Boasting a soulful voice that is similar to Adele and impressive instrumentation, Lauren Daigle, recently signed to Centricity Music, has debuted in a big way with How Can It Be. This five-song EP reveals a talented young woman who passionately desires to use her voice to glorify God.

In the opening minute of "How Can It Be," Lauren sings somberly over a delicate piano, but it isn't long before she stretches her voice, displaying an extraordinary range and vocal prowess. She sings with such emotion that you truly feel her overwhelming sense of awe and deep gratitude for what Jesus did on the cross. The fun mid-tempo pop song, "O' Lord," lightens the mood a bit with its playful instrumentation and casual dance vibe. "Come Alive (Dry Bones)" might not stray too far from the current CCM formula (light synths, powerful sing-along chorus, and a touch of strings and piano), but it is played well enough that it does not hinder Lauren's beautiful voice and the scripture-inspired lyrics from carrying the song to great heights.

Album highlight "Power To Redeem" takes a stripped-down approach with its mellow drum beat, intricate guitar picking, and gentle strings. All Sons & Daughters join Lauren here, providing the perfect touch of background vocals. Towards the end of the song, Lauren, David, and Leslie give you chills as they sing in harmony, "With breath it brings the dead to life / with words that pierce the dark with light / only by the blood are we set free." The closing track, "Light of the World," is a Christmas offering that was previously released on Centricity's compilation, Christmas: Joy to the World. Its inclusion on this EP is a little odd, but it hardly interrupts the album's flow as the song does not have a particularly Christmas-y sound.

Lauren Daigle does not need an energetic glossy pop song to grab your attention; she can pull you in with her infectious personality, breathtaking voice, and honest songwriting. How Can It Be serves as an excellent introduction to an artist with a bright future.

**It is also worth noting that the physical version of this album, found on Centricity's website or at Lauren's live shows, contains four additional tracks.

- Review date: 12/11/14, written by Christopher Smith of Jesusfreakhideout.com