There's a Light

PATRICE JÉGOU (pronounced Zhay-goo) is a Canadian-born, classically trained mezzo-soprano, and ex-figure skater. She took up singing at the suggestion of a fellow cast-mate when she was skating in an ice show on tour in Mexico. Years of study culminated in a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Classical vocal performance from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. Patrice earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Calgary (Canada), and Master of Music degree from Belmont University (Nashville).

THERE'S A LIGHT, the new album by Patrice Jégou, features Khristian Dentley, Mark Kibble, Alvin Chea, and the Budapest Scoring Orchestra and Choir. During the pandemic lockdown, vocalist Patrice Jégou and her husband/producer Yinka Oyelese decided to set up a recording studio in their living room and make the best of a very bad situation. Collaborating remotely with Nashville pianist Pat Coil, the first song Patrice recorded was "Peace" written by Michael McDonald and Beth Nielsen Chapman. The outcome was so beautiful that Jégou and her husband decided to record an entire album of uplifting inspirational songs. The result is THERE'S A LIGHT.

Upon hearing Patrice's version of "Peace," Chapman sent Jégou several other songs for consideration. After listening to "There's A Light", Jégou immediately knew that she not only had to record the song, but she had to make it the title of the album. Patrice comments, "Beth's opening lyrics are, 'There's a light, there's a light, in the darkness,' and I couldn't help but feel that her hope-filled words were the perfect message for the unprecedented time we had been going through."

THERE'S A LIGHT is an album of 12 inspirational songs that spans pop, rock, a cappella, singer-songwriter, Gospel, and hymns. Collaborators include members from multi-Grammy® winning group TAKE 6, and the 60-piece Budapest Scoring Orchestra and its 32-voice choir. Patrice and Yinka called on old friends Mark Kibble, Khristian Dentley, Alvin Chea, Abraham Laboriel, SR., John "JR" Robinson, Luis Conte, Michael Thompson, and David Paich, as well as new collaborators Joe Robinson, Tim Carmon, Wayne Bucknor, and Raul Ferrando. Patrice also enlisted top recording and mixing engineers Don Murray, Tony Shepperd, and Marcelo Pennell. Jégou explains that this project not only gives her an opportunity to share her faith, but to offer music that will encourage and comfort. Patrice sums it up: "It is my prayer that the 12 tracks on THERE'S A LIGHT will bring some joy, hope, and peace into your lives. I hope this music will bless you."

Patrice's album was released on her own imprint - Prairie Star Records.