New BEC Recordings' band, Shine Bright Baby released their debut album Dreamers on July 23rd. I had the opportunity to meet the band in 2011 at Creation Festival Northeast, and they participated in handing out $5 bills to everyone we saw at the Festival wearing temporary tattoos showing the NewReleaseTuesday.com logo. We also spent time discussing their formation as a band and the story of their song "Hourglasses."

 

Watching their set on the Fringe Stage, I saw an energetic band with a lot of potential, reminding me of a blend of other faith-based rock bands that have female lead singers. But since then, the band has added more pop and electronic elements to their sound. If you like upbeat, high-energy pop/rock, then don't hesitate to pick up Dreamers, which includes the super catchy lead single, "Beautiful Love." I had the chance to interview Shine Bright Baby's lead singer, Emily Irene, about the song.

 

Please tell me the message behind the song. 
 

This song was written while we were recording our album. It was kind of crazy because we entered the studio with a lot of songs. We had about seven or eight songs locked down and sure we were going to record. Then we were going to see where it went. We weren't really sure how it would go as we were working with two different producers. As the guys were working with one producer, and playing guitars or drums, the rest of us weren't really doing anything. That's how it works in the studio, with a lot of sitting around and waiting.

I went and wrote with some people during that time. I wrote with the other producers, who were working on the other half of the album with us. We were hoping we would get some songs to fill out the album, but we didn't know what we would get. I find it hilarious, that some of my favorite songs for the record, three of them, were written there in the studio as we were recording the album. I think that God waited to give us those songs right at the very end.

"Beautiful Love" was the second to last song that was written, and that was a big deal. We were like, "Really God, You waited this long? We've been writing this album for years!" You remember, when we met you back in 2011 we were working on this album. It's a really long process that most people aren't aware of. Not that it really matters, because the album turned out like it was supposed to and the right songs are on the album.

Basically, the idea for this song is that we wanted to write a song that was simple, with a simple message that God's love is beautiful and redemptive. Sonically we wanted the song to portray joy. The fact that God accepts us as we are is really worth celebrating. I feel like we really accomplished that with this song. It's very happy and upbeat, and the people we've interacted with about the song mention the word joy. It's that reminder that we all need to hear.

 

Did you base the song on any Bible verses? Do you have a life verse?
 

Psalm 33:1-3 (The Voice): "Release your heart's joy in sweet music to the Eternal. When the upright passionately sing glory-filled songs to Him, everything is in its right place. Worship the Eternal with your instruments, strings offering their praise; write awe-filled songs to Him on the 10-stringed harp. Sing to Him a new song; play each the best way you can, and don't be afraid to be bold with your joyful feelings."

 

John 3:16 (The Voice): "For God expressed His love for the world in this way: He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not face everlasting destruction, but will have everlasting life."

 

Romans 5:8 (The Voice): "But think about this: while we were wasting our lives in sin, God revealed His powerful love to us in a tangible display—the Anointed One died for us."
 

Colossians 3:16 (The Voice): "Let the word of the Anointed One richly inhabit your lives. With all wisdom teach, counsel, and instruct one another. Sing the psalms, compose hymns and songs inspired by the Spirit, and keep on singing—sing to God from hearts full and spilling over with thankfulness."
 

How can listeners apply that message in their walks as Christians when they listen to the song?
 

Like David in the Bible, God gave him all of those songs he sings in Psalms. For me, that's super personal, because I'm a vocalist. Personally in the bridge, the song talks about how "everybody wishes they could change their past." I toyed with that line, because I didn't want to assume that everyone has a bad past. We ultimately left that line in the song because the truth is that even if you didn't have a disastrous pre-Christ story, we still want people to have joy in Christ.

For me personally, I was very blessed to grow in the Church in a good Christian home. By no means were things perfect, but if you look back at your past there's usually a time when you've wandered away from God, or in your heart you've thought or felt things you shouldn't have. Then you're sorry for those things in a repentant way. The fact is that we can sing to God, "You're takin' me as I am." What makes God's love so beautiful is that Christ sacrificed Himself for us. We would look really dirty without Jesus. It's Christ's sacrifice that makes us beautiful.

I'm also totally obsessed with the sky. A lot of people write songs about that, but I have way too many pictures on my phone of sunsets and the sky. God is the ultimate painter. You just need to go outside. You don't need any Instagram filters to do what God has already done.

 

 

As Emily and I reminisced about our time at the Creation Festival and reflected on God's beautiful love, it hit us both that in no other faith besides Christianity do followers celebrate with joy the beautiful love of the sacrifice of our Savior. That type of unmerited favor and redemption by grace that we are saved in Christ is cause for celebration. Jesus makes us beautiful by His grace and His love covering our sins.

 

Believers may know Bible passages like Romans 5:8 and certainly John 3:16, but we should all be so grateful that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." The thought that Jesus laid His life down for us as sinners is so remarkable. Our sin makes us dirty and unattractive, not at all beautiful. Later on in Romans, Paul tells us that in Christ we were made flawless and white as snow, without any blemish by the sacrifice of Jesus. 

 

If you are a Christian, you can listen to this song and know the cause to celebrate the "Beautiful Love" of Jesus Christ as reflected in John 3:16. That's another important reminder because "God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Amen. That's cause to really have joy in Christ.

 

(Here's the music video.)