[FM] Lisandrea Wentland

[mweber3@juno.com]

artist: Lisandrea Wentland
cd title: Legacy
contact: lisandrea@christianity.com
article by Mark Weber

Lisandrea (Lee-SAND-rhia) Wentland, the former Mrs. Connecticut-America
1998, is currently pursuing her dream of being an inspirational Christian
recording artist on her debut CD Legacy. 

Lisandrea has been singing publicly since age 7. She grew up in Michigan
and earned a Bachelors degree from Charter Oak State College in
Connecticut, later moving to Virginia Beach, Virginia, with her husband,
a graduate student at Regent University. The singer-songwriter
conveniently works on the Regent campus in the marketing department at
CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network) headquarters. When shes not
promoting the ministries of CBN, she takes the opportunity to perform in
public at coffeehouses, something shes been doing for well over a
decade. Her main musical influences include folk singer-songwriters like
Joni Mitchell. Lisandreas debut CD,  Legacy, is an inspirational folk
recording.

Beginnings appropriately starts the sentimental disc, as Lisandrea
poetically remembers how God knew her before she was born, taking it a
step further by thanking Him for the beauty and joys of life, with
repetitive allusions to the creation and wonder of a variety of things
like newborn kittens and waterfall showers. 

Beginnings, which talks about life, is followed by Cradle To Grave, a
hopeful song about death, which takes the listener to an imaginary
funeral, starting off with the lyrics This is the end of your life/ And
Im here to pay tribute/ To the life that youve lead/ And the lives that
you leave behind. Cradle To Grave would make you cry tears of joy at
an actual funeral because it remembers the person who has passed away in
a comforting way, offering a sense of joy about the life they lived,
mentioning how they had so many choices and experiences, and how they
leave a legacy behind to those who knew and loved them. If Lisandrea
wanted to pick a song to send to radio stations, Cradle to Grave would
certainly be the best choice, as it is the strongest song on Legacy. It
strikes a fine balance between helping you appreciate your own life while
at the same time recognizing your own mortality.

Like A Sheep starts off a cappella and then moves into Natalie Merchant
territorythat wistful, alt-rock sound. The song reminds us that we are
each Likesheep/ To be tended after. 

Lift Me Higher is sung entirely a cappella, letting Lisandrea show off
her classical-country vocal prowess, sounding like a cross between a
stage performer and Shania Twain. The pleading song asks the Holy Spirit
to Come down on me/ Fill me up. Its a fervently sung prayer.

One of the definite highlights of Legacy is Lisandreas faithful
rendering of the classic hymn Blessed Assurance in which she sings
harmony with her own voice, adding another thoughtful dimension to an
already pretty song. 

Straight To The Table is a mid-tempo country-rock song with biblical
lyrics (Hes still here for Rahab/ Hes still crying out for Cain)
letting the listener know that He (Jesus) helped the people of His time
and continues to invite people by name to come to Him without fear of
judgment for not being perfect.

The disc ends with a medley of Peace In Harmony, Have Mercy On Me,
and Shma, based on bible passages John 3, Psalm 51 and Deuteronomy 6,
respectively. Interestingly, Lisandrea tells me these songs have Jewish
roots, and, yes, they do have that middle-Eastern shuffle, but I am more
inclined to notice how similar the music is to Celtic-Canadian sounds
coming out of the Maritimes (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, etc.) She should
consider touring there. 

Lisandreas Legacy was a labor of love for the artist. She turned
thirty years old recently, and wanted to do something unique for her
family, so they received the recording as a surprise Christmas present.
Legacy covers the themes of life, death and God, things most people can
relate to, right?

To order Lisandreas Legacy, email her at lisandrea@christianity.com.
Discs are $12 each, which includes shipping and handling. Her website is
http://lisandrea.tripod.com.