The most engaging art can come out of the most challenging personal circumstances, a concept which boldly manifests itself across Echoing Angels’ self-titled album. 

The sophomore outing for the Atlanta-based act isn’t just a diary exposing the five members’ extremely personal emotions, but also a springboard to solace for listeners encountering hardship across any spectrum.

The band--Trey Heffinger, Jon "JP" Poole, Shannon Cochran, Josh LeBlanc, and Neil Tankersly--has embraced its cultural roots to create a distinctive sound that encompasses Southern rock, pop, and worship from the likes of James Taylor to Kenny Loggins, from Train to Third Day.

I had the chance to sit down with the band in Atlanta before the Dove Awards to talk about their catchy new single, “Say What You Believe.” (You can watch the video interview here.) 

Please tell me the message behind the song “Say What You Believe.”

“Say What You Believe” is not just a song; it’s a statement. In Matthew 5 it says, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

We created a place on our website where you can come and confidently declare what you believe, and by doing so, find community with fellow believers worldwide! So don’t keep it to yourself. Type it out, speak it out, live it out, shout it out--say what you believe!

Did you base the song on any Bible verses? Any life verse?

Matthew 5:14-16: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

What’s the takeaway message of the song?

What do you believe? This is a broad question, I realize, and it covers lots of ground. Let’s break it down. Is there something you believe in to such a capacity that you are willing to stand on the mountain top and beat your chest and say I believe in this? Is there something that you are willing to stand for with every ounce of passion that you have? You have this in you, and chances are you want to say it. What do you believe? What do you stand for?


Here are the lyrics:

Some days I just want to scream everything that I believe in
Oh, there’s a love that will quench your soul and show you what life is
But then I turn in fear and doubt that someone will hear me
That they will all just laugh in face and call me crazy

Oh why’d I back down
I’ve got to share my heart
Turn this world around

Say, what you believe
Come on and shout it out loud
Say, what you believe
Say, what you believe
Come on and live it out loud
Say, what you believe

Some say that I’m wasting my time with the one love I believe in
I can’t deny that this feeling inside has got me seein’
Eternity comes to those who believe when this world starts fadin’
So go ahead and laugh in my face and call me crazy

Oh I won’t back down
I’m gonna share my heart
Turn this world around

Everybody come and rise up together
Take a stand, don’t be afraid of the pressure
And with one voice we’re gonna cry out forever
Every mother father sister brother
Reach out for each other c’mon


Here’s Asbury’s Bible commentary on Matthew 5:14-16: “With blessings go responsibilities. Those in the kingdom have a responsibility to function as salt and light to the world. The purpose of discipleship is to bring stability, wholeness, and the knowledge of God to all the earth through the performance of good works. Those who reject this responsibility and cease to fulfill this purpose in their lives are by definition no longer true disciples and therefore will be cast out by God.”

I think we forget those words quite often as followers of Jesus by keeping Him to ourselves. That is probably due to our shame over our own sinful natures and concern that others will consider our actions hypocrisy if they really know us.

The Good News of the Gospel is that we don’t have to pretend we’ve got it all together. That is certainly an area of sin in my life. I find myself wondering how I can “do” more to earn love from God and people. Only in the name of Jesus and putting our faith in His sacrifice on our behalf can we be free from sin, shame and hypocrisy.

This is a great and challenging song for believers. Many times we keep our faith to ourselves or maybe we just talk about Jesus with fellow Christians. This song is all about sharing your faith with the world.

The Bible passage that goes with the message of this song is where Jesus is giving the Sermon on the Mount. He explains that to the world, the Kingdom of God appears foolish as true blessings come to the meek, poor in spirit, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted because of righteousness. Jesus tells us that as Christians, His followers, we should display those traits to non-believers.

This song challenges me to think whether I am displaying those traits in my life. Am I merciful? Pure in heart? Have I been persecuted for the name of Jesus? We all show support for something that we believe. Be like a city on a hill and let your light shine. Say what you believe!