When VaShawn Mitchell heard the Atlanta-based Christian group Housefires perform "Joy," the song tugged at his spirit.
“It spoke life to me at the time I heard it, thus I decided to arrange it and share the message of ‘Joy’ to the world,” said the award-winning gospel singer and songwriter.
Joy, said Mitchell “is just the assurance knowing that God has given us joy with salvation. Understanding that happiness is external and based on what’s happening determines if you will experience it, but joy is internal and nothing around can affect that. “
When he was going though a rough patch, he remembered what his grandmother used to say: “This joy that I have the world didn’t give it and the world can’t take it away!”
The song, which was recently released on various digital platforms, is the first single from his seventh album, “Secret Place,” which will be released in November.
The 13-track project includes “Jesus Loves Me”, featuring Tyler Mitchell; and “Jesus Reigns” with Atlantan Tasha Cobbs.
The project was recorded in South Africa and used several local musicians and singers.
The 39-year-old singer , who splits his time between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, said it was important to incorporate the distinctive South African sound in the project. He brought over part of his ream and added South African singers and musicians. "We brought the sounds together," he said.
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