Terrian
Terrian Bass Woods (born September 3, 1996) is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, and vocalist from Memphis, Tennessee.[1] Known for her soulful voice and music that blends gospel, R&B, and pop influences, she emphasizes themes of faith, hope, and personal testimony in her work.[2][3] Raised in Memphis, Terrian developed her musical foundation singing in her family church and participating in local choirs such as Voices of MAHS, Rhythm Band, and the all-girls group AngelStreet, where she also mentored youth and supported community development.[4] In 2016, she gained early national exposure by reaching the Top 48 on season 15 of American Idol, though she faced rejection that nearly led her to abandon her music dreams.[4] Her career advanced in 2017 when she joined TobyMac's Diverse City band as a backing vocalist, performing on major tours including the Hits Deep Tour and contributing to tracks like the remix of "Scars."[5][6] Transitioning to a solo artist, Terrian independently released her debut single "I Am Free" in 2016 in collaboration with producer Bryan Fowler. She signed with Gotee Records—co-founded by TobyMac—in 2019.[7] She achieved her first No. 1 radio single with "Light It Up" in 2020 and followed with her debut EP, Genesis of Terrian, in 2021, featuring the track "Stayed On Him (Isaiah 26:3)" which has amassed over 17 million YouTube views (as of November 2025).[4][8] Her first full-length album, Give It Time, arrived on January 26, 2024, via Gotee Records, showcasing songs like "He Sees You" that highlight God's unconditional love and timing, along with singles "Honestly, We Just Need Jesus" and "No Body" later that year.[9] In 2025, she released the deluxe edition Give It More Time in February, the single "Testimony" in September, and "Lovin' You" in October, further solidifying her presence in contemporary Christian music.[10][11][12] Terrian continues to tour, including her Big God Tour in 2025, and resides in Memphis with her husband, Ian Woods.[4]Early life
Childhood and family
Terrian Bass Woods was born on September 3, 1996, in Memphis, Tennessee.[1] Raised in a devout Christian family, Terrian grew up as a pastor's kid in a household immersed in praise and worship music, where such sounds were a constant backdrop to daily life.[13] Her parents, who served as church leaders, played a pivotal role in nurturing her early affinity for music and faith, instilling values of spiritual devotion and community service from a young age.[14] Her grandfather, the pastor of the family's church, further shaped this environment, making religious gatherings a central part of her upbringing.[15] In Memphis, Terrian's childhood was deeply tied to her local community, where church events brought together extended family and neighbors like one large supportive unit, fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose.[16] The home environment, filled with familial encouragement and rhythmic gospel influences, helped mold her foundational values of resilience and empathy, which later informed her broader community engagements.[13]Musical beginnings
Terrian's musical journey began in the vibrant church culture of North Memphis, Tennessee, where she grew up surrounded by gospel music and communal worship. From a young age, she sang in her family church, establishing the foundation of her vocal talents while absorbing influences from gospel and R&B genres that permeated her community.[4] This early exposure was deeply familial, with her grandfather preaching sermons and her aunt leading worship sessions, creating an environment rich in spiritual expression through song.[16] One of her earliest performances came during a church service, where she delivered her first solo—a creative remix of the alphabet song—that sparked her lifelong passion for worship singing.[16] As a self-motivated young artist, Terrian honed her skills informally through these settings, drawing inspiration from gospel legends like Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary, whose soulful messages and powerful deliveries resonated within her local church and neighborhood circles.[17] During her teenage years, she expanded her experiences with local performances, participating in groups such as the Voices of MAHS choir and the Rhythm Band at the Memphis Academy of Health Sciences, which provided platforms for communal music-making in her community.[4] Her initial forays into songwriting emerged from this gospel-infused backdrop, as she began experimenting with lyrics and melodies that reflected her faith and personal story, often collaboratively within church and youth settings.[16] A pivotal entry point came in high school when she joined AngelStreet Memphis, an all-girls choir nonprofit dedicated to musical training and mentorship for young women in underserved areas, where she served as an original member and gained structured guidance alongside performance opportunities.[4][18] These formative experiences in church, family worship, and community programs built her confidence and skills, eventually propelling her toward auditions for broader professional avenues.[16]Career
Tenure with Diverse City
Terrian joined TobyMac's Diverse City band in 2017 as a background vocalist following a selection process that began with her connection to the team's manager, Dan Pitts, through Memphis-based contacts. After auditioning unsuccessfully for American Idol in 2016, she participated in songwriting sessions arranged by Pitts and contributed vocals to TobyMac's album The Elements, which helped evaluate her fit for the role. She ultimately filled in for departing vocalist Nirva Dorsaint-Louis and was officially welcomed as the newest member of Diverse City in December 2017.[19][13][20] During her tenure, Terrian contributed significantly to TobyMac's live performances, particularly on the Hits Deep Tour, where she appeared on multiple iterations starting from 2018. She performed background vocals and occasional lead features, such as her live rendition of "In the Arms" during the 2020 tour leg, enhancing the band's dynamic energy across arenas and supporting TobyMac's high-production shows. Her involvement extended to other tours and events, solidifying her presence as a reliable ensemble member in the group's diverse lineup.[21][22][16] Over nearly eight years with Diverse City, Terrian developed her stage presence by overcoming initial stage fright through a focus on faith-driven performance, drawing from her church worship background and mentorship under TobyMac. This period fostered professional networking within the Christian music industry, as she built lasting relationships with bandmates described as a supportive "family" that provided guidance and encouragement during tours. These experiences honed her skills in collaborative artistry and live delivery, preparing her for independent endeavors.[16][23] In late 2024, Terrian announced her departure from Diverse City to pursue solo opportunities, with her final performance occurring on November 24, 2024. Reflecting on her time in the band, she expressed profound gratitude for the mentorship from TobyMac, who she credited with equipping her for future growth, and for the familial bonds formed with the ensemble, which she viewed as a milestone in her career marked by personal and artistic maturation.[23][24]Solo career breakthrough
Following her time with TobyMac's Diverse City band, Terrian transitioned to a solo career under Gotee Records, where she had signed in 2017, achieving her breakthrough with the release of her debut EP Genesis of Terrian on February 26, 2021.[25][26] The six-track project, produced by Kyle Williams and Darren Mulligan of We Are Messengers, showcased her blend of contemporary Christian pop and R&B, with tracks like "Give Me That Joy" and "Light It Up" highlighting her dynamic vocal range.[27] This EP established her as an emerging independent artist, building on the vocal techniques she had refined during her band tenure.[28] Key singles from this period propelled her visibility, including the earlier "God With Us" from 2019, which resonated on Christian radio with its message of divine presence, and the 2023 release "Big God," co-written by Terrian, Benji Cowart, Jordan Mohilowski, and Toby McKeehan.[29][30] "Big God" garnered significant traction, amassing over 50 million streams on Spotify and appearing on curated playlists like "Big God + More from Terrian," while its radio version further amplified its reach on Christian airwaves.[31] These releases demonstrated her ability to connect with audiences through uplifting anthems, solidifying her post-band momentum. In the lead-up to her full-length debut, Terrian announced Give It Time in November 2023, with the title track produced by Joel Setien and co-written by Terrian alongside Benji Cowart, Dave Lubben, and Toby McKeehan.[32] The album, released on January 26, 2024, via Gotee Records, featured 12 tracks that explored themes of faith and perseverance, produced by a team including Setien and others to capture her evolving sound.[33] This project marked a pivotal expansion of her solo presence, drawing from her independent releases to reach broader Christian music listeners. Continuing her ascent, Terrian issued the deluxe edition Give It More Time on January 31, 2025, expanding the original album to 19 tracks with new songs, guest features from artists like Anike and Joe L Barnes, and remixed versions, further boosting its digital placements.[34] Complementing this, her single "Testimony," released on September 26, 2025, and featured in Angel Studios' series Miracle, underscored her growing influence with its personal narrative of redemption, produced by Joshua Silverberg.[35][36]Musical style and influences
Genres and vocal style
Terrian's music is firmly rooted in contemporary Christian music (CCM), where she blends pop, R&B, and gospel elements to craft a vibrant and versatile sound. This fusion allows her to bridge traditional gospel refrains with modern pop-inspired rhythms and R&B grooves, creating tracks that appeal across genres while maintaining a faith-centered core. For instance, her single "Stayed On Him" exemplifies this approach, combining soulful gospel hooks with upbeat pop arrangements and contemporary Christian production.[37][17][38] Her vocal style stands out for its soulful depth and emotive power, often praised as "soulful vocal chops for days" by collaborator TobyMac, reflecting a rich, flavorful tone honed through years of live performance. Terrian employs dynamic phrasing to convey genuine joy and emotional authenticity, drawing from her gospel upbringing to infuse recordings with layered, worshipful intensity. This technique enables her to transition seamlessly between powerful belts in high-energy choruses and intricate, soulful runs that add texture to her delivery.[37][4][17] In her evolution as a vocalist, Terrian shifted from providing background harmonies in TobyMac's Diverse City band—where she supported high-energy live sets—to commanding lead vocal showcases in her solo releases, such as the album Give It Time. This progression has allowed her to expand her use of layered harmonies, building fuller, more immersive soundscapes that highlight her range and control. Her style has been shaped by gospel influences like Kirk Franklin and R&B artists such as Alicia Keys, contributing to the passionate, worship-oriented timbre that defines her work.[4][39][17][40]Themes and songwriting
Terrian's songwriting is deeply rooted in faith-based narratives, often exploring motifs of surrender, resilience, and the constant presence of God in everyday struggles. These themes emerge prominently in tracks like "Testimony," which serves as a personal recounting of her spiritual journey and triumphs over adversity, and "Big God," where she emphasizes divine strength and provision amid life's challenges.[16] Her lyrics frequently draw from biblical principles, portraying God as an active companion who guides through uncertainty, as seen in the resilient tone of songs that reflect overcoming personal setbacks like career rejections.[41] A hallmark of Terrian's approach is personal storytelling, weaving autobiographical elements into her compositions to convey authentic faith journeys. For instance, "God With Us" captures her experiences of rejection following her "American Idol" audition in 2016, transforming moments of doubt into affirmations of God's unwavering support and redirection toward her calling with Gotee Records.[16] This narrative style allows listeners to connect with her vulnerability, turning individual testimonies into universal encouragements of trust and perseverance in spiritual growth.[41] Terrian's songwriting process is inherently collaborative, particularly during her tenure with Gotee Records, where she partners with producers and co-writers to refine her vision. She has co-authored songs such as "God With Us" with industry figures like Chuck Butler and "Light It Up" alongside TobyMac and others, blending her gospel influences with pop and R&B structures to amplify thematic depth.[7] These sessions, often involving Grammy-winning collaborators like Bryan Fowler, emphasize communal creativity that aligns her personal stories with broader worship elements.[4] In her post-2024 releases, Terrian's work shows a noticeable shift toward themes of empowerment and community, building on earlier motifs while fostering collective upliftment. Her debut album Give It Time (2024) incorporates messages of patient surrender in tracks like the title song, but evolves to empower through anthems such as "Big God" and "Hope Road" (featuring TobyMac), which celebrate God's role in communal resilience and shared hope.[26] Collaborations with artists like Aaron Cole on the album further highlight this community focus, encouraging listeners to find strength in unity and divine timing. In January 2025, she released the deluxe edition Give It More Time, adding three new songs and features with Anike and Joe L. Barnes, which extend these themes of hope and collective faith.[10]Discography
Studio albums
Terrian's studio discography consists of two releases as of 2025: her debut full-length album Give It Time and its expanded deluxe edition Give It More Time. These works mark her transition from backing vocalist in TobyMac's Diverse City to a solo artist in contemporary Christian music, blending pop, R&B, and gospel elements with introspective lyrics rooted in personal faith journeys. Give It Time, released on January 26, 2024, via Gotee Records, features 12 tracks that explore themes of patience, waiting on God's timing, and spiritual growth amid life's uncertainties. Produced primarily by Joel Setien with co-production from TobyMac on select tracks, the album draws from Terrian's experiences during a three-year creative process following her time with Diverse City. Critics praised its vibrant energy and sincere vulnerability, with Worship Leader magazine calling it a "testament to the beauty of artistic maturation and the power of faith-filled patience," while NewReleaseToday highlighted its fresh mix of genres that infuses joy and worship. Commercially, the album garnered strong streaming traction, with lead single "Big God" amassing over 54 million Spotify streams as of November 2025 and peaking at No. 31 on the Billboard Christian Airplay chart; the project itself debuted on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart through its singles' performance.[42] The track listing for Give It Time is as follows:- Big God (3:11)
- Matthew 5 (3:02)
- Hold Me Up (Papa-lude) (1:41)
- Give It Time (2:53)
- It's All Good (feat. Aaron Cole) (3:08)
- Honestly, We Just Need Jesus (3:28)
- Feel It All (3:15)
- Hope Road (3:20)
- I See You (3:05)
- The Waiting (2:58)
- Psalm 23 (2:45)
- Closer (3:10)