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Neah Lee belies her rookie status by crafting a project that is mature beyond her limited resume. In Significance is a production of brokenforgood records, an independent label overseen by independent artist Koo Chung. According to Lee’s website, upon witnessing a live performance of "Again," Chung was impressed enough with Lee’s talent that he recruited her to open some shows for him, later signing her to his label. 

Though Lee might be a tad tentative, her raw talent more than compensates for any beginner’s butterflies. The songs on In Significance unobtrusively show off Lee’s controlled, pure vocal style. I’d be surprised if Lee hasn’t had at least some formal musical training; she’s that good and it shows. As she sings, there’s an air of "been there, done that," uncharacteristic for a debut effort. She even does a fair scat bit in the middle of "Possibilities," something most beginners wouldn’t have the confidence to attempt in public.

With a bigger production budget and the promotion muscle of a major record label, Neah Lee has the full package to find an audience from the mainstream CCM stage. She’s young and pretty, full of talent, and a decent songwriter. Further, most of her songs are upbeat, positive, and uncontroversial—theologically generic enough that they wouldn’t be disconcerting to an ecumenical audience.

"Free" could be a hit—one of those songs one hears every two hours fifteen minutes on the CCM monster stations--but as the product of an independent artist, it won’t be given a chance. Replace the funky percussion with a conventional drum vibe (or better yet some kind of drum loop), make the sound more expansive, then set her up to open for Third Day or Jars of Clay on a 45-city tour complimented by the distribution and promotion of a major label, and Lee would sell 150,000 units in a heartbeat.

Lee was fortunate to find such a skillful mentor in Koo Chung, who appears to have exceptional insight and discernment, useful characteristics for navigating the rough waters of the Christian music industry. Lending his production savvy and outstanding guitar skills to the project provided Lee with a beneficial boost on her first time out. I hope it’s not her last.

Curt McLey August 14, 2003