Shaylee Simeone describes herself as a singer/songwriter/worship leader/wife/mom, as well as a Texan turned Tennessean. She has been living in Nashville for eight years, mainly working in the television and film music placement world and bouncing between bands, only to finally settle in what feels like my true calling: writing worship music.
During all of these life experiences, Shaylee also met her husband and a little 2020 baby named Oliver, or Ollie, James.
She says, "It's been a wild ride, and I'm so thankful for every step and the many ways God has grown me and gently guided me towards my purpose. He is gracious like that."
I had a chance to speak with Shaylee about Christmas traditions, her Christmas EP, quarantine, and her latest single, “All of the Earth Is Yours.”
Tell us about your latest single, “All of the Earth Is Yours.”
This song was written during my worship residency at my church in 2018. It was actually an assignment, as we were all given a certain Psalm and told to write a worship song about it. This was a really therapeutic experience for me, as I had gotten very comfortable in cowrites. I also hadn't written by myself in a while.
I really loved what came out of this experience. This song has continued to minister to me over the last couple of years. It became a sort of anthem and prayer, a way to proclaim the bigness and authority of God in a world that felt like it was only getting crazier.
This song is also a prayer for this generation of the Church, for us to stand firm against adversity and be known as those who cling to his Word and his presence.
So, I brought this song to producer and friend John Strandell and let him run with it. I loved the sort of '80s pop vision he had for it. And, I was really happy with the result. He is super talented.
You released a Christmas EP last year, The Holidays. Any special memories from that recording? What are some of your Christmas traditions?
I recorded The Holidays EP with my producer and friend Chad Carouthers last year. It was a blast. I kind of threw this project on him last minute. We were working on some TV and film stuff around the end of October, and one day, I just up and asked, "Hey, do you want to do a really last-minute Christmas record with me?" And hilariously enough, he was on board.
We wanted the project to be really simple: going back to the good old basics of Christmas music, which is my favorite kind to listen to. I wanted it to be the sort of record people listen to when they are just sitting around a fire, enjoying something warm to drink and being around people they love. All the cozy feelings.
Those are my favorite Christmas traditions–everyone packed in a room together, making cookies or wrapping presents and listening to my dad's playlist of Christmas songs that haven't changed in the last 20 years. We complain about it, but we all secretly love it.
My original song, "The Holidays," is about how every year keeps getting sweeter: first with meeting Ryan and second with having Ollie. It's hard letting go of old traditions sometimes. I think Christmas can't get any better than the good old days, but then it does.
Each year is different and unique and filled to the brim with new memories. I hope this song helps people connect with the ones they love. Something that helps people create their own sweet moments.
God is speaking to us all in different ways in 2020. How has He been stretching you this year?
2020 has been very interesting for us because we had our first child. So, I feel like that was a little slice of heaven and grace from God, as we navigated through this strange season. Being locked up at home with a newborn and a husband home from work was straining at times. But, ultimately it created a lot of sweet memories that I think we'll hold close for a long time.
God taught me how to be still and be okay with not trying to accomplish something all the time. That, my identity was in something much deeper than success or social media or even friends or family. He is the only thing steady and unchanging, and the only thing that is safe to fully lean all my weight on.
What’s coming next for you in 2021?
I'm looking forward to recording more music in 2021 and releasing some new worship tunes out into the world. I also decided this was going to be a year of focusing on writing for a specific purpose and seeing what comes out of it. I feel like I've been given some vision, so I want to be faithful to that. We'll see what happens.
How can we be praying for you?
I would love prayer on how to balance being a good wife and mother with being a good steward of the gifts and calling God has given me. I want to walk faithfully forward, believing that God doesn't give us more than we can handle. Thank you for asking.
Kevin McNeese started NRT in 2002 and has worked in the industry since 1999 in one form or another. He has been a fan of Christian music since 1991.
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