Renew Me
STEPHANIE SMITH

Producer(s): Chris Stevens
Writer(s): Stephanie Smith
Label: Gotee

Gotee Record’s newest addition Stephanie Smith has been enveloped by hype, and reasonably so, with a radio hit to her name (“Not Afraid”), trendy producer Chris Stevens (tobyMac, Group 1 Crew, Sanctus Real) behind the project, and an image that caters to a fresh generation. Acts like Stephanie are certainly giving mainstream mirrors P!nk and Kelly Clarkson a good run for their money, but there lingers the thought that all of this promotion is, well, just promotion. Realistically it is still too soon to tell, even with a solid follow-up like “Renew Me,” which shines brighter than previous Christian pop/rock efforts, but confuses listeners with preoccupied production and a run-o’-the-mill hook. It will come down to Not Afraid’s third single – presumably a ballad – that will manifest whether the money is where the talent is.

Verdict: 3.5/5

- Clem