“LOVE FOREVER” By Shara Strand (Album)

After spending years away from the spotlight while she grieved, changed, and learned to breathe again, Shara Strand steps back into the world, not just as a performer but as someone who has survived the storm. Her first full-length album, “Love Forever,” was released on June 10, and it is far beyond a standard pop record; it is a heartfelt journey weaving together tales of loss, hope, resilience, and the kind of rebirth money can't buy. Across thirteen tracks that swipe freely at genre labels, Strand tells us loud and clear that love is everywhere and, quite literally, holds every single one of our moments together. Shara Strand already knows her way around the music business. As a two-time Billboard-charting artist, she filled dance floors with songs like I Will Carry You and RSVP, and stood on legendary stages including Showtime at The Apollo and The Bitter End. Yet “Love Forever” clears space for a new story, the rawer, braver side of her craft that lets the listener in. Crafted at New York's Engine Room Audio with longtime partner Gregory Phace Fils-Aime, the record sounds close, bold, and almost spiritually generous. It stitches pop, dance, soul, and shadowy electronica into one patchwork, while Shara's tender, no-nonsense voice and straight-from-the-heart words keep everything anchored.

The ride kicks off with “I Will Be Here,” a movie-soundtrack starter that walks in quietly yet shines with hopeful glow. Over soft piano, drifting pads, and whispered breaths, Shara swears she will stay, no matter the years or the miles. It reads like a love note, a benediction, maybe even a promise she makes to her own heart. Instead of merely opening the album, the song stakes down a holy vow that tells the ears, This is what you're about to hear. Next, “My Green Light” swings into gear and flirts with bolder ground, its pulse sultry, its groove self-assured. The mix snaps here, leaning proudly toward synth-pop yet still holding on to the tender guts behind the beats. This cut is a toast to freedom, the split-second you finally hand yourself the green light to want, to touch, to breathe wide. Tempo dips, stacked vocal waves, and an electric aftertaste prove Shara can stretch her sound and race past the usual fences.

“Always Your Baby” circles back to that familiar emotional ground, letting us drift once more into the safety of childhood love. Whether you hear it as praise for a parent, a teacher, or any steady guide, the song moves you with its plain honesty. That gentle mood spills straight into “I Will Follow,” a spiritually flavored piece about loyalty and finding your way. Its words carry quiet surrender: Lead me through the storm / I'll follow even when I'm torn. Wispy production wraps around the lines, leaving room to breathe and think. Yet midway through the record, the feeling tightens. “Anthem” bursts in, a bright, muscle-clenching shout that leans hard on self-belief. You could drop it next to anything by Florence + the Machine or Sia- it's that massive, electric, and skyward. After that comes “Happy Ending,” a naming of lost love and the pretty fable we build around it. Strand's voice cuts through softly yet forcefully, balanced on a rope stretched between hope and grief.

One of the album's biggest emotional highs is “Desperado.” Only raw hurt and open nerves come through, making it possibly Sharas' most private confession. Bare-bones chords and eerie backing harmonies surround her voice as she leans so close to the mic that it's almost skin-on-skin with the audience. You can feel every hitch in her breath, yet there is an undercurrent of something sturdy underneath the ache. This moment shifts the whole arc of “Love Forever.” What starts as fragility grows into a kind of quiet muscle. After that doubt-smashing realization, “Second Chances” rushes in and opens the story up again. Bright keys, handclaps, and a light gospel sway celebrate the small yet brave steps of forgiveness and self-growth. Then “Lioness” lands like thunder; it's one of the album's liveliest tracks and a full-throated call for power. Shara taps into animal force here, slicing the air with a guttural howl over drums that sound like feet pounding on earth. In that heartbeat, the mood swings from cracked to fearless.

“Surrender” slips into the playlist like a soft pillow, pulling ears and heart inward. Its message isn't defeat; it's the strength to loosen the grip. On repeat, the song whispers trust-whether in a lover, in yourself, or in life's messy timeline. “Soul Dad” follows a heartfelt letter lit with tender light and tender memory. Whether she sings to her actual dad or a guiding spirit, the grief and gratitude hit hard. The track tethers the record to family roots, reminding listeners that love stretches across years. Closer to the end, “My Sweetest Boy” paints the quiet sweep of motherhood or any deep, protective care. It’s so soothing, a lullaby that wraps around you and keeps the thread of love alive. “Ascended” arrives last, an easy breath that eases the listener back into sunlight. Dark pop collides with starry synths, mixing relief with pure, head-twirling joy. It's a victory lap for both the story arc and for Shara Strand on her stage. From hurt and stillness to strength and presence, “Ascended” brings Love Forever full circle.

“Love Forever” shines because it darts between moods yet still feels like one big song. Shara Strand holds it together- her technically fearless, heart-on-sleeve voice. The mix is polished, but the music stays front and center, not buried under fancy effects. Gregory Phace Fils-Aime gets equal praise for building a bed of sound that follows the artist's instinct. Jump onto Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, or TIDAL; the record is everywhere. It begs to be played again and again, each spin peeling back another layer of feeling or word. This isn't merely an album to queue - it's a small journey that lets you drift away.

“Love Forever” isn't merely a first album- it's a heartfelt comeback. Packed with thirteen stirring songs, Shara Strand doesn't just step back into the studio; she takes the wheel and steers music toward healing, joy, and raw honesty. By laying bare her heart over such a wide emotional range, she crafts a set of tunes that feels private and public at the same time. Whether you need a ballad to weep over, a beat to spin around to, or a quiet moment to think, the record offers exactly what your mood calls for. In an industry often glued to shiny facades, Strand dares to dig under the surface, and the change is nothing less than life-altering. “Love Forever” shows, once again, that love-in all its messy, bright colors-remains the boldest, most soothing force we've got. It marks a victorious return for an artist who's just warming up, and we all pray she keeps singing. Big respect to Shara Strand for turning her struggles into songs that stand the test of time. “Love Forever” isn’t only an album; it’s a hand reaching out.

Written by Manuel