Kenny and Claire Embrace God's Goodness "Upon the Storm"

By Timothy Yap Jun 29, 2024 05:13 AM EDT

Pointing listeners to the Hope of Christ amidst life's troubles, critically acclaimed husband/wife folk duo Kenny & Claire are set to bow their full-length debut, Upon The Storm, July 19. Produced by GRAMMY Award-winner Mitch Dane (Brandon Heath, JJ Heller), the 12-track set showcases four freshly penned originals and eight modern renditions of enduring hymns.

The album's title-cut-a stirring take on William Cowper's 18th century hymn "God Moves in a Mysterious Way"-is now available on digital platforms. With updated verses and a new arrangement by Kenny & Claire and Mitch Dane, "God Moves (Upon the Storm)" carries deep meaning for the couple following Kenny's struggle with a brain tumor as well as a life-altering chronic illness diagnosis.

"Though we do not always understand why God does what He does, we recognize that He is a God of mercy, and we are people who need mercy," Kenny shares. "That's one of the reasons the lyric, 'behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face,' in 'God Moves (Upon the Storm)' is so powerful. This world is dark and stormy and full of struggle, yet behind that struggle, God-in His kindness-watches us and intends our fight through these struggles for our good."

"In our own struggles with suffering-particularly related to Kenny's health-we have continually returned to the promises of Scripture as well as the lyrics of old hymns," Claire says. "'God Moves (Upon the Storm)' reminds us of the truth of His sovereignty over all things, including a scary diagnosis. The humbling reality is that we do not fully understand the majesty of the Lord and that what He allows can sometimes be so very gut wrenching, but He is indeed faithful and trustworthy. This song lifts our eyes to God while recognizing the reality of life's storms."

Hallmarked by thoughtful, organic arrangements firmly anchored in a folk/Americana soundscape, Upon The Storm also features Kenny & Claire's signature take on such classic hymns as "O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus" and "Come Thou Fount," among others, along with a uniquely emotive rendition of the popular Keith Getty and Stuart Townend-penned hymn, "In Christ Alone." New selections including "Surely His Goodness," "Have Mercy on Us" and "We Believe"-all written by Kenny & Claire and Mitch Dane-bridge the past and present with thematic consistency.

"We want to be singing the same songs that saints who have gone before us sang," Kenny explains. "There's a comfort in knowing that brothers and sisters who ended their race well sang these songs, and that they are in the Great Cloud of Witnesses encouraging us to cast off the weight of sin and finish well."

"Our hope is that this album is a lighthouse pointing to the majesty, power, sovereignty, and holiness of the Lord in the midst of the reality of life's storms," Claire adds. "Through our own experiences, we've needed songs that point our hearts to Christ and help us rest in His glorious Gospel. We want the music we share to be songs we need ourselves, as 2 Corinthians 1:4 says, songs that '...comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort which we ourselves are comforted by God.'"

ABOUT KENNY & CLAIRE
Beginning their musical journey together in 2005-writing songs, performing and leading worship throughout the Carolinas-Kenny & Claire Hilliard were married in 2008 but paused their creative pursuits while Kenny attended seminary and the couple started a family. In 2015, during Kenny's tenure as a senior pastor and worship leader in Asheville, North Carolina, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Shortly after successful surgery to remove the tumor, Kenny received a second diagnosis, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome-a degenerative genetic disease that left him temporarily impaired. The couple embraced a return to music during Kenny's recovery, founding a music teaching studio and further honing their songwriting craft by penning modern hymns for their home congregation.

Known for their emotive acoustic/folk originals and organic revivals of theologically rich hymns of yesteryear, Kenny & Claire's critically acclaimed debut EP, Are You Weary, released in 2021. In addition to participating in Getty Music's prestigious International Hymn Writing Collective, the couple's music has been highlighted by Under The Radar (UTR) and in The Rabbit Room's New Music Roundup, and Claire was also named among "Ones to Watch" by the Nashville Songwriters Association (NSAI) in 2021. Kenny & Claire now reside in the Nashville area with their three children, and they maintain an active touring ministry, leading worship and performing in numerous churches around the country each year.

For further information, visit kennyandclaire.com or turningpointpr.com. Follow the duo on Instagram and Facebook.