in, we can remain confident that God’s goodness will always shine through,” continues Lee.
The new album further features “Into The Battle,” a prayer against anxiety and depression, "Oh The Cross," a declarative response to the rescuing work of Jesus led by Smith and co-written by Jeremy Riddle, “Rest On Us,” which honors the Holy Spirit and the day of Pentecost, and “Unto the Lamb,” inspired by Colossians 1:15-18 and Revelation 5.
