Interview with Cory Asbury
Among the world-renowned lineup of songwriters and worship leaders Bethel Music, Cory Asbury earned one GRAMMY nomination, three GMA Dove Awards and two K-LOVE Fan Awards. He catapulted into the spotlight with his mega-hit “Reckless Love,” the title track from his 2018 best-selling debut Bethel Music. “Reckless Love” has spent a total of 18 weeks at #1 on Christian radio; has amassed nearly 300 million streams to date; and was named ASCAP’s Christian Music Song of the Year in 2019. Co-written by Asbury, the single also landed at #4 on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs (2010s) chart, a ranking of the genre’s biggest songs over the past 10 years. Today, Asbury has been named ASCAP’s 2021 Songwriter-Artist of the Year. In this TCB exclusive, Asbury shares his reaction to this recent ASCAP win, the importance of personal connections in songwriting, and what’s coming up for his fall tour.
Congratulations on winning ASCAP Songwriter/Artist of the Year! Can you share your first reaction upon hearing this news?
First of all, thank you! Secondly, I was honestly really surprised. Last year was a crazy year for pretty much everyone, and I had completely put it out of my head. And to get a call that I had won, I had to remember what I had done last year. I saw that “The Father’s House” and “Sparrows” were on there, and I remembered that they were good songs. I was surprised but super excited!
How does receiving an award and recognition like this impact your current and future work?
Obviously, it’s really cool to be recognized in any way in the industry, so you always appreciate it. There’s a lot of gratitude that people see the work that you do. It’s super cool. I think the bottom line is that you have to do what the Lord asks you to do and do it to the best of your ability. And everything else is just icing on the cake. It’s amazing – I never intended to write these songs to get this award. I just wrote about what God wanted me to do and I did it to the best of my ability. And if I fall flat on my face and nobody cares, so be it. We got lucky with these songs, but we decided to do the best we could and we’re really happy when that happens.
Why is it important for you to have this personal connection with the songs throughout the creative process?
That’s the way it has to be. If you’re not personally connected to it, then you might as well not put it out, in my opinion. I feel pretty strongly about that. A lot of times, especially in our industry – the Christian music industry – it’s almost like we have these test tube songs that are scientifically induced, A+B=C. And if I’m honest with you, I’m a little bit bothered by that mindset. If you’re not connected to the idea of the song, and you’re not connected to those lyrics, then why write it and create it. So I think there has to be a ton of passion behind what you’re writing and saying. And I tend to harp on this a little bit, but the best songs that stand on their own for years are the ones that come from a personal place in their heart. It’s when they’ve experienced something, whether it’s in life or in God, and they just have to take something from it. These are the questions that stand the test of time. So, to answer your question, you need to be online. If not, you might as well go home.
You are featured on new and upcoming music (We are messengers, Bethel Music). What is your vision and impact goal for these projects?
For the song We Are Messengers, Darin reached out to me and said he had this song that I would really like to dig into and he would love to have me on it. And when I first listened to it, I thought it sounded like something I would want to write. So I was immediately interested and like we just talked about, lyrics are everything. So I was really pumped to come on board.
And the Bethel stuff with ‘Homecoming,’ the record, and ‘Homecoming,’ the single as well, those are songs that are written specifically for the church. That’s where I come from – the worship world. And lately, it’s been harder for me to write those songs because of the stage of life that I’m in. I have four kids – ages 11, 7, 4 and almost 2. And I feel like God is teaching me so much through them all the time that I almost want to write these country-style, story-driven, singer/songwriter songs. Getting back into the worship world and writing songs for the church was nice and fun. I got to write with Gable Price, who’s a really good songwriter. He’s young and up and coming, but he’s got a gift for lyrics. And then I sang a song called ‘Reason to Praise’ with Naomi Raine from Maverick City Music, who is just an absolute vocal beast. So it was a lot of fun to join her. It was so much fun to record that song. I’m excited for the ‘Homecoming’ record – I think it’s going to be good for the church. I think there are songs on there that are going to even expand the language of the church in terms of worship and telling God that He is good and holy and beautiful.
You will be go on tour again soon. After a year and a half, how does it feel to be back making live music?
It’s exciting! I did a few shows and festivals over the summer. And it’s amazing to be back with people – singing songs and worshiping God together. If it was nothing more, I think it would be worth it. But it’s going to be nice to be with people. I’m excited about the tour because of the message I want to get across these nights. I think it’s going to be a really good time – we’re going to laugh and enjoy life together. And it’s a stripped down, more acoustic-focused atmosphere where the songs can really shine. The lyrics and the words can be exposed rather than ripping out electric solos, which is fun too, but really lets the songs shine. There will be new songs on this tour. Honestly, I think it’s going to be a great night and people are going to leave inspired to love God and love themselves and their friends better.
Is there a moment on the tour that you are particularly looking forward to and that you think will have a big impact on those present?
I mean, I hope the whole night is impactful and amazing, obviously. But there are a few songs that I’m really excited about — a few new songs that really resonate with me and where I’m at. Like I said, I have four kids and my oldest is 11 now, and he’s my only son. So to watch him grow up in front of my eyes, it’s one of the most beautiful and tragic things I’ve ever experienced. It’s really hard to explain and I’m sure the parents listening to this will understand, but man, it’s crazy to watch your kids grow up. I think I wrote a lot from that place and wanted to be a kid again. As adults, we grow up and think we have to be important and have our offices and our jobs and that’s what gives us value. And then I remember Jesus’ words when the disciples ask who is most important in the kingdom and Jesus says, “Bring me all these children – they are the most important to me, and if you don’t become like one of them, you have no place.” That’s a very big statement, so I’ve been trying to become a child again. And whatever that means to different listeners, we can explore that, but it’s been a beautiful thing and a lot of the songs revolve around that idea. So I think there’s a couple in particular that are going to be special and really resonate with a lot of people. It’s impossible to pinpoint, but that overall theme is going to be really special to people!
The post office Exclusive: 2021 ASCAP Award Winner Cory Asbury Shares the Heart of Songwriting first appeared on TCB.
Author: Jessie Clarks
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