Green Pastures Gospel Music: THE ISAACS

The Isaacs

For 21+ years, The Isaacs have forged a uniquely artistic path from the mean streets of New York City to the foothills of Eastern Kentucky and down every stretch of highway in between and beyond—fusing bluegrass, gospel and country—to make an extraordinary mark on three distinctive genres of music.

But when the time came to record their 30th album, they were looking to shake up the status quo, to break new ground musically. So with the help of producer Mark Bright, (who also produced Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Sara Evans) and the opportunity to record at Reba McEntire's Starstruck Studio, The Isaacs set out to show what they're really made of. BIG SKY, the band's second release for Gaither Music Group, is the stunning, eclectic and joyful result.

"Our goal in going with Mark Bright was our confidence that he was someone who knew about acoustic music but someone who would push us," says Ben. "We love the Heroes album, but we wanted to be challenged. And man, did Mark step up. It's hard to play and sing this stuff. Playing offbeats and singing downbeats. It's definitely a step up for us, although lyrically it's similar to 2004's Heroes."

And not unlike Heroes, BIG SKY celebrates what really matters: life, love and the pursuit of happiness as designed only by God. "Overall," Sonya explains, "Big Sky is all about the fact that life is good. It's a message of hope and our way of encouraging folks to just enjoy the life they've been given and to be grateful for each new day."

... All I need is the room to run
where the horizon is endless and heaven shines on me at night
... and find a place that's mine under a big sky

"Big Sky," the first single off the new album, has everything fans have come to expect from The Isaacs...and then some. With great lyrics that reach down into your soul and a simply irresistible tune, the song compels listeners to take time out. "It's about how life can get so busy and everything and everyone just seems so plastic and how important it is to get back to where you can find yourself again." Sonya adds.

Parents will especially gravitate to "Barbie Band-Aids," a beautiful ballad that Becky and Sonya penned with Cindy Morgan ("I Will Be Free"). It's a tender song story about the pride and pain of growing up and letting go..."one Barbie Band-Aid at a time."

"Walk On," a hand-clapping romp about perseverance when times are tough, is proof enough that The Isaacs' bluegrass roots are as strong as ever. Its driving banjo/fiddle rhythm-fest and intricate harmonies are simply irresistible.

In these and other songs on BIG SKY, The Isaacs sing about those complex places where faith and real life collide. The struggle. The messiness. The togetherness. The truth.

Still, it's not a stretch to say that BIG SKY represents more than just a bold, new chapter in The Isaacs' music career and ministry. But one thing is for certain. The Isaacs will always be a family band. Emphasis on family. They will always sing to the people who come to hear them sing—country folk, city folk and all the folks in between. They will always 'dance with the one who brung 'em.'

"It doesn't matter where we go or how the music changes or grows, we'll always be glad for the home folks, for the bluegrass and southern gospel fans who have supported us," Sonya says. "And I think they'll always be excited for us."

BIG SKY sheds a whole new light on The Isaacs, and yet it's 100% who they've always been. Consummate musicians, singers and songwriters with a big, organic family-band sound and even bigger hearts.

"My dream and aspiration for BIG SKY," Lily says, "would be that we would reach even more people with this message of hope. People outside the expected circles. That they would see a family singing about love and life songs and know that yes, you can live your life after divorce, you can live your life after you have lost a child, you can live your life if you have cancer. There's a whole world out there who needs that hope."