Search - Mike Farris :: Salvation In Lights

In 2007 Mike Farris released his second solo album, Salvation In Lights, which was a major departure from what audiences had come to expect from the former lead singer of the Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies. There was a period right before Farris made this record that he wasn't sure he was going to perform music ever again. After struggling with addiction and loss, Farris dug deep into the roots of western music that truly moved him. Old black spirituals mixed with the sounds of New Orleans, Memphis and the south provided the canvas on which Salvation In Lights was born. These songs formed out of struggle appealed to him and he felt compelled to make this record not for any specific audience but for his own musical and spiritual healing. The album features Farris' unique re-arrangement of Gospel gems as well as an inspired cover of Sam Cooke's "Change Is Gonna Come" peppered with Mike's own original compositions that are in keeping with this soul drenched and vocally moving music. The record was well reviewed and made many top ten lists that year and was also his entre' to getting the 2008 Americana Music Association's "New & Emerging Artist of the Year" award. Very apropos seeing as he had left part of his career behind and emerged in a bright new one.