Sign up for our free newsletter:

Genre:		Pop, Urban/R&B;
For fans of:		Beyoncé, Karen Clark Sheard, Crystal Lewis, Avalon, Janet Jackson
Label:		September Day Records

	Buy 'em here! Set You Free

Walk through the door of Tammy Trent's home, and immediately your attention will be pulled—as if by a magnet—to a larger-than-life painting on the wall. You cannot avoid it. The breathtaking ocean blue swirl draws you in; the clear brilliance of the sun splashing upon the ocean view bids you come closer. The colors alone could sweep you away. But then, as if simply appearing out of nowhere, you'll see her. A young woman with blonde hair stands on the veranda, looking out at the ocean. Next to her is an empty table, one chair, one letter, and one rose. She's looking for something. This beautiful painting was a gift to Tammy, painted by a close friend in the summer of 2000. It was entitled "To Remember." How could she have known that just a year later, this painting would literally come to life … real life.

On a stunning September day in 2001, Tammy's soul mate and husband of 11 years, Trent Lenderink, dove into the blue waters of Jamaica and landed in the arms of Jesus. There, alone on the beach with nothing but faith to hold on to, Tammy began an unimaginable journey.

In the five years since Trent's death, Tammy has—step by step—gathered up the courage to walk through the doors God has opened. Through tears, she's shared her and Trent's story of love and loss before thousands at Women of Faith and REVOLVE conferences. Because her story inspired women of all ages, W Publishing asked Tammy to write a book. Her biography, Learning To Breathe Again: Choosing Life and Finding Hope After A Shattering Loss, was published in 2004, followed by her devotional/gift book, Beyond The Sorrow: There's Hope in the Promises of God, published in 2005 by J. Countryman.

But an artist is an artist, and after five long years without a brush in her hand, so to speak, this singer/songwriter felt it was time to do something about it. So in early 2005, Tammy began to write new songs—not so much about the road she's traveled as about where she stands today. I See Beautiful is the hope-drenched result.

"'I See Beautiful' was one of the first songs I wrote for the new project, and I knew right away that it would be the title track of the album," Tammy says. "I wasn't making a record just to make a record. I owed it to myself to sing the story that I've been given. What flowed out of me had everything to do with where I was at that exact moment, that place in the healing process where I made the choice to look at everything differently—the rainfall, a sunset, a flower in bloom. I could look for life in it or I could see it as death. With this one, as with all the songs that emerged, I wanted listeners to know that I'm doing okay, that I'm choosing to see all of it as beautiful, somehow."

From the first beat of "Real Life," the album's opener, to the last note of "Pray (The FloodZone Remix)," I See Beautiful—which Tammy co-produced with Tim Miner, John Mandeville and Tony Montana—delivers a colorful collection of ballads and triumphant anthems that sail beyond the confines of 2000's well received Set You Free. Longtime fans will hear what they've always loved about Tammy's music: contemporary pop, danceable, memorable, straight-up songs full of hope and truth.

Perhaps the most in-your-face song on all of I See Beautiful is "Pray," a rousing dance track that brings the whole house at Women of Faith and REVOLVE out of their seats to dance and shout right along with Tammy, 'Does anybody wanna pray with me! Do you really wanna pray with me!' Tammy says, "I

wanted to write a song about praying because so many people have prayed for me. They've honestly stood in the gap for me when I couldn't stand on my own. I've always known the importance of prayer, being raised in a Christian home, but it had never reached me so deeply until the day I stood on the edge of the water alone, the morning of September 11th, 2001." Tammy goes on to say, "I could write hundreds of ballads on prayer, but I wanted to create something different. A song of celebration, a spontaneous party, something that communicates how important prayer is, and how much we need each other. There is hope and joy knowing we're connected in such a powerful way."

"For me, laughter and joy has been my healing," Tammy adds. "I can't sing that song without dancing around like a mad woman most times. It leaves no room for doubt that there is joy in my life, despite my circumstances. I often forget that people are watching," she says, laughing. "It's not so much the dance as it is the movement. I am moving. I am breathing. I am fighting for life. I am here, and I am trusting God."

Those unfamiliar with Tammy's past recording efforts will delight in the un-categorical, eclectic blend of dance-pop melodies and heartfelt worship found here.

"I've always tried to be true to who I am and to the calling I feel God has placed on my life," Tammy says. "I See Beautiful really captures so much of what's important to me, in life and in music. I love the fun, dance songs and the energy of wrapping yourself up in God's life-giving truth. And I can't imagine my life without worship. All these songs are my way of responding to God's sustaining grace in my life."

"Rescue Me," one of the first songs Tammy wrote after Trent's death, is an intimate cry for help that will undoubtedly resonate with anyone who has been in a desperate situation. "When you're absolutely broken and you don't know the right prayer, the right words, and you have nothing left to give, there's nothing left to do but throw your hands in the air and surrender. In that moment, God is the only answer you need. Somehow, God is enough. Always has been, always will be."

"Stop the World" was written only days after Trent's death, while Tammy was stuck in Jamaica. Two weeks later, it was sung at his funeral. "It is definitely the hardest song I've ever had to record in the studio," Tammy says, "but I wanted to honor him for the miracle of life he was to me for over 18 years of our relationship and how that still affects my life today."

You're my miracle of life / You're everything I breathe
I wanna fall asleep in your eternity
So I let the winters fall spring the summer free
If the season is your love / Stop the world for me

"At the Foot of the Cross," a song written by Scottish worship leader Kathryn Scott, is perhaps the song that launched the whole I See Beautiful ship.

And you've won my heart, yes you've won my heart / Now I can
Trade these ashes in for beauty / And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy / I lay every burden down
At the foot of the cross

Back in 2004, Tammy felt led to sing "At the Foot of the Cross" after sharing her testimony on a national television program, and within hours, hundreds of emails came pouring in for her version of the song. Without any plans to record a new album at the time, she found herself replying to each email, "It's not available yet, but it will be on a new album coming out next year."

So that was God's way of gently pushing Tammy to move forward into the next season of her life's calling … and toward creating the most rewarding, most important recording of her career.

"I knew it wouldn't be an easy process," she says of I See Beautiful. "It was scary, not having Trent to lean on. He had been my manager for most of my career, and now I had to make all the decisions myself. But I had to stop and take a good look at what God has done in my life, what He continues to do with each passing season. He's bringing all the broken pieces back together. It's not perfect, probably never will be, but there's been progress in my life and somehow I wanted to share that with the world.

"God has given me a gift. He gave me a voice, but not just to sing. He gave me the ability to speak and communicate, and this is the big story He gave me to tell. He trusted me to tell it all for His Glory and to share the Hope that I know is real. I want others to know that same Hope that I have found in Him. Whether it's through a new book or a new CD, I want my days to matter and I want to make a difference. I will be faithful with my life, and I will choose to see beautiful through it all."

				Try an Issue of Today's Christian RISK-FREE! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Today's Christian coming, honor your invoice for just $17.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issues are yours to keep, regardless. Give Today's Christian as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Sign up now for the Christian Music Today weekly newsletter:    RSS Feed   RSS Help