Ellie Holcomb Says Musical Structure is Like the 'Story of God's People'; Confirms New Music for 2015 [INTERVIEW 2]

Ellie Holcomb

Ellie Holcomb was gracious enough to have a chat with BREATHEcast about what she has been up to lately, and in part two of our interview with her, she spoke about song writing, testimonies, and the power of music.

Interestingly enough, Holcomb was an English teacher before she began her music career. This has given her a different perspective on writing music as she can take more of a polished literary approach to it.

"I think that's the power of music, that it tells a story, and that story connects to somebody else's story," she said in response to whether she feels more educated with her song writing. "Music is a bridge builder right? That's why we love it, connecting people's stories that helps us know we are not alone."

She explained that the writing process comes about "organically" because "it's sort of cathartic."

"Then the English teacher kicks in afterwards, the editing process is where I cannot escape my English teacher background. I'll write stuff that comes out really organically and I'll be like, that's cool but it could be better/take that out, rewrite that, find a better word right here, the structure of this line would be better."

Holcomb then lamented that music is beautiful because the structure of music is the "idea you start off in a key and that's home and then it moves away from that key, and then it moves back home."

The singer then pieced together her theories on music in relation to God. She profoundly stated, "the whole structure of music, classical pieces is - home, away, home and so just even thinking that's the story of God's people. We started off at home in the garden, and we are currently in this process, this tension, and this kind of a way, but we know that home is coming again and that we were made for it."

After her deep thoughts on music, she laughingly said she was a "music dork" but finds all this "fascinating."

Ellie Holcomb
(Photo : Merge PR)

Holcomb then explained why she believes music is such a powerful medium whether spreading a message or evangelizing.

"I think music...can move something or speak for something that we don't have words for yet. It kind sneaks in the back door of our brain and can get into places of our mind and our soul that we shut out because a lot of things can't," she said. "Music has this way seeping in and sneaking in to places that you never let it into. Thinking to things like pain, suffering, loss and ache and tension, in away that maybe a sermon may not be able to because it comes in this really beautiful package."

She said in terms of evangelism, it is amazing because everyone has wounds and walls that are put up. "I think music is barrier breaking. There's a sense of community around music."

"Jeff Tweedy of Wilco says 'We all go to concerts to suffer together'. I think that's such an interesting idea. Something resonates with you, and see it resonating with other people and you know you're not alone. For music to be used with this intention with prayer surrounding it, the story of Jesus, that we are not alone. He came down to earth and became one of us so we can see a flesh blood example of who God is. There's a sense of togetherness that happens with my music that I think is reflective to the heart of God."

"Hope is grounded in an empty grave by a man that died for you," she concluded.

Holcomb then shared an incredible testimony that really pushed together her thoughts on the power of music.

The songstress explained she met a girl in December who shared with her that they had met previously. She thanked Holcomb for her music because she struggled with depression and used to be a cutter. She shared that Holcomb's songs helped her great through the rough times.

"These are the songs I listen to when I can't say the prayers myself," she told Holcomb. "Your music has really been prayers for me." Then singer then embraced the girl and they cried for a second. Before leaving the girl handed Holcomb a note that read, "When I told you that I tried to take my life, you put your hands on my shoulders and said, 'I'm so glad that you're still here' I don't remember doing that, but I just wept reading that letter."

She continued, "We get to come alongside each other and help carry each other to the cross. We aren't in this alone...I'm encouraged by her. She's going to be a girl that puts her hands on someone else's shoulders and says, 'I'm glad you're here, I know where you've been'."

At the time of the interview Valentine's Day was just around the corner. A few of Holcomb's songs have love in the title and she is always referencing God's love. When asked about what God taught her about love, she took the approach of referencing those who feel lonely.

"It is often a lonely day for people as it is a reminder of what we don't have. I have seen that Jesus' love for us is enough. I didn't know that for a lot of years. I spent a lot of years looking for my worth and identity. I honestly did not believe his love was not enough for me," she explained. "We were made for love with this person who will love us perfectly. I think what I learned is that we were made for a relationship with Jesus. Anything else we replace that relationship with...at best, leaves us very frustrated and bored and at worst leaves us devastated."

She said to remember on a day like Valentine's when it could be lonely that we are already part of the greatest love story ever told and we can share that love with other people.

As for the rest of 2015, as said in the previous article, Holcomb has a tour with Third Day coming up, and after, one with Steven Curtis Chapman and Brandon Heath. However, the best news for Holcomb fans is she also confirmed new music.

"More songs are coming which is great! I'm trying to write them," she revealed. "I'm walking with a lot of people in my community through some pretty hard things right now, so literally when that happens I'm at the end of my rope. I'm just praying to Jesus and sitting with Him and asking Him to speak into those places of emptiness and brokenness in my life and the people around me."

She said the songs are being born right now, and are really fun and beautiful. She is not entirely sure of when the new album will be coming, but new songs are coming and she is "trying to catch them." She will then finally take some time off to be home and make some new music and record some of the new songs that she writing. "New music, family, and touring."

Read part one of Ellie Holcomb's BREATHEcast interview here.

The 32-year-old mother is also in her husband's band Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, and her father, Brown Bannister is an accomplished music producer. Aside from last year's full length As Sure as the Sun, she released two EP's, Magnolia and With You Now.