Great Awakening, The

Great Awakening, The

With its fourth release, The Great Awakening, Leeland recaptures the essence of its debut album while delving deeper into its spiritual roots; drawing from the wisdom of theologians including Salvation Army founder, William Booth. The Great Awakening, described by band members as an 11-track "worship revival experience," was produced by Paul Moak (Third Day, Matt Maher).

Leeland's writing and recording process brought together founding members - lead singer Leeland Mooring; brother, Jack Mooring on keys, and drummer Mike Smith - along with new member (and Moorings' younger sister and bassist) Shelly Mooring, who replaced the band's original bass player, Jake Holtz. Holtz, the Moorings' cousin, left the band to serve in the U.S. Army.

As a newly formed unit and fortified with contagious inspiration, The Great Awakening finds Leeland at its most complete. Each of the 11 songs is skillfully inspired by historical "fathers of the faith," including theologian Jonathan Edwards and Salvation Army founder William Booth, whose depths of belief and passion for God started stirred revival wherever they went.

Recording every song live-to-tape, this process allowed the bandmates to capture Leeland's signature energy found in its live performance. It comes naturally as the band members have history with harmonizing and playing together. "When we were kids, our parents were traveling pastors," Jack Mooring shares. "The three of us would jump in the car with them and lead worship services and revivals."

Along with the natural rhythms and harmonies that were molded when they traveled the country as a family, recording for The Great Awakening brought a deep sense of musical resurgence and together, the band felt a fresh stirring of both personal and global revival. Leeland feels it captured the passion of the "revival experience" that often occurs during its compelling live set.

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