Lara Landon Chats with Hallels Exclusively About Her New Album "There is Grace"

Singer-songwriter Lara Landon has just released her new album "There is Grace." Lara teamed up with producers Otto Price, Michael Farren and Evan Sieling to begin recording her new, fan-funded eleven-song project which will be released and distributed by The Fuel Music (Gungor, John Mark McMillan, TFK, Bethel Music). Stylistically, "There is Grace" runs the gamut of folk-inspired singer-songwriter tracks integrating acoustic guitar and cello to cinematic beat-driven pop. What gives the album coherence is Lara's heartfelt, raw and vulnerable lyrics. 

Prior to the album's release, Lara's dad suddenly passed away.  With great sympathies and appreciation towards Lara, we are honored to present this exclusive interview with her.

Hallels:  We are so sorry to hear about the unexpected passing of your dad.  How are you doing now?

It's the hardest thing I've ever had to face. I'm honestly really sad, but that doesn't mean I'm without a deep sense of joy and gratitude for the promise of heaven and all the beautiful memories that God allowed me to have with my dad.

Hallels:  In such a time of grief, what gives you hope?

The thing that gives me hope is thinking that every day that passes I'm not further from my dad, but closer to when I will see him again. 

Hallels:  Congratulations to you that you choose to persist in the release of your new album "There is Grace" at this time.  "Grace" is a word that so many shades of connotations, how do you personally define grace?

It is very hard to define, but to me it means "gift". It's a gift that is all-encompassing and multi-faceted. It's a gift of joy when we are in sorrow, it's the gift of peace when we are in anxiety and confusion, it's a gift of life when we deserve death.

Hallels:  You have co-written songs with many notable songwriters on this new album including Jennie Lee Riddle, Michael Farren, Elias Dummer and many others.  Can you relate a time when you really felt God at work during one of these co-writing sessions?

Yes. I remember meeting Michael Farren and writing "There Is Grace". I'd had the chorus of the song for a while and I knew it was special, it just hit me one night while sitting at the piano. When I arrived at Michael's studio, we hit it off right away and within an hour we finished the song. When a song comes that effortlessly and feels literally like a "gift", I know it's going to be powerful.

Hallels:  On this new album you have a duet "I'll be Your Friend," not having the album credits, who sang this song with you?  I think it's a beautiful gem.  Can you tell our readers more about this song? 

My good friend Garrett Miller, who's band is called Vonagarden, co-wrote "I'll Be Your Friend" and when it was time to record I asked him to play guitar and sing it with me as a duet. It's from God's perspective to us. 

Hallels:  What do you want your listeners to take home with them after hearing this record?

I want them to feel the comfort and love of God's presence- like they know Him better and feel closer to Him after listening to these songs. 

Hallels:  For our readers who would like to purchase your new album or find out more about you, where can they go?

They can pick up a digital copy at any digital music store like iTunes or get the physical copy of the album exclusively from my online store at www.laralandon.com 

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