When Karin Simmons released her debut project in 2015, she titled it Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs, Volume 1 with the hope that a volume 2 would follow. And now, seven years later, that dream has become a reality. Since her first album, Karin has grown as a songwriter and a recording artist, finding new musical and vocal stylings that make her volume 2 offering a true reflection of the last seven years of her life.
Says Karin, “Writing for the church is a passion of mine. Getting to know other worship directors around the country who are writing for their congregations has been inspiring and has challenged me to grow in my confidence as a writer! It’s freed me to really explore ways of providing a broad musical vocabulary for the church."
Produced by friend and collaborator Rachel Wilhelm, the project couldn’t help but be influenced by 2020’s pandemic. Crafted as a “day in the life” of our own worship, even songs written before the pandemic seemed to fall into place as a personal daily liturgy at the same time that Karin, her family, her church, and the world began navigating a new normal in daily routines.
Unlike her first project, every song on Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs Volume 2 are original recordings. Highlights include “The Lord Is On My Side” with Phil Keaggy on guitar and “Keep Watch” - an evening prayer from the Book of Common Prayer set to Karin’s original composition. All songs feature paired down, raw arrangements creating a perfect cradle for Karin’s vocal stylings.
While Karin is not new to worship leading – first cutting her teeth leading worship alongside her father at 8 years old – her career has been varied. Whether serving on staff at churches, being a guest musician at retreats, or even being a part of 2005’s inaugural festivities in Washington, DC, ushering others into the presence of God is a gift and passion. And, Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs Volume 2 does that and with a voice that is uniquely Karin Simmons.
Photographer: Sheila Davis
Photographed at Ellington Agricultural Center, Nashville