Just when you think you’ve pegged Brooke Ligertwood as a certain type of artist, she surprises you with an unexpected move you never saw coming. Enter “EAT,” her third solo endeavor under her married name. The sonic feast serves up 10 new tracks whose respective lyrical content is verbatim Scripture.
While countless songs in the Church cannon can be traced back to specific Bible verses or Biblical parables, the selections recorded for “EAT” encompass full, often complex, passages of Scripture. At its core, the album’s concept is rooted in an anchor verse found in Matthew 4:4 where Jesus is tempted in the wilderness and says, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Created during a difficult season where Ligertwood was personally meditating on Scripture as a lifeline, “EAT” felt divinely inspired as she began to hear melodies tailor-made to accompany the truth she was devouring.
Sonically diverse, “EAT” draws on a divergent palette of sounds and textures all cohesively woven together by the Word of God. Ligertwood co-produced the record with longtime collaborator Jason Ingram; and her husband, Scott, designed all of the pop art imagery surrounding the unique project.
At first blush, “EAT” feels like a massive departure from 2022’s live set, “SEVEN,” and 2023’s studio successor, “EIGHT.” The GRAMMY® winner replaces congregational-friendly fare[KS1] with songs primed for more personal, reflective worship. Yet, longtime fans of the New Zealand-born songstress, who have diligently followed her secular career under her maiden name, Brooke Fraser, won’t be phased by this quirky detour. No matter the shape her calling has taken — mainstream pop star, global worship leader, respected solo artist — Ligertwood’s bullseye has remained at the intersection of art and theology. Therefore, “EAT” unfolds like a natural next step for the highly regarded musician.
Ligertwood is so esteemed among her peers, in fact, that even before the album released, fellow artists like Brandon Lake, Kari Jobe, Kristian Stanfill, CAIN, TAYA and Charity Gayle were leaving comments on her Instagram, expressing their excitement for her upcoming music. None of those artists are featured guests on the project; they’re simply fans of Brooke and the exquisite art she continues to offer the world.
Speaking of guests, “EAT” welcomes its fair share of unexpected pairings that make the effort feel both communal and musically diverse. Louisiana native Lauren Daigle and emerging act The New Respects lend a soulful flair to album opener “Watchmen,” based on Psalm 130.
Elsewhere, the first 14 verses of Psalm 27 thoughtfully span sister selections “Though War Break Out Against Me” and “In The Land Of The Living.”
Together with rising crossover talent Victory Boyd, Ligertwood brings the natural beauty of Jeremiah 17:7-8 to life on “Water,” a crescendoing rock anthem, heavy on guitars and stacked vocals. Meanwhile, Philippians 2:6-11 is front and center on her duet with Abbie Gamboa via “Even Death On A Cross!,” a quietly urgent selection and one of the album’s finest sonic moments.
Later, on “Looking” — drawn from Psalm 123 — Ligertwood’s intimate vocal joins that of fellow producer Jason Ingram, whose singing voice is rarely heard, despite the fact that he’s written and produced many of the biggest songs sung in churches each week.
Although she blends an array of colorful ingredients, Ligertwood’s warm tone acts as the through line across the innovative work. Organically soothing, the selections on “EAT” can either be sung over listeners or hungrily savored, with repetition hopefully breeding memorization. “EAT,” however, is not simply an appetizer. It serves up a hearty meal, giving those who enjoy it the chance to write entire passages of Scripture on their hearts.
Obviously, the Bible is a deep well of lyrical poetry, begging the question of a sequel. It remains to be seen whether this will be a one-off special project for Ligertwood or the first volume in a series. That’s partially what keeps her artistic trajectory interesting; you never know which path she’ll take next. One thing, however, is for sure: “EAT” will satisfy all who are eager to taste and see that the Lord is good.
