If I am being completely honest, as I prepared to spend time with Grammy-nominated singer Cory Asbury discussing his latest album “Pioneer,” I couldn’t help but feel that I was not the best person to write this article.
In my lifetime, I have been both overwhelmed by existing at the center of Christian culture as a Bible college student and worship leader and hardened by being planted deep in the rough-and-tumble, blue-collar country life. Suffice it to say, I wasn’t sure that with such an exhausted filter, I would be able to correctly hear the heart and intention of that “Reckless Love guy.”
As it turns out, it’s almost impossible not to.
Cory was not at all what I expected as he described – with raw honesty and humility – the journey of creating and releasing his first new album in over three years.
Though “Pioneer” is a divergence from his previous work in worship music, Asbury says, “It feels the most true and the most rooted in who I am and what I think God has done in my life.”
His transition from the ethereal realms of worship music to the earthy tones of country is not just a shift in genre; it’s a journey into the depths of his own identity and spirituality, a journey he bravely embarks upon, defying expectations and norms naturally placed on him as the “Reckless Love” guy. That title, however, is not one he receives without appreciation. “Please don’t hear any frustration from me in people associating me with ‘Reckless Love,’” Cory says with an air of genuine gratitude, “I am truly thankful for it, that is the reality of how people know me. But as an artist, if you do anything different than the main thing you’re known for, you kind of question, ‘Am I missing it?'”
That very question, not born of guilt, but from a deep desire to stay true to his artistic and spiritual calling, is one he had to wrestle with in prayer.
The answer can be heard, loud and clear, in “Pioneer.”
The narrative-driven, story-rich nature of his new songs reflects a broader, more inclusive view of worship, one that extends beyond church walls into the gritty realities of everyday life.
It was this part of our conversation that shifted my misguided perception of Asbury from that of a typical “churchy” guy (sorry, dude) to a true, brother-in-arms, someone walking out their faith in a messy, difficult world just as I am.
Asbury passionately explained his desire to bring clarity out of the often sanitized and softened portrayals typical in Christianity. “Life is rough, life is real, and we’ve all experienced it,” he said, “and I think the church likes to paint things as ‘soft’ and ‘sweet,’ and I’m like, ‘No, it’s not, it’s raw and it’s difficult sometimes.’” His perspective, while not easily digested within the cookie-cutter mold of Christianity, is true to the human experience in a way that I believe the world desperately needs. His song “Kind” and its music video present this idea in spades.
Asbury’s vision for “Kind” was clear: to portray life in its unvarnished reality, reflecting the hardships and the rawness that often characterize our human experience and still, delivering the truth of our faith. The visual collaboration with Kaiser Cunningham, known for his work on Chase Rice’s music video “Bench Seat,” was a strategic choice to bring this vision to life. Cunningham’s expertise in crafting visually compelling narratives that strike a chord with viewers made him the perfect partner for Asbury’s project. Their collaborative process involved meticulous planning and brainstorming, especially around the video’s storyline and its emotional punch. It was designed to be impactful, even uncomfortable at times, leading viewers to confront the harsh realities that people, (yes, even Christians) face. This approach is in true line with the song’s message, which, while acknowledging life’s devastations and difficulties, also reaffirms the kindness and steadfastness of God in the midst of these challenges.
This video, like the album itself, invites viewers and listeners alike to embrace a more holistic, unanesthetized understanding of spirituality—one that acknowledges the pain and beauty of the human experience in equal measure.
“So free me from this fortress, This prison that I’ve made, With my civilized salvation And my picket fence of faith”
-Cory Asbury, “Pioneer”
What many might fail to realize, is that what Cory is doing is not easy. Or further yet, what he has risked with this record. A well-known, worship leader releasing an album such as “Pioneer” invites a world of judgment from those who believe that expressing yourself outside of the realm of worship that you are so obviously called to, somehow puts you on the highway to hell. (Cue the church organ). Remove the unintentional yet legalistic blinders and you see the album for what it truly is: Cory Asbury taking the hand of his Creator and together, exploring the vast nuances of who God made him to be, processing his laundry list of life experiences, and proving, over and over, where he has found Him in the midst of it all.
“Pioneer” is more than aptly named, in my opinion. Cory Asbury and his album forge a new path to the same holy place he has taken us before and gives permission for others to do the same with their God-given art. How many more creative believers have had wells of raw stories within them, quietly left untold in the outer courts of contemporary christian music? How many beautiful souls have we left unreached in our attempt to inoculate a faith whose very foundation is built on what Mattie Montgomery calls “The Glorious Dishonor of the Cross.” These stories, these songs, written not as a contradiction to worship but in soul-stirring harmony with it, can unlock the hearts of the masses marred by the events of every day life in a dark world. It is one beautiful thing to sing of the faithfulness of God, it is another thing to tell, in gritty and great detail, exactly how He has proved it.
Through “Pioneer,” Cory Asbury has done just that, and I believe that we are better for it.
In addition to “Pioneer,” tune in to Cory’s “My Inheritance” EP featuring country music star and May cover-boy Corey Kent and follow along as he joins christian music legend Toby Mac on the upcoming “Hits Deep” Tour.
