“We are living in unprecedented times,” Nigerian gospel singer-songwriter Sinach tells Apple Music, “and Greatest Lord is a worship project to help Christians all over the world recognise Jesus as the solution to today’s hurting world. Just like the biblical story of King Jehoshaphat: When he was faced with an insurmountable enemy, God’s strategy was to put singers on the front line, to lead his people in worship.” With an over-30-year track record, Sinach continues to create offerings that blend awe with adoration. Her 2015 song “Way Maker”, which has been translated into more than 50 languages since its release, gained extra momentum in 2020, in the wake of anti-police brutality protests in the United States—and even earned the singer a 2020 Dove Award. “It's humbling that God dropped a song in my heart, and it became a blessing to millions of people all over the world,” Sinach tells Apple Music. “When I saw the way people reacted with it and with the protests, I just realised that people need God in every situation. It wasn't a political statement; it was a statement of 'God we need you, you are the only one who can make a way for us in this situation’.” Greatest Lord carries forward that message of hope and encouragement, and features a who’s who of African and global Christian and gospel stars, including Nathaniel Bassey, Maranda Curtis and Darlene Zschech. Here, Sinach takes us through behind the inspiration behind each track. Greatest Lord “Someone asked me 'Is it that you're having a competition of who is greater?' I said 'No, I'm saying [God is] greatest in this situation'. You can not even begin to imagine the sort of feeling that people are having. But we must realise that there is a name that is greater than all that is happening. We can latch onto that name and receive the peace of mind that is required for this moment. I can not even imagine how I would have gone through this if I didn't know the Lord, the way I know the Lord. God is bigger than any situation that is happening now.” Love My Home “When we say, 'We have come into Christ’—Christ is a place of love, a place of peace, of wealth, health, increase. When you come into Jesus, you come into love. Love has become your home. It's a declaration of what we have in Christ, Jesus: peace of mind, and joy in his presence. Joy is not the absence of trouble—it means that [even] in your trouble, you have joy, knowing that it is not the end. Your story will always end in praise, and that is what joy is all about.” Beautiful (feat. Nathaniel Bassey) “Not only was the arrangement great, but the amazing Nathaniel Bassey came on it with his trumpet. The first time he sent me back the song, after he did his bit, we listened to it in the studio and we actually cried. Like the song says, we felt the beauty of God's presence.” We Prevail (feat. Maranda Curtis) “‘We Prevail’ was written early 2020, when people were a little bit confused; nobody knew what was happening. The Holy Spirit put that song in my heart, and a lot of words were taken from Psalm 91. It says 'You're the hope that holds me. The stronghold to shelter, my confidence, assurance, the only God for me’.Those are strong words of assurance, letting you know that there's protection in the hand of the Lord. Psalm 91 says that though thousands may fall at your right hand, and 10,000 at the other hand, with your eyes you will only see, but it will not come near you. No disease shall come near your dwelling place. I needed to sing that song, and be proclaiming it, and declaring the name of Jesus, and declaring that we have protection. It's easy to forget who you are, in the middle of a pandemic. So, the song is to remind us that we prevail in every situation; it is a confession of faith.” I Exalt You (feat. Leeland) “I Exalt you is a peaceful worship song. Leeland is an amazing worship leader. He was at the forefront of recording “Way Maker” in the United States, and his voice is once of the purest vocals I've heard in recent times. The song is just about us worshiping the Lord: 'I exalt you, you are King and I adore you’.” Grateful “Grateful is a beautiful song. Being thankful to the Lord. The word are so deep: it says 'Before I could love you Lord, you already loved me / You are my friend / That’s why my heart is filled with praise.’ When I sing that song, I literally cry because I understand what the Lord has done for me and I am so grateful.” King of Glory (feat. Darlene Zschech) “Darlene Zschech is a legend; she is like the mother of modern, Christian worship. I was supposed to see her in Australia, and because of COVID we weren't able to go, but we were able to connect in a deep way, and she did this song with me. Miracles are happening as angels are moving all around. You know those songs, that when you close your eyes and it just transports you? This is that kind of song.” Peace In the Storm “This was one of the songs that I wrote during COVID-19, and I wanted to let people know that there's peace in the storm. Every day, I was hearing that this person died; that one died; something happened; the business has shut down; I’m losing my job; and some people were stuck in faraway countries without their families. It was a crazy time, and the Lord gave me this song. It says 'You are the fourth man in the fire’. The fourth man in the fire did not come to mourn with them, he came to take them out of the fire, to ensure they got out of the fire. He’s here to strengthen us; here to encourage us; here to take us through the hardest parts; and so you must have peace in the situation, knowing that it will always end in praise. Your Name is Jesus (feat. Panam Percy Paul) “When I was in my second year in university, in the school fellowship, they said Dr Panam was coming. I was in the protocol team that was asked to welcome him. The night of the service, thousands of students came out to watch him, and I was like 'Oh wow, this is a big deal'. Then he started singing, and was he glorious. That was my first impression of him, and over the years, I have listened to him and it was an amazing honour to have him come on this album. Simple as it is, this song a declaration of the lordship of Jesus Christ over our lives and we just worship him for who he is. We sang a little bit of Hausa vernacular in it.” With My Hands (feat. Micah Stampley) “Micah Sampley is so inspirational, that he doesn't even have to try—but he sings so magically. It was amazing to have him on that song. It’s a simple worship song, but Micah Stampley brought the magic into it. He's so amazing; the anointing was so beautiful.” I Bless “‘I Bless’ is those songs that you jump to. It's a song of praise; a song of thanksgiving. It's not a time to focus on the problem; it’s a time to focus on the solution—and what is the solution? The solution is God. As we begin to praise and realise that God is bigger than all this, we realise that before this happened, the Lord knew this was going to happen. We must praise him knowing that he has won the victory for us.” I Live for You (feat. Da’Dra Greathouse) “This is a song of dedication. It's a song of proclaiming and saying 'Lord, my life is totally committed to you, and no depth, no height, nor anything can separate me from your precious love'. It's a song of assurance to all of us, knowing that there's nothing in our past, in our present, or in our future, that can separate us from our Lord. Sometimes people wonder, ‘I've seen so much, I've done so much, what about me?’ His love is bigger than anything you can imagine. He says 'Come as you are'. So, there's no point in saying that your sin is [too] big. All you need to do is to accept his love for you.” There’s an Overflow (feat. Jekalyn Carr) “The song says 'New doors have been opened”. In these times, it's as if the doors have been shut, but the Lord is saying to his people 'The doors are open; you need to look', and he says 'Where there's thick darkness, your light will even shine brighter'. This song is prophetic. It's a song you want to make war with. It's a song that makes you want to say, 'Yes. I'm walking in abundance; I'm moving with the speed of the Holy Ghost, I'm favoured'. You can be going for a business meeting and just put it in your ear, and begin to prophesy, 'This business, I'm taking over’; or 'This exam, I'm taking over'. It will inspire you so much to greater heights.”