Tag: Darin & Brooke Aldridge

How a small North Carolina church shaped Darin & Brooke Aldridge’s new album

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ANDREW TAYLOR SR.

Darin & Brooke Aldridge have spent their career singing about faith, family and home, but on their new album “Soul Condition,” out now on Billy Blue Records, they went looking for something a little more specific: the sound of where they actually come from.

The eleven-track record marks the duo’s 11th studio album and brings in some serious bluegrass and gospel firepower, with Grand Ole Opry members Sonya Isaacs and Becky Isaacs of The Isaacs joining alongside GRAMMY winner Jason Crabb. But for Darin Aldridge, the album’s emotional center didn’t come from a Nashville studio. It came from a small church in Avery County, North Carolina.

“Speaking of our heritage back in western North Carolina, we got to go up to my uncle’s church that he’s pastored at now in Linville Falls, North Carolina,” Aldridge says. He and Brooke called in family for the occasion, pulling together as many aunts, uncles and cousins as could make it on short notice. “We called a bunch of our aunts and uncles and cousins that we could get together in one afternoon,” he recalls. “And we all come to that little community church and sang several hymns that day.”

The session had the feel of a family reunion as much as a recording date. Aldridge played guitar, his cousin Tommy and his mother took turns on piano, and Brooke’s parents rounded out the room. “I played a little guitar. My cousin Tommy played piano and my mom played piano. Brooke’s mom and dad were there,” he says, before turning to his wife to confirm the memory. “Wasn’t it, Brooke?”

The goal was simple: capture one of the songs from Soul Condition sung by an actual family choir, voices that had known each other, and those hymns, for generations.

For Brooke Aldridge, the afternoon delivered more than they expected. “It turned out so very special in that little church there,” she says, “and I think it’ll give people a good taste of where we come from and how we were raised.” That, she adds, is exactly what she and Darin set out to do with the record. “That’s exactly what we were trying to capture in Soul Condition.”

Understanding the Message of ‘Dear Lord’ by Darin & Brook Aldridge

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WILLIAM DESJARDINS

Darin & Brooke Aldridge’s song “Dear Lord” has reached #4 on The Singing News Bluegrass Chart for November. The song’s lyrics echol the message of 2 Corinthians 12:9, where the apostle Paul writes about his “thorn in the flesh” and God’s response: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

“It’s kind of just a prayer almost,” says Darin Aldridge about the song. “It’s just talking and coming and humbly asking the Lord for His help and guidance, like we always do.” He explains that each verse continues this prayer format.

Brooke Aldridge explains the song’s main message. “God will bring you out of anything that you’re ever going through,” she said. She adds that the song reminds listeners to include God in their daily activities.

“We all go through those times and really should hit our knees more every day,” she says.

The song’s connection to Paul’s biblical account is clear. While Paul’s prayers for relief weren’t answered as he hoped, the text suggests his thorn in the flesh served a purpose. Similarly, the Aldridges’ song discusses how faith can help during difficult times.

“This song definitely speaks to people,” Brooke notes, pointing to its message about God’s help during challenges.