"When Souls Cry Out" - Out Today
Two new songs to accompany us into Trump's return
What’s good everyone,
On a day of polar opposites, MLK Day and Inauguration Day 2025, I have released When Souls Cry Out, a two-track single. It is on all streaming platforms today and has two powerful music videos too. The two songs, Moan (Matthew 2:18) and Mercy We Need, are personal and heavy. I invite you to watch the YouTube videos for both and share with your friends
When Souls Cry Out is the sequel to Beside Still Waters: A Notes of Rest Offering, released on Election Day 2024. While Beside Still Waters offered stillness amidst the uncertainty of that historic presidential election, When Souls Cry Out gives voice to our collective anguish, be it from the return of Trump’s oligarchic regime to office today, the ongoing LA fires, or whatever personal pains you’re weathering. I have been called by God to create for such times as these, and I have been thankful to create these two with family friend, bandmate, and incredible vocalist Tramaine Parker.
She and I wrote “Mercy We Need” together, the second track. It emerged from the depths of mourning the loss of Tramaine’s mother, Mama Mildred Parker, last February. Mama Millie had a smile as wide as the ocean and a dedication to her daughter’s craft as deep as it. She is sorely missed. We dedicate this song to all who grieve.
The first song, Moan (Mathew 2:18), was written in response to an art project that my homie from undergrad did for me, the incredible visual artist Ilana Harris-Babou.
I will share more on the story behind these cups later on this week for my paid Substack, but suffice it now to say that this song emerges from the mingling of two moans: one from the mothers of Ramah in Matthew 2:18 who are crying out in the wilderness that their children are no more (let us keep Eyes on Palestine), and the other being from my enslaved ancestors and the Black descendants from them who steward the legacy of their moan (Eyes on Chicago’s South Side). I dedicate this song to all who have a moan on today.
May God hear our moans and may the Holy Spirit’s cry stir deep within us each and collectively. There is good work to do, of course, but any work that is good must be built on a foundation of love, and love must always make space for mourning. Mourning gives our hope substance.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26)
Thank you for listening and for bearing witness. May God be with you on the journey to come. Lord, our souls cry out.
abundantly,
Julian
What’s Next
Jan 25-26 Notes of Rest at Lawndale Christian Health Clinic (Private, Chicagoland)
Jan 30 The JuJu Exchange at Divan Restaurant (Chicago)
Feb 2 Musically Serving at Refuge Chicago
Feb 4 Julian Davis Reid & Tramaine Parker at Elastic Arts
Feb 8 Notes of Rest at Yale Divinity School Black Church Studies (Private, Madison, CT)
Feb 9 Notes of Rest at Dominican University (Private, La Grange Park, IL)
Feb 14 w/ Denise Thimes at Winter’s Jazz Club (Chicago)
Feb 22-23 Black Contemplative Prayer Summit - Notes of Rest on Feb 23 (Virtual)
Feb 23 Notes of Rest at West End UMC & TheoEd Talk (both in Nashville)
Finding the right words here is complex as my heart and soul speak phrases I can't yet articulate. Thank you for sharing.