Vocal artist, composer, and music educator Mary Jane Knight is set to release her deeply personal and healing-focused album, Rising Free: a journey of healing on March 23. The album will launch across all streaming platforms along with CD and vinyl will coincide with an album release concert at Riverside Theatre in Iowa City on Sunday, March 23rd at 2pm. This concert will take listeners on a journey of self-worth, empowerment, and transformation.
A Journey of Healing Through Music
Mary Jane Knight’s journey has been one of self-discovery and embracing inner strength. With a master’s degree in opera performance, she has merged her classical training with her passion for sound healing, music therapy, and accessible emotional expression.
“The crux of this whole album is simple,” says Knight. “We are worthy. Our emotions are not something to be ashamed of. They are our guiding lights. Through music, I want people to claim their own worthiness and embrace their inner voice.”
A Sonic Exploration of Light and Shadow
As the album producer and songwriter, Knight blends her piano, strings, synth, percussion, and vocals with guitar by Joel Wilcox. Rising Free: a journey of healing is both ethereal and raw, combining the power of opera-like storytelling with accessible vocals and stripped-down arrangements. Each track serves as a mantra for healing and empowerment, inviting listeners to find their own voices and embody the affirmations within. Highlighted tracks include:
- “Rising Free” – The closing track on the album, a culmination of the healing journey.
- “Breathe” – An evocative opening track that reflects the depths of anxiety and despair, guiding the listener toward inner liberation.
- “I Am Worthy” – A haunting and deeply spiritual acknowledgment of how pain can be a source of strength and transformation.
- “Beyond” – A lush, string-driven track exploring the idea of divinity as something beyond body and mind, yet deeply woven within us.
- “The Gathering” – A communal reflection on ancestral connections which asks the question, “What if we gathered together and dared to bare our souls, our voices rising in chorus with power to change the world?”
Throughout the album, Knight weaves themes of grief, empowerment, and emotional release, helping listeners tap into their own healing through sometimes repetitive, chant-like lyrics alongside deeply felt melodies.
Mary Jane Knight envisions Rising Free: a journey of healing as more than just a collection of songs— “it’s a tool for collective healing.” Her goal is to bring these songs into faith communities, healing centers, and community spaces, leading workshops that fuse music, mindfulness, and vocal exploration.
“I’ve worked with all ages, from babies to 90-year-olds, and I’ve seen firsthand how finding our voice unlocks something powerful in people,” Knight shares. “I want to take this album into spaces where people can join their voices in community.”
Album Release Event on March 23
The album will be available on all major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. Fans can also purchase digital downloads through Apple Music and through maryjaneknight.com directly to support Knight’s independent artistry.
To celebrate the launch, Knight will host a special album release concert on Sunday, March 23rd at 2pm, featuring an intimate live performance of the album along with the stories behind the songs. Tickets available at riversidetheatre.org.
Following the album’s release, Mary Jane will be performing as an emerging artist and presenting two workshops at the National Women’s Music Festival in July.
About Mary Jane Knight
Mary Jane Knight is a classically trained vocalist, composer, and educator dedicated to making music and our voices vehicles for healing and empowerment. Drawing from her experiences as a church musician, opera performer, and voice teacher, she creates work that bridges the worlds of music therapy, emotional wellness, and accessible artistry.
- Instagram: MaryJaneKnightMusic
- Facebook: MaryJaneKnightMusic
- YouTube: MaryJaneKnightMusic
- Monthly Publication: mary-jane-knight.kit.com
For national media inquiries, interviews, or event details, please contact:
Jane Pike | JPPR
jane@jppr.ca | 310-776-0502
