With a folk-inspired, acoustic sound, Amy's pure vocals turn the heart's attention to the soul's greatest need.

Words: William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898) Music: Greensleeves, 16th Century English Folk Song Arrangement: Amy Lloyd Guitar and vocals: Amy Lloyd Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Matt Hinshaw Photography and artwork by Christopher

With a folk-inspired, acoustic sound, Amy's pure vocals turn the heart's attention to the soul's greatest need.

Words: William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898) Music: Greensleeves, 16th Century English Folk Song Arrangement: Amy Lloyd Guitar and vocals: Amy Lloyd Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Matt Hinshaw Photography and artwork by Christopher Apperson

Amy Lloyd, a farm girl and coal miner's daughter, grew up singing and playing piano in little country churches in Central Illinois. Amy sang her first solo at age six thanks to the encouragement of her grandmother, a church pianist. A couple years later her parents enrolled her in piano lessons. When the coal mine closed and money was tight, Amy's piano teacher taught her for free so she could continue to develop as a musician.

Amy joined the school band where she played flute and eventually became the marching band's drum major. Her band teacher often entrusted the band to her direction so he could suit up to help fill out the brass section.

Amy’s college and early career years took her away from music. As a state officer in a youth organization for students of agriculture, she chose to major in agricultural education at the University of Illinois. After graduation, she followed her sweetheart to Washington, DC and they were married shortly thereafter. When she left her career as an agriculture policy aide on Capitol Hill to be an at-home mother; however, her love of music reemerged.

As a church musician, Amy offered regular solos, played flute and percussion in the orchestra, sang first alto in the choir, helped lead music missions trips to Russia and held lead roles in holiday musicals. In 2011, she portrayed the lead as Mary, the mother of Jesus, in her church's production of Brentwood-Benson's "The Christmas Song." During this experience, Amy realized that her voice is her most effective means to reach and encourage others.

The following year, Amy and her family vacationed in upstate New York to visit friends and songwriters Mike and Meg Foster. While visiting the church where Foster pastors, they heard a touching message that prompted Amy to come home and enroll in voice lessons at the College of Southern Maryland (CSM). During this time, Amy developed an affection for classical music, as well, and performed art songs by Samuel Barber. She also joined the Maryland Choral Society.

In 2013, Amy recorded and released her freshman album, "All I Need," which was crowd-funded through Kickstarter backers and other financial supporters. "All I Need" turns the heart's attention to the soul's greatest need: the grace and love of the Savior. With a folk-inspired, acoustic sound, it is a blend of both modern and traditional Christian hymns and praise songs, including two original songs penned by the Fosters. Amy self-produced "All I Need" with the assistance and accompaniment of her voice teacher, Dr. Antony Zwerdling. The album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Matt Hinshaw at Nightsky Studios in Waldorf, MD.

In the wake of the release, Amy bought her own acoustic guitar and started taking lessons at CSM when a core muscle injury put her on extended voice rest. In her recovery, she recorded and released a single in December 2014 of her own guitar and vocal arrangement of "What Child Is This?". The single was recorded, mixed and mastered by Matt Hinshaw.

Amy lives near the nation's capital and considers both Washington, DC and Southern Maryland her community. She and her husband, Matt, are members of Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, VA. They have two elementary school-aged children, Charlotte and Emmett. Amy teaches voice and piano lessons at Island Music Company in LaPlata, MD. Staying true to her Midwestern roots, she is a St. Louis Cardinals baseball fanatic.

See more at www.amylloyd.net.