Abigail Sloane Talks About Her Depression, Her Faith & Her New Record "Reason and Rhyme"

Christian music newcomer Abigail Sloane has released her debut album, Reason & Rhyme, via Creative Soul Records. The album is available now wherever music is sold.

From a very young age, Abigail found music to be a powerful outlet for expressing her emotions. She began singing at local events and at church, and by the age of 11 she was writing music and determined to pursue the path of a singer/songwriter. Not only did she discover that her passion for writing helped her navigate life's storms, but she soon found that her music had the ability to touch the lives of others who were facing the same tumultuous upheavals.

As someone who has battled depression, Abigail wants to equip those who hear her music with the hope and encouragement that helped her to fight through the darkest of nights. Abigail uses her music to share about her faith, and she wants her songs to tell the broken and the hurting that no matter what they are going through, there are better days ahead.

With the release of Reason & Rhyme, her songs are finally being heard. Recorded in Nashville during the Spring of 2017, the album was produced by Creative Soul Records President Eric Copeland and co-produced by Jonathan Crone, whose production and performance credits include some of today's top hitmakers including Mat Kearney, Blake Shelton, Heather Headley and many more. 

Q:  Abigail, thank you so much for your time.  I have read that you started writing music at age 8.  How did that start?  Can you still remember the name of the song you wrote then?

A: Oh gosh! Eight year old me... Well yes, it was actually written by King David, I just added a melody to it. Psalm 116 was the first "music" I ever wrote. The first song that I wrote both the lyrics and the music to was called "The Princess" and it was about a woman (a princess) who was awaiting the arrival of the man that her father (the King) had prepared for her. She was worried about never meeting this man and her dad reassured her that he was coming for her. Obviously, at the time, I was worried about never meeting the man the Lord had for me. Kind of deep for a kid my age if you think about it. 

Q: Along the way, you also suffered from depression.  How did that happen?

A: Isolation, mostly. I was raised in the most loving family a girl could ever ask for. However, when you're growing up you have that mentality of "Well, these people have to love me." I went searching for friends that I thought I could pour myself into; friends that I thought I could live life with. And ultimately, those friends proved themselves to be enemies. And when you put your heart out there to be loved and received you put it out there with all your might. It was neither loved nor received by those people. There was a period of time where I would just cry every night, wishing for one friend; just one. So when you become that isolated and you feel that alone, you find the darkness drowns out the light. 

Q:  What gave you hope to get over depression? 

A: I think at the time it was escape from the isolation. My parents had suggested that I start going to high school out of our town. I jumped at the possibility of getting out of there. At the time, I adored Jesus, but I couldn't see Him working in my life. This was the first thing I could physically see that He was providing. He was saying, "This is your way out and I'm the only One that can provide it." The escape only came by way of Jesus. I would not encourage anyone suffering from depression to physically run away from your depression. 

Q:  What do you have to say to some of our readers who suffer from depression?

A: Oh my goodness. So much. First of all, I want to hug you all. I want to hug you so tight that any thought of darkness that crowds your head, slowly seeps out. Second of all, I want to say, "You're not alone." And it's so cliché. I recognize that. No one understands how important those words are until you are on the other side of things. When people said "You're not alone" to me, I would just politely smile and go along my way. No one knew the pain I was feeling. No one knew the degree of loneliness. But I was wrong. And I'm HAPPY to say I was wrong. Because there are so many people that love you and want the best for you. They want you to live a life full of happiness. However, when you're in the middle of it, it is hard to see the other side. Reach out and talk about it. It is incredibly hard. Especially for someone like me who does not like vulnerability. It gets better. I promise.

Q:  How is your faith reflected in the music on your new record "Reason and Rhyme"?  

A: My faith is reflected in this music because I have walked every single one of these songs in real life. Each one of these songs is a journey that I have taken. "Reason and Rhyme" was a song I wrote when I was lost and couldn't find my way out and yet ultimately the Lord found me. "Enough" was a song that I didn't write. The awesome team of Josh Bronleewe, Tony Wood, and Philippa Hannah wrote this beauty, but I identified with in so many ways. In so many points of my own life I had to ask myself, "Is He truly enough?" "Who Am I?" is another one of my original compositions. This is what I call my identity revelation. Who am I without the Lord? Where would I be without His love? These were all questions that were answered simply by saying, "I am nothing without You."

"Breathe In" was the creation of Justin Ebach, Steven Dale Jones, and Molly Reed. This is where I channel a little bit of John Mayer! I loved having the opportunity to record this song because it reminds us to, every single day, embrace the life ahead of us; the life that the Lord has specifically crafted for us.

And finally "You Know Me." This was a song I wrote in a season where I felt out of control of my own life. As someone who likes to be in control of her own life, it was hard to admit that I had no grip on any of it. Yet, my one consolation was that Jesus knew that. He knows who I am and what I cannot do and He's asking to take the drivers seat. It brought me a great deal of comfort. This whole record did. 

Q:  Tell us about "Reason and Rhyme."  How would you describe the sound of this record? 

A: I would describe the sound of this record to be honest. That's mostly what this record is about; honesty in the face of uncertainty. I never want to be accused of not going deep enough. I want to talk about the issues and get them out in the open. And the sound of this record is all about that. 

Q:  Who are some of the producers and singers who have worked with you on the record?

A: Eric Copeland of Creative Soul Records is the producer on this record as well as myself. The master Jonathan Crone was the engineer who made this magic happen. He not only mixed it but he also provided most of the background vocals. And as crazy as this sounds, Jordan Pruitt did the background vocals for the song "Enough." I'm blown away by the amount of people that have poured into this project. 

Q:  What is your hope for this record?  How do you hope this album would impact the lives of your listeners?

A: I have so many hopes for this record. Mainly that the world would hear it and find something in it to love. I want everyone from the 12 year old girl asking her mom to buy it for her to the 21 year old man that is struggling to find his identity to love this music. I want the woman who was just fired from her job to scream the lyrics to "Enough" in her apartment. I want "Breathe In" to find its way onto a "Roadtrip Playlist" that a girl and her father blast while they drive to college. I want the teenage boy that loves Jesus more than anything to sing "Who Am I?" fearlessly and unashamedly. I seriously desire every aspect of this record to find a heart that can love it. This is my hope for this record. I pray for this impact every day.  

 

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