Video for "Battle is Spiritual" raises awareness of the opioid crisis in the US while highlighting everyday spiritual battles
Posted: May 21, 2019, 5:00 PM | Category:General Artist Tags: Joyce Im Bartholomew Source: NRT Staff Reports (KM)
Independent singer-songwriter Joyce Im Bartholomew has released her third album, The Unveiling, and an accompanying video for the album's debut single, "Battle is Spiritual." Bartholomew was invited to participate in four music and video festivals: LA Music Video Awards, Christian Family Film Festival, Silver Screen for Short Films and the International Christian Film & Music Festival.
While Bartholomew's past albums and her musical style have been dubbed by critics and listeners alike as bright and uplifting, her third studio album takes a darker and heavier tone to reflect the gravity of the reality of the subjects explored on the album.
Bartholomew's past and forthcoming music reflects topics and themes the community and others will appreciate. The Unveiling will strike a familiar chord with listeners, as Bartholomew translates the spiritual battles people fight daily into music. These themes are echoed in the accompanying music video for the song "Battle is Spiritual" but are shown through the lens of drug addiction. Through her music and video, Bartholomew intends to reflect the harsh realities of opioid addiction plaguing the country.
"The story of the Prodigal Son is intriguing to me, and I wanted to utilize that story in an artistic way in the video for 'Battle is Spiritual,'" said Bartholomew. "I decided to use the lens of drug addiction since it's so very prevalent in our country right now. It serves as a metaphor for the spiritual struggles we face daily as Christians. The devil wants to ruin us daily, but we must turn our attention back to God in helping us overcome our addictions, trials and tribulations."
Bartholomew sees "Battle is Spiritual" and its accompanying video as a way to call attention to the opioid epidemic in our country while also thanking the first responders who work hard to save so many lives affected by it. Additionally, she views the song and video as a call to churches to take action in getting involved with or to start drug rehab programs to help spread the love of Jesus Christ, which she sees as integral in helping addicts heal and recover.
The Unveiling album comprises of eleven music tracks touching with a message of hope on various social awareness issues such as bullying, broken families, and living in deception. For instance, the track "Fast Life" speaks to the self-seeking man who lives in lust, pride, and greed destroying relationships. This track is accompanied by a lyric music video featuring the performance of Mia Christinis, a London born actress and graduate of the NY Academy Company at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Fifty percent of proceeds from Bartholomew's music sales benefit ProLife Pregnancy Care Centers and help defray costs of ultrasounds. To learn more about Joyce Im Bartholomew and her music, visit her website here.
