Top 10 Indie Worship Albums of 2023

Closing out the year with my favourite releases.

Dec 12, 2023

Hi Pal,

Genre classification these days is usually a fairly tedious affair as more artists work their creative muscles to create music that draws inspiration from various soundscapes. For this list, Indie Worship is used to describe any album that succeeds in blurring the lines between songs made for congregational worship and those made for artistic expression. In other words, songs that fit into Sunday Morning services as well as listening party playlists. Streaming links are embedded in the titles.

#10

Kendra Blethen

Living Proof

The fact that artists like Kendra Blethen can be under the radar and relatively unknown is proof that there is no justice in this music industry thing. Living Proof is a wonderful folksy album by this budding singer-songwriter and it’s one of the more impressive debuts of the year. I can’t wait for what she does next.

Personal Recommendation: Out West

#9

Isla Vista Worship, Ethan C. Davis

Charmed

One thing I’ve enjoyed about all the Isla Vista Worship albums over the past five years is how they showcase the creative tendencies of the primary artist being featured while focusing on the primary goal: worshipping God. Ethan C. Davis has alternative R&B and indie pop tendencies so naturally, this album leans into those soundscapes with beautiful acoustic moments scattered around.

Personal Recommendation: Melting

#8

Rachel Wilhelm

Jeremiah

Rachel Wilhelm’s commitment to reflecting the darker sides of the human experience while providing hope and comfort to the saints through her music is admirable. Her 2021 album, Requiem, was one of my standouts of that year and I’m glad that Jeremiah is a wonderful addition to her discography. It is a concept album based on the book of the Bible of the same name exploring themes contained in the different chapters. In her unique folk-inspired style, she walks through topics like hopelessness, doubt, rebellion and hope in times of despair.

Personal Recommendation: Fear Not for I Am with You (Jeremiah 45)

#7

Jervis Campbell

Hopeful Hearts Club

Jervis Campbell spread out the release of the different singles on this album for most of this year. With each song I heard, I knew that this album was eventually going to make it on this list. I started listening to him two years ago and he is one of the voices in Christian folk pop that I love. Hopeful Hearts Club excels at both musicianship and encouraging worship.

Personal Recommendation: Hold On

#6

Caroline Cobb

Psalms: The Poetry of Prayer

If composing music inspired by scriptures was an art form, few artists do it as well as Caroline Cobb. For a couple of years, I have enjoyed the way her albums have had this reoccurring theme and I was looking forward to this one as soon as it was announced. Psalms: TPOP is a beautiful album with country folk and americana roots. It is steeped in Biblical truth and I highly recommend it to all fans of this sound.

Personal Recommendation: Like A Child With Its Mother (Psalm 131)

#5

Paul Demer

Hymns

What began as a collection of songs last year was finally released as a full-length album in May. A friend of mine introduced Paul Demer to me and he’s been a blessing. Hymns is a collection of folky interpretations of some popular tunes. The striking thing about this album is the communal approach to the song crafting. Every song has a way of pulling you in and inviting you into a fellowshipping experience. It’s an album that deserves to be discovered by more people.

Personal Recommendation: Though The Fig Tree Does Not Blossom

#4

Jon Guerra

Ordinary Ways

Jon Guerra is one of the best in the business, and his record as a songwriter and producer is quite outstanding. His projects are always intriguing to me because I never quite know what to expect. Ordinary Ways is very experimental and it seems to be taking the opposite approach creatively to its more concise predecessor album, Keeper of Days. Nonetheless, it still retains many of the chamber pop and folk foundations that I’ve come to expect from him.

Personal Recommendation: Blueprint

#3

Colorvault

And Be With You

Eric Marshall (of Young Oceans), Alex Taylor and A. Bishai broke into the indie scene with their collaborative worship project, Colorvault, in 2021. Since that time, I’ve been surprised by how prolific they have been and how quickly they have established themselves as artists to look out for. Their new album builds on the success of their debut album, Faint, with their signature art rock and electro-pop approach to worship music.

Personal Recommendation: And Be With You

#2

Sam McCabe

Altar Fire II

When Altar Fire I dropped in 2021, I had no expectations and as it turned out, it grew into one of my go-to albums of the following year. I was a bit more prepared for Altar Fire II, but Sam McCabe still found a way to blow me away. This album could easily fit into another one of my lists (that will come out a little later) but the reason I believe it’s more at home here is because of the brilliance of the lyricism. This indie folk rock album carries a clear message of the need for restoration and revival of a true connection to Christ within his church.

Personal Recommendation: Fruit on the Vine

#1

Lucy Grimble

Between The Shadow and The Sun

Lucy Grimble’s 2020 album, God’s Heart Explodes, had a profound effect on my personal life and has made her an artist that I value and respect a lot. If anyone told me back in 2020 that she would release an album I loved even more, I may have called the person a liar. Yet, here we are. There is a lot of depth to this album, and I can’t say I am done absorbing all it has for me. All I can tell you is that it is a near-perfect blend of musical ingenuity and Godly reverence.

Personal Recommendation: Now and Forever

Coming Next: Top 10 Metal Albums

That’s it for today.

Catch you soon!

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