Leanna Crawford is somewhat new to the Christian music scene, hitting her stride in the midst of the world pandemic, during which she released several singles that enjoyed time in the Top 30 and Top 20 on the charts. Today, we’re listening to one of her most recent releases, an acoustic version of her 2022 song “How Can You Not.”
Accompanied by herself and a bandmate on guitar, Crawford keeps her tones quiet through the first verse, showing off a much broader upper register in the chorus. The chorus of the song has a catchy hook that feels so natural it gives the impression of a tune that’s been around for much longer than half a year.
On her official website, Leanna explains that the song was inspired by her father, who saw fireflies for the first time while visiting her Nashville home. She recalled:
“Most people don’t know this, but there are no fireflies in the Pacific Northwest. We were out walking in the rain because we’re from the rainy state of Washington and don’t care about getting wet. But when the rain slowed down, the field next to us lit up like the night sky. My dad saw all those fireflies and said, ‘How can you not see the Creator?’ It was such a beautiful moment. And I was reminded that God created things like fireflies to show us how much He loves us.”
While this acoustic rendition of “How Can You Not” may not have the same production value as the official music video, we appreciated how fitting it was to the subject matter. It is almost like commentary on the song, juxtaposing the quiet dark campfire performance with the lively, happy times on a beach at sunset, as shown in the official video featured below. It’s as though Crawford is noting that God is as present in the light as in the dark.
Leanna Crawford is a talented upcomer who is an artist to watch for a promising future in the industry. Many of the biggest names in Christian music seem to feel the same way, as she has been invited to tour with stars the likes of Michael W. Smith, Matt Maher, and Jeremy Camp. Follow Leanna on YouTube and her official website to keep up with her releases, and find her music streaming on your favorite platform.
