My new record BREAKING FREE (available now) is a wide open look into me. There are a many allusions to some very personal moments in my life, faith, and relationships. Here are the stories behind the songs:
Track 3: THE UPRISING
After the success of my first record MY HEART IS RUNNING, I was really excited. I had been so afraid of sharing songs that I had written before then. I didn’t know if people would like them, hate them, maybe not even notice them, or if I should even care. After all, the point of writing them was to bring awareness and glory to God, not me. But when you create art, you create vulnerability, and when you are as insecure as I am, “putting yourself out there” is an incredibly gut wrenching experience.
However, it went well. I found myself satisfied with people’s response and what I had learned through the process. But I found out that was a problem. Because of how well it went, I took a break from working so hard… because “I deserved it.” I eventually found it difficult to maintain my passion for creating new music. Then when I finally wanted to jump back in and write something, I found it really difficult to come up with something different. Then that led to discouragement and frustration… and I eventually stopped. At one point my wife even asked if I had retired, because I definitely wasn’t working. Ouch.
So I did what anyone would do in that situation... I got depressed and starting looking at myself internally; picking myself apart and wondering why I can sometimes feel so useless. I have such huge dreams and visions of music ministry, but how can a normal guy like me (who has challenges focusing and completing ideas) ever get there? Oh, and by the way, I feel like I’m doing it alone and no one understands how hard this is.
It was after a long period of this that I finally asked myself a pretty simple question. “What actually inspires me?” And the answer was pretty easy. The things I love. My family, Jesus, music, people… Then I began to discover “the man” keeping me down… was me. The only person telling me “That’s too hard,” “You’re not good enough,” “No one will notice” and “This song is terrible” was me. It had to stop. And wouldn’t you know it, it inspired a song. Not just a song, but the battle cry for the whole album. I believe in the message of this song. So much of life, family, and faith has a direct connection with having a healthy relationship with yourself.
God believes in you. He gave you great gifts to use for His glory. Use them often, and with great joy, because no one can do, what you can do, the way you do them, but you.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10
THE UPRISING
verse
to the ground over and over I tumble
it's the sound of me hiding from my struggle
drawing the line at laughter tears they fall
my eyes can't take me to the dreams I saw
pre chorus
my body aches I arise.
I’m awake I'm alive.
chorus
this is the uprising I’m gonna break free
from all these ropes and chains and stains that bind me
this is the uprising
verse 2
stretching miles of hope I travel on
these pseudo smiles even now are gone
paralyzed by fear and the unknown
but this time I know that I'm not alone
chorus 2
this is the uprising I’m gonna break free
from all these ropes and chains and stains that bind me
this is the song I am gonna sing
its time to stop this swollen heart from wandering
this is the uprising
Track 3: THE UPRISING
After the success of my first record MY HEART IS RUNNING, I was really excited. I had been so afraid of sharing songs that I had written before then. I didn’t know if people would like them, hate them, maybe not even notice them, or if I should even care. After all, the point of writing them was to bring awareness and glory to God, not me. But when you create art, you create vulnerability, and when you are as insecure as I am, “putting yourself out there” is an incredibly gut wrenching experience.
However, it went well. I found myself satisfied with people’s response and what I had learned through the process. But I found out that was a problem. Because of how well it went, I took a break from working so hard… because “I deserved it.” I eventually found it difficult to maintain my passion for creating new music. Then when I finally wanted to jump back in and write something, I found it really difficult to come up with something different. Then that led to discouragement and frustration… and I eventually stopped. At one point my wife even asked if I had retired, because I definitely wasn’t working. Ouch.
So I did what anyone would do in that situation... I got depressed and starting looking at myself internally; picking myself apart and wondering why I can sometimes feel so useless. I have such huge dreams and visions of music ministry, but how can a normal guy like me (who has challenges focusing and completing ideas) ever get there? Oh, and by the way, I feel like I’m doing it alone and no one understands how hard this is.
It was after a long period of this that I finally asked myself a pretty simple question. “What actually inspires me?” And the answer was pretty easy. The things I love. My family, Jesus, music, people… Then I began to discover “the man” keeping me down… was me. The only person telling me “That’s too hard,” “You’re not good enough,” “No one will notice” and “This song is terrible” was me. It had to stop. And wouldn’t you know it, it inspired a song. Not just a song, but the battle cry for the whole album. I believe in the message of this song. So much of life, family, and faith has a direct connection with having a healthy relationship with yourself.
God believes in you. He gave you great gifts to use for His glory. Use them often, and with great joy, because no one can do, what you can do, the way you do them, but you.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10
THE UPRISING
verse
to the ground over and over I tumble
it's the sound of me hiding from my struggle
drawing the line at laughter tears they fall
my eyes can't take me to the dreams I saw
pre chorus
my body aches I arise.
I’m awake I'm alive.
chorus
this is the uprising I’m gonna break free
from all these ropes and chains and stains that bind me
this is the uprising
verse 2
stretching miles of hope I travel on
these pseudo smiles even now are gone
paralyzed by fear and the unknown
but this time I know that I'm not alone
chorus 2
this is the uprising I’m gonna break free
from all these ropes and chains and stains that bind me
this is the song I am gonna sing
its time to stop this swollen heart from wandering
this is the uprising
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