Review Of "Yet Dreaming"
by Roslyn (Cherysh Records)
February, 2006 - BlackGospel.com by Jennifer Belot

The most powerful testimonies breed the most heartfelt gratitude.  Roslyn’s testimony is that of a woman who went to the depths of drug addiction and emerged unscathed and victorious only by the grace and power of the Almighty.   

Growing up in the church, Roslyn started singing in the choir as a toddler but by her teens, saw herself leaving the church for a musical career in the secular world and eventually found herself bound and gagged by a debilitating addiction to cocaine.  As her career flourished her addiction sprang out of control and in the pit of that nightmarish adventure, a sinner’s prayer brought the grace of God upon her life and was delivered.

Today, Roslyn proclaims the goodness of God and seeks to encourage saints and sinners in her new album entitled Yet Dreaming, released on independent label, Cherysh Records.  Her life must seem like a dream as she has thrived under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, playing the lead in the acclaimed theatre production of “Mahalia”, serving for a season as the Praise & Worship leader at Deliverance Christian Church in her hometown of Canton (Ohio), sharing the stage with such renowned gospel artists as Yolanda Adams, Vickie Winans, Fred Hammond, and The Williams Brothers and acting as the featured psalmist for motivational speaker Les Brown.  Les says of Roslyn “[she] is anointed, inspiring, and real. Her soulful and charismatic style leaves audiences craving for a closer walk with God"

Yet Dreaming is an eclectic expression of the singer/songwriter’s soul and charisma, bringing together elements of funk, R&B and hip-hop expertly intertwined with a traditionalist spirit.

In a musical world where the soprano is the celebrated voice of the cantor, Roslyn’s deep contralto is surprising in its warmth as it proclaims that “Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before” in the up-tempo, contemporary track Everyday.

The optimistically groovy title track, Yet Dreaming echoes the message that’s pervasive throughout the project, that belief in God will bring you through to the accomplishment of your truest and best expression in Jesus Christ. 

Live Your Dreams is another inspirational ballad that in Roslyn’s own words aims to “… remind people that Jesus not only cares about our needs, He also cares about our dreams, and will help us accomplish them if we'd only petition Him.”

The expression of praise goes from rushing water and soothing organ in A Praise Song to the urban funk of Send The Praise Up where the singer’s no-holds-barred articulation of the Biblical passage “God inhabits the praises of his people” leaves listeners in a sanctified jig, as her throaty voice proclaims “when you use praise as a weapon believe all demons get to steppin”

Come To Jesus exhibits brassy tones and lively percussions on an uplifting track rife with the assurance of God’s ability to come through.  Musically, this song is in stark contrast to the more acoustic Save Me, where the piano and organ engage in a sonorous dance around Roslyn’s deep alto, while she belts out a melodious prayer that culminates with a choir joining the oration in a harmonic outcry.

Roslyn avows Sunday Morning as her favorite cut of the project, reminiscing of her life as a child and how truly special Sunday mornings were to her.  That same churchy spirit is brought to the forefront in a collection of hymns infused with the distinct stylistic character that defines the artist.  Because is an original take on the traditional "Because He Lives". 

The Blood Medley features Roslyn’s stirring contralto coupled with the acoustic elegance of the piano on this medley of well-known Church hymns – “There Is A Fountain", "Are You Washed In The Blood", "I Know It Was The Blood", and "Nothing But The Blood." – brought together by their common element relating to the blood of the Lamb that was slain.  The concluding hymn is the traditionally sedate It Is Well, giving new life as Roslyn flips the script and “funkafies” it with brassy orchestral fervor.

After a whirlwind affair with the pleasures of this world (and its dire consequences), Roslyn has clearly dedicated herself to a life of worship and demonstrates her passion for the God that saved her in these songs from her heart.  Perhaps the best indication of her fervor in pleasing God can be found in her favorite scripture Psalms 96:1-3 “Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.  Sing to the LORD, bless his name; announce his salvation day after day.  Tell God’s glory among the nations; among all peoples, God’s marvelous deeds.”

She is indeed proclaiming the goodness of the God she serves on this project in a musical testimony of her victory in Jesus.  Roslyn articulates it best in saying “Every day of life is another day to bless Him and His people. Just as a child tries to please a parent…I try to please the Lord. I fail often, but His mercy helps me want to get it right. I’m going to sing and boast on Him until the day I die. I’m YET DREAMING, STILL BELIEVING!”