Aaron Bucks is a singer-songwriter in the style of Chris August, Matthew West and Josh Wilson. His debut single with BEC Recordings is “California.” He is slated to release a full album later this year. When asked what inspires him as an artist and a songwriter, Bucks shares, "Inspiration is literally everywhere, but the trick is to slow myself down enough to tap into it. One thing that inspires me is humanity itself, hearing stories of strength, perseverance, will, determination, love, faith, and yes, even the stories of failures and struggles move me. Ultimately, wherever the listener may be in life, I hope my music can truly brighten their day." I had the chance to speak with Aaron about “California.”
 
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

A little bit of my backstory before I wrote this song, back in my late teens, early twenties, I was talking with a friend about dealing with anxiety and we kind of laughed it off that people were dealing with that issue. Fast forward five years, both my friend and I would get together for coffee and we were sharing with each other that we were dealing with heavy stuff including anxiety and depression. I remembered the conversation we had when we were younger, and it reminded me of the phrase I’ve seen about not knowing what battles others are going through when you meet them. It really spoke into me and gave me a new perspective. There’s going to be times in life where you’re feeling great, and the reason you’re feeling great is so you can be there for someone who is going through a rough time. That’s what happened for me and my friend. We had real conversations and we encouraged each other naturally and spiritually. That’s the foundation of this song. I saw a church billboard that said, “Give a hug and a high five” and I liked that idea of an embrace and celebrating life with each other. I sat down to write this song with that premise of being that “hug and high five” for people and feeling a sense of community. I don’t want my brother to fall. Life isn’t just for the celebration and good times. Sometimes it’s about the uncomfortable times and being there for someone.

When I was writing this song, thinking about today’s environment with so much self-harm and battles that people are going through where you have so many friends on Facebook, but nobody you can call, I wanted to express the importance of being there for people.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Proverbs 18:24 (NIV): "One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

Psalm 118:24 (NKJV): "This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 59:16-17 (The Voice): "But me? I will sing of Your strength. I will awake with the sun to sing of Your loving mercy Because in my most troubled hour, You defended me. You were my shelter. I will lift my voice to sing Your praise, O my Strength—for You came to my defense. O God, You have shown me Your loving mercy."

Psalm 33:3 (The Voice): "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."

1 John 4:7 (NIV): "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."

1 John 3:16 (NIV): "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters."

1 John 4:21 (NIV): “And He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

What is the takeaway message?

“California” is a personal song that shares about the true meaning of friendship. Everyone has moments in life where we feel isolated and that no one else has experienced what we are going through. I had a couple friends in my life who, during some tough moments, were there for me and chose to take the time to be my “brother’s keeper.” This song speaks deeply into that friendship and our camaraderie. I specifically had my friend in mind when I wrote this song and sent the song to him when it was finished. The song has a laid-back, upbeat and casual feel. Underlying the heart of the song is that we want the connections with people during good times and tough times. I want people to have community with their church and their neighbors. When they asked Jesus who was His neighbor, He told the parable of the Good Samaritan. All of these factors are rolled into this song. The bridge talks about how God is the hope I put my hope in, which is based on how Christ is closer than a brother. That example was given for us to emulate.

Lyrics:
I'm waking on the bright side
'Cause the others just a waste of time
I'll be a hug and a high five
To ease your worried mind

Like the Sun over California
I'm always gonna be there for ya
Here's my shoulder, you can count on me
Like church on Sunday morning
An umbrella when the rain starts pouring
Here's my shoulder, you can count on me

We all have days
We wanna get way
When the light goes out and we need a spark
Out there in the dark

Like the Sun over California
I'm always gonna be there for ya
Here's my shoulder, you can count on me
Like church on Sunday morning
An umbrella when the rain starts pouring
Here's my shoulder, you can count on me

See the God who made the heavens
Made this promise I believe in
It's my anchor in the ocean
It's the hope I put my hope in
Oh-ooh-oohh-ohhh

Oh, just like the Sun over California
I'm always gonna be there for ya
Here's my shoulder, you can count on me
Like church on Sunday morning
An umbrella when the rain starts pouring
Here's my shoulder, you can count on... me

Closing Thoughts

The phrase "sing a new song" is found a few times in the Psalms, and I love the rest of the translation of Psalm 33:3b: "play each the best way you can, and don't be afraid to be bold with your joyful feelings" (The Voice). That type of biblical exhortation is exactly what Aaron is doing with this wonderful new song of praise and joy about the love of God, which in this song is compared to “the hope I put my hope in” and “my anchor in the ocean.” As Christians, we all have a reason to reflect on God's Holy and Perfect sacrifice of His Son Jesus. He died for us, so that in Him we might know God's righteousness. Know that Jesus loves you and has something better planned for us if we trust in Him as our Savior. The message of this song challenges listeners to think about our own doubts and how Jesus calls us to rely on Him and the power of His resurrection, to remember that He has overcome death and fear. We can know that He is real, He is near and He is just a breath away.

We can't earn grace, and we can't do anything to gain life other than accept Jesus. Jesus loves us so much He came down and took our punishment so that we can be with Him forever. Please don't fight His hands that are holding you. He wants to give us life and never let us go. What a reason to have comfort in our Savior and know that He's by our side. God tells us in the Bible that we are all sinners and we've all fallen short. We need to serve God because of who He is, not what He does for us. God doesn't promise to spare us from pain, but we need to trust Him. Jesus tells us throughout the Bible that love is all we need and commands us to “love one another.” He loved us so much that He came to die for our sins, and yet, even as Christians, we create so much conflict and strife among ourselves. As the hymn sings, "They'll know we are Christians by our love." Aaron really says it well with this song. God explains love in 1st John 4:19: "We love because he first loved us."

The depth of the struggles that many of us have to overcome, feeling that nobody cares or knows what we are going through, is something we can all relate to. The declaration: “See the God who made the heavens, made this promise I believe in, it's my anchor in the ocean, it's the hope I put my hope in” celebrates that "Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever" and that God is our source of hope. Consider those words when you make decisions and keep God’s command to “love one another.” I'm moved by the passion behind the lyrics speaking of how we think we are never good enough, yet Jesus saw something beautiful in us worth dying for. That's cause to celebrate and lift our voices in joy, and remember that “Here's my shoulder, you can count on me, like church on Sunday morning.” Amen to that!