Fervent Records’ red-hot debut artist Chris August proved why he is quickly becoming a favorite in the genre at the 42nd Annual Dove Awards earning an impressive three awards. August celebrates his first ever Dove Award wins with the prestigious “New Artist Of The Year” and “Male Vocalist of the Year” honors.

“I’m absolutely speechless,” shared August. “I am truly blessed to be able to make and share music. And then to receive this recognition is quite humbling.” While he may be considered a "new" artist, singer-songwriter Chris August is anything but a rookie in the music industry. The self-taught pianist, guitarist, and producer previously toured as the keyboard player and opening act for pop sensation Ashlee Simpson before shifting his focus to his solo career.

August, a native of Dallas, Texas, put his refined skill set to work when he co-produced his debut record with acclaimed producer Ed Cash. While he is not one to shy away from writing about his faith, August isn't afraid to embrace relationships and heartache in his songwriting. He cites Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, and Gavin DeGraw as influences who all contributed to his polished pop/rock sound.

His current hit single "7 x 70" is from his 2010 debut GMA Dove Award winning “Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year,” No Far Away. I had the opportunity to interview Chris about “7 x 70” in person before the recent Winter Jam.

Please tell me the background in writing the song “7 x 70.”

With a couple days left before we were set to record the album, my producer Ed Cash told me he felt like I still needed a personal song. Unaware of my family background, he asked me to go home that night and write about what hurt me growing up. I wrote the first verse of “7x70” later that evening. After playing my idea for him the following morning, he looked over to me with tears in his eyes and said, "This song has to be on your record, and it has to be about forgiveness."

This was the last thing I wanted to hear and have to deal with while making my album, but nonetheless it was something that needed to happen. The following few days consisted of us being surrounded by the Holy Spirit like I've never felt before. This was, without a doubt, the most personal song I had ever taken on and it required a mind set on prayer. I come from a broken home. Better yet, a broken family... parents screaming at each other. Frustrations were commonly taken out on my brother, my sister and myself. As the lyrics started to come to mind, so did all the memories of my past that I hadn't thought about in years. Some lines brought smiles and some bringing another set of pains that I needed to forgive.

Did you base the song on any Bible verses?

Matthew 18:21-35: “Then Peter came to Him and said, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'”

What's the take-away message for listeners?

It was through this song that I was able to forgive and be healed of that pain. I hope others can use the song in their own journey to forgiveness. People often ask me what I want listeners to walk away with after hearing my music. My response is that I want to write music that people can relate to. I hope my music speaks to them within their own lives and becomes something they can turn on any day of the week and in any season in life. I hope that when someone listens to my music, they learn something about me, something about themselves, and most importantly about the God who creates starry nights.

Here are the lyrics:

I’ve been living in this house here
Since the day that I was born
These walls have seen me happy
But most of all they’ve seen me torn
They’ve heard the screaming matches
That made a family fall apart
They’ve had a front row seat
To the breaking of my heart

7 times 70 times
I’ll do what it takes to make it right
I thought the pain was here to stay
But forgiveness made a way
7 times 70 times
There’s healing in the air tonight
I’m reaching up to pull it down
Gonna wrap it all around

I remember running down the hallway
Playing hide-and-seek
I didn’t know that I was searching
For someone to notice me
I felt alone and undiscovered
And old enough to understand
Just when I’m s’posed to be learning to love you
Let me doubt again

7 times 70 times
I’ll do what it takes to make it right
I thought the pain was here to stay
But forgiveness made a way
7 times 70 times
There’s healing in the air tonight
I’m reaching up to pull it down
Gonna wrap it all around

I lost count of the ways you let me down
But no matter how many times you weren’t around
I’m all right now

God picked up my heart and helped me through
And shined a light on the one thing left to do
And that’s forgive you
I forgive you

7 times 70 times
If that’s the cost I’ll pay the price
7 times 70 times
I’ll do what it takes to make it right
I thought the pain was here to stay
But forgiveness made a way

7 times 70 times
There’s healing in this house tonight
I’m reaching up to pull it down
Gonna wrap it all around
Yeah
I’m gonna wrap it all around

I’ve been living in this house here
Since the day that I was born

Here’s Matthew Henry’s commentary about Matthew 18:21-35: “Here Jesus begins the fourth discourse in Matthew, addressing relationships in the church, the community of the kingdom (18:1-35). Relations with the state (17:24-27), with one's spouse (19:1-9) and with children (19:13-16) surround this section. Yet Jesus' teaching on relationships here especially addresses relationships among disciples. As God's community, they are to watch out for one another, expressing patience toward the spiritually young as well as seeking to restore the straying, gently disciplining the erring and forgiving the repentant.”

This powerful song and Jesus’ parable displays how much God wants us to dispose our hearts to forgive each other. This is not enough, we must seek the welfare even of those who offend us. How justly will those be condemned, who, though they bear the Christian name, persist in unmerciful treatment of others, especially brothers and sisters in Christ. The humbled sinner relies only on free abounding mercy through the ransom of the death of Christ. Let us seek more and more for the renewing grace of God, to teach us to forgive others as we hope for forgiveness from Him.

It is interesting to me that someone who was signed to a mainstream record label and achieved what America considers successful, living in L.A. and playing sold-out venues, is truly reaching out and making it clear that he’s broken and giving his life to Jesus in his songs.

We all need to be unashamed of our faith in Jesus and we all need to be bold in expressing our faith. You are doing friends and family members who aren’t believers a disservice to not fully share the Gospel.
As the song beautifully states, we need to forgive “7 times 70 times, If that’s the cost I’ll pay the price, 7 times 70 times, I’ll do what it takes to make it right, I thought the pain was here to stay, But forgiveness made a way.” Amen.

(You can watch the moving music video here.)