Mission House, the creative duo - comprised of Jess Ray and Taylor Leonhardt, has released their first, self-titled EP - Mission House. They share, "What we hope more than anything is that it brings the reality of Jesus into people’s lives. The first worship records that we really loved were that way for us -- they gave us new language for loving Jesus, ways to talk to God we didn’t have before. We hope people catch a glimpse of the love and peace and belonging that can only be found in God."
Taylor opens up about her life that led to writing their song "I Don’t Have Much." "There was a six-month period several years ago when it felt like everything was hitting the fan in my life. I was working multiple jobs just to pay my rent, I totaled my car, I seemed to be spinning my wheels musically. I felt a lot of shame around it, like I had nothing to show for myself. But out of that low moment, I had to learn to ask for help and most of all -- to receive it. The kindness and generosity of God doesn’t make sense to me, but it has absolutely changed me. He is not looking for me to prove myself, but he is inviting me to give my heart to him, to find my life inside of his life."
Jess shares that "Nothing Left To Do" was written in the Summer of 2017. "When a number of close friends were in major family and faith crisis, I sat on the back porch of a lake house feeling utterly helpless and broken and once again felt the love and understanding that can only be found in the presence of Jesus, and I began to sing this song. It’s funny that it’s such a happy sounding song that was really born out of such a season of sadness, but I guess that’s what true joy is really about."
They both share that "Vision of Your Love," is the combination of a few spontaneous choruses that have came from our Monday night worship gathering. They are simple prayers and responses to the goodness of God."
In asking Taylor and Jess what makes Mission House unique, they answer, "The most obvious thing that makes us unique is the fact we’re a worship band fronted by two women. We don’t know that there’s another example of that in the industry right now. Neither of us have traditional 'worship' voices, like the big powerhouse ballad thing or the soft, dainty, pretty thing. We tend to do everything -- vocals, production, melodies, etc. through a folk-rock lens. And our influences as a band are all outside the CCM genre -- folks like Tom Petty, Kacey Musgraves, and The Killers."
Mission House (Self Titled EP) - Mission House
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