Lauren Talley stretches beyond the familiar boundaries of Southern Gospel on Walls (Part One), a new six-song EP released Aug. 21 through Horizon Records.
Producer Jason Webb helps Talley move among Southern Gospel, worship and contemporary Christian influences. Still, she retains the vocal style that has defined her career.
The project changes shape from song to song while keeping its focus on God’s power, grace and presence.
‘Walls’ Gives Lauren Talley More Room to Move
The title track offers one of the clearest examples of the EP’s broader musical palette.
“Walls” leans into rhythm, gritty guitars and a bluesy edge. The arrangement gives Talley a more assertive setting than listeners may expect from her traditional Southern Gospel work.
Elsewhere, “So So Good” pushes the energy higher. By contrast, “Mercy” and “Little Faith” move in a quieter and more vulnerable direction.
Talley said the variety serves a larger purpose rather than simply allowing her to experiment with different styles.
“My most important job is to help the listener encounter the presence of God,” Talley said.
That idea provides a common thread through arrangements that otherwise reach across several corners of Christian music.
From ‘Mercy’ to ‘Look At The Lamb’
Several songs from the project arrived before the full EP.
Talley released “Walls” in March, followed by “Mercy” in April and “Look At The Lamb” in May.
Her version of “Mercy” brings Southern Gospel and worship influences together in a more intimate setting.
Talley first encountered the song while accompanying another singer at church. She then brought her own approach to the recording.
Meanwhile, “Look At The Lamb” gives Talley room to move toward full-scale worship. The song also places more emphasis on her own writing.
Together, the songs show why Walls (Part One) works better as a collection than a set of interchangeable singles.
Each track gives Talley a different musical setting while maintaining the same center.
A Broader Chapter in Talley’s Solo Career
Talley has spent much of her career inside Southern Gospel, first as part of The Talleys and later as a solo artist.
Her work with the family group included lead vocals on 11 No. 1 songs. She also earned a 2015 Dove Award for “Hidden Heroes.”
Later, her 2017 solo album The Gospel reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Southern Gospel chart.
Talley has gradually widened her solo catalog as well.
In 2019, she released Glorious God: Songs of Worship and Wonder and Loudest Praise: Hymns of Mercy, Love and Grace.
The first project emphasized contemporary worship material. Meanwhile, the second collection drew more heavily from hymns.
Walls (Part One) brings more of those musical instincts together in one place.
As a result, Talley does not have to choose between Southern Gospel, worship and contemporary Christian music. Instead, the EP gives those influences room to share the same project.
Listen to Lauren Talley’s Walls (Part One).