In the birding community, we call the bird that got someone into birding a "spark bird." So why not a "spark artist”?
My spark artist is contemporary artist Brandon Heath. Something about his signature guitar riffs, confessional songwriting, and one-in-a-million voice appealed to me so profoundly at the most foundational part of my childhood that it changed the direction of my life forever.
I couldn’t tell you which of his massive radio hits I heard first (it was definitely on K-LOVE radio, which was constantly on in my mom’s car). But I connected deeply with what he was singing about at 15. He quickly became my favorite artist. I purchased all his albums and saw him live at least ten times.
Brandon Heath is the reason I went into the Christian music business in the first place. Talk about the difference even one song can make. I am profoundly grateful he makes music and continues to write beautifully honest songs 18 years after the release of his first studio album.
“I'm Not Who I Was” (Don't Get Comfortable, 2006)
Brandon recently said that this is the best song he's ever written and doesn't know if he'll ever top it. It's fantastic that he's still so proud of this song almost two decades after it was released—for good reason. Songwriting-wise, it's interesting because it doesn't have a chorus. It's deeply personal; Brandon was when he wrote it "thinking about someone," and it comes out that way: confessional, honest, subtly celebratory. To Brandon's surprise, this song became a massive radio hit, and many people related to its simple message that Jesus changes everything.
“Give Me Your Eyes” (What If We, 2008)
Perhaps even more iconic of a song, although in a different way than "I'm Not Who I Was,” “Give Me Your Eyes” is very likely the song that defines Brandon Heath’s career. Start singing this chorus, and anyone who grew up in the church during this time will start singing with you. My Canadian husband knows the chorus by heart; this was an international hit. Influenced by pop band OneRepublic's domination at the time and contemporary artist Mat Kearney’s reign in the songwriting space, Jason Ingram co-wrote “Give Me Your Eyes.” Recently, Brandon and Jason went on a car trip to discuss the song and celebrate its 16th birthday (because it now has its driver’s license.) They said they weren't trying to create a hit when they wrote it, but it started as an honest plea to understand and love people by seeing them the way God does. Jason made a melody with Brandon's lyrics; the rest is history.
“Leaving Eden” (Leaving Eden, 2011)
This album, Leaving Eden, spawned the massive hit "Your Love," but the title track best captures the spirit of this period of Brandon's music. At the time, Brandon admitted to being pretty addicted to the news (he was doomscrolling before that was a thing) and feeling a heavy discouragement. “Leaving Eden” grapples with the reality of the world's darkness while crying out to God for relief. The album doesn't shy away from our pervasive hopelessness; its answer to life's questions is Jesus.
"Jesus in Disguise" (Blue Mountain, 2012)
With this album, Blue Mountain, Brandon could go full force into concept album territory (although he calls it a “theme” album rather than a concept album). He takes the listener to Blue Mountain, a fictional place in Appalachia. Brandon says each character you meet throughout the album is a version of himself. “Jesus in Disguise” was this project's big radio single that listeners heartily embraced. It was something different for the time, a folky, country-inspired track that feels like the thematic opposite of “Give Me Your Eyes.” Rather than musing on what it would be like to see through God's eyes, "Jesus in Disguise" considers that Jesus is ever-present in the world around us, reminding us of Hebrews 13:2: "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."
“Girl of My Dreams”(No Turning Back, 2015)
Brandon Heath is a romantic. Listen to every one of his albums, and you'll hear an appreciation and sometimes a longing for romantic love. He found it in 2015 with the release of “Girl of My Dreams,” a song about his wife, Siebe (he recently celebrated his 10th anniversary with her). This song feels like the realization of long-held hopes.
“That's Enough” (Enough Already, 2022)
Brandon admits that he's struggled with insecurity and not feeling good enough because his dad left when he was younger. “That's Enough” is a beautiful example of his songwriting talent and influences in one song. Storytelling, worship, and prayerful confessions come together in this track, going from the first chorus of "I'm enough" to the second encouragement of "You're enough." The album name for Enough Already has two meanings. We're enough, already, without needing to add anything else. At the same time, it's time to say "enough already" to the lies of the enemy who tells us we're insufficient.
“Gospel Truth” (The Ache, 2024)
Brandon admits he's particularly proud of this song, and you can hear why. No matter what you think of yourself, God found you worthy enough to die for. That's the truth of the Gospel, and that's the reminder in this song. In the same way as “That’s Enough,” Brandon artfully intertwines his testimony with biblical encouragement in this song.
“Scars” (The Ache, 2024)
After the 2023 shooting in Nashville at Covenant School, where his oldest daughter was enrolled for the following year, Brandon Heath was left reeling from the loss of three nine-year-olds and three adults in Tennessee's worst mass shooting. In “Scars,” he expresses how tired he is from the hollow encouragement from believers that he’ll eventually move past his grief. He wants to embrace how he’s feeling head-on with God.
“Neverland” (The Ache, 2024)
“Neverland” is particularly remarkable when you consider that Brandon's father left when he was young. Although Brandon was able to connect with him and forgive him before he passed, he carries the wounds from his childhood to this day. As a father to two girls, Brandon is declaring, using the idea of “Neverland” from Peter Pan, that he'll never leave and never stop trying to be a better father to his daughters.
After two decades in the music industry, Brandon Heath continues to write his heart into deeply compelling and delightfully catchy songs. Check out his latest release, 2024’s The Ache, wherever you listen to music. Which of his songs is your personal favorite?
After nearly a decade in radio, Angela Marie lives outside Toronto, Canada, with her husband Brandon and two cats, Seymour and Maggie. She enjoys Ray Bradbury books, doing anything creative, thrifting, and music. Her favorite artists are Brandon Heath and KB.
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