Why My New Song Is So Important

My new song “Jesus Kind of Love” releases all over the globe this Friday (1/27) and I’d love to ask you a favor to help me out. But first, let me tell you why this new song of mine is so important.

I seriously wondered if I’d ever do music again.

When the pandemic made its appearance in March of 2020, everything related to my music career came to a grinding halt. I had been touring the country for most of the past decade, and popping out new records almost annually (nine total!). I had been consumed with building my small business, as any entrepreneur would be, except the product wasn’t some widget, it was me.

I constantly worried that I wasn’t doing enough. That I wasn’t being enough.

I continually worked my contacts and social media feeds to find the next concert. More than anything I worked to present myself as valuable, viable, and important. I wanted to be “discovered.” In actuality, I just wanted some help. It was a complete grind doing everything myself; from social media to graphic design, merchandising, writing, recording, tour logistics, driving thousands of miles, financing it all… to name a few. I’m exhausted just reading that list, especially knowing that a lot of my self-worth was wrapped up in how other people responded to all my efforts.

• I wrote a lot about this here on Substack and here.

Long story, short: At first, the pandemic break felt like dying. “Who am I when I’m not consumed with building my business, my brand, my platform? Who am I when there’s no applause?”

Then I realized that I was actually breathing, resting, at peace, perhaps for the first time in a decade. Like, breathing freely. Nothing to prove, nothing to fear. Turns out, that’s what I had been craving the whole time. What a blessing.

I kept wondering, though, would I ever return to doing music? And what would it look like if I did? Could I do it simply for the joy of it?

I knew I couldn’t keep touring like I had been; too draining—physically and financially. But I wanted to keep writing and recording. I even had a new album planned, with a title and a folder full of new lyrics. Still do.

I kept hope alive by keeping track of my new ideas, tucking them away in a binder, expectant there may come a day when the actual songs get birthed. I can’t wait. (Even though sometimes it’s easier to live in the fantasy of how great it’s going to be when the project is done, than to actually put in the gritty, vulnerable work of creation.)

This new song is my first foray into that gracefully held folder of ideas. And I couldn’t be more proud of the result. And there is so much joy all over it.

I’m so happy I didn’t give up. I’m so thrilled with the fantastic encouragement I’ve received from people who have heard a preview of the song. I believe this is not only a super fun song, but a super important song, casting a bold vision for how we can all be doing a better job of loving each other… loving like Jesus. There’s way too much division, even within the Church. I believe love can be what brings us together.

How Can You Help?

Check your email this Friday morning, as I’ll be sending the song to you directly because I can’t wait for you to hear it. You’ll also be able to find the song wherever you listen to music — places like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube.

And then, if you love it, please share it with your friends. Sharing that email with your friends, or sharing the song or video to your social media friends will be so helpful to spread the word.

Something I’ve always wondered is if it would be possible to have a song of mine show up on the iTunes Top Christian Songs chart. If you’d like to help me out and see what might be possible, go to iTunes (on Friday) and buy the song for $.99 or whatever price they have it at.

Full disclosure: This is not about me making any money at all. If 100 people download my song from iTunes, I’ll bring home something in the mid-two digits. BUT, if 100 people download the song, I believe it might show up on the chart—something that is very unusual for an indie artist, and will expose more people to this tune and me as an artist. If I had a manager, they’d probably say, “And ask them to ask their friends to download the song, too!” That feels weird to me, but, alas, it would be helpful.

As an independent artist, I’m doing this all alone. There’s no promotional or marketing machine behind the song, helping people to hear it. But God. I firmly believe God will do good work through this song. God already has done great work in my own life through this song—in beautiful, intimate ways—encouraging me to keep going, helping me to believe that the end of story has not been written yet.

That truly, the best is yet come.

This song is also extremely important to me because of its message—something I’ll write more about in next week’s post.

REMINDER: Check your email box Friday morning, as I’ll be sending out the song to you directly because I want you to be one of the first to hear it!