Conrad Miller - My Journey

By Terrence Richburg

Conrad Miller, one of today’s up-and-coming gospel recording artists, makes his national debut with an 11-track traditional musical offering, My Journey. Produced by the renowned Steven Ford, My Journey marks a rare departure from Ford’s “signature” orchestral arrayed and rich symphonic arrangements, but instead takes you “down home” to a more fundamental place in God, integrating artist Conrad Miller’s first-hand testimony of his walk with the Lord. Amid his sincere desire to share the benefits of his successful journey with others, Conrad’s My Journey demonstrates a powerful tool and opportunity for evangelistic ministry.

With the impressive penning of every song, Conrad through My Journey leads a trek to learn of the “amazing” nature of God, the blessings of God, the power and “anointing” of the Holy Spirit, salvation through Jesus Christ, and the “change” experienced in the believer’s heart and soul. “Amazing,” a solid, side-to-side rockin’ opening track chronicles Conrad’s profound story of the many awesome miracles God has shown the world through Miller’s personal perspective and encounters, as God’s purpose for him as an artist is revealed. The pulsating beat and contagious hook won’t let you resist the urge to move and sing along with this one.

Then, ideal for getting everyone up on their feet on Sunday morning, with a southern style, quartet gospel flair, “Blessed By The Best” has strong traditional appeal as Conrad delivers one of his most uplifting lead vocal offerings on the project. “Breathe On Me” offers real hope through an earnest prayerful plea to God to impart the precious Holy Spirit’s anointing on Miller’s life for help to travail the day- to-day struggle on the believer’s journey. The melodic interplay between the lead vocal and the lead guitar is a very nice touch that further enriches this lush Gospel ballad.

With a very strong hook at the helm and a rich foundation of background vocal harmonies, “Jesus Is The Way” is a delightful, “happy feeling” kind of song, like a family outing drive on the interstate, that biblically and concisely teaches the gospel message of the coming of Jesus to miraculously save the world—a great invitational alternative to the norm. Then, Conrad takes us back to a 50’s/60’s-like finger popping ballad performance on “(I’ve Been) Changed,” highlighting an authentic vocal arrangement and moving lead and background vocal performances.

Miller reveals some of his influential roots as a singer and songwriter on “Movin’ On Up!”, with reminiscences of Curtis Mayfield’s vocal style and the hook from The Impressions’ “old-school” hit song, “We’re a Winner”—a thought-evoking return to timeless inspirational themes born out the social struggle of the past, and yet relevant to us even today.

Conrad keeps on moving to deliver a virtual tour de force of God-inspired compositions one after the other with “(He’s Done) More Than Enough For Me,” an inspiring reflective song of thanksgiving and praise to God, and a prayer of dependence on God in the emotive track, “In Your Time”. This track also offers a present-day request for God’s protection of those serving in the military (in light of the events of 9/11), and showcases the outstanding “inspirational” piano style of producer, Steven Ford.

Probably the strongest song on the entire My Journey project, “Momma Prayed For Me”, is a knee slappin’, “get up on your feet”, powerhouse with the universal theme of prayer at its core, to which everybody can relate. This song can easily be adopted as an up tempo, standard hymn to be sung in church for years to come.

The “back in the day”, R&B spiced gospel ballad, “Paradise”, is rich melodically and harmonically with a comforting, encouraging message, complete with great vocals. Then the final track, “From Here Through Eternity”, is another great song and probable standard of the church from Miller, with a sincere opening testimony and lead performance. The greatest segment of this song is when Conrad borrows lines from the very familiar church hymn, “Where He Leads Me,” which works to perfect this unique arrangement.

Jonathan Dubose’s brilliant guitar work throughout the project serves as the anchor which holds everything together and sets the atmosphere for the “down home” flavor, seasoned with an early “Motown” R&B swing for many of the tracks.

The key to success for My Journey as a project rests within Conrad Miller’s uncanny ability to present memorable hooks, strong melodies and powerful phrases that tap into the sown seeds of compelling, time-honored principles, and biblical stories and themes, which have universal appeal and application. With each song Miller emphasizes these concepts that resonate pretty much with anyone who has lived for a length of time, and amongst those who at some point experienced “morning worship” at its best at their local church. My Journey encapsulates the spirit of traditional inspiration from the experienced heart of Conrad’s dedicated passage through and to God’s life-altering truth.

Conclusively, My Journey is not an elaborate, star-studded production like many that are being released these days. Rather, Miller’s journey takes us back to a place and time of straightforward Word-based messages, not overly adorned, but well done —so as to make sure the strength of the lyrics ring out loud and clear for all to understand. The production does the intended job to support and focus the listener on the true meaning of the music. I have no doubt that this is the intent from God’s perspective—that no one will miss His desire to attract those who don’t know the Lord and bring them to the true and saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, through the preaching of the Word (in song). On that basis, Conrad Miller can confidently proclaim, My Journey and my living are not in vain.