by Monica Watkins

If your ears have been burning for a fresh sound in Praise and Worship, on March 11th check out the debut release – How Great is Our God – by EMI Gospel’s LaRue Howard. Howard’s vibrant personality transcends lyrics and instruments, as she delivers a versatile blend of praise and worship.

Howard’s new release offers something old (How Great is Our God, Open the Eyes of My Heart, Blessed Be the Name of the Lord) and something new. And the true treasure of this project is definitely the “something new”. As a consumer, I’ve never quite understood the unwritten code in the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) community that apparently states that every artist must take at least one or two already hugely popular CCM songs and cover them. Unless your entire project is meant to be a tribute of sorts, I fear the continued re-making of these songs may eventually dilute their potency.

With that said, scale past the remakes, and allow yourself to be swallowed by the whale of amazing original material this project has to offer. Prepare to lose your seat on praise songs like His Majesty is Here. He Is and the equally vigorous Got Joy are two electric R&B and Hip Hop influenced tracks that showcase Howard’s unique voice and style. Essence of Your Presence is a musical portrayal of Howard’s poignant worship, and it is truly one of the pillars of the project.

Although this is her debut release, Howard is certainly not new to Praise and Worship music. She’s been mentored by one of the genre’s best – Martha Munizzi – and serves as worship pastor at Faith World Center in Orlando, Florida under the leadership of Pastor Clint Brown. So, if you’re looking for name recognition, there it is. How Great is Our God is truly an eclectic mix of musical styles and influences – from traditional Praise and Worship to Gospel, R&B, and Hip Hop. The project is undeniably solid in its own right and successfully accomplishes the mission of the music: to bring every listener to the heart of worship.

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