Veteran group Selah's new album, Firm Foundation, has received a lot of positive response from fans since its release in November 2019. This has really encouraged the band. Selah, a trio comprised of Amy Perry, Allan Hall, and Todd Smith, was a little nervous about the new album.
Firm Foundation is the first album not to have any hymns or African-styled songs, which has been a Selah staple on every album for the past 23 years. I had a chance to connect with the band about Firm Foundation, the band's musical background, and future albums.
Firm Foundation is your first album with music label Integrity Music. How was the songwriting process and production different from previous efforts and what led you to Integrity?
We worked with three different producers for this new album, with each producer taking three or four songs. In the past, we have had our long-time producer, Jason Kyle, do the bulk of each album, with perhaps one or two songs done by an outside producer.
This album was made very quickly on a tight deadline, so we had to bring in more producers to finish it. So, we could deliver it to our music label Integrity on time. It was exciting to change up the work process and get some different-sounding tracks for the new album.
Firm Foundation is also the first album where all three of us have written a song, "Let the Saints Sing," together along with songwriters, Tony Wood and Michael Farren. Todd also co-wrote a number of songs on the new project (perhaps more than any of our other albums). We moved over to Integrity when we finished up our contract with our original label, Curb Records. We were with them for 21 years.
Amy, in a recent release, you said: “While we still sound the same, and while our hearts are still the same—we still desire to sing the truth." On Firm Foundation, how is the sound different, and how is the sound the same? What sounds would you like to experiment with in the future?
"Firm Foundation" is definitely a lot more produced than a lot of our piano vocal hymns. There's a lot of bands, a choir, and it has a gospel feel. So, for someone expecting a piano hymn, they're going to be very surprised. There's also a little less of Todd and Allan on the song. They're present, just not with the typical three-part harmony we usually use. But, that's what I love about it.
I love that, after all these years, we have our signature sound. But, we can still stray away from it at times and still be us. This is the style of music I sing at church. And, I love that the boys let me pick this song and run with it. As far as future sounds, I'm open to whatever is fun to sing. I know Allan wants me to do some bluegrass someday, so maybe we'll try that.
The music on Firm Foundation gives a nod to your musical upbringings. Talk about that.
We always call Selah's music a "musical gumbo" because of the mixture of what the three of us bring to the table. Allan loves Americana, bluegrass, acoustic, and country music in particular; Amy loves worship music; Todd loves pop and rock music (and we all three love many other styles as well). So, you hear a lot of those influences in Selah's music on every one of our albums. "My Soul Be Satisfied" is a great example of Allan's love for Americana; "Firm Foundation" shows Amy's power to deliver an anthemic song that takes one straight to the foot of God's throne; and "Jesus is King" shows Todd's skill in rendering a great pop vocal.
Which bible verses-inspired Firm Foundation?
Well, I didn't write "Firm Foundation," I just fell in love with it when our A/R guy showed it to us. But, I've really gone through some valleys in the last year where I have felt like my world is crumbling and in the midst of that chaos, I found this song. And, it reminded me just like it says in the New Testament in Luke, that if I hear His word and I do His word, I'm like the man who built his house on the rock, and dug a deep foundation so that when the floods came, he was not shaken. I have to know that during these difficult times if my house is built on His word, no matter what storms come, I will not be moved, I will not crumble and He will hold me steady.
Can we expect new solo albums from you in the near future?
We love all kinds of music, and our solo projects are fun ways to get to explore and record our own particular influences. Allan loves Americana, bluegrass, acoustic, and country music, in particular; Amy loves worship music; Todd loves pop and rock music (All three of us love many other styles as well). On our own solo projects, we get to really explore our own styles. Allan currently has two solo albums available, as does Todd. Amy has one available. We definitely are planning to keep putting out solo material in the future, as well as the group albums.
You’ve seen much success with covers of mainstream hits “God Bless the Broken Road” and “You Raise Me Up.” Which mainstream songs would you like to cover in the future?
Amy recorded a version of "This Is Me" from The Greatest Showman that our audiences love. It's available for digital download and streaming on all of the digital platforms. I (this is Allan again answering) don't know that we have any specific plans to cover a mainstream song going forward. If we find one that really speaks to us and our audience, then that will always be an option we keep open.
Fun fact: we actually recorded "You Raise Me Up" a year or so before Josh Groban. But, his record label heard our version and was able to rush out a version with him singing it before we could release ours. We very nearly didn't release our version because Josh's had come out first. But, our record label convinced us that it would still be a good move for us, which it certainly turned out to be.
What’s next for Selah? How can we pray for you?
We have another album nearly finished that should see release in, hopefully, November of 2020. We will be working on solo projects as well. We have been doing this for 23 years now, which is quite a long time in the music industry nowadays. We'd love prayer for continued direction and success in our career, good health, and strength. And, just following God's lead in all that we do to bring honor and respect to His name.
Paul Phillips is a Canadian journalist with over 10 years of experience writing and editing digital and print content. He specializes in health, fitness, nutrition, and travel. He loves music, movies, and, of course, living for Jesus.
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