Shine Through the Stars
Ever try to talk about God at a ba… Read Full Bio ↴Chasen
Shine Through the Stars
Ever try to talk about God at a bar? Faith and clubs may seem unlikely companions, but powerhouse pop/rock trio Chasen sees no need to divide the two. Whether playing for crowds on Sunday at their hometown church, or on weekdays at clubs like House of Blues and Ashvilleâs own Orange Peel, this new bandâs refreshingly unaffected honesty and hook-heavy rock sound right at home.
The band got its start in the church, writing praise and worship choruses for Sunday services and youth group events. Lead singer/songwriter and namesake Chasen Callahan pulled together fellow bandmates â guitarist Silver and drummer Aaron Lord â to help him compile an independent CD of songs Callahan had played at summer youth camps. The music was so good, the disc soon found its way into the hands of upstart label OMG, a small new entertainment enterprise in the historic West End of Greenville, South Carolina. Drawing inspiration from its location â well outside the modern music hubs of L.A., New York, and Nashville â OMG sought to find fresh talent in unexpected places, and saw the young band as a perfect debut for its roster.
OMGâs hunch was correct. Since signing, Chasen has already tasted extensive success, despite not yet having a project in the marketplace. The band has toured heavily, opening for the likes of Relient K, NEEDTOBREATHE, and mainstream rockers Sister Hazel. Theyâve already seen an early single, âCrazy Beautiful,â climb to a Top-5 position on Christian radio charts. Leveraging its forward-thinking predilection, OMG also orchestrated a cross-promotion with the Zipit Wireless Messenger 2, or âZ2,â whereby national advertising for the hot new teen-targeted portable device prominently features Chasenâs music.
These accomplishments provide an impressive segue to the bandâs national debut, Shine Through the Stars. Showcasing their inspirational brand of rootsy pop, the 13-song collection is set to release in April 2008 for OMG Music and distribution partner EMI CMG. Chasen recorded the project at OMG Studios under the direction of award-winning producer Noel Golden, whose earlier credits include Matchbox Twenty, Edwin McCain, and Lee Ann Womack.
Sole songwriter and lead singer Callahan also contributed guitar and piano on the project. A prolific, self-taught musician, Callahan says his ability runs in the family. âWhen I was 13, I played drums for my dadâs bandâ â an ensemble facetiously dubbed âPotter Zye.â Dad next encouraged him to lead worship songs for the youth group at church, and Callahanâs talent grew from there.
The songs on Shine Through the Stars center around trying to live a life of conscience and conviction amid a society where that pursuit can be polarizing. Writing candidly from his own experience, Callahan manages to provide a positive voice in his music without proselytizing, creating a project that is easily accessible to a wide variety of listeners.
Case in point is the radio single âCrazy Beautiful.â In jangly, melodically-driven rock, the song offers an up-beat, healthy perspective on the pressure we all feel to maintain a camera-perfect image. âThis song is for the ones who think theyâre not pretty enough or cool enough,â Callahan explains. âThe next time you look at yourself in the mirror, remember that God looks at us all the same. Heâs capable of making you exactly how you were intended to be.â The songâs sympathetic reminder that itâs what is on the inside that counts has propelled it up radio charts and connected Chasen with a host of teenage fans.
The project also dips into more plaintive subject matter at points. âDrownâ â a song about overcoming lust â was written several years ago when Callahan was struggling with making responsible choices about dating and sex. Then a hot-blooded American teenager himself, he penned the gentle ballad while sitting alone at South Carolinaâs venerable Folly Beach in the early hours of the morning. The waves mirrored the thoughts he felt would overwhelm him.
âGod has a way of teaching us through everyday life,â he recalls. âDrowning in those circumstances I was dealing with at the time was not an option, and this song is about finding redemption from that situation.â
Throughout the project, Callahanâs songs reveal his close relationship with God. Following Christ is a singular passion of his that adds an earnest depth to his songwriting. Not complicated or religious, Callahanâs songs manage to remain a simple, humble, and grateful acknowledgement of the Divine at work in his life.
âWaking up to a sunrise or watching a sunset over the ocean makes me thankful,â he admits. He often sees God reflected in nature, from the mountains in his hometown of Pickens, South Carolina, to the Pacific Northwest wilderness surrounding his extended family in Oregon. Stars have a particular significance for Callahan, thanks to a cherished memory of his grandfather that forms the foundation of the albumâs title, and closing, song.
âMy grandfather was a huge inspiration in my life,â he says. âJust before he died, when I was ten years old, he told me to find a star and never look away. By that, he meant to choose a goal and strive to achieve that goal, without ever looking back.â
With the release of Shine Through the Stars, Callahan and his eponymously-titled band are looking ahead to more than they even dared to dream. As heavy touring continues and the promise of further radio success builds, Chasen is on a path that will enable them to share their message of hope with a much larger audience.
âChrist didnât stay within the four walls of a church,â Callahan says. âHe went to the streets. Thatâs where I feel led to go, too. People need to know that Christ loves them no matter where they are.â
And, whether itâs Sunday, Saturday, or any day in between, Chasen is prepared to take that message to them.
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On And On
Chasen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Listening and wanting an answer to questions you're wondering
I never thought it would ever be possible
To cross the lines we drew that govern what we say and do
But no height and no depth could separate us
Some say we need a miracle, some say there's no hope at all
But I know that Your love is strong, it goes on and on and on and on
'Cause we know Your love will lead us home
It goes on and on and on and on
I tried my way, it always ends up being a mistake
But You're right when You say
That You set the time for the plans You make
I never thought that I could ever learn to let it go
Somehow it's better when I follow in the paths You show
So I'm here I'm waiting cause I believe
There is no fear of belief
There's just this cold reality
That wants to take me away from You
There is no doubt in my mind
That in Your perfect time
Your plans and Your ways will unfold
The opening lines of Chasen's song "On and On" describe the sense of introspection and contemplation that plagues the singer as he stares at the night sky. Listening and hoping for an answer to questions that have been troubling him, he's surprised that he's found himself questioning the boundaries of what he could say and do. Although he once thought such a relationship would never work, he realizes that nothing can ever separate him from the person he loves. Even when there seems to be no hope or a need for a miracle, he knows that love will always carry them forward. Although setbacks may bring them down, love will be an enduring constant in a world full of chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
Awake tonight, I'm breathing the air of the night sky
I am awake at night and breathing in the cool night air
Listening and wanting an answer to questions you're wondering
I am listening and want to answer the questions that you have
I never thought it would ever be possible
I did not think it was possible
To cross the lines we drew that govern what we say and do
To break the rules we made for ourselves
But no height and no depth could separate us
Nothing can separate us
Some say we need a miracle, some say there's no hope at all
Some people believe we need a miracle, while others think there's no hope
But I know that Your love is strong, it goes on and on and on and on
I believe that your love is strong and never-ending
Rise up when it gets us down, it'll be the voice in a blaring crowd
When we are feeling down, we can rise up and be strong in the midst of the crowd
'Cause we know Your love will lead us home
We know that your love will guide us back home
It goes on and on and on and on
Your love continually and indefinitely goes on
I tried my way, it always ends up being a mistake
When I try to do things my way, it usually ends up being a mistake
But You're right when You say
You are always right when you say
That You set the time for the plans You make
You determine when your plans will be made
I never thought that I could ever learn to let it go
I never thought I could learn to let things go
Somehow it's better when I follow in the paths You show
It is better when I follow the path you set for me
So I'm here I'm waiting cause I believe
I'm here waiting because I have faith
There is no fear of belief
I am not afraid to believe
There's just this cold reality
There is a harsh reality
That wants to take me away from You
This reality wants to take me away from you
There is no doubt in my mind
I have no doubt in my mind
That in Your perfect time
I know that in your perfect timing
Your plans and Your ways will unfold
Your plans and ways will be revealed
Contributed by Logan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mayaw1111
Awake tonight, I'm breathing the air of the night sky
Listening and wanting an answer to questions you're wondering
I never thought it would ever be possible
To cross the lines we drew that govern what we say and do
But no height and no depth could separate us
Some say we need a miracle, some say there's no hope at all
But I know that Your love is strong, it goes on and on and on and on
Rise up when it gets us down, it'll be the voice in a blaring crowd
'Cause we know Your love will lead us home
It goes on and on and on and on
I tried my way, it always ends up being a mistake
But You're right when You say
That You set the time for the plans You make
I never thought that I could ever learn to let it go
Somehow it's better when I follow in the paths You show
So I'm here I'm waiting cause I believe
There is no fear of belief
There's just this cold reality
That wants to take me away from You
There is no doubt in my mind
That in Your perfect time
Your plans and Your ways will unfold
@gulp_man1026
This song was one of my favorites when I was a kid. Wow time flies!
@elmarkymark
Same here, randomly thought about it today
@chrisweeks2127
I LOVE THIS VIDEO!!! I was on a mission trip January 2010 in Haiti, and I was there when the earthquake hit.. I saw first hand the destruction, and I saw firsthand miracles happening and the love of God working.. after the earthquake, more and more people kept giving their lives to Christ, after losing everything..when an aftershock hit, they screamed hymns of love and praise... that is faith, and I know miracles happen and that there is hope in Jesus Christ,, thank you Chasen for reminding us!
@macgirl2003ify
I got to see Chasen at Accelerant 2012:) They did an amazing job leading worship, and you can tell that their relationship with God is genuine:)
@MJJM333
I absolutely LOVE this song! It's not only beautifully sung but the words cut me deep! Simply inspiring (:
@billythekid1996
I'm Mormon, but I love this song. Christian means you believe in Christ. We don't need to have the same views on religion. We have one creator. Music is awesome man! Keep it up! It's nice to find a song that doesn't sing about sex drugs love and other bad crap! :)
@kimballance
GREAT BAND--God's LOVE goes on and on and on and on.
@jimbarrell
Crystal clear, powerful, and relevant for today. Thank you Chasen.
@kokocn
Love the message, love the vid, looooove the sound!! Never get tired of listening to this one
@JayG2011
This song gives me goosebumps ...i feel something everytime i play this song