Acclaimed bluegrass ensemble and Song Garden recording artist Chosen Road recently released Appalachian Anthems. Produced by the band’s Zachary Alvis and Tyler Robertson, the 12-song collection pairs the band’s unparalleled acoustic instrumentation and vocal harmonies with classic songs of faith and the Church. The project’s lead single, “Be Thou My Vision,” is one of the Church’s oldest hymns, carrying a message as timely today as when the words were first written centuries ago in Ireland. Other highlights from Appalachian Hymns include the vibrant “Brethren We Have Met to Worship”; the striking simplicity of “I Stand Amazed”; the gentle guitar-driven “Turn Your Eyes on Jesus”; the a cappella “How Beautiful Heaven Must Be”; and the instrumental “Send The Light.” In this TCB exclusive, Zachary Alvis discusses rediscovering these classic hymns while working on this project and the multi-generational response to the collection.
Congratulations on the recent release of Appalachian Hymns! When did you first have your vision for this project and how did it evolve leading up to release?
Thank you so much! We’ve had the vision for Appalachian Hymns for quite a while now. People have been asking us for years to do a hymn record, and we knew it was a great idea, but honestly, we never got around to working on it. With COVID impacting everyone’s touring schedule in 2020, it became the perfect opportunity for us to dive into old hymns and find ones we loved to put on this album.
Why is the overall theme/message of this project so important to you personally?
I think hymns can be so valuable to our faith. We grow up singing so many of these songs in church and know them by heart, but maybe that’s the problem. We know them so well that we almost “go through the motions” and sing the words without any meaning. For me, learning and recording these hymns put them in a whole new light. The process honestly opened my eyes to the richness and theological depth contained in these old church songs that we’ve all been singing for years.
What words do you think the world most needs to hear right now in its current state?
It’s a toss-up for me between “Be my vision” and “Turn your eyes on Jesus.” I think the two go hand in hand so it’s hard to choose. Obviously, our world would be a much better place if we would just keep our eyes on Jesus and pray that He, our Savior, would be our daily vision.
Is there a recurring theme that you’ve noticed in the listener responses you’ve received?
The younger generation will say, ‘This song is beautiful! I’ve never heard it before,’ and on the other hand, the older generation will say, ‘I haven’t heard this song in so long and I’ve certainly never heard it like this!’ The album has had an incredible multi-generational response, and we’re very happy about that.
How do you seek to define the success of this project?
We covered this entire album in prayer. We prayed over every song we chose, and then we prayed again when we recorded them. In ministry, the whole purpose is to share the gospel. If this album can encourage and show someone Jesus, that would make it a success in my book.
Who or what inspires you right now, whether musically or spiritually?
That’s always a difficult question for a musician to answer. I try my best to find inspiration in everyday things, whether it’s images, songs, anything I can see or hear, really. You always have to keep your eyes and ears open.
Musically, I have such eclectic tastes. My playlist ranges from bluegrass to rock to country to jazz to just about every genre you can imagine. Spiritually, I’ve tried to draw as much inspiration from the original songwriter, David, as I can. The Psalms are so rich in content that you can read the same thing another day and get something different out of it.
What are you most looking forward to in 2022?
The last two years have shown us how quickly things can change for everyone. The pandemic has allowed me to grow so much in my faith. So often we talk about trusting the Lord fully for all our needs, but I will be the first to admit that I sometimes take for granted how much control He truly is. Last year, when we discovered COVID and learned that we would not be able to do what God has called us to do for an indefinite amount of time, it was difficult. I realized then that I had absolutely no control over the situation. I had to put my faith into action and put all my hope in Jesus, and just as He promised, He provided.
I am really excited for 2022, probably more than any other year. God is opening more and more doors for Chosen Road to minister, and I hope that “Appalachian Hymns” will be a blessing to many. My wife and I just welcomed our first child in September, so I am also looking forward to watching our son grow and learn. It’s going to be an exciting year all around.
The post office Exclusive: Chosen Road’s Zachary Alvis Talks Rediscovering Classic Anthems on New LP first appeared on TCB.
Author: Jessie Clarks