Zelie singer-songwriter releases first album
Christian worship artist Sarah Grinder of Zelienople has signed a record deal with INOV8 Music Group and is ready to announce her very first recording project.
The singer-songwriter is releasing “Sanctuary” on Tuesday.
The extended play album contains five songs: “Sanctuary,” “Holy, Holy,” “None Greater,” “Revelation” and “That’s How Our Jesus Saves.”
“It’s a mix of stuff,” the 20-year-old Grinder said. “Worship with a little bit of pop added to it.
“It could be from a biblical text or passage or I felt the Lord speaking to me,” she said of her songwriting inspiration. “I never want it to be forced. I want it just to be natural.”
She recorded the five songs in Florida and over the past year has been putting together the album. “It takes awhile but it’s really amazing to see the process.”
Grinder graduated from Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in 2011 and is currently a junior taking online courses through Southeastern University after studying at the school in Florida for two years. She is majoring in ministerial leadership.
“Since I decided to go into music ministry, I didn’t really know what that was going to look like, but now I kind of can see it,” she said.
“I’m going to churches to perform and worship with people. Probably every two years we’re looking at releasing another album.”
Grinder said she already has many more songs written. “With the writing process, you kind of take songs to your producer, and the songs that are picked (for an album) will just go better together,” she said.
Lucio “Lu” Rubino, an accomplished vocalist, musician, songwriter and producer became a key element in the sound of the songs on “Sanctuary.”
“Lu did a brilliant job of capturing Sarah’s heart in the creation of this EP,” said Sarah’s manager, Jeff McLaughlin.
The “Sanctuary” disc will be available Tuesday on itunes.com as well as inov8music.com.
An ecstatic Grinder said, “It’s real to me now. People have been super supportive. I’m just so thankful.”
Upcoming performances for Grinder include those Dec. 8 at First Church of God in Warren, Pa., and Dec. 24 at the North Apollo Church of God in Armstrong County. She said she is continuing to schedule additional performances.
She has already shared the stage with notable artists Jeremy Camp, Mandisa, Anthem Lights, Audio Adrenaline, Sanctus Real, Rachael Lampa, Leslie Woods, and Group 1 Crew.
