Notes
Spiritually-driven lyrics, an ethereal vocal style and a broad tapestry of contemporary world music sounds distinguish Mary-Kathryn's music from the rest. Borrowing from French folk music, North African rhythms, classical music and other European sounds, Stream in the Desert not only pleases the ear, it engages the spirit. Listeners' hearts are drawn into an experience of worship as their senses are stirred by flowing vocals, captivating melodies and unusual instrumentation. On her new album, Stream In The Desert, Mary-Kathryn wrote all of the words and music, except "The Lord's Prayer." She also co-produced the album with Steve Dady. The stellar production features seasoned session players Jerry McPherson (guitar), Gary Lunn (bass), Steve Brewster (drums and percussion), Brian Green (keyboards) and J, Brian Duncan (keyboard guitar); as well as talented background vocalists Michael Mellitt, Tabitha Fair, Shawn Dady and Jeff Nelson. The title cut, "Stream In The Desert," captures the theme of the album and is the result of a vision Mary-Kathryn had in church one Sunday morning. "Part of that vision was every believer in a water line passing the water from one to the other and working together to take the Living Water of God to a thirsty world," she recalls. The song's lyrics encourage believers to... Be a stream in the desert Take God's love to all you can Flowing down from the mountain Guided by His loving hand Run together, make a river Running through this desert vast Taking water to the thirsty Taking water that will last Mary-Kathryn's own desert experience influenced her on many of the songs. "Three of the songs, "Reaching," "I Know" and "Child, I Love You," were written out of a time when I was longing for more of God, a time of really reflecting back on where I've been and how God has brought me through. "Stream In The Desert," "Tehillah" (Hebrew for praise) and "I Understand Now" were written afterwards when I realized, â€-Okay, now that I've come through the desert, I know what I want to give people, I understand how You've brought me through and I want to be a stream in the desert for others. "I want listeners to be brought into an experience of worship," she explains. "I want them to be able to say they were lifted by the music to a higher place and they experienced God because of it."' Mary Kathryn's mission is to lead people into the presence of the Lord with her music, bringing encouragement, healing and renewal. "Every believer holds within their heart the gifts of the Holy Spirit, each gift uniquely given as the Father sees fit. I feel strongly that in these days the Church needs to experience God's presence more than ever, that their gifts might be made known."
