One of the most beloved voices in Christian music returns this month with a brand-new studio recording.

Dove Award-winning Christy Nockels (best known for her work with husband Nathan in Watermark) is back with Life Light Up, a solo effort and her first album bowing on sixsteps records. Nockels’ new collection of powerful pop worship anthems fits in well with label-mates (and longtime friends) Chris Tomlin and David Crowder Band. Here, her songs find a new audience—more worshipful in nature than previous projects. Still, her signature vocals are what fuel the excitement coinciding with the release of this record.

Having recently relocated to Atlanta as she and Nathan help jumpstart Passion City Church alongside their sixsteps family, Christy takes time out of her busy schedule as a mom to share about her new record, her vision as a solo artist and this particular season in life.

CMCentral:  Why is this the perfect season in your life to release a solo record?

Christy Nockels:  That’s a great question. To make a record, obviously the songs have to be present. In my life, the songs come as a response to what God is teaching me and showing me about Himself. So for there to be songs means there have been many lessons learned and many moments of recognizing again who He is and who I am because of it. I can say that God has shown up in my life over the past year like I’ve never seen in all my days. He has required new things of me, stretched me and ultimately “wowed” me with His presence in the most amazing way.

I know this might sound strange, but I don’t recall very many moments of actually sitting down to plan or even write for this record. I get choked up when I think of it really. These songs came as I was washing dishes, doing laundry, cleaning toilets, picking up kids in the carpool line—carrying my little voice recorder around everywhere! Suddenly, I was up in the night, dreaming a chorus here and there, and waking up finishing songs. I have never felt more urgent about songs ever.

I realize that in the sweetest way (different from songwriting in the past) God has allowed me to take care of my kids and keep life spinning in their little worlds with joy. And all the while these songs were like a “soundtrack” in my heart in the midst of this new journey we’re on. It seems the more I press into what sometimes can look like the “small things,” the more He meets me where I am. He brings the “big things” in my life, and He amazes me over and over.

CMCentral:  How is this record different than the previous work you’ve done with Watermark?