The genesis of LEELAND’s 2023 album ‘City of God’ came from their desire to fearlessly explore a pastoral and prophetic voice of worship where songs are sung together and over the people of God. The 11 new songs are centred around the thematic of Psalm 46 through thoughtful and innovative songwriting. Recorded in a live rehearsal room with no audience but special guest artists including TAYA, Charity Gayle, Rita Springer, Vanessa Hill, and Lauren Strahm (Fleurie), an expansive soundscape is captured on each of the new songs. ‘City of God’ unpacks three layers of the project’s foundational Scripture in songs of hope for the midst of trouble, songs of intimacy and safety, and songs of God’s justice. Initially sparked in the chaos of the pandemic, the inspiration is for it to be a prophetic oeuvre making space for meditation. It also captures the profound power of art to invite people inside a divine world brought alive through music, pushing conversations around artistic pursuit forward within the Church.
LEELAND infuse beauty and truth into the culture through their new project, re-telling stories of old with sharp creative flair. They embody a priestly and innovative dynamic as ‘City of God’ strikes the balance between a conceptual album and a trailblazing, congregational source of new songs for the Church of today. They hope these new songs will inspire the people of God back to the treasures of Scriptures and the mysteries of God’s ways.
