Lydia Simonds Releases 'The Wilderness'
Lydia Simonds, a singer-songwriter from McDonough, GA, has released her five-song EP 'The Wilderness'. Lydia now lives in Social Circle where she plays at local gigs and leads worship for her church on Sundays. Lydia loves to encourage others with her music. Whether it’s a backyard acoustic session or a full-band show, she strives to encourage her audience with her lyrics and charm. Lydia faced her most difficult challenge when her mother died from Multiple Sclerosis in January 2016. She then wrote “The Wilderness” in response to losing her mother. It has been a difficult journey, but music has helped Lydia heal in many ways.
"From a young age, I grew up loving to sing, learn new instruments, and encourage people through those gifts along the way", explains Ludia. "However in the Spring of 2010, my mother, Cheri Simonds started having health issues. Little did I know, 'her story' and journey through suffering would greatly impact my music. She suffered 5 years from Multiple Sclerosis, or MS.
Honestly, the hardest part wasn’t seeing her die. It was watching her suffer. I remember one night about a week or so before she died, I was restless, anxious, and just frustrated with how long this suffering would last. I drove down the road bawling my eyes out and praying. Roughly three months later, I begin to write my song 'Even More'. With the help of my friend and producer, Zach Berry, we added one more verse and put the song on my EP. I always enjoyed music, but I never thought it would help me process my mother’s suffering like it did. Now, I am able to encourage others in similar situations and it is why I sing. I sing to proclaim God’s glory, to encourage people, and to remind them that they are not alone."
