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Lauren Daigle is a Christian contemporary artist whose newest studio album, “Look Up Child,” has been a runaway hit, taking up residence in the top tier of the overall iTunes chart since its release on September 7.

Daigle began singing at a young age and continued to perform, eventually coming into an adult sound that stands distinct from other overproduced, inauthentic radio hit productions. Following early exposure from posting original material on YouTube, Daigle made her studio debut in 2015 when she performed on a compilation album for contemporary worship band North Point InsideOut.

Later that year, Daigle released her first full-length album, “How Can it Be,” which sold over 500,000 copies, achieving gold record status. Throughout the years, she has cultivated a career as a solo artist and made a collaborative name for herself by joining forces with various artists on numerous passion projects.

In the company of albums from prominent artists such as Mac Miller, Eminem, Ariana Grande and David Guetta, “Look Up Child” has bounced around the charts, topping out at the No. 1 position overall and taking a short fall to its lowest position, No. 13. Christian singers rarely chart this well. According to Rolling Stone, Daigle’s album generated the biggest sales numbers for any Christian album in nine years, and immediately after its release, Daigle had the highest sales week for a Christian female artist in over 20 years. Additionally, Daigle became the first Christian artist to simultaneously top more than three Christian charts. “Look Up Child” held the No. 1 position on five separate Christian charts at one time.

Today, Daigle has a more secular sound than ever and yet is still categorized in the Christian genre. Mirroring the voices of classic artists such as Carole King, Etta James, Diana Ross and Adele, Daigle has been a gamechanger in the distinction of the otherwise blurry line between Christian pop and group worship music. “Look Up Child” forces both the Christian and secular communities to acknowledge the value in pop songs with a faith-based perspective, rather than songs that function as contemporary hymns.

I have been a Daigle fan since her early years as an artist when YouTube was the only platform where listeners could access her music. From my view, “Look Up Child” has resonated so well with listeners because of the gap it bridges between secular and religious music. Daigle’s voice, a fragmented yet velveteen combination of pop, soul and blues, provides a spiritual cross-pollination, the likes of which I don’t remember hearing before. In addition, her newer material is somewhat lapsed from Christianity. This leaves space for non-believers to hear her music and interpret it in their own way, appreciating it as just much as a Christian could. With lines such as “I’m losing my religion,” and “I’ve been a winding road … sometimes a stranger in my home,” this album is, yes, Christ-centric but focuses more on telling the story of Daigle’s relationship with God than her experiences with religion.

Daigle explained the ideology behind the album in an interview with Zane Lowe of Beats 1 radio station.

“I think one of the things that I’ve learned and one of the things that I’m embracing is the freedom of taking off the checked boxes, the rules and all those things that kind of muddy up what faith actually is … going into the next season of life in the remembrance of being a child,” Daigle said. “A child isn’t thinking realms of capacity. They don’t think, ‘Can I do this or can I not.’”

Other notable artists that have successfully toed the line between Christian and secular music at times include Justin Bieber, Carrie Underwood, Tori Kelly, Mumford and Sons, Avril Lavigne, Owl City, The Fray, Lady Antebellum and Kesha.

There is power in a trendy voice performing a song of faith. As a Christian, I want to listen to faith-based music, but I also grow tired of hearing the typical humdrum worship tune. When a mainstream artist sings a spiritual song or vice versa, it says that they experienced something that lies outside the box the world put them in. This can make these songs feel more raw, relatable and, ultimately, human.

Lauren Daigle’s album, “Look Up Child,” has been a decisive victory for the world of Christian music, but also for the harmony of humanity in general. In this day and age, things can sometimes seem very “us against them.” Daigle’s album is derived from her faith but fundamentally offers an expression of the need for love in all things.