A trusted voice in Christian music for three decades, Christy Nockels releases a peace-inducing project filled with tender songs for families today. Her latest album, King Who Never Sleeps; Anthems for Rest, is a sister project to her highly acclaimed 2017 album, Be Held: Lullabies for the Beloved. Listen to King Who Never Sleeps now.
"These songs are for kids, zero to 100. I hope this record is just as meaningful for adults as it is for children," Christy Nockels shares. "These songs are for personal worship, for people's mundane. They're not songs you're necessarily going to sing shoulder-to-shoulder on Sunday, but hopefully, they capture the same heart, the same God, and the same stance of wanting to be the worshipers we were made to be."
Recorded at Dark Horse Studios in Franklin, Tenn., the 14-track project was produced by her husband, Nathan (Chris Tomlin, Passion, Keith & Kristyn Getty), who also co-wrote a majority of the originals. Colored by intimate instrumentation, intentionally simple language, and Nockels' angelic vocals, the fresh collection is ready-made for personal worship and quiet moments of reflection. Many of the songs are based on Scripture, making biblical truths accessible to children in a relatable and engaging way. Yet, King Who Never Sleeps isn't meant solely for kids.
If the gentle lullabies that defined Be Held originated in a rocking chair as Nockels lulled her own children to sleep, the songs on King Who Never Sleeps were birthed in a fruitful season of watching those same children soar.
In the blink of an eye, it seems all three of her kids have grown up into full-fledged adults with dreams of their own, and as a fresh empty nester, the passing of time is a concept that's often on Nockels' mind. The mother of three values presence on "Be Where Your Feet Are," a song whose message of not missing what's meant for you is already resonating with audiences.
The project features Nockels' two daughters on background vocals ("Shepherd of My Soul"), with her oldest daughter also contributing to the album's artwork through a hand-drawn, detailed crest. Other guests include first-time songwriter Magen Roberson and GRAMMY® Award-winning lyricist Mitch Wong ("Under the Feathers of God," "Keep Your Eyes on Jesus").
Listen to Christy share about this project and the idea of seasons and time on some reason podcasts, including Annie F. Downs' "That Sounds Fun," "Real Talk with Rachel Awtrey," and "Rhythms of Us."
