Like any other genre of music, gospel fans love a good family act. The longevity of groups like The Hawkins Family, The Winans, The Clark Sisters and Bebe & CeCe Winans, along with the popularity of current groups like Forever Jones and The Walls Group, is a testament to this fact. So when Dove Award-winning sister act Virtue announced that they were heading back to the studio earlier this year, fans were delighted. Although the trio (Karima Kibble, Ebony Holland and Heather Martin) took an eight-year break to focus on raising their families and pursuing other avenues of personal growth, their familial bond grew stronger than ever. So when the opportunity to record a sixth studio album came around, there was no question that they were ready to make music together again.
Virtue returns to the music scene under a new label (Mixed Bag Entertainment) and with a new look to boot. Thankfully, though, their signature sound remains the same and shines brilliantly on their comeback single, “You Are.” The powerful ballad testifies of our need for Divine Intervention to make it through the struggles and obstacles of life. Their distinctive voices are showcased individually throughout the song. Karima’s emotive strength carries the first verse, followed by the delicate gracefulness of Ebony’s vocals on the chorus and Heather’s powerful grit on the second verse. When their voices come together for the remainder of the song, the harmonic interplay, underscored by a sweeping string arrangement, takes the song to soaring heights.
If you could use a dose of positive inspiration, hit the play button below. The single will be available for purchase on iTunes on November 4th. In the meantime, keep up with Virtue on their website and social media outlets, then stay tuned for the new album in early 2015.