Band members
* Leeland Mooring - Lead vocal, Guitars
* Casey Moore - lead guitar, background vocals
Touring musicians
Josias Badillo - bass guitar
Payden Hilliard - drums
David Ramirez - keys
Former Band members
* Jack Mooring - Backing vocal, Keyboard (2004-2015)
* Mike Smith - Drums (2004-2015)
* Shelly Mooring - Backing vocal, Bass (2011-2015)
* Jeremiah Wood (2002-2006)
* Austin Tirado (2006-2007)
* Matt Campbell (2007-2009)
* Jake Holtz (2002-2011)
Beginnings
At the age of 11, Leeland Mooring wrote his first song, "Shine". After having a successful performance of it at a church in Illinois while the Moorings were touring the United States as evangelists, he felt a spiritual calling towards music. His mother, Cyndy Mooring, entered him in a contest in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 14, and was a finalist in the songwriting and artist divisions. Although he did not win, one of the contest judges, Kent Coley, took interest in the young teen. He is now their manager. Later at the age of 15 he attracted the attention of Eddie DeGarmo, President of EMI CMG Publishing, and signed a songwriting contract with EMI CMG Publishing. While practicing after youth group, Leeland, his older brother Jack, their cousin Jake Holtz, and two close friends from church, Mike Smith and Jeremiah Wood, realized they had become a band. They decided to use Leeland's name for the band because they liked the way it sounded. They later started practicing in the night at a funeral home.
The band has worked closely with Christian music legend Michael W. Smith. Leeland Mooring co-wrote seven songs on Smith's new album, Stand, while Jack Mooring married Smith's daughter Whitney Smith-Mooring on June 1, 2007.
Discography
* Sound of Melodies (2006)
* Opposite Way (2008)
* Love Is on the Move (2009)
* The Great Awakening (2011)
* Invisible (2016)
Sound of Melodies (2005-2007)
The band's debut album, Sound of Melodies, was released in the USA on August 15, 2006. At the 49th Grammy Awards on December 7, 2006, the album was nominated for "Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album". Sound of Melodies was also released in Japan on March 21, 2007, with the title song "Sound of Melodies" peaking at #6 on the general Japan radio chart.
Opposite Way (2008-2009)
Their second album Opposite Way, released on February 26, 2008, received success in its first few weeks of release. In its debut week, Opposite Way reached #1 on the iTunes Christian Albums chart. By March 15, 2008, it had reached a peak position of #72 on the Billboard Top 200 albums. Since September 2007, Leeland has been on "The Altar and the Door Tour" with Grammy Award-winning band Casting Crowns, which will continue until May 1, 2008.
Love Is on the Move (2009-present)
Leeland's third studio album, titled Love Is on the Move, is scheduled for release on August 25, 2009 in the United States.
Changes in membership and label
In early 2011, only a few months before the release of their fourth studio album, bassist Jake Holtz left the band to pursue a career with the US Army.Leeland's fourth studio album, The Great Awakening, was released on September 20, 2011.
In September 2015, Leeland announced via YouTube that they would be joining Bethel Music as part of the Bethel Music Collective,after Leeland Mooring and Casey Moore established an organic friendship with Bethel's founding member, Brian Johnson.Leeland's fifth full-length studio album, Invisible, was released on July 22, 2016. It is the first album the band has released under the Bethel label, with Brian Johnson featuring on the song "Son Was Lifted Up".
Touring
Leeland performed at all the Student Life "Clarity" conferences in 2007. In late 2007, they were on The Altar and the Door tour with Casting Crowns and John Waller, which started September 27, 2007 and ended December 2, 2007. They are currently on the spring leg of the tour, which began on January 31, 2008 and will end May 1.Leeland made their Canadian debut in Ottawa, Ontario at the Life Centre during the annual Shift Conference on March 10-11, 2007.
In September 23, 2009, the band will launch their "Follow You Tour", co-headlining with Brandon Heath and featuring Francesca Battistelli as an opening act.
Grammy Award nominations
2007: Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album - Sound of Melodies GMA Dove Award nominations
In 2007 they were nominated for five GMA Dove Awards in the categories New Artist of the Year, Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year (for the song "Sound of Melodies"), Worship Song of the Year (for "Yes You Have"), Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year and Praise & Worship Album of the Year.
In 2008, their song "Tears of the Saints" was nominated for two Dove Awards: "Song of the Year" and "Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year". Leeland Mooring was nominated for "Songwriter of the Year", and co-writer with Michael W. Smith for "Be Lifted High" in the "Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year" category.
Not Afraid Anymore
Leeland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the sleep of my timid soul
I've been in hiding from all Your plans
Your command that told me to go
And I've spent all my life keeping my head down
But I'm lifting up my eyes
I raise my flag up high, my flag up high
'Cause I am running with Your fire, Lord
I'm picking up my sword
You train my hands and my fingers for war
I'm not afraid anymore
I hear the trumpet ringing out in these streets
Where kingdoms collide
So I'm responding
This is a fight for love, this is death or life
And when my knees are weak
I know Your hands are strong
And they are holding me
I'll never be alone, never be alone
You're chasing my fears away
There's no reason to be afraid
Your love is here chasing my fears away
Your love is here chasing my fears away
The song Pages by Leeland is a powerful anthem of courage and faith, urging the listener to rise up out of fear and insecurity and embrace the calling that God has placed on their life. The opening lines speak of a waking up, as if the singer has been asleep, perhaps even hiding from the responsibilities and challenges that everyday life presents. But the sudden burst of lightning calls them out of this hiding and into a place of action and bravery.
The next lines describe a life spent with one's "head down," as if trying to avoid notice or conflict. But now the singer is "lifting up [their] eyes" and raising their flag high as a symbol of their newfound confidence and strength. The use of the metaphor of war - with mentions of swords, trumpets, and battle - heightens the sense of urgency in the song and points to the idea that the fight is for something larger than just the individual. The idea of this being a fight for love adds another layer of meaning to the song, emphasizing that the struggle is for something worth fighting for.
The bridge of the song references a moment of weakness, as the singer admits to having "weak knees." But even in this vulnerability, there is a sense of trust and dependence on a higher power. The singer knows that God's hands are strong enough to hold them up, and that they will never be alone in the fight.
Overall, Pages is a song that inspires courage and determination in the face of challenges, reminding the listener that they are not alone in their struggles and that God is there to guide and support them.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel Your lightning waking me up
I sense the powerful energy of Your presence that is shaking me awake
From the sleep of my timid soul
From my self-imposed confinement born of fear and anxiety
I've been in hiding from all Your plans
I've been avoiding Your plans and purpose for my life
Your command that told me to go
I heard Your call, but I have not yet responded
And I've spent all my life keeping my head down
I have tried to avoid conflict and keep to myself
But I'm lifting up my eyes
Now, I am raising my gaze towards heaven and embracing Your will for me
I raise my flag up high, my flag up high
I am declaring my allegiance to You and Your kingdom
I'm not afraid anymore
I am confident in Your strength and provision, and I trust in Your plan for me
'Cause I am running with Your fire, Lord
I am now moving in step with Your passion and purpose
I'm picking up my sword
I am taking up the spiritual weapons You have given me
You train my hands and my fingers for war
You are equipping me to engage in spiritual conflict with wisdom and skill
I'm not afraid anymore
I refuse to be intimidated by the enemy or his schemes, because I am on the winning side with You
I hear the trumpet ringing out in these streets
I am aware of the spiritual warfare that rages around me
Where kingdoms collide
Where the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light are in conflict
So I'm responding
I am taking action and engaging in the fight for the hearts and souls of people
This is a fight for love, this is death or life
This is a battle between the lies of the enemy and the truth of Your love for all humanity
And when my knees are weak
When I falter and am tempted to give up
I know Your hands are strong
I am confident in Your power to sustain me
And they are holding me
You are always present to comfort and support me
I'll never be alone, never be alone
I can trust in Your promise to never leave or forsake me
You're chasing my fears away
You are dispelling my doubts and worries with Your love and peace
There's no reason to be afraid
I have no need to fear because You are with me
Your love is here chasing my fears away
Your love is the antidote to my fear and the source of my courage and confidence
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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