Sophie (Chanko) Dare

“Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the Lord; exult before him!” (Psalm 68:4)

I'm gonna be real honest with y'all – I've had the beginnings of this post saved in my drafts since January.

Being vocal about faith isn't the easiest thing in the world, especially on a platform online where I'm subject to judgement from my audience. But reading through Riley's latest post, sharing about her journey with faith, and worship music in particular, I felt re-inspired to share some songs of my own.

As I'm sure you can tell by reading through my blog, music is hugely important to me, and that goes for within my faith life as well. Music has helped me so much in focusing my heart on the important things, and it's what I miss the most about not being able to go to church on Sundays right now. So, here's a list of songs that I'm playing to keep me close to the Lord while I'm away from the physical church.

Psalm 34 (Taste and See) – Shane & Shane

https://open.spotify.com/track/4JDmqxJrJS9FoMPzWmILkQ?si=G7wOQspJSmqwSqh_2yR-cw

This song has a real swing, Gospel-style feel, and I never get tired of it. It makes you feel like you're in the middle of a jam session, singing with the whole band, and the guys' vocals are really stellar here.

Redemption in Motion – Kings Kaleidoscope

https://open.spotify.com/track/2bvkjIwQKlCTtTqzsP7FIP?si=WgOE73JbT2eLIfh7cZTqFw

This is just an interlude, under two minutes, but man does it SLAP. The production and instruments are really interesting, and it packs a powerful punch in its short time frame.

Jesus! – Citizens

https://open.spotify.com/track/2ax0PdntqrcbitkikIS2An?si=nLVXqj2HQiW1nMWsyt2QMA

Nothing like a good old-fashioned, Sunday worship song – we sing this at my church a lot, and it's so upbeat and joyful.

Rescuer (Good News) – Rend Collective

https://open.spotify.com/album/5mati4th5xS4GWys74MiR2?si=r8gUzhR6RvO99iqszFArmQ

This is another sure-fire hit on Sundays that even gets the claps going (lol).

Tremble (Live) – Mosaic MSC

https://open.spotify.com/track/35GACeX8Zl55jp29xFbvvo?si=J3InSgpURdeFER5lkW3rIA

Slow and powerful, this song really hits me, even after I've heard it plenty of times. The energy of the live performance builds and builds, and Mariah shows off some serious vocal talent.

Nothing Stands Between Us – John Mark McMillan

https://open.spotify.com/track/7DLo0DDUNv1ERr2wDCEMTK?si=nb_DSJoqS2KL-yiMzoAPdg

These lyrics are simple yet profound, and it's a song that makes you feel the grandeur of worship.

Way Maker – Leeland

https://open.spotify.com/track/40ozK0lCJ0EQzVGWsCNUhk?si=5V6RoRvPQEmdmV3SuWEfBA

This is at the top of the worship music charts right now, and I get it- it's pretty simple and easy to sing along to, but the titles of God it sings about are beautiful and powerful.

The Father's House – Cory Asbury

https://open.spotify.com/track/5GDtkgG9T1BDknHHyDtghv?si=OIrU7EruQQCLRTbC0fiQFg

These lyrics are really incredible; the song highlights the beauty of the Father's love, forgiveness, and acceptance.

In Tenderness – Citizens

https://open.spotify.com/track/4O9E0qcWGCMYxq58UdbsQU?si=N3dIEhXIQP-ybMufwbKg0Q

It wouldn't be one of my playlist blog posts without one of these: this one is just a BANGER. This song is super upbeat and never fails to bring me joy.

You Say (by Lauren Daigle) – Cimorelli

https://open.spotify.com/track/2Ycx9siZileq2KDy2K8UR8?si=IfKVUNZfT1-IC4xVAXOzFg

Finally, Lauren Daigle's song has been played on mainstream radio and has received massive success, but I love this cover even more than the original track. The harmonies and vocals are incredible, and the powerful ending never fails to choke me up a little. This song has been there with me through tough times, so it's a special one. You can see Riley's cover of this song as well on her Porch Sessions on Instagram!

Thanks for reading!

Guys, I'm a real-life, bona-fide freelancer now.

If you haven't heard of Fiverr before, it's a one-stop-shop platform for all things freelance – you can easily hire people to provide you with logo design, voiceover work, custom art, video editing, or, in my case, music reviews and bios!

I've attempted to market my skills to the countless small-time musicians within my personal network, and even though I'm confident that my writing could benefit their online presence, it's tough to get people to follow through once a price is in the picture.

As we know very well here on Coil, we as creators deserve to be fairly compensated for the skill, time, and effort we put into our projects. So once I realized that I could start putting small price tags on my work on Fiverr, I jumped right in.

I made my very first sale last week! I wrote a bio for a fairly new producer, it didn't take me long at all, and we had a great interaction as I completed the job! You can see it right here on his Spotify profile!

One piece of advice I've heard time and time again on the topic of financial success and building long-term wealth is to have multiple streams of income. I've already been able to accomplish this through Coil boost payments each month in addition to my regular job paychecks, but I'm just getting started. I hope to use this Fiverr page to expand my freelance experience, and to continue to manage social media and learn new skills at new internships.

I've got some lofty aspirations, and if I'm going to work hard to get to where I want to be, I want to be working hard at something I'm passionate about. A whole world of possibilities are open to me through the Internet, and I can't tell you how exciting it is to see my first couple of bucks come in through my Fiverr earnings page!

Check out my page here, and if you know anyone who might benefit from my services, go ahead and share!

https://www.fiverr.com/sophiec503?up_rollout=true

Thanks for reading!

It's my birthday!

I've been on this earth for twenty one years.

I've been out of high school for three years.

I've been out of community college for one year.

I've been in my relationship for a year and a half.

I've been at my job for two years.

It's really strange to look back at how much of my life has already seemed to have gone by.

I know, I know, it's silly to say that I'm 21 and I feel like I've experienced so much of life already.

I still have yet to move out on my own, to get married, to finish school completely, to get a full-time job, to have children, to travel the country, to grow up, to discover who I am.

My life has changed in the past year in ways I never thought possible, and I'm not saying that it was all fun or easy. But I've learned that change should be welcomed, and that I look forward to the ways my life will continue to change and evolve over the next year, and each year after that.

By my next birthday, if all goes to plan, I'll be beginning twenty two:

Moving out of my family home and living in an apartment close to downtown with roommates.

Engaged.

Preparing for marriage emotionally, financially, and spiritually.

Working a new job and/or internship.

Learning more every day about living on my own, becoming my own person, living with people who aren't my family members, developing my skills and advancing my career, and rooting myself in my beliefs.

But for now, I'm beginning twenty one in the middle of an uncertain world. The near future is just as unsure as the future far down the road. Come what may, I'll always know that I'm always learning and growing with each new day and each new year.

Thanks for reading!

LISTEN HERE:

https://open.spotify.com/track/2xCGBWfzTe8l2kvHpgvB6M?si=9sQGRtMXQfyvuByr2cIjMQ

Today's single review is brought to you by TikTok.

The short-form video app has truly taken over my abundance of free time in quarantine, but I'm not mad about it. There's videos for every niche I have – entrepreneurial advice, weird meme comedy, fashion tips, tasty recipes, room decor, must-haves from Amazon, the list goes on and on.

However, the most memorable and iconic thing about TikTok is the music – the songs that become popular on the app are used millions of times over in millions of different videos, so needless to say, they'll get stuck in your head pretty quickly.

This catchy tune has made its appearance on my TikTok feed in videos of girls showing off their prom dresses that they don't get the chance to wear anymore, since school and all events, like prom, have been canceled through the summer. As for the song, here's some of the story behind the lyrics from the artist:

“i wrote this song in my senior year of high school! i was never one for parties, as i am a gigantic introvert, and as a result felt like i missed out on a lot of the “quintessential” high school experience. also i’m a cancer so i cry, like all the time!”

(from genius.com)

It captures the all-too-familiar angst of being a misfit high schooler, but packages it in a light, cheery, ukulele-accented tune.

Thanks for reading!

FOR FANS OF: Chelsea Cutler, FLETCHER, Halsey

LISTEN HERE:

https://open.spotify.com/album/3nP0DOBWPfEToiDGMXZCAb?si=frTSCC1kRVSiAFXd8LRdpA

This debut LP from talented pop vocalist Lennon Stella brings both catchy, dancey beats and mellow, lo-fi sounds to the table. The Canada native rose to fame on the hit ABC show Nashville in the early 2010's, and after releasing an EP in 2018, she's finally released a full-length album with her own distinct style.

Much Too Much begins the record with a daunting question of “do you really want this? Be honest” Questions of if a relationship is still worth fighting for float in between synths and light, airy background vocals.

Kissing Other People has been out since last year, and is the single that grabbed my attention in the first place. Lennon shows off her wide vocal range in the adventurous melodies, and the song has an easy groove that you can't help but sway to.

Games exposes the vicious cycle of a boy playing hard to get:

You like games way more than you like me

You like games, but that's all we'll ever be

'Cause you like games and I don't wanna play no longer

Game over

Fear of Being Alone brings the energy up with a disco-flavored beat and bassline that seems like it belongs playing in a bar downtown somewhere. It's got a darker feel than the rest of the tracks on this album, with more foreboding chords and slightly dissonant underpinnings.

Pretty Boy tells the story of wanting to get deeper than surface-level interactions with someone, but eventually realizing that they're just another pretty face with a shallow personality. The instrumentals evoke the stylings of house DJ's.

I've been enjoying Golf On TV for quite a while now, as it was released as a single in February, and I'm still not sick of it. It's a sweet tune about finally finding security and stability in a healthy, loving relationship. I really love the sentiment that's expressed so cleverly in the main lines of the chorus:

Some people wanna switch it up, like just one love could never be enough

But some people watch golf on TV

And neither of those things make sense to me

Older Than I Am brings us to a tender, vulnerable musical moment. Lennon sings about wishing sometimes that she could just act young and reckless, instead of handling the pressures and struggles of life all herself.

Oh, I do all my own fighting, I'm who I confide in

Maybe I need help, no

I won't deny it, I won't deny it

Here's Lennon's commentary on the creation of the next track, Bend Over Backwards:

“This one I wrote in LA. It’s about wanting to not completely mold into what other people want of you. It’s me saying, “I can compromise with you and I’m down to be polite and not overstep, but I’m also not going to bend over backwards and completely lose my initial vision over something that you want.” It doesn’t have to be creatively. It can be in relationships, too.”

(from *genius.com*)

Musically, it's got some interesting, twangy synth sounds, and a brighter, 80's pop feel.

Jealous was released as a single prior to the album, and I loved it so much, I wrote a Single Saturday review all about it, check it out here!

Since I Was A Kid reflects on Lennon's childhood in a surprisingly positive light, talking about how she's always been able to fight her own battles, keep a positive outlook, and pick herself up when she gets down.

Weakness (Huey Lewis) is the most experimental this album gets, with distinct sections, interludes, and clocking in at almost eight minutes long. It begins with a sweet home video audio clip of a younger Lennon putting her baby sister to sleep. Once the music begins, it's a stripped, acoustic duet between Lennon and her now-16 year old sister, Maisy. The two sisters performed together for years on Nashville, and they sing about their close emotional bond with each other:

But when your eyes are leaking, that's my weakness

When your smile's in pieces, that's when I feel it all

The final third of the song switches into a darker soundscape and vocoder harmonies, echoing Billie Eilish or Imogen Heap. It yearns for lost childhood memories, and mourns the slow breaking apart of their family through their parents' divorce.

What about our family? What about the house we used to know?

Where it seemed honest

Where we would fall asleep to Huey Lewis on repeat

What happened to us?

Please, remember they're out of their minds

Please, remember it's just gonna take time

Save Us was another intriguing track to me, because I could have sworn I'd heard it before. The outro of the song, as well as a couple lines in the verses, sounded so familiar, and I figured out that it's an interpolation of Donna Lewis's 1996 hit “I Love You Always Forever.” The funny thing is, I had never even heard the original song- I knew the tune from Betty Who's reworked cover of it!

Regardless of who borrowed the song from whom, Lennon's version is a song dedicated to her sister:

“This one, again, is about Maisy — the idea of no matter what, no matter where you go, no matter how fast you get there, I’ll always be there with you.”

(from genius.com)

Goodnight wraps up the record with a soft, piano-driven tune that hopes to hear “goodnight” and not a final “goodbye.” It uses jazzy chords and sends us off with a dreamy, lo-fi outro:

Cause we know goodbye's the end

Thanks for reading!