Katy Weirich Encourages Praise and Thanksgiving on “Just One”
Enlisting the help of multi Grammy-winning songwriter and producer, Tedd T., “Just One” serves as a pre-cursor to Weirich’s upcoming EP Out of the Blue. The record, which is very close to her heart, finds a humbled Weirich, driven by a spiritual fervor. She shares that this song is meant to help her and others realize “how big God is and how small we are.” In this way, the song is a reflection of “wanting so badly to give Him something in return while knowing that we honestly have nothing to bring.” Nevertheless, “Just One” invites listeners with loving devotion to give “our hearts, our thanks and our song of praise to His name.”
About Katy Weirich:
Out of the Blue, the debut EP from singer, songwriter and worship leader, Katy Weirich (pronounced y-rick), lovingly delves into Weirich’s own experiences of being perfectly loved by her Savior. An autobiographical songwriter, Weirich pours herself into each song, drawing on her love of scripture to create songs that glorify God and celebrate the infinite love He has for His children.
Finding her gift for music and performing at a young age, Weirich attended the Bower School of Music at Florida Gulf Coast University majoring in Music Education. Plagued early on with mysterious health issues that prevented her from singing, Weirich was eventually diagnosed with clinical anxiety and depression. Once her symptoms were under control, Weirich found her voice again and thrived, learning to love music and performing more than ever.
Post college, and after marrying her high school sweetheart, Weirich took a short detour teaching music before switching gears to record an album with her acoustic duo, Barefoot Saturday. Before they were able to go into the studio, her partner left the group, leaving Weirich without a clear path forward.
Learning she was pregnant with her first child, Weirich put music temporarily on hold to focus on motherhood. After the birth, Weirich’s previous battle with anxiety manifested once again in a bout with postpartum depression. “It was a whole new level of anything I’d dealt with up to that point,” Weirich shares.
Once she recovered, Weirich had the opportunity to attend MOMcon, a yearly conference held for members of MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), where Meredith Andrews was leading worship. “That weekend, watching Meredith lead, was the first time I felt an overwhelming call that I was supposed to do worship music,” Weirich says. Energized by her new calling, she went back home and began leading worship in her church and directing the worship team at her high school alma mater.
Before her musical plans were fully formulated, Weirich had another baby. “After my second daughter was born,” she shares, “I was at the lowest point of my life with anxiety and depression.” This debilitating second period of postpartum depression was far more severe than the first, challenging Weirich in numerous ways. Still, she never lost sight of the calling on her life to write and record worship music.
Ultimately, it was those dark periods battling the “baby blues” that inspired the songs for the EP. Out of the Blue is a celebration of God’s faithfulness that, while not always visible, is always constant. When she was ready to record, a chance email led to her relationship with GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Tedd T. “I felt so strongly from the Lord to work with Tedd, and that we might create an especially unique sound in the worship scene because of our different musical backgrounds.”
The two set out to record the songs so close to Weirich’s heart. Centered on the nearness of God and his unending promises, Out of the Blue is a testament to the Lord’s tenderness. “Over the years, I’ve had to come to peace with what the Lord is doing in my life. It’s made me so utterly dependent upon Him.” Weirich’s dependence is evident in songs like “Fear Not” and “More,” where her ethereal vocals soar, reminding us that God is right here with is. He never leaves us. “Because of everything I’ve been through, I’ve learned that He is enough,” Weirich says, “just Him. I don’t need anything else.”
“Blue Jay,” a song that showcases the quality of God, El Roi, which means “the God who sees me” (Genesis 16), holds a special meaning for Weirich. “After my recovery from postpartum depression, I would always see these Blue Jays. Each time I saw one, it felt like a hug from the Lord. Then I went on a big family trip to Scotland with my mom’s family. We were driving through the country and I was looking out the window and saw a flock of Blue Jays. I didn’t even know they could flock like that. When I got back home, I flipped over my Oswald Chambers daily calendar and was surprised to see the photos on the back. They were pictures of the very places in Scotland where we’d just visited. It was a sign to me that God had gotten me through. He never left me, not even for a minute.”
As much as her own story is woven into the fabric of Out of the Blue, Weirich’s focus remains centered on pointing back to God. “The main purpose of this music is to glorify the Lord. He’s the reason for all of it. Something I’m always working on is proclaiming truth in spite of my feelings. The only anchor for our hope and our beliefs is His word. That’s why all of the lyrics on Out of the Blue are tied directly to scripture.”
Filled with both comfort and adoration, Out of the Blue is a testimony to God’s faithfulness, a beautiful and inspired collection of scripture-filled praise. The project is set for release in 2022.