After releasing her 5-song EP Head & Heart in 2019, singer/songwriter Amanda Danziger has decided to take things a little slower (at least compared to modern standards), releasing one single in 2020. But she jump-started 2021 with another new single, "Intercede." Danziger follows in the footsteps of singers like Audrey Assad and JJ Heller, albeit with a bit more of a synthetic pop sound. The song isn't necessarily a busy song, but it does have a lot of things going on: a mid-tempo, techno-like thumping beat in the chorus; pretty, music box-style verses; and electric guitars near the end that take the song out in grand fashion. Additionally, Danziger uses a lot of layered vocals when it enhances the song, but she also shows off her singing skills from time to time with no layers, proving herself as a wonderful vocalist. Lyrically, "Intercede" pulls from Romans 8:26-27, which says, ""Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." Danziger recounts the times in prayer where we can be so desperate for something from God without necessarily knowing what. The lyrics are rather simple, but easy to resonate with: "Dear Spirit, I'm weak, intercede for me / deep inside, search my heart, know my mind / intercede for me, pray the words I cannot / search me and know me, intercede for me." With her terrific combination of solid indie pop music, strong vocals, and honest, relatable lyrics, Amanda Danziger is an artist that we should pay close attention to. I hope to hear more from her sooner rather than later.

- Review date: 2/9/21, written by John Underdown of Jesusfreakhideout.com

 

Record Label: None
Album length: 1 track: 3 minutes, 29 seconds
Street Date: January 8, 2021
Get It: iTunes

1. Intercede (3:29)