Harry Connick Jr. Explains Why His New Record is More Like a Journal than an Album

Harry Connick Jr. has released his most personal album to date. To the multiple Grammy Award winning veteran Alone with My Faith is more his journal than a commercial product. The album of 13 songs contains his most reflective moments as he wrestles with faith and the lack thereof during the trying times of the pandemic.

Connick confesses: "To me, this is more of a journal than an album... like so many other people, the pandemic hit close to home and with nowhere to go, I turned to music and my faith. i hope y'all like this one!"

The album was conceived in march last year. Connick's tour had just been cancelled due to the pandemic. As he headed home, he decided to record some music. "Not only because I wanted to, but because I needed to. With no tour dates in sight, and with everyone's realities upended and futures uncertain, recording was what was necessary for me to help guide me through the uncharted odyssey in which we all unexpectedly found ourselves. I found myself alone (with my faith!) in my home studio, surrounded by instruments and gear, bursting with an abundance of ideas. I was able to go deep within myself as a musician and a man, uninterrupted by the normalcies of collaboration or human interaction. It was a sort of "musical isolation chamber", a silent retreat, the silence only broken by the sound of my own voice, the instruments I played and the occasional microphone I inadvertently knocked over, as I'm not the most graceful recording engineer that ever lived!"

Connick began writing songs and the songs that wrestle with faith or the lack thereof  began to surface. Working on the writing, recording, and production, Connick handled the making of the album all by himself.  He explains: "Seven months later, after countless tracks and edits, I can say that it was not only the secluded nature of the recording process, but the content of the songs themselves that helped me through this strange period.

In fact, this was the first time that I found this level of comfort, peace and truth throughout the process of making music. Because the lyrics are all about the spectrum of faith, I found myself interpreting them in real time - they were allowing me to heal as much as I wanted them to help heal others. I didn't have to pretend or put myself in another place or time, as one often does as a singer or actor."

Connick hopes these songs will not only reach out to his Christian friends but he hopes these songs will speak to the people of all faiths. "Even though many of the songs are Christian, my hope is that they will resonate with people of all faiths, as it gives me great comfort to know that faith is an immeasurably beautiful gift that, with its universal spirit, can help bring us together in the most arduous of times."

The album is available to order HERE.       

 

Tags : harry connick jr. harry connick jr news Harry Connick Jr. Alone with My Faith