With her new Lifestyle Music Group album due later this year, Enriquez is determinedly pursuing her true calling. And ready to let the joyful celebration begin.
Pegged as the next big pop/R&B artist, the singer was sitting on top of the world in 2000 with her first single, the international hit “Tell Me How You Feel.” But despite the song’s out-of-the-box success and an eagerly anticipated debut album, something wasn’t right.
“While performing some of those songs, I learned it wasn’t my calling,” recalls Enriquez. “I was starting to become what the world wanted me to be—sing this, do that, wear this— instead of the other way around.”
Fast forward to 2015. Enriquez is now poised to be the next major inspirational artist with “Hallelujah.” The uplifting anthem, featuring classical violinist phenom Lindsey Stirling, signals the official launch of Lifestyle Music Group (LMG). Distributed through Capitol Christian Music Group, LMG is Grammy Award-winning producer Rodney Jerkins’ formal venture into the gospel and Christian music arenas.
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01.
O Happy Day
02.
Shine f/ Heavenly Joy
03.
Conquer
04.
Hallelujah f/ Kirk Franklin & Lindsey Stirling
Joy Enriquez Makes Her Return| Posted January 23, 2016
She is the mother of 4 kids, wife to super producer Rodney Jerkins, sung backup on the Mariah Carey/Whitney Houston duet "When You Believe" and has released a mainstream R&B album and an urban gospel/praise and worship album. Now Joy Enriquez is back with a Contemporary Christian record, The Call. Rodney handles production with Matt Champlin, Kirby Lauryn and Tony Hennings.
"Hallelujah," in both English and Spanish, is a folksy, animated song of praise. "Shine" continues in the same vein. Joy has a strong voice that moves from her lower register to closer to her soprano range so effortlessly. This has been passed down to her six-year-old daughter Heavenly Joy. Heavenly finishes the song with her rendition of the popular Sunday School hymn "This Little Light of Mine."
Those who loved her urban music (I being one of them) will have to go online and buy some of the tracks she released from her reality TV Show. This album is intentional in the direction shift. "70.000" shows this change towards CCM. The strum of the guitar and piano accompaniment aid Joy in expressing awe in the extent of the forgiveness that she receives from God. Matt Maher's "Lord I Need You" gets a Joy Enriquez spin to it, but she stays true to the essence of the song as she sings the standout lyrics "So teach my song to rise to You / When temptation comes my way. When I cannot stand I'll fall on You / Jesus You're hope and stay."
"Imagine That" is an EDM party laced with trippy drum patterns on the chorus and the simple riding of the kick drum on the verses. Imagining life without God's favor and life without God is something that Joy cannot fathom, so therefore she expresses this throughout the song.
Closing Thoughts: The Call just works, and it is not forced. Joy should do really well in CCM, and my hope is that radio and fans alike will give her a chance to win them over. Her "call" is to spread Christ's love and for people to hear her redemption story. Rodney Jerkins shows his versatility while knowing who to enlist to make sure that he captures the pulse of the CCM genre.
Song to Download Now:
"Hallelujah" (Get it on iTunes here.)