Sons of Sunday Unites Six of Christian Music’s Biggest Songwriters for Self-Titled Debut
What do you get when you put Brandon Lake, Chandler Moore, Steven Furtick, Chris Brown (Elevation Worship), Pat Barrett and Leeland Mooring in one room? Sons Of Sunday, a brand new supergroup comprised of six of Christian music’s biggest songwriters. The newly minted collective just dropped their self-titled debut.
“I have been a part of songs with each of these guys through the last few years that didn’t fit anywhere else until now,” says Furtick, who in addition to being an award-winning songwriter, pastors Elevation Church in Charlotte, N.C. “These guys are some of my favorite people I have ever written with.”
The 12-track project quickly reveals a sonically diverse batch of songs that doesn’t immediately fit the corporate worship mold the six men have mastered. Instead, Sons of Sunday’s full-length offering is filled with surprising left-of-center selections that afford these top-shelf songwriters the opportunity to push the boundaries of what worship music can look and sound like.
Lest you think these dozen originals are scraps left on the cutting room floor from previous writes, however, think again. Just because they didn’t align with the trajectory of former worship endeavors, doesn’t mean they aren’t valuable. In fact, these songs may represent some of their best collective work, to date — certainly their most innovative.
With no agenda other than brotherhood, Sons of Sunday gathered in the back half of 2024 to record their grand experiment. If there will be a successor, or even a tour, remains to be seen. At the moment, listeners should simply be grateful their busy schedules lined up to grant them enough time to see this side project through.
Regardless of whether this is a one-off release or not, Sons of Sunday is an anomaly in every way. There’s no frontman. In fact, the six members share lead on nearly every song. Furtick even widely unleashes his rarely heard singing voice across the project; and Brown’s vocal flex comes as an unexpected surprise. In addition, the collective wasn’t intentionally selecting songs for radio or even a Sunday morning setlist. Combined, this is probably the least commercial record they’ve ever made, yet, likely the most freeing.
While each of the 12 selections possess a touch from multiple Sons of Sunday members, the credits also reveal lyrical contributions from Josh Holiday (ELEVATION RHYTHM), Benjamin William Hastings, Chris Davenport, Bear Rinehart (NEEDTOBREATHE) and GRAMMY®-winning songwriters like Jonathan Smith, Mitch Wong and Jason Ingram, among others.
Although stylistically divergent, on the whole, these songs lean darker, moodier, rowdier and more unvarnished than typical music from its all-star lineup. Lead single “God Did!” boasts prominent electric guitar and a soulful stack of vocals, while B-side “Runnin With Angels” brings the lights way down to illuminate a vibey, lyrically driven selection. The Leeland-led “Miracle on Your Mind” reflects a similar vibe, but with a lo-fi pop twist. Elsewhere, “Pray Mama” and sister refrain “Pray On” take a brooding, stomp-clap approach as the men honor the women in their lives who have relentlessly pleaded with God on behalf of their wayward sons.
Sons of Sunday’s inaugural effort isn’t just all grit and soul, however. Joy radiates from the foot-stomping, country-inflected “All Back,” helmed by Barrett; and the short-but-sweet “W.D.H.D?” — an acronym for “What Didn’t He Do?” — puts the outfit’s sublime gang vocals, which characterize the project, in full technicolor. Meanwhile, album closer “Holy Ghost” is a full-on spitfire spiritual with the group letting loose and leading a revival of biblical proportions.
Additional selections, like the gratitude-filled “One More Day,” the cross-centric “Exchange” and the humble “Higher Than I,” are the most true to the type of worship-driven faire these six men are known for. Yet, while solid, it’s the songs that tread new ground that feel the most significant.
Out of the dozen offerings the supergroup extends to listeners, the third track — “I Looked Up” — might just be the crown jewel. Raw and tender, the rambling ballad crams a lot of incredibly specific details into verses overflowing with confession and emotion, all built around a chorus of relief as they declare their belief in a God who never left, even in their darkest hour. All six members hold co-writing credit on the transparent track alongside Wong; and they also seamlessly exchange lead vocals, referencing precise dates, 3 a.m. phone calls and rehab. If you’re looking for Christian music that doesn’t negate faith in the midst of real-life struggle, it doesn’t get more real than this.
“All of us have had moments of magic with one another,” Mooring shares of the recording experience. “I hope you feel the personal presence of Jesus. I think that is what happened to me, time and time again, during the making of this project.”
Sons of Sunday’s eponymous effort showcases the genuine talent behind some of the genre’s brightest frontrunners. Their vocals sound more wild and untamed; their lyrics feel more vulnerable than ever before. There’s a reason — both collectively and individually — Lake, Moore, Furtick, Brown, Barrett and Mooring are currently serving up Christian music’s biggest hits. This album simply proves their creativity knows no bounds.
