Gospel artist Tamela Mann is a multidimensional woman. Gospel fans knew her as a band member of the Kirk Franklin and the Family, as well as the wife of gospel great David Mann.
Watching her over the years, many will know how she has constantly stepped out of her comfort zone by acting in Tyler Perry’s plays, movies, and TV shows. She and David starred in Mann and Wife. They also starred in It's a Mann's World, a reality show that included their children. Now, the couple star on the YouTube-based program Mann Tv, a show where the family has very real and honest discussions while having dinner.
Tamela was able to lose weight, survive double knee replacement surgery, and have a Designer Clothingline for plus-sized women. Even with that, she still sticks to her love which is to minister in song with her powerful voice. Now, she's back with her new release, Overcomer.
Overcomer is a further evolution of Tamela Mann as an artist and how she is willing to take more risks musically. This is her most complete album to date (and, yes, her powerhouse vocals are still intact). Tamela took a moment to share the inspiration behind each song on her latest album. You can also read our full review of the album, here.
“Finished Work” (feat. Todd Dulaney)
The album opens with “Finished Work,” a nearly seven-minute opus co-written with songwriter Todd Dulaney. It’s all about everything He’s begun in us, He’s going to complete in us. I thought “Finished Work” would be a great song to start the album and I hope it will encourage people.
“I Am”
When I hear the title of the song, “I Am,” it reminds me that He is the I Am. And, as the Great I Am, He is always there, everywhere. He lives in me and He’s always fighting on my behalf. I just need to trust Him and believe in Him. He’ll never leave us or forsake us.
“Source”
This song speaks of the Lord’s presence and strength, and the peace He brings. God is the source and my go-to when I’m lost. I can’t do anything without Him, and I never want to try to. I fell in love with the song, and I cried recording it because what it says to me is so meaningful to me. It’s speaking to God saying, ‘You are my source and I need you for the air that I breathe, the direction I need to go. You are my everything.’
“Help Me” (feat. The Fellas)
A lot of the songs, like this one, are about what I was dealing with in my personal life. I asked the quartet, The Fellas, to lend their vocals to the song. Because we were doing old school, I wanted the quartet sound. They are young, contemporary guys but still have an old-school flair and new sound. I thought they would give it the grit the song needs.
“Hello God” (feat. Kirk Franklin and Wyclef Jean)
The track melds R&B, reggae, rap, and gospel. I was in the studio working with gospel great Kirk Franklin on one of the songs and I said, ‘I would really like to do a Caribbean song. I’ve never done one.’ Later Kirk called and said that mainstream act Wyclef Jean had a song that he thought I’d like. Wyclef and Kirk wrote the lyrics to it. When we wake up in the morning, we speak to everybody in our house and say hello. Why don’t we wake up and say hello to God and thank Him for this day? “Hello God” is like a breath of fresh air that lightens the mood. I wanted to simply blow a kiss to God and say hello.
“Healer”
When we think of a healer, we think of healing of medical ailments. But what we really need is God, and His healing from all matters and manner of things of the mind, body, and soul. He covers everything as our healer.
“Conqueror”
We're more than conquerors, but a lot of times we must keep repeating it to ourselves. It’s something we should say every day.
“Overcomer”
We’re faced with so many different things. There are so many obstacles. We’ve climbed mountains and gone through valleys, but we can overcome, we have overcome.
“Touch From You”
Released last year during the height of the pandemic, this song has served as a healing balm to a hurting world. The song’s lyric is a poignant reminder of God’s sovereignty in these troubled times. People are praying now more than ever. One part of the song says, “Can you hear the voices of your people crying out?” People are crying out for so many different things. We are needing God’s touch. We need a refreshing. We need to know that the Lord is with us.
“He Did It for Me”
God is the source and my go-to when I’m lost. I can’t do anything without Him, and I never want to try to. The song was birthed out of looking at my life and saying, ‘Okay, I did accomplish it. I did lose 50 pounds, for example.’ It talks about how the Lord is helping me reach my goals. There were people asking, ‘How is she able to do all of this?’ And that led to the lyrics for “He Did It for Me.”
“Final Answer”
This song almost didn’t make it on the album, but I insisted because of how special it is. I want the Lord to know I’m saying yes to Him no matter what. And we included a new version of The Lord’s Prayer to recognize the importance of saying yes to His calling every day.”
“Finished”
The album closes with one of my favorite new songs, which I wrote with music artist Travis Green. “Finished” comes at the end, and it gives the album a period. I love that the lyrics declare, ‘He who has begun a work in me is faithful to finish what He started.’
Dwayne Lacy is a long time History teacher in Houston, Texas. He also has a passion for diversity in unity in music and in the church.
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