Ben Dowling - Pianist, Composer, Producer, Musical Director

Child Above the Sun

"The thing that attracted me to Ester, was her power and her depth. This is a person who has lived a life, fallen down, and got back up - not to prove anything, but because of what calls her," shares producer Ben Dowling.

As fellow Agape members (Dr. Michael Beckwith's church), Nicholson and Dowling met while attending services together in the early 1990's. Both long term members of that community, they are also "spiritual practitioners" and key members of the Agape Music Ministry.

In discussing the project, Dowling talks about the song selection process, "I find that the selection of songs is so critical to how the artist is perceived, and how much the artist's mission is experienced from the music. Ester has got a big ol' mission that involves channeling power from adversity. You hear that in the title track, Child Above the Sun. It's what her life is about, and that shows in the performances we got for the record."

One of the interesting parts of the story involves Ester's learning different vocal styles. Dowling: "As a background vocalist all those years, she had a well developed 'strong' vocal style, but what I discovered was that she had that beautiful softer side, which she had never used. Many vocalists get stuck in what they are used to, but Ester was a total champ and was willing to trust me on focusing on other ways of approaching various songs. When you listen to Everything Must Change it's obvious that her lower third - in terms of dynamics - is absolutely world class."

"Make Me Stronger" the opening track of Child Above the Sun, is a Rickie Byars-Beckwith and Dr. Michael Beckwith composition in a jazz style. "Ester had never phrased that way before. She knew how to sing a song in the traditional way, but this requires a totally different approach. She had to learn to phrase over the time - hitting all the changes just right, but not sounding rushed in the process. It's a real jazz musician thing 'floating' the time over the changes, and I wasn't sure I wasn't asking too much of her. Cause it's really not fair to ask someone to do that. And I will say that there was crying and knashing of teeth, but in the end she accomplished it and made it her own. I don't think I've ever experienced that before."

Speaking of the project as a whole, Dowling suggests, "I thought it was important to show different sides of this amazing artist. This is the first time she has been a songwriter, the first time she has had to own the spotlight, the first time she has had to step into a higher business responsibility. She was willing because she knew inherently that this was her path and whatever fears she might deal with, that there was a way through to the other side. I am so proud to be associated with such a spirit and an intention. It gives me goose pimples just thinking about it."

Child Above the Sun - Track Listing

• Make Me Stronger
• Never Be The Same
• One Heart
• Everything Must Change
• Child Above the Sun
• How Great You Are
• Sending Up My Timber
• Forever Young
• What Would Love Do Now
• Your Face

For more information or to purchase Child Above the Sun, please visit the Ester Nicholson web site.