The critically praised husband-wife folk duo Kenny & Claire are scheduled to release their full-length debut, Upon the Storm, on July 19. Their music points listeners to the Hope of Christ in the midst of life’s challenges. Produced by GRAMMY Award winner Mitch Dane (Brandon Heath, JJ Heller), the twelve-track album features eight contemporary interpretations of classic hymns in addition to four recently written original songs.
The title track from the album, a moving rendition of William Cowper’s 18th-century hymn “God Moves in a Mysterious Way,” is currently accessible on digital media. “God Moves (Upon the Storm),” with revised verses and a new arrangement by Kenny & Claire and Mitch Dane, have special significance for the couple in the wake of Kenny’s battle with a brain tumor and the diagnosis of a life-altering chronic condition.
“Even though we don’t always understand God’s actions, we acknowledge that He is a merciful God, and we are creatures in need of mercy,” Kenny says. This is one of the reasons the line from “God Moves (Upon the Storm)” that reads, “Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face,” is so potent. Though there is much strife, darkness, and storminess in this life, God, in His compassion, watches over us and desires for us to overcome these struggles for our benefit.
According to Claire, “we have consistently turned to the promises of Scripture as well as the lyrics of old hymns in our own struggles with suffering—particularly related to Kenny’s health.” “God Moves (Upon the Storm)” serves as a powerful reminder of God’s absolute control over everything, even a frightening prognosis. The sobering truth is that, although we are unable to completely comprehend the Lord’s magnificence and that sometimes what He permits might be unbelievably painful, He is dependable and faithful. This hymn acknowledges the truth of life’s storms while lifting our gaze to God.
Upon The Storm, which is distinguished by deliberate, organic arrangements firmly rooted in a folk/Americana soundscape, also includes Kenny & Claire’s trademark interpretations of well-known hymns like “O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” and “Come Thou Fount,” in addition to an incredibly moving performance of the well-known Keith Getty and Stuart Townend hymn, “In Christ Alone.” The new songs, which are penned by Kenny & Claire and Mitch Dane and include “Surely His Goodness,” “Have Mercy on Us,” and “We Believe,” thematically connect the past and present.
Kenny says, “We want to be singing the songs that saints who have gone before us sang.” “It gives us solace to know that our brethren who finished their race honorably sang these hymns and that they are among the Great Cloud of Witnesses, inspiring us to lay aside the burden of sin and finish honorably.”
Claire continues, “Our goal is for this record to serve as a beacon in the midst of life’s storms, pointing to the majesty, power, sovereignty, and holiness of the Lord.” We have required songs that draw our hearts to Christ and encourage us to rest in His magnificent Gospel because of our personal experiences. As stated in 2 Corinthians 1:4, we want the music we listen to together to be songs that we ourselves need—songs that “comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
