Gospel Singer Tasha Cobbs Leonard On Staying impressed And ...

Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Courtesy Christian Redl

Tasha Cobbs Leonard is through a long way one of the most a success contemporary gospel artists of our time. With over 2 billion streams, one platinum listing and two gold, The Grammy winner leads the gospel class amongst latest artists. Her songs of proposal and hope have led a new technology in navigating the USAand downs of lifestyles and now an endemic. Her new album Royalty: live on the Ryman, which became written before the COVID-19 pandemic is the primary Christian gospel worship album to be recorded at the ancient Nashville track hall—The Ryman.

Debuting at #1 on the Billboard correct Gospel Albums chart, Cobbs Leonard, recorded the 17-music album live throughout the time of the pandemic making the music mainly poignant during these challenging instances. youngsters she recorded with no live audience current, Cobbs recollects imagining each adult that she became singing to and what they could perhaps experiencing in this season. Tracks such as you're Gonna Get The Glory challenge listeners now not to be distraught via all it's occurring but to lean into hope. With lyrics like

"and that i'm now not moved by means of what I see

Your hand is moving

i know you might be using this

i'll reside to sing Your victory

'cause you're gonna get the glory

you are gonna get the glory out of this."

The challenge additionally includes six compelling are living performance videos, together with the electrifying album opener "You're Gonna Get The Glory" and the reveal-stopping duet "You ought to break," that includes powerhouse vocalist and longtime collaborator Kierra Sheard.

Cobbs Leonard also currently stunned enthusiasts with the unlock of "inspite of Me," that includes platinum-selling celebrity Ciara, purchasable now. "Tasha is among the strongest voices in gospel tune and we've all the time been massive fans of hers in our house. In instances like these, i'm super thrilled to be part of a song stuffed with messages of hope and idea that may also be shared with the world. With God's love and beauty, nothing in existence is insurmountable. It's definitely a unique moment," Ciara pointed out in an announcement.

The music's lyrics have a good time God's best love for imperfect americans:

"every scar, each flaw,

You see all of it, You see it all /

You nevertheless love me, love me, regardless of me."

And Tasha Cobbs Leonard isn't simply main the Gospel charts she's additionally branched out in to business with an athleisure line for curvy ladies and an eyeglass line. I caught up with the powerhouse vocalist to focus on all of this and extra.

there is so lots going on in our world with Social justice concerns, the pandemic and politics. what is anything you're grateful for at this time regardless of it all?

Tasha Cobbs Leonard: i am grateful for family unit. i am grateful for the prayers and help of my household, my household, I think it's very critical to be surrounded by people who push you and aid you. and that they bear in mind what you're called to do, I suppose is extraordinarily important. I think it's crucial for people to have americans in [their] life who can push you, you comprehend, on those days, should you woke up capable after which some whatever thing simply happens. You be aware of, on those days, you're feeling less motivated. I believe or not it's excellent to have americans round you who can rehearse to you, howdy, here's what you're called to do. here is who you are, here is what you are top notch at. here is what you are mind-blowing at. We assist you. We do run into those days the place you just believe like, ah, I don't believe like doing this. I do not think like getting up, you be aware of, you're less encouraged. but I feel it's tremendous to have these pe ople who push you. And it can not be every person, however to have one or two individuals for your life who name at the appropriate time. and that i consider that God will display you who those americans are. I really do.

Your new album just debuted at #1. Please say greater about making this masterpiece.

Tasha Cobbs Leonard: This turned into the first Christian gospel worship album that's ever been recorded at the Ryman. So it's a heritage maker. Of route, we be aware of the Ryman theater in Nashville is a historic theater. You be aware of, one of the things that I learned in recording here's that it become built at the beginning as a cathedral; it become rebuilt as a revival center. that you could really sense that the historical, just the type the of that the room itself, it fits, royalty, you be aware of, the theme of the album. so that you simply believe that in spite of the fact that the room become empty, we recorded a reside album, in a theater of nothing however an viewers of 1. it truly is what I referred to as, it was completely extra special. simply to be in that room, with the historic potency that turned into in there. or not it's simply miraculous.

as a result of COVID-19 you needed to record live with no viewers existing. What became that like?

Tasha Cobbs Leonard: So one of the joys of my life is to guide worship, you know, with a crowd of people. I do not care if its 10 individuals or 10,000. it's my pleasure to watch individuals event God, you be aware of, in a spot of worship. and that i believe all of these experiences during the years have taught me that individuals do not necessarily need to be within the room with me, for me to be in a position to talk to them. And so while i used to be up main, I really felt like I might see the grownup of their automobile using listening to the song or the adult sitting of their living room with their babies listening to these songs, and i become leading that grownup. So no, there weren't 2500 americans in the room, but I noticed the tens of millions of individuals who I should be leading, and that they may now not be within the Ryman, but they're up there. They hear the sound of my worship, and they're hearing me lead them in worship.

You and Kierra Sheard are long time collaborators. become it distinct working together all the way through an endemic and in an empty space the place there would usually be an audience?

Tasha Cobbs Leonard: I tell everyone, she's my favourite vocalist. fingers down. The lady can just sing anything. I imply, if it be gospel, if it be pop, if it be rock, whatever thing, she will do it. Her voice is so versatile. but on precise of that, she has the personality to in shape. She is among the most humble, americans that I have ever met. She's one in all my foremost chums. after which there's just this chemistry we now have. We cannot explain it. Now people say all of the time, 'when are you going to do an album together.' it be like this anticipation. Now. each and every time considered one of us statistics they're waiting. We're ready. when we social gathering Kierra had just complete her world tour. It turned into a virtual tour that she did. She was tired.

however you understand, she became like, I've never informed my sister no, i'm on the manner. And when she obtained there, you know, she became tired. however when we received on the stage, the power, the chemistry, you may just feel it. And, I imply, it simply is what it's. I think it be simply whatever thing particular that God has given me and Kiki. We know that our followers adore it. And we'll preserve doing it as a result of we love it too.

taking note of the lyrics of Royalty. It basically is an affirmation against systemic oppression and racism. to say that, you recognize what, which you can say one thing about me, but God mentioned that i am fearfully and fantastically made. Did you intend that? Do you suppose that manner?

Tasha Cobbs Leonard: completely. I think that tune, I even have another tune. or not it's known as, you recognize, my identify. Yeah. And that tune, these two simply form of suit. as a result of from time to time you just need that reminder that no count what people say about you, no remember what the statistics say, no be counted what it appears like, here's what God says about you. And this is who he sees you as, 2020 has been a yr of problem. it be been a 12 months of stretching. Um, I consider americans are extra artistic now than we've ever been in our lives. You understand, this is an excellent factor. We have to face one of the most issues that we have now been in a position to ignore, I agree with, with the social injustice that we're seeing. or not it's, all the time been underlying, however now we have been so busy as a nation, that we have been capable of ignore it. but now it's in our faces. each person's sitting at home, and you've got to peer that here is true. this is going on to this tradition of people, and we need to tackle it, we are able to now not ignore that. I think it's a blessing that has come from this pandemic.

was that in your mind if you had been recording this album?

Tasha Cobbs Leonard: Oh, absolutely. fully. i thought about people that could be suffering with melancholy in the season. It could be convenient to fall into melancholy, when you are not conscious that you're royalty, and that this season isn't going to kill you. it's now not going to. God is ample. and that i consider that these have been one of the most reminders that once they listen to this, I saw that adult, you recognize, who turned into sitting domestic considering, Oh, my God, how am I going to deal with my children next week? Or how am I going to deliver meals and safeguard for my little ones, I see the songs being that refresher that moment where they could take a breath and say, but God is still God. And if he, if he came through for me before, he will come via again. it's the encouragement that I need individuals to acquire.

there's a song [on the album] that i love. My husband and i went via something that changed into so so very hard, right earlier than we recorded this album, and this became one of the songs that blesses me. it's known as Get the glory. And the song simply says, you're Going To get the glory even out of this. We ought to remind ourselves that, you know, this situation may be difficult for you. however everything is convenient for Jesus,

How do you get via tough times? Do you have a religious follow? How are you managing throughout the Pandemic?

Tasha Cobbs Leonard: One component that i like to share is, we've entry to those all day long all day lengthy, you understand, so we're busy, we're getting capable for work, getting able to focus on the kids. a few of us have turn into teachers in a single day, you recognize, and all of these things are like, i am so busy. When am i able to find time to simply meditate on scripture on the be aware of God? neatly, I even have adopted, you understand, simply taking part in the Bible. I play the Bible whereas i am getting dressed. and you'll be shocked the many you hear the identical scriptures over and over. however on occasion I get revelation from a fresh revelation from scripture I've heard time and again just with the aid of listening or hearing the word of God. so that you might also now not have time to sit down down together with your Bible, you understand, and simply examine, however you have got time to play it while you're getting dressed when you are to your shuttle to wo rk. I just play the Scripture. and that's probably the most leading practices that i exploit that has been so beneficial to me keeping my spiritual boom.

You're not simplest topping the gospel charts you're also constructing a body high quality company empire. Is that appropriate?

Tasha Cobbs Leonard: I do have Curve athletics. it be a comic story. When Beyoncè first came out with Ivy Park, they [release] their new collections in the dead of night, and i'm a plus dimension woman we all see. i really like myself. You understand, it took me years to get right here, however i am there and i love myself. and that i do something about myself. I trust in recreation. I consider in ingesting correct. a few of us just are chubby women and that's all correct. at the hours of darkness, they were launched Ivy Park, and every single time i might leave out the double legs, so they only had a few double legs that they might free up. And so the ultimate time it came about i was like you recognize what i go to do my own athletic wear and i just stated it similar to that and then giggled, laughed it off, but I could not shake it.

The Bible says you've got in any respect you say and so when we are saying issues they show up in our lifestyles and that i simply could not are living that down. And so I all started doing analysis asking distinctive plus size ladies, good day, 'what are one of the things that agitate you about the activewear we have now.' one of the crucial things that become consistent is that they, they roll down, you can not retain them up, they don't healthy, correct. So I simply begun doing all of this analysis. I reached out to some producers reached out to Kiki, definitely who has a plus measurement line, and that i all started asking her some questions. and that i discovered a brand, and we launched our first assortment. And individuals just began jumping on it. And so now we've curve athletics and it is truly, truly growing to be. i love, love, love, like it.

We also have Fritz eyewear, which is eyewear that is named after my father. My father passed away six years in the past. He become our pastor. He would do that thing on the conclusion of our functions, where each person will get up for the benediction. And he would always say, love every person. And so a couple of years in the past, probably four years in the past, i was considering what am i able to do to honor my dad, our family unit loves glasses. And so i assumed, well, then I might do an eyewear line that honors him. And the theme of it's to love each person during the lens, just like the lens of my father. So he adored on each person. So I actually pray over each each body. i'm very worried. My husband and that i, we do transport, we are answering emails, you recognize, I trust in constructing from the floor up. enterprise is one among my passions. i'm passionate. i am an entrepreneur. i like it.