The CD Reviewer
By Senior Writer C.W. Ross Artist: Andrea Emmes
Title: I’m On My Way
Website: http://www.andreaemmes.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/andreaemmes
CDBaby: http://cdbaby.com/cd/andreaemmes
Style: Contemporary
Rating: 8.75 out of 10 To get a true feel for Andrea Emmes’ music you have to know a little bit about her background. Andrea has lead a very interesting life, by the young age of 13 she had already written 35 songs. She was published by the time she was 18. Her 1994 poem “Lord Hear My Prayer” became her first recording, “Father.
Andrea’s performed as a headliner on the Vegas strip, worked as a studio singer on the west coast, and performed as ‘Ariel’ at Disneyworld and Universal Studios singing as, ‘The Bride of Frankenstein.’
Her life came to a crashing stop though in 2006 when she sprained an ankle. During treatment for that she was diagnosed with RSD. RSD is a pain disorder that causes the body’s nerves to misfire and send a deluge of pain signals throughout the body. Andrea has managed to make a positive out of it by really spending time with the God. She says that,Because of this challenge, my greatest dream is coming true; I have been able to use my gifts for God’s purpose.”
Andrea says that she is a lover of all music and all styles, but that her poetry and expression comes from the Lord, who is her main musical and life influence. She list her writing and musical style influences as, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Stephan Curtis Chapman, Take 6, Anointed, Out of Eden, Elvis, Jewel, Lisa Loeb, Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Toby Mac, Rebecca St. James, Bebe and Cece Winan, Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera, Crystal Lewis, MaryMary, Babyface, Richard Marx, Lionel Ritchie, and Alanis Morisette. I’m On My Way is the debut release for Andrea Emmes.
On it you will find 11 tracks of music that are straight from the heart. Andrea’s music reaches out to both the saved and unsaved with messages of hope, salvation, courage, and grace. The main point is that as long as we keep God first in our life in the end things will work out. Andrea has high-pitched vocals that have an almost a childlike wonderment aspect to them. Her CD Baby page describes her music as, “A cross between Amy Grant and the Little Mermaid.”
Andrea has also surrounded herself with several fine musicians on I’m On My Way including, Richard Smith, Maia Rodriguez and Chris Mendez. My favorite song picks are, “Lost,” a rocking number with edgy guitar work, the very touching melodic, “Beautifully Broken,” and the last track, “Thank You,” a praise and worship song that features a nice light rock meets jazz arrangement.
I’m On My Way is a very well done release that should put Andrea Emmes on a lot of people’s music radar screens.