After her former band the Blue Hit disbanded, singer/songwriter Grace Park got together with three fellow students at Texas State’s School of Music (joined later by another from North Texas University) to record an album of her songs titled An Argument for Observation, released in 2011. They called themselves Grace Park & The Deer, and joining them on background vocals in the studio and on tour was Grace’s longtime friend Stephanie Bledsoe. Being together on the road bonded them like never before, so they were all grief-stricken when Stephanie lost her life to a farm accident in 2013. She was just 27.

Stunned, and not knowing where else to turn, they found new comfort in playing music, and composing and arranging more collectively. The end result was such a different animal that they gave it a new name; The Deer was born. While haunted by the loss of their friend, the band’s exact musicianship, Grace’s rich voice, their meticulous arrangements and a hopeful spirit also buoy Spirit’s sessions. Grace calls it the most “personally-invested project we’ve ever taken on”.