AJ Cheek was born and raised in Chattanooga, where he began playing music at 14. He attended Hixson High School where he and friends formed the band Nevertheless. After a year or two of building a Chattanooga following, Nevertheless signed with Provident Label Group/Sony BMG and toured nationally.

Seven years, two albums and two independent EPs later, Nevertheless called it quits in 2009. Soon after, labelmates Revive asked AJ to play guitar and piano with them on tour. Recently, while out with Revive, AJ was inspired to write and record his own project, and Revive's bassist, Rich Thompson, approached him with the idea of co-producing/engineering the project. In the last six months, the two used down-time from touring to create The Art of Letting Go, featuring collaborations with AJ's other songwriting friends, Chris Moerman (an Atlanta worship leader) and Mike Donehey (of Tenth Avenue North).

The Art of Letting Go, which released digitally Dec. 7, is a collection of stories and experiences AJ hopes will encourage others. The album’s title track is about the last couple of years since the break-up of Nevertheless.

“God has taught me a lot about 'letting go' and holding on to Jesus, not finding my identity in anything but Him," Cheek says. “No matter where we are, God is there to meet us." Overall, the theme of the EP is remembering that there is grace in the middle of the night. I got the opportunity to interview AJ about his autobiographical song “Lift My Head.” Here's what he had to say:

Please tell me the message behind the song “Lift My Head.”

I knew the members of Tenth Avenue North from spending time touring together with them for 40 dates for Winter Jam last year as a member of Revive. I became friends with Mike Donehey and one day we were hanging out playing guitar and we started writing some songs together. Then after the tour I was at Mike’s house in Nashville and I co-wrote “Lift My Head” with Mike. We sat down and prayed about what to write about and Mike shared that he wanted to write a song based on Psalm 69.

Did you base the song on any Bible verses?

Psalm 69:1-5: Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, Where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, Where the floods overflow me. I am weary with my crying; My throat is dry; My eyes fail while I wait for my God. Those who hate me without a cause Are more than the hairs of my head; They are mighty who would destroy me, Being my enemies wrongfully; Though I have stolen nothing, I still must restore it. O God, You know my foolishness; And my sins are not hidden from You.

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

The beginning of the song is straight from Psalm 69:1; “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck.” I’ve been a Christian for 10 years, and we didn’t really talk too much about our personal experiences. I’ve been in that place before when I’ve gone before the Lord after I’ve done my own thing and wrecked my ship after not knowing how I got there. I’ve been in those moments where I feel like the walls of my room are closing in on me. There’s hope when you cry out to the Lord in those dark times. He lifts me out of that darkness. Mike and I have those similar themes on our hearts where we want to bring Jesus to dark places. In the Christian music industry and ministry, we need to dive into that message and dig deep. People don’t like to talk about those dark places, but we need to call on Jesus and bring light to those dark places.

Here are the lyrics:

Lord, where do we start?
Where to begin?
The water is rising to my neck
Fear has left me trembling
Where did I go wrong?
I left the shore out on my own
And wrecked my ship upon dark waters I have loved

And I’m sinking still
And I’m wondering will

Will You lift my head
Give me eyes to see again
Won’t You lift my head
To see I’m not home yet
But, I feel my heart raising from the dead
When You lift my head

I’ve cried, I’ve spoke
But the words are caught in my throat
Can’t speak, Can’t breathe
I can’t even see what’s in front of me
And the worst part of it all
Is I know that I deserve to fall
I’ll take all the blame
And sleep in this bed I’ve made

And I’m wondering will

Oh Lord, I’ve held so tightly
To the things that will drown me
That are bringing me down
And oh Lord! I’m crying for mercy
Its all that can help me

Oh God
Lift my head
And give me eyes to see again
Oh won’t You lift my head
To see I’m not home yet
But I feel my heart raising from the dead
When You lift my head

Here’s Matthew Henry’s commentary on Psalm 69:1-5: “We should frequently consider the person of the Sufferer here spoken of, and ask why, as well as what he suffered, that, meditating thereon, we may be more humbled for sin, and more convinced of our danger, so that we may feel more gratitude and love, constraining us to live to His glory who died for our salvation. Hence we learn, when in affliction, to commit the keeping of our souls to God, that we may not be soured with discontent, or sink into despair. David was hated wrongfully, but the words far more fully apply to Christ. In a world where unrighteousness reigns so much, we must not wonder if we meet with those that are our enemies wrongfully. Let us take care that we never do wrong; then if we receive wrong, we may the better bear it. By the satisfaction Christ made to God for our sin by his blood, he restored that which he took not away, he paid our debt, suffered for our offences. Even when we can plead Not guilty, as to men's unjust accusations, yet before God we must acknowledge ourselves to deserve all that is brought upon us. All our sins take rise from our foolishness. They are all done in God's sight.”

I can’t get enough of AJ’s sincere vocals and catchy, worshipful songs. Right from my first listen I was hooked by the Psalm-like reflective lyrics, especially in “Close To You” which draws from Psalm 23: “When I find myself deep in the valley, With nobody left to turn to, Still in my soul, I know I’m not alone,” and “Lift My Head,” which draws from Psalm 69: “Lord, where do we start?, Where to begin?, The water is rising to my neck, Fear has left me trembling, Where did I go wrong?” AJ co-wrote “Lift My Head” with Mike Donehey from Tenth Avenue North and if you like that band's ballad-style songs “By Your Side” and “Healing Begins,” then you will absolutely love this song and album. I absolutely love the song “Lift My Head” and it has become a personal worship song for me in my daily devotional time.

You can listen to the song here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox5crdKZzA8