Many people ask, “What makes a good songwriter?”  Ask the top ten songwriters of today this question and you’ll usually receive answers that come from ten different directions, but they will all ultimately mention a common motivation.  It’s simply life.  Experiencing life is what makes the best songwriters.

Stephanie McIlroy has experienced a very full life and it shows in her music.  All of her songs come from her heart.  Her heart has experienced pain and disappointment, but just as in everyone’s life, those difficult times eventually lead to a joy and happiness that we could never have imagined.  This is why Stephanie’s debut album, “Life Is Not An Act” is appropriately titled.

Her style is unique but would be categorized as Country with Rock rhythms making it very pleasurable to the ear.  Her lyrics will hit you where you sit.  In other words, you will identify with almost every one of the ten songs included.  Every song is written or co-written by Stephanie, which is what makes this such a personal effort.

The title track, “Life’s Not An Act” comes in the middle of the album and is an up tempo tune that could easily become a dance hall favorite for two-steppers or line dancers.  It is followed immediately with a slow groove called, “You Don’t Know Me” which is a story of a very personal experience that Stephanie had.  These two songs alone make the album well worth the price.  But they aren’t the only potential hits.

This writer’s four favorite songs from this album come at the beginning and the end.  The opening track, “Forever” is a straight forward love song with a toe tapping beat.  It precedes a very soulful story of a spirit finding strength in an everlasting love that will get the cell phones waving in the air at any concert.

The last two songs are also very powerful songs of connecting with that special relationship that is never forgotten.  In “You Are Loved” Stephanie shares a message to a dear friend.  “Forgiven” as Stephanie has shared, came from a deep and painful hurt in which she believed she would never forgive.  But as she dealt with herself she discovered that in order to move forward, she must find forgiveness.  This song is the result of that forgiveness.  It makes it the perfect conclusion to an full bodied and nourishing experience.

I highly recommend this album as well as the artist.  Stephanie is a wonderful person and uses the gifts God has given her in a powerful way.  Don’t hesitate to purchase “Life Is Not An Act” because you may not get a second chance.