The first time I heard the hit single, "Symphony," I thought that we had a new CCM pop band on our hands, ready to make an impact on the music industry. But, I was wrong. The song's authors, the band, Switch, is not a band, but the student ministry of Life.Church, a multi-site church based in Edmond, Oklahoma. This church is a big deal. It has 34 physical locations in ten states, including Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, New York, and more. 

The name, “Switch,” comes from the idea that at some point in every person's faith journey, they have to switch from following a religion they’ve been taught to truly seeking a relationship with God on their own. I had a chance to connect with Switch about their music including their massive hit single, "Symphony" which has generated four We Love Christian Music Award nominations this year.
 
How do you feel about the success of "Symphony?" What feedback have you received from Life.Church? How does this change your role as a worship band?

It’s proof of what God can do with a single seed planted in faith. We had no idea what to expect when we were writing and producing "Symphony.” But God, doing what He does best, took the dreams we had for “Symphony” and multiplied them beyond what we ever could have imagined. It’s been an amazing thing to witness, and it’s been overwhelming for us to hear the stories of how He’s used the song to reach specific people in their time of need.   

It really hasn’t changed much for us as a worship team. We’re still pastoring people in our church, and we’re still committed to writing the songs that the Holy Spirit puts on our hearts. We have a passion for reaching “the one”—the person at the end of their rope, feeling like they’re on the edge of giving up or the person who’s wandering and in need of hope. Our heart to reach that one hasn’t changed. It drives everything we do as a church, and it motivates us as songwriters.

Tell us the story behind the new EP. How did recording it come to be?

Our Symphony EP was written out of a heart to bring together the sounds of Top 40 pop music and the truth of the gospel. We wanted to create music that would resonate with people and that they would want to listen to throughout the week. We flew out to LA as a group to write with our producers, Louis and Michael Biancaniello, and we ended up writing almost all of the songs you hear on the EP in just four days. It was clear God had this hand on the entire process. 

Is there a song from the EP that you're most excited to share next?

It’s hard to choose just one favorite from the EP. But I do really like the song “Obsession.” Some of the lyrics say, “In the end, what they think doesn’t matter. I refuse to stress about status.” I love it when we can write lyrics that speak directly to what people are thinking and experiencing day to day. We’ve seen people respond really well to messages like this that are so straightforward and relevant to what they’re dealing with every day. We’re also working on a new single that should come out in early 2020. I think it’s going to be really special, so be on the lookout for it.

Talk about your musical influences making this EP?

Our songs are essentially faith-filled pop songs. The sound is heavily influenced by Top 40 pop songs so our melodies sound familiar to anyone who listens to that kind of music. In fact, for this EP, we worked with Louis Biancaniello who has produced albums for some top pop artists. We really worked to create a sound we felt like hadn’t been done before, and it was a lot of fun.

Often, worship bands write new songs, perform them to the church's congregation for feedback, and then possibly select them for a studio or live album. What steps did you take to choose the songs you wrote for your EP?

Because Switch’s music wasn’t written specifically for congregational use but instead was intended for people to listen to throughout their week, we felt like we had a lot more creative margin. Of course, the songs all went through several layers of feedback until we felt like we had the right songs with the right lyrics. Ultimately, the Holy Spirit made it really clear–even in the writing room–which songs were meant to be on the EP. Those are the six songs that you hear on Symphony.

Each of you are worship pastors. How do you all balance your lives at Life.Church as pastors and Switch's duties as a band?

Intentionality. We are leading worship on weekends and Wednesday nights, planning events, supporting our teams, and pastoring people throughout the week. Plus, we need to make time for our own families and spending time alone with God. In that weekly rhythm, we have to be really intentional to set aside time to write songs for Switch. It’s energizing and we love it. But we have to be careful to prioritize and manage our time well.

Many artists and bands are tackling themes like anxiety and depression. Do you see yourself writing music based on these or other challenging themes? How do you come together and create a song?

We have definitely tackled themes like these already and are passionate about continuing to do so. As pastors and songwriters, we really believe our purpose through Switch is to shine light on God’s truth in the middle of real-life difficulties. Anxiety and depression are real-life issues. We all face trying and challenging times in this life, and we shouldn’t downplay or cover it up. It’s exactly what Christ came to save us from. So, we’re not going to dance around what’s difficult. We are committed to writing songs of prayer to cling to, especially when life gets tough.

Will Switch do any tours in the future? When can we see a full-length studio album?

We’re always going to follow the Lord’s guidance on what’s next for Switch, but we don’t have any plans to tour as of now. However, we can share that we will be releasing a full studio album in 2020. We’re all so excited to share what we’ve been writing since the EP was released.

How can we be praying for you?

The holidays are a busy time for everyone, including us here at Life.Church. While we wouldn’t have it any other way, we would definitely appreciate your prayers for rest and sustained health for us and our families. Thank you so much for all your support and prayers.