Joe Frey Hopes to Rattles the Floors of Churches with New EP "Hold Fast"

By Timothy Yap Aug 30, 2016 06:25 AM EDT

Hold Fast, the much-anticipated EP from New England-based singer/songwriter Joe Frey, is slated to bow September 2. Featuring five selections all co-penned by Frey, the project includes collaborations with such acclaimed writers as Matt Armstrong, James Tealy, Tyrus Morgan and Jay Speight.

Produced by Joel Rousseau (Carrollton, South by North),Hold Fast launches with the contagious "Restore My Soul" and "Your Love Won't Be Denied," progressing to the intimate prayer of "Whisper To My Heart," and the worshipful declaration of "Faithful." The powerful title cut serves as the project's centerpiece, transparently capturing the struggle of everyday life while reminding listeners that He is the anchor in the midst of storms.

Q: Joe, thanks for doing this interview with us. I was just reading your bio on your website. It says that you left the corporate world for the music missions field in 2014. What prompted you to make such a move of faith?

A: Thank you for taking time to talk.

Yes, my wife, Sara, and I had been talking about the move it for while. We were praying that God would make it clear to us what was next. At that point I was playing 8-12 times a month and working 40-plus hours a week in sales. It was straining so many places of my life and I remember Sara just telling me to put my notice in at work. She had a peace about the whole thing. Once I took the steps to go into full-time into ministry, a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. It was not an easy transition financially, but God has moved every mountain that has come along.

Q: Tell us more about your band, the Broken Vessels, and your music ministry.

A: I've been doing shows as a solo artist since 2012, but as things have grown I began hiring musicians for different events. In 2015 I decided it would make sense to have a band name to differentiate between solo concerts and "full band" concerts. So when the band is with me it is "Joe Frey and The Broken Vessels." The first member to join was my drummer, Chris Wible. He comes from a metal/hardcore background, playing in the band Everdown back in the mid-90s. In the spring of 2016, I added a full-time guitarist Alejandro Obregon who grew up touring in metal bands in Central America.

It's wild how God brings people together from all different styles/places to be one cohesive team. The mission for this ministry is to go wherever God is leading and live out the message of Acts 20:24, to share the Gospel of Jesus. We all come from rock-n-roll backgrounds, but our main desire is to best serve the churches where we play. If they want a folk/rock set we play it, or if they want an energetic rock youth night we play it. We are there to be a vessel for Jesus to stir hearts and draw people closer to Him.

Q: So, how did the Lord lead you to release your brand new EP "Hold Fast"?

A: I had been writing a lot with my good friend, Joel Rousseau, who just moved to Nashville. We had a season of co-writing together and I felt like we were really capturing the different things that were going on in each of our lives. I told Joel I wanted to record the songs and he offered to produce/record the project. It was a labor of love. We started recording in fall 2015 and we finished it in March of 2016. We were both busy touring with our own projects so the recording process took longer than we planned. But I truly feel this was God's timing, because everything leading up to this release has fallen into place so beautifully.

Q: How do you wish this new record would impact churches, Christians, and even unbelievers?

A: My desire for this record is that it rattles the floors of churches with new songs of Hope; that it inspires Christians to draw closer to Jesus; and that unbelievers would see a glimpse of what Jesus is capable of, that it would ignite a curious thirst for them to pursue who Jesus is.

Q: I believe you co-wrote every song on the record. Who are some of your co-writers? Any interesting stories you would like to share while co-penning these songs?

A: Joel Rousseau co-wrote every song except one. I penned "Whisper To My Heart" with James Tealy, and the song came together in a way I have never seen before. We didn't have a huge space of time to write and I felt like God really spoke into the time we had in a big way. That song holds a special place in my set and I enjoy playing it every time.

The second song on the project, "Your Love Won't Be Denied," was something I started and shared with Joel. Then we wrote what we thought was an almost finished song. We brought it into a co-write with Tyrus Morgan and Jay Speight and did a total rewrite of it. I love the creative process, and it turned out to be such a solid anthem of God's powerful love for His people. The memories of the writing process will stick with me forever.

Q: I really love the title cut "Hold Fast" because it not only acknowledges the struggles we all go through but it encourages us to hold fast to Christ. How did this song come about?

A: Thank you! As cliche as it sounds, "Hold Fast" is a song I really needed to hear. When Joel and I sat down to write last fall I remember talking about our struggles. I was really trying to figure out the next steps for my music ministry and where the Lord was leading. It says in Hebrews 6:19, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain." That scripture really shaped the song and the rest just flowed out onto the paper. It's my favorite song to do live and it's so amazing to see the response we have gotten playing on the road this summer. The church has really caught onto the song and I am looking forward to what God has in store for it.

Q: Are you following up this EP with a full length record?

A: I would love to do a full length record when the time is right. But I don't know when that will be. I would like to be consistently releasing music, so my goal is to do a few EPs in the coming year.

Q: For our readers who would like to find out more about you and your music, where can they go?

A: I have a website which has links to my social media, bio, and all the fun stuff. There's a store and you can order shirts/hats/mugs (a cup of Joe). www.joefreymusic.com.