Semler’s “Late Bloomer”

By: Natascha Lambing      

“I’ve always wanted to be more than just another compliant Christian daughter” opens the title track of Semler’s recently released EP, "Late Bloomer." This EP features a collection of songs that delve into faith deconstruction, from being a queer Christian to asking the seemingly unaskable questions. 

Grace Baldridge, who releases music under the name “Semler” has made waves in the world of contemporary Christian music by topping Christian charts with her previous EP “Preacher’s Kid”  which  “Late Bloomer” now joins on the charts. Whether listeners identify as a part of the queer community or not, the songs included on “Late Bloomer” speak to experiences of feeling unsupported by the faith systems that many were raised in. Growing up primarily in Belgium as the daughter of an Episcopal priest, Baldridge’s experience with Christianity made “[me feel] like I [had to] kept my mouth shut about a lot of my religious upbringing for almost all my life." "I recently started unpacking this in the past three years,” she told The Crescent,  “and once I started writing I couldn’t stop.” 

“Late Bloomer” front cover. Photo courtesy: https://twitter.com/GraceBaldridge/status/1445116804536287235?s=20

This is an experience some students at George Fox University (GFU) have encountered: realizing that the questions they had about faith and Chrisitanity were valid. Fortunately, there is a community in which to ask those questions. Baldridge found what might be colloquially referred to as “exvangelical TikTok,” a collection of individuals discussing the intricacies of potentially harmful ideas stemming from traditionally evangelical Christian traditions. This is where “Preacher’s Kid” originated. Baldridge said, “I don’t think that I would have felt so supported [to write “Preacher’s Kid” and] to dive into some of these themes, had I not seen that there were so many other people there.” A raw and heartfelt EP written in her home during lockdown, Baldridge recalls recording vocals while sitting in the bathtub, “to try and get a good reverb on it.” This EP was released in February of 2021, and just nine short months later, “Late Bloomer" followed. She considers it her most “polished work by far.” 

The EP opens with what Baldridge refers to as a musically “darker reflection” on Psalm 102. This responds to critics of her previous EP, who said that “Preacher’s Kid” should not be considered “Christian” on account that there was no “praising of God” in it. But “Psalm 102,” as well as the EP’s closing track “Hallelujah (In Your Arms)”  exhibit familiar characteristics to what we might typically think of as Christian music: crying out to God.

Although heavy themes run through the album, the overall feeling elicited by the collection feels brighter than “Preacher’s Kid.” There exists a palpable feeling of hope to backlight the stories within. Baldridge said, “I think that with 'Preacher’s Kid,' we 'met me' during the thick of questioning. I was in a place of a great deal of doubt and hurt, and I was processing things for the first time and with 'Late Bloomer,' we’re sort of picking back up, even within the same year, having found that community, having received that response.” 

“Prodigal Girl'' exudes this perfectly. The upbeat track poses questions surrounding Baldridge’s specific experience as a queer Christian, but in a way that is accessible and applicable to almost any listener.  The title track “Late Bloomer” follows suit; its chorus repeats the revelation “baby bloom, baby bloom.”

Baldridge said, “[T]here's so much more hope and enthusiasm in the same question, asking those questions. I feel like I’m asking them now knowing that there are people out there, that I’m not alone in these questions.” And perhaps this is exactly the importance of Semler’s music finding its way into Christian spheres where some may find the songs challenging. Her EPs assure us that the hard questions are meant to be asked, and they are meant to be asked in community, together. 

Semler’s music can be found on all streaming platforms, or connect with Semler on social media through Tiktok, Instagram and Twitter.

Jessica Daugherty