Two Sides of the Same Coin: Why I Recorded a Solo Album

I have always felt that at my core I am a teacher. It shows up in everything I try to do. This has often come with some unwelcome baggage. I find myself turning simple conversations into a soapbox pontifications; friends who simply want to vent are forced to endure my "teaching moments". Music for me has always been a tool to teach-- a lovely, moving, beautiful tool, but still, a tool. I have never considered myself a "true musician", one who loves the art for the art itself. I have been a worship leader because I love calling people's attention to God. And music is an elegant and potent way to communicate that call. In some ways, I stumbled into being a worship leader vocationally, always knowing that some day that would pass. So, when I stepped out of the Desperation Band last summer, it was not to "go solo". I had no intentions then, nor do I now, of being a "solo artist". I left so I could make room in my life for more speaking and writing. When I made the decision in April (it didn't become official until the summer), I hadn't signed a contract with David C. Cook, though conversations were in process. Still, I had no idea how things would play out.

After spending the summer writing Secondhand Jesus and much of the Fall re-writing sections, a friend who used to work for Integrity Music and is now a free-lance producer called. He asked if I would be interested in making a studio solo record. He would recruit the musicians and fund the project, and if we sold it to a label, he would reap the full benefit of his investment. 

Faced with that unexpected opportunity, I realized something: I'm not done with music yet. It is still a huge part of my life. I had written some new songs that I believed in and had used at theMILL (New Life's college ministry where I led every week). The thought of being able to record them and to also give new artistic life into a handful of previously recorded songs was exciting to me. I had to make my peace with the fact that, for now, speaking and worship leading, writing and songwriting, are two sides of the same coin: they are part of who I am and how I teach. 

So I spent a week in Mobile with a bunch of incredible musicians making the album. As it took shape, I couldn't believe how good it sounded-- and it had nothing to do with me! Then Integrity Music said they were interested in picking it up. I made it clear that I would never be a career artist or spend my life on the road. They said there were many ways of making a deal work. And this is why I'm so thankful for them, this is what makes them true ministry partners and not simply a record label: they got it; they understood me and how the Lord is at work. We found a quick, low-pressure way of making this album theirs.

In the process of choosing songs for the project, I realized that in many ways this would be a sort of companion piece to Secondhand Jesus. The book and the CD are twin expressions of the same journey. They have been a kind of soundtrack for my walk. In fact, many of the songs unintentionally correspond with the themes of certain chapters. It makes sense; after all, both were written in the same time in my life. For example:

Track 7 "Without You" works well with the themes of Chapters 3 and 4; 

Track 1 "This Is Our God" seems to correspond with Chapters 5 and 6; 

and Track 4 "For Love I Sing" captures the heart of Chapters 7 and 8. 

Maybe the most obvious correlation is Track 3 "Burning in Me" with Chapters 9 and 10 because of the pre-chorus: 

"I have only heard the whispers of Your majesty,

All I've known were only rumors, 

Now my eyes have seen Your glory, God." 

Anyway, I hope that helps explain what's going on in my life. I can't see what's around the bend all that clearly. But for now, music and writing are two sides of the same coin. They are faithful vehicles for me to express what God is doing in my life, and I hope both can be of some usefulness to you. 

"Rumors and Revelations" releases June 23. To hear tracks and to get chord charts, visit the brand new www.glennpackiam.com.