NEW SONG - CLOSER TO YOU
>Available to buy now. Digital Download.
>Released to all streaming platforms on 25th July 2025.
Most of the songs we hear will have a story behind them. The backstory to this song started a few years ago when I heard a preacher in my church, speaking about how the gospel is an 'open invite to everyone'. He said that drawing near to God not only brings delight to the Lord but it is actually a form of obedience, and therefore can be considered a form of worship; we demonstrate that our hope and trust is in him when we seek to draw close and walk with him.
Intrigued by this, I instantly had an idea and a melody in mind. That afternoon I worked on poetry that blends the 'Nearness of Christ' with my 'Obedience to Christ'. I started with a chorus that declares:
''I dont want to worship from afar,
I will draw closer, to where you are.
You have opened up the way into your presence.
Drawing me near, closer to you.''
I then worked on verses, based on Isaiah 55 and on the Beatitudes of Jesus in Matthew 5, 7 and 11 - where Isaiah and Jesus invite all of us to draw near to The Lord. They emphasise that the invitation is to everyone, no matter their background or circumstances. All who respond will be accepted. None who come will be turned away. I then added a bridge that declared my intention to worship God up-close.
Following a song review in 2024 by Katie Rios of The Kingdom Music Academy, I was told that the chorus and verses were great but the bridge was not enough, it needed more! I was encouraged to re-write the bridge to make it less 'worshipful' and more 'invitational' - and aimed specifically towards the listener, thus underpinning the chorus and verses. So I re-wrote the bridge from its original direction of singing towards God, to something that now directly appeals to the listener:
''Come, all you who thirst and hunger, taste the bread of life.
Buy without gold or with silver, this is his invite.
Come and drink of living water, all you can contain.
Taste and see that he is good and never thirst again.''
The song features my wife Karen on piano and singing backing vocals. It also has many layers of electric and acoustic guitars. The result is an up-beat, high energy song which is full of joy, celebrating the invitation to draw near to God. - I hope you like it!
