It’s that time of year again… The time when we officially trade beach bags for backpacks. Regardless of whether you’re a student anxiously starting a new academic semester, a young adult spreading their wings at college or a parent adjusting to a different season or a stricter routine, you’ll need a soundtrack. Don’t worry — we’ve got you covered. K-LOVE has been serving up plenty of freshly minted tracks from your favorite Christian artists all summer long, and we’ll keep the tunes coming as we transition into fall. From peaceful ballads that calm anxiety to sweet reminders of how much we are loved by our Heavenly Father, we’re spinning a playlist worthy of an A+. And we’re not grading on a curve — these tracks are simply that good. To keep you fueled for long days of learning and even longer nights filled with homework, press play on these eight songs as you head back to school.
“Count ‘Em,” Brandon Lake
Brandon Lake attempts to tally the sum of God’s blessings on his fiery single, “Count ‘Em.” The blazing selection became an immediate fan favorite when it released ahead of Lake’s third studio effort, “Coat of Many Colors,” on which it appears as the second track. A bold contrast to Lake’s meaningful, slow burn anthems like “Gratitude,” “Too Good To Not Believe” and “Miracle Child,” “Count ‘Em” surprised listeners with its brash blend of pop, rock and hip-hop. “‘Count ‘Em’ is my bragging-on-God song,” the South Carolina native remarks. “There’s so much I could say about who He is and all the things He’s done — truly, I couldn’t count ‘em if I tried. But this song lists quite a few bullet points on His résumé, if you will. Proud of this song. Proud of these lyrics.”
“Beautiful Life,” Pat Barrett
Singer/songwriter Pat Barrett reflects on the fleeting nature of time on his new single, “Beautiful Life,” a playful pop standout from his third studio effort, “Shelter.” “Beautiful Life” acknowledges the brevity of our existence this side of heaven and the beauty that can be found in the everyday. Known for penning thoughtful, serious faire for the Church, Barrett’s lighthearted selection is a rarity for the gifted lyricist, who fronts “Beautiful Life” with surprising confidence. Yet, his deft lyricism continues to shine through as he delivers wisdom-filled lines like, “Oh, what a beautiful life. It doesn’t mean it’s always going to feel all right, but it’ll be a gift if you hold it right.”
“Always Only Jesus,” MercyMe
MercyMe returns to radio with “Always Only Jesus,” the title-cut of their 11th studio project. An emphatic statement about who they believe in, the song is a declaration of unwavering faith in Christ. According to the band, “Always Only Jesus” was their attempt at a massive modern worship chorus — à la Elevation Worship — that people could easily sing along to. Musically, it’s a soaring anthem. Lyrically, it outlines the firm foundation on which the men in MercyMe have built their lives and careers. “I feel like that’s what we need right now — an anthem that we can all agree on,” guitarist Mike Scheuchzer says of the intentionally crafted original. “We may not agree on anything else, but we all agree that it’s ‘Always Only Jesus.’”
“Loves Got a Way,” Andrew Ripp
Andrew Ripp waves a white flag of surrender on his new song, “Loves Got a Way.” The singer/songwriter allows the easier yoke of God’s love to wash over him like an ocean wave on the pop-centric original. Ripp wrote the anthemic track with close collaborators Ethan Hulse and Rachael Lampa nearly a year ago but only recently released it. The radio single serves up a preliminary taste of his impending full-length project, “The Great Wide Open Wild,” coming this fall. Like many of the other fresh selections included on his highly anticipated album, “Loves Got a Way” invites listeners to lay down their pride and embrace everything a relationship with Jesus offers: healing for pain, beauty for ashes and freedom from shame.
“If I Got Jesus,” Ben Fuller (feat. Megan Danielle)
Ben Fuller has everything he needs on new single “If I Got Jesus.” The singer/songwriter gets incredibly vulnerable on the original track as he grafts his own story into every line. Heavy on upright piano, “If I Got Jesus” could easily be sung in a rural country church somewhere like a hymn of old. Yet, Fuller’s gritty vocal and candid delivery bring the soulful track up to date. Further elevating the selection, the Vermont native enlisted “American Idol” finalist Megan Danielle for an all-new version, transforming the transparent single into a two-person narrative. “I’m living out the lyrics to the songs He let me write, and boy what a life, when you live it for heaven,” Fuller offers. “If I got Jesus, I got it all.”
“Nothin’ Sweeter,” TobyMac
TobyMac serves up a hefty dose of swagger on his latest single, “Nothin’ Sweeter.” The new sonic confection unwraps the consummate treat as the hitmaker returns with his first taste of new music following his acclaimed studio effort, “Life After Death.” Fueled by the same pop sensibilities the chart-topping artist has perfected over the course of his nearly four-decade career, “Nothin’ Sweeter” acknowledges the push and pull of the human existence. “I wrote ‘Nothin’ Sweeter’ because I have been uptown and downtown; I have seen the good of this life and the sorrow by the bitter graveside; and I’ve landed on this: There is nothin’ sweeter in this life than the love of God,” the four-time K-LOVE Fan Award winner affirms. “It’s what I want to wake up to and what I go to bed to — there’s nothin’ sweeter than His unfailing love.”
“Still Waters (Psalm 23),” Leanna Crawford
A balm for anxiety, “Still Waters (Psalm 23)” — Leanna Crawford’s new single — was inspired by her great aunt, who, on the cusp of going blind in her 40s, decided to memorize the majority of the Bible. The Washington state native even namechecks this heroine of faith in the passionate ballad’s first verse. “This song has been so special to me as it was inspired by my Great Aunt Maurine. I got to meet her at 103-years-old, and even then she could recite almost the entire Bible, and she was still impacting people all around her,” Crawford shares. “My hope and prayer with this song is that you will feel peace with these lyrics and be inspired to hold God’s Word deeply in your heart.” Showcasing Crawford’s warm, inviting vocal and lyrical aptitude, “Still Waters (Psalm 23)” serves as the title-cut of the newcomer’s 14-track full-length debut.
“Worship Through It,” Tasha Layton (feat. Chris Brown)
Tasha Layton pushes through pain on “Worship Through It.” The anthem of endurance also features notable guest vocals from Elevation Worship’s Chris Brown and previews Layton’s next highly anticipated album. Alongside Matthew West, AJ Pruis and her husband, Keith Everette Smith, Layton originally penned “Worship Through It” for her inner circle when one of her dear friends was diagnosed with cancer. In the months that transpired, the song took on an entirely new meaning in the wake of her friend’s ultimate passing. “I’ve been listening to the song myself and just letting my own song minister to my heart and letting Jesus speak to me through the song,” the mother of two shares. “I hope that people can grab onto it and become inspired to worship through whatever situation they’re walking through. [We can] trust in God knowing that He’s faithful, knowing that He’s good and knowing that what the enemy meant for evil, He will always turn around.”
