Kerrie Roberts was born on January 1, 1985.
She began singing at age five in her mother's church choir. Later she would play piano and lead worship
at church. While she was in high school
she started writing her own songs. She
has a degree in studio music and jazz vocal.
After school she toured as a background singer for the one and only
Englebert Humperdinck. Kerrie put out
her self-titled debut album in August 2010.
Songs from it such as 'No Matter What' and 'Outcast' got CCM
airplay. Her latest project is TIME FOR
THE SHOW (2013, Reunion Records).
The first cut is the title track which is a dance number penned by Roberts,
Stephanie Lewis, and David Garcia. It
reminds believers of their identity and purpose: "You are the light of the
world/A city on a hill that can't be hidden/You are the salt of the
earth/Glorify your Father in Heaven/A billion tiny flames breaking through the
dark/Show His love/Show His mercy/Show His heart". 'Sing' is a cool dance number that finds
Kerrie very excited about her faith: "No, I won't be quiet/I'll sing and
shout/I cannot be silent/You put the music in my heart/It's screaming out/I
feel like jumping/Feel like dancing for You now/And sing out loud/No, I won't
be quiet/I won't be silent, no".
'What are you afraid Of' is a bouncy pop song, but lyrically lists various
things ladies may fear: "Being compared to the girl who has everything/Not
living up when the whole world's watching/Being the last to get there and the
last to know/You scream at the top of your lungs/When no one's listening/Being
a basket case over anything/Giving your whole world for love/And the boy says
no". The pretty ballad 'Finally
Home' is the album's first single and was written by Roberts, Rob Graves, Chris
Flury, and Alex Nicefor. It expresses a
longing for Heaven: "I'm reminded again and again/I live in this world as
a stranger and/As good as it's been/Or as bad as it gets/It all will end/I want
to stand where hope and faith and love/All meet in one face/Oh, I wanna be
where I can see/What I believe now.../The ultimate healing/Where hurt can't reach
me/I won't need to find every answer/All I need will be found within Your
presence".
'Middle of it All' is another great ballad, this time penned by Roberts,
Stephanie Lewis, and Rusty Varenkamp. It
could be a theme song for the Salvation Army: "I want to be the one who
stands in the fray/I want to take a chance so I can say/I'm coming through,
gonna get my hands dirty/On the journey here with You/I want to remember those
forgotten by the world/I want to be the words for those unheard/And I'll follow
You into the hardest places.../No, I won't hide behind the safety of the city
walls". 'Masterpiece' is a real
self-confidence booster: "You're a masterpiece (beautiful, colorful)/Even
if you don't believe/You're forgiven so (wonderful, loveable)/Everything you
need to be/Cause when I look at you I see/You're a masterpiece".
'Not Real Yet' is a great song that finds Kerrie in a fragile state
emotionally and spiritually: "Say that You love me/Tell me You won't
leave/I wanna believe it, hear it, I'm listening/Wish I could see You/Get close
and touch You/Lord, I need You here, please remind me/Help me feel it, it's not
real yet/It's not real yet". 'In
Your Sight' uses guitars, violins, violas, cellos, bass, and French horn. It is a ballad that I could hear Carrie
Underwood doing. Here are some of the
quite conversational lyrics: "I'm through with my emotions always guiding
me/They take me places I don't want to be/So far from You/And I've lived in
fear of failing/But that's just my pride/And I know it's not about me/Cause
I've given You my life.../Where could I go?/What could I do?/There's no place I
know/Apart from You".
'Wake Up' is a catchy pop song written by Roberts, Matt Bronleewe, and Tony
Wood. It urges us to make the most of
our time on earth: "Sun coming up far too soon/First cup of coffee at the
crack of noon/I'm moving so slowly/Never know what's coming around/Hit the
ground running or just fall down/I've got to get going/Don't wanna live so
casually/And miss the life You have for me/It's time to wake up". Dave Stovall plays piano on the closing
number 'Like Jesus Loves'. Also used are
guitars, violins, violas, cellos, bass, and French horn. The song extols Christ: "No road was too
lonely/No cost too great/No distance too far for the reach of His grace/All He
left behind, all He sacrificed/For every soul throughout all time/Nobody loves
like Jesus loves, like Jesus loves.../Come to Him, all who are broken/Come to
Him, all who are searching.../I want to love like Jesus loves".
In the CD booklet Kerrie quotes Psalm 30:12 which says: "That my heart
may sing to You and not be silent. O
Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever". Kerrie's faith message and contemporary pop
sounds are contagious. This is certainly
an uplifting collection of songs! Fans
of Natalie Grant, Britt Nicole, and Mandisa should get this record. Musically, at times it seems directed at
teens, and at other times reaches for a young adult audience. I'm rating TIME FOR THE SHOW 88%. For more info visit: www.kerrieroberts.com
and www.providentpress.com.