Tim Ketenjian: I have attended three churches in my lifetime, and I'd say the first was the most multi-cultural. The second was made up of primarily Armenians (I am 100% Armenian, ethnically), and the third church (current one) is mostly Chinese. This album definitely draws from the three different church backgrounds. However, I'd say the gospel sound mostly comes from my love for listening to gospel music. I love the runs and chords that come from that style, and I'm really glad we were able to capture some of that with this record. Special thanks to all the background singers and musicians who played on the songs; they really helped shape the sound.

Tim: That's very kind - thank you! I don't know that it comes naturally to me, but when I write, I try to create with this philosophy: go for something that I'll still enjoy playing and singing in 30 years from now. I try to make chord choices that are interesting and fun to listen to multiple times. I had a co-writer on two songs, Chrissy Shefts, who is great at crafting melodies, and she had a big hand in shaping "Always" and "Eternal Love".

Tim: That's so cool! Thanks!

To give some context, I had an aunt named Ruth who I was very close with. (She passed away from cancer in 2016.) She was a strong believer in Jesus, and she was also a musician. She had recorded "Morning Prayer" for her own album in 1998 (her friend wrote the lyrics and she wrote the melody). I loved that song from the time I first heard it, so when it came time to make this album, I knew I had to record it. Having my siblings on it was an added bonus and a memory we will cherish as a family.

I wrote "Join the Redeemed" in the aftermath of Aunty Ruth's death. It was the first momentous death I had experienced, so it definitely shook me, but I didn't want to write about it in a despondent way. Instead, I started to think about the ways we're still united, and I realized - you know what? She is in heaven worshiping God, and I'm on earth worshiping God. We are still part of the same family; we're just in different locations for now. That began the writing process for "Join the Redeemed". I wanted the pre-chorus/chorus to bring together the fact that Jesus unites all believers in heaven and on earth - the same Jesus who fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies, who came on Christmas, who rose on Easter, and who is coming again.

Tim: Mark and Rachel are my younger brother and sister. We grew up singing together with our parents, and we especially loved harmonizing with each other. It was so special to have them on this record. "Morning Prayer" was such a blessing for all three of us growing up, and it means even more now that our aunt (who wrote the music) is in heaven. It was a very moving process to record this song with them.

Additionally, the entire Ketenjian family (including parents, cousins, etc., ages 6-60) appear on the final section of "Mighty God". My aunt wrote that song in the midst of her cancer ordeal. I was so grateful to have the whole family come sing as our testimony that God is faithful and sovereign, even in our deep pain of losing a loved one.

Tim: I did! The previous records included what I call 'life songs', songs that dealt more with feelings than with truth. I wanted this final record of the trilogy to answer some of the questions from those first two records - to show that in the midst of growing pains, sin, broken relationships, and general uncertainty, there is truth we can stand upon. Jesus Christ is King over life and death, He offers redemption for anyone who will receive Him into their life, and He is coming again! This record was specifically made to help believers worship in their homes, using prayers, Scripture, and theology.

I got to work with a producer named Gilbert Hovsepian, who made a big difference in the sounds used on the album. My previous projects were a bit more stripped down sonically, so I really appreciated the sound palette Gilbert brought to the table for these songs.

I also had the opportunity to cover songs for the first time ("Mighty God," "Morning Prayer," "Hope's Song"). The tracklisting for this album changed multiple times over five years, but these three songs were always included. They have played a large part in my spiritual growth, and I included them in the hope they would also encourage others.

Tim: Hopefully, yes :) I'm currently in discussions for potential summer tour dates. I was grateful to perform some of the new material at my one show of 2020 (before COVID hit). I'd love to do an album release show for this record, when it is safe to do so. (It may happen online).

Tim: One major lesson I've been learning during this period is to rest in God. There's a line on the record that says "My joy is in the Lord, the One who is faithful." I wrote that in 2018, a year when my grandmother passed away, a long-term relationship fell apart, and my sin was overwhelming. In the midst of the darkness of that period, I held onto Jesus as King over life and Victor over death. I think those same words are the ones that helped me through the craziness of 2020. "When circumstances shake, in Him, I am secure."