Turn on the TV. Read your Twitter feed, and scroll through Facebook. Everywhere you look in our culture, it’s as if fear is in the water.
Bleak economic projections, terrorism, political drama and racial wars have left believers feeling misunderstood and spiritually paralyzed.
As volunteers working with young adults in Tampa, Florida, Seth & Nirva Ready became all too aware of the powerlessness and fear felt among their people. “They are feeling misrepresented and bullied out of speaking about and living out their core beliefs,” Nirva explains.
As she and Seth began to write songs for what would be their next record, this growing fear could not be ignored. “We felt strongly that the Lord wanted to remind us that He has not been dethroned. He is still Sovereign over history, and He has placed us here for such a time as this,” she adds. “We can take courage and stand against the tide because God has not, and will not, abandon us.”
“Colossians 2:3 says that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ,” shares Seth, whose vocal talent has supported the likes of Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, CeCe Winans and Chris Tomlin. “Never Alone isn’t simply a declaration of our need for God or a prayer for God’s provision and power, it’s also a reminder of the truth that He is with us.”
One of the most personal tracks on the record is “Brother,” written by Seth & Nirva’s label mates, The Brilliance. As a bi-racial couple, Seth & Nirva have encountered cultural stigma more than most Christian artists. Only in encountering Jesus, in the study of Scripture, they say, can one begin to understand the love and forgiveness required to heal the great racial divide.
When I look into the face of my enemy, I see my brother, I see my brother
Forgiveness is the garment of our courage
The power to make the peace we long to know…
“‘Brother’ hit us really hard,” Seth admits. “Can we honestly sing those lyrics? It’s such a beautiful vision of what we want to be, directly rooted in Jesus’ teaching. …Hopefully, this song becomes an entry point for more discussion.” After all, he adds, “The kingdom of God, in all its diversity, is the biggest movement on Earth.”
“We want to be part of helping our brothers and sisters recover their courage,” Seth adds, “develop their character, grow in their understanding of the biblical worldview and connect with God on a daily basis through study and worship.
“We want to use the gifts and tools God has given us—in the context of singing and making music—to serve and encourage the Church as well as to take part in the renewal He is bringing,” continues Seth. “That renewal will enable us to stand firm and impact our spheres of influence with the Gospel in a day when culture is set against us.”
This is the pulse of Never Alone, Seth & Nirva’s debut full-length album set for release on Integrity Music. Featuring songwriting collaborations with Mia Fieldes (“Savior King”), Israel Houghton, TobyMac and others, Never Alone picks up where their 2014 EP I Need You left off.