Swafford sisters giving back to God through worship EP

photo courtesy of Tori Turner Caroline, Callianne, and Catherine Swafford have a love for the arts and have grown closer with each other and with God through making music. They want to use their time and talents to honor God and connect people with the Creator through the creation of music.

While many people enjoy singing, Caroline (12th), Catherine (10th) and Callianne (8th) Swafford use singing as their act of worship as they give their talents back to God with their new extended play (EP). The Swafford sisters will be releasing the EP sometime this year, including many of their favorite classic worship hymns. Although they are keeping the song list secret until the EP releases, the sisters have confirmed that the hymn “Unclouded Day” will be one of the six songs on the record.

With a passion for music passed down from their grandfather, the Swafford sisters have been singing for as long as they can remember, and were even featured in their grandfather’s singing group when they were younger.  

“I don't ever remember a time when we weren’t singing,” senior Caroline Swafford said. “There is constantly music in our house.”

Having always loved singing and music, they have been taking professional voice lessons for about five years now. They work with two different coaches, Sharon Culver and Ashleigh Steinburg, who both specialize in different areas of the sisters’ sound. While Steinberg teaches vocal technique, Culver acts almost as a conductor and helps them with harmonies and perfecting the sound of their songs. 

“Just him making all the tracks and then us going and [the producer] blending it has taken a lot of work, because it is a lot of work,” sophomore Catherine Swafford said. “It’s been a long process but we want it to be really good, so going back is a necessity.”

They began to more seriously work on the EP in the end of July, when their parents told them they had talked to a producer and gave them the opportunity to do the EP. The Swaffords are entering the final stages of the production for the project, and expect it to be released sometime during the holiday season. They have put many hours into their art, making sure it is the best it can be. Due to technical difficulties, they are going back to the studio to re-record some songs.

“I think I will always sing but never as a job,” Callianne Swafford said, “I don't see myself doing singing as a career. But I can see myself singing to my kids one day and always doing it for fun.”

For Caroline, Catherine and Callianne, their passion for music runs deeper than their love for singing. Their goals are to worship and bring others closer to God. The sisters sing in church and have a desire to use their time and talent to give back to God for all He has given them. 

“I really took a special love to [singing] after I got saved in fifth grade,” Caroline Swafford said. “It just took on a whole new meaning, and it was spirit led when it hadn't been before. We see that you are commanded to sing over and over in the Bible. It makes me feel closer to God and helps bring others closer to God.”