Julie Elias – Awaken (Radio Edit)

Labels: A-Sides Radio Promotion
Number of Tracks: 1
Total Time: 3:45
From the Album: A Girl Like Me
Formats: Christian, Christian AC, Christian Inspo
Available Date & Time: September 14, 2017 12:00 PM ET
Impact Date: September 14, 2017
Country: USA

Unique. It’s a description we sometimes don’t want to have as it is sometimes we just want to blend in with the crowd. But we weren’t born to blend in; we were created with different strengths and gifts; from the beginning, we were designed to be truly unique. One of the more unique independent Christian artists is Julie Elias and her new album, "A Girl Like Me" celebrates that uniqueness…and all of the struggles it takes to get there.

Julie’s beginnings included time as an actress in Hollywood, learning how to be a fake cop on "CSI:NY" and how to save a mannequin on "Grey’s Anatomy." These experiences have provided a totally unique foundation to her chapter as a Christian singer and songwriter, as well as topics for speaking on beauty and rejection for people across the country. After accolades with Julie’s debut album, "A Wild Rose" and her follow-up worship album. "Love Rain Down," Julie wanted to develop her effectiveness on an audience that was quickly becoming both her passion and her niche: teen girls.

In 2014, she created Aurora Ministries, a 501(c)3 in April 2014 which would be the foundation of the Aurora Conference. The conference features music, speaking and most importantly an emphasis on how God sees each and every girl in attendance. Julie’s last album, "Unbroken" was not only a project full of original songs, it is meant to be a companion for the Aurora Conference. Songs have been created based on topics teens face every day – and lets face it, these issues are NOT limited to just teenagers!

This concept was hugely effective and Julie is taking it more personal with her newest album "A Girl Like Me." For so many, there are constant reminders of what we don’t have and ways in which we are not good enough. We accept our faults in an unhealthy way and think we are only our mistakes and our failures. Personally for Julie, this has been a real struggle, feeling many of times like she is "not good enough" for the things she deeply desires…and then of course feeling guilty about not being thankful for the things we do have makes us beat ourselves up even more. But even when life isn’t what we want it to be, God is still good. The title song, "A Girl Like Me," is about how despite our shortcomings, a girl like me…is still worthy of a King. Nothing we can do will make us "not good enough" for God. Echoes of this central theme are evident in every song throughout the album.

"Awaken," is the first single from the new album. It’s about closing the chapter of darkness in your life and stepping out into the light, committing to God that you’re ready to obey Him and do His work. The song is inspired by Romans 13:12 which says "The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." It is truly an anthem, with big guitars and a soaring melody all backed by a powerful message.

One of Julie’s personal favorites of the album is a throwback to a song she sang a million times in youth group by one of the classic youth group bands, dc Talk. The song "In the Light" was an energized catchy tune that swept teens across the country when it came out in the mid-90s. A reimagining but keeping to the original style, "In the Light" is totally in line with so many of her talking points to the teen girls – it is definitely one Julie is excited to share with a new generation!

There are several songs in "piano-pop" style that is becoming one of Julie’s signatures, including "Forgive Me" a song about repairing a relationship and "Only For Awhile," a semi-autobiographical tune about how the seasons we go through in life make us who we are. There are also exciting worship songs such as a cover of Kim Walker-Smith’s "Alive" and a new high-energy original penned by Julie called "Unchained." The theatrical ballad "Wherever You Roam" has an 80s rock feel and a message of hope for anyone starting a new chapter. The song was written with high school graduates in mind as they embark on their first experience away from home. Several personal songs round out the album, such as "Run Away" and "Lost," written about times in Julie’s life where she had to fight her "flight" response and trust that God was indeed in control- definitely a recurring theme for so many of us!

Through various musical styles and influences, the album centers over one theme. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 says this: "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." We need to acknowledge those very weaknesses, fears and failures that make us feel like we aren’t good enough; but instead of succumbing as a helpless victim, we need to choose to trust God more than we did before and fight the darkness with bravery and fortitude He gives us.

Musically, Julie once again combines her love of different genres in her own unique style…if you could combine classic rock with musical theatre and top it off with the aforementioned "Piano Pop" (think Sara Bareilles, Christina Perri,) and girl rock (i.e. BarlowGirl, Kelly Clarkson, P!nk) you might get kinda-sorta close to what she is going for. Like so many other aspects of her life, personality and talents, her music is frankly and utterly…unique.

A California girl by birth, Julie went to college in Colorado where she majored in history and musical theater. She now lives outside of Dallas, Texas with her awesome dog, Fiona and Brody, who is a crazy puppy that we are all adjusting to. Julie is an Anglophile and loves all things British…except Scandinavia is a close second. In her free time, she loves traveling and you can most likely find her outdoors (as long as humidity isn’t too high!), reading a book on the beach or bundled up on the ski slopes. "A Girl Like Me" releases nationwide October 6, 2017.

http://julieeliasmusic.com

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