Top Christian Singer-Songwriter Spotlight - Pt. 2
Picture Credit: Mika Matin
Welcome back, friend!
If you are looking for your next new favorite singer-songwriter, you’ve arrived! We are continuing the journey begun in Part One of this article.
These are the wise friends who have held pen and instrument ready to clothe your moments with insights into how to walk through this life with Jesus and others.
Below you will find:
The second half of our Top 10 Christian Singer-Songwriters
Recommended album to start with for each
Our favorite lines from each songwriter
How their work impacted us as musicians
Top Singer-Songwriters - Artists 6 through 10
We covered artists one through five in Part One, but here is our full list:
Zach Winters
Sandra McCracken
Andy Squyres
John Lucas
Sara Groves
Taylor Armstrong
Jon Foreman
Andrew Peterson
Tyson Motsenbocker
Jess Ray
We want you to get to hear our favorite works by these artists, so here is a playlist of their songs for you.
Let’s go meet them!
(6) Taylor Armstrong - Up-and Coming Artist
Taylor is a fun one. “Up-and-coming” is an annoying tag to associate with him, since he has been at his craft since 2016.
But he is coming into his own in a really creative way. Leaning into the aesthetic moment of our Instagram culture, Taylor is injecting his songwriting into the lo-fi, aria-esque song style that has been popularized by young R&B stars.
Turning down the energy level, and soaking his guitar in vinyl-affectation, Armstrong has been coming out with a collection of almost stream-of-consciousness prayer-songs.
Having experimented with this sound on his 2019 collaboration with Sarah Juers, he has firmly committed to this aesthetic direction in his recent those lil god songs i posted on ig.
A direct nod to youth culture and internet culture, Armstrong continues to come out with a steady flow of singles and collaborations. His lyrics are incredibly accessible, and in their simplicity touch on the core heart’s hungers of walking with Jesus.
He writes into anxiety, depression, and identity–in this way, he is doing what a songwriter should do–penning music for the age.
If you are not a fan of lo-fi or autotune, this may not be your style. But his use of both of those sound libraries is creative and cohesive with the world his songs build.
It will be exciting to see how his artistic journey will continue to develop!
Recommended Starter Album: lil god songs i posted on ig
Favorite Lyrics: “i’m remembering”, “hillbilly emo god song i guess”
Impact on us as musicians: Taylor Armstrong has found his niche and is writing into it. His songs gather more and more effectiveness as he writes into a very specific audience. There is a great deal of empathy in this choice. To be able to be heard by an audience, you first need to hear them. We hope to do the same for our friends.
One take video of “Come What May” in a glade.
(7) Jon Foreman - Most Diverse Sound
Jon Foreman–in his multitudinal musical expressions–has likely been the single largest impact on us as musicians.
From his leadership in the pioneering alt-rock band, Switchfoot, to his involvement in the folk conglomerate, Fiction Family (headed by Foreman and Nickel Creek’s Sean Watkins), Jon Foreman was born to make ALL of the music.
If you are perusing this list, it is highly likely that you are already familiar with his solo work, but if not, then you are in for a singular treat!
Foreman has made an impressive eight EP’s and full length album, each which have been heavily themed. His first quartet of EP’s walked through the seasons, while his second quartet were his attempt to write songs that could fully encompass the four parts of a day (Dawn, Sunlight, Shadows, and Darkness).
These songs are a decided departure from his rock band material. The delightful thing about Foreman is he is not afraid to branch out into any direction that a song calls for. You’ll find an Eastern sonic palette (“In Love”) directly alongside a backyard acoustic reminiscence (“I Am Still Running”).
His lyrics are a brillant mixture of coy wisdom, grounded hope, slang, and soul. Dive into his entire repertoire!
Recommended Starter Album: listen through all of The Wonderlands quartet
Favorite Lyrics: “Ghost Machine”, “Terminal”
Impact on us as musicians: Jon Foreman is on our shortlist of role-models, and may be our answer of “If you could have lunch with anyone today, who would it be?” He is a borderwalker between inside and outside the Church.
Over years he has put honest words to the human experience, and our relationship with God and each other. But he has not fallen to a disillusioned abandonment of Jesus. He keeps translating the Gospel–to those overfamiliar with it and those foreign to it. We are excited to share music in the same vein.
“Inheritance” - an acoustic performance.
(8) Andrew Peterson - Music for the Church
Andrew Peterson is a culture shaper. From fantasy writer to film producer, from bard to social commentator, Peterson has his fingers in many mediums!
It is a beautiful thing when one person’s generative bent spurs the creativity of others. Andrew Peterson has done this in his founding of The Rabbit Room.
Inspired by “The Inklings”–a creative friend circle (that included J.R.R. Tolkein and C.S. Lewis) that gathered to encourage each other towards literary excellence–Peterson has continued the legacy of spurring on to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24).
With a voice sometimes reminiscent of James Taylor’s warm twang and clarity, Andrew Peterson has written songs for Church worship, for weddings and marriage, for the hurting, and for the hopeful.
He has been at his craft for over two decades and released over a dozen albums. Walk through his catalog to find a treasure trove of winsome wit, wisdom, and wonder.
Recommended Starter Album: Resurrection Letters Anthology (for Church) // Counting Stars (more general)
Favorite Lyrics: “Come Back Soon”, “Is He Worthy?”, “His Heart Beats”
Impact on us as musicians: Similar to Sandra McCracken, we’ve loved how Peterson’s poeticism has found an audience on Sunday morning and throughout the rest of the week.
We would love for our core mission of making music that connects folks to the Lord, each other, and their healthiest selves to mean that our songs find their way into both spheres.
Moving lyric video for “Be Kind to Yourself”.
(9) Tyson Motsenbocker - Songs of Candor
Motsenbocker’s music often hurts. But you need that sometimes, don’t you?
An incredibly insightful writer with a voice that sneaks up on you, Tyson Motsenbocker crafts songs that take you viscerally to moments in his life.
He is frequently processing things left behind, the gravitas of crossing a threshold, or the significance of a place. It is steeped in nostalgia and often borders on the melancholic.
But he wields these weapons wisely. While his songs can border on the disenchanted and deconstructed, there are jewels to be gleaned.
Listen to Motsenbocker for some sharp-witted, dusky songs.
Recommended Starter Album: Couer d’Alene
Favorite Lyrics: “Sunday Morning”, “Almira”
Impact on us as musicians: Tyson’s songs are painted in mellow, evening colors. His lyrics are clothed in autobiographical anecdotes. We are excited to share some songs that talk in this language.
Powerfully understated version of “Talk All Night For Nothing” (with a familiar face for special guest).
(10) Jess Ray - Lifelines for Wounded Souls
Real hope. We all need it. It is often why we listen to music.
Jess writes songs that are not bubble-gum, empty brightness. Nor are they rope-tough callousness of “real life.” Her records touch the beating heart of redemption in a world needing it.
Friend and partner to fellow singer-songwriter Taylor Leonhardt (covered in our Top Folk artists article) and co-founder of their side-project Mission House, Jess–like many of our favorites–makes in the context of community.
This bleeds through in her music. Ray’s breakthrough album, Sentimental Creatures, showcased her as a songwriter and producer of deft self-awareness. Her arrangements fit her voice and melodies like a glove.
A subtly smokey vocalist, she writes from herself while intentionally directing her songs to the hurting.
You will find an empathetic smile and a hand-up in her music.
Recommended Starter Album: Sentimental Creatures
Favorite Lyrics: “Too Good”
Impact on us as musicians: Jess’s songs are unashamedly songs of hope to people who need it (which is definitely me!). They come from a place of recognizing brokenness, leaning in, and helping one dream forward to redemption. Our music aims to do the same.
Live band version of “What If”.
Now go listen!
We hope you’ve discovered your next favorite artist. That is an electric moment!
Maybe you love a singer-songwriter you didn’t see here. DM us! We would love to be introduced to new musical friends by you!
If you’re still hungry to find new artists, check out our top Christian Indie and Folk articles.
If you enjoy the friends we shared above, we think you might like our music as well. Come along and join the adventure of Wind and Sail!
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Listen to songs, write songs, share songs! Bon Voyage!