Influence Music is a faith based record label and artist collective out of Influence Church in Anaheim Hills, California. Dedicated to facilitating the creation and release of music that glorifies God, Melody Noel talks about their new album Before the Breakthrough. This new album captures the importance of surrendering to the Lord.

Before the Breakthrough came out of a season of uncertainty for you all. How do these songs speak to that season personally and how do you hope they assuage the doubts of congregations who hear and lead them?

Yes it did! I think the song that speaks the most directly to that season is “Before the Breakthrough” - the title track. This song really set the direction for the rest of the record. There is a line in that song (referring to Jesus) that says,

“In your darkness hour, you showed us how to trust - Father not my will, but only yours be done.”

Jesus showed us what it looked like to truly surrender to the father. We want to give the church songs to help them follow the way of Jesus.

I pray that songs like “Nobody Leaves The Same” and “ASK” would help reaffirm the promises of God as we sing them in church. I also pray that songs like “By Your Spirit” and “Before the Breakthrough” would minister to those just driving in their car or listening at work.

It seems to be the trend lately for worship groups to record their albums live, capturing the energy of a big room of believers. Tell us why you all decided to record Before the Breakthrough in studio?

For us, we feel like production is the “package” that helps deliver the message of the song.

With this record, about half the songs work wonderfully in a live congregational setting with the buzzing energy of a crowd. The other half we felt were meant to carry the intimacy that you only get in a studio. There are also some sonic risks we wanted to take, that we wouldn’t have been able to in a live setting!

A song like “Of Great Courage” with Larry’s soaring vocals worked better with cinematic production. Another example is a song like “Completely” that has a very Shania Twain old school acoustic based production.

I love 2022 because people consume music anywhere and everywhere, so we try to think of how we can best minister to them even outside of Sunday church!

In the opening track, “Straight To Your Heart,” we love the line:

You make it so easy to be where You are.

In the season you all were in while writing this album, did you find that God felt closer as your need for His presence grew deeper?

We love that line too! Fun fact, one of the writers on that song is a youth student at our church - she was 15 during the session and had such a beautiful revelation of our access to the presence of God. During the writing of this album I would not say that God “felt closer” - in fact the season felt a little dry (just being real)!

However, looking back - it's clear that God was refining the depth and authenticity of our faith, so we are thankful!

God is never far, but I think sometimes He is quiet so that we can really learn to “be still and know”.

Tell us about collaborating with Kim Walker-Smith on “By Your Spirit.”

Kim has become such a great friend to our house (Influence Church), she actually leads here once a month. She was a part of writing some of the songs on this album, but surprisingly not this one! We sent this tune to her along with some others, and she really gravitated to this message.

When she came into the studio to record she LITERALLY nailed the whole thing three times in a row. It was the shortest vocal session we have ever had.

Kim has so much authority when she sings that hearing her belt out the bridge gives us full body chills!

“ASK” is a standout - tell us about the story and process behind this one!

Thanks! Ask was written by Lindy Conant, Brett Bell and myself.

I was holding on to the title idea for a while because I liked that “ASK” can be an acronym for Ask, Seek, Knock.

We wrote the song one afternoon at a writing camp in Nashville and the melodies + lyrics came with ease as we dove into Matthew 8.

We purposefully kept the first and second verses the same because we want people to catch on very quickly to the truth of the scripture.

Matt Gilman heard the song and we are blessed that he decided to lead it! He is so annointed.

What is your guy’s greatest hope as congregations begin singing and finding new hope in these songs?

Our hope is that it would raise the Church’s expectations for what God can and will do. We want these songs to help provide language so every person can truly be a believing believer no matter what season they are in.

The worship we bring to God on the mountain top is beautiful, but there is something significant to Him when we bring a sacrifice of praise even when our flesh doesn't feel like it.

We pray Jesus is glorified through all the music we make!

Influence Music

Influence Music | Before The Breakthrough

SONS THE BAND

Ben Cantelon