From the opening salvo of Stellar Kart’s third album Expect the Impossible,… Read Full Bio ↴From the opening salvo of Stellar Kart’s third album Expect the Impossible, it’s evident that the Dove Award-winning band is revolutionizing its sound with this adventurous, spirited, and totally unexpected pop ‘n’ roll project.

Returning to helm the project is producer Ian Eskelin (All Star United), who also shepherded Stellar Kart’s breakthrough sophomore album, We Can’t Stand Sitting Down. That CD yielded the No. 1 hit, “Me And Jesus,” which also earned the band its first Dove Award for Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year. “Content, content, content,” Eskelin declares. “The music is awesome, the energy is off the charts, but what sets Stellar Kart head and shoulders above the vast majority of its contemporaries is content. These guys are not afraid to say what they believe, straight up, without trying to couch it in some namby-pamby metaphor.”

“We are all fans of different kinds of music, and a lot of times we find ourselves listening to songs that we love, but the message is just terrible,” frontman Agee explains. “We talk with kids after concerts and are always hearing from youth leaders about the issues facing teens today. We wanted to write songs that would address such topics and encourage kids to expect God to work in their daily lives. That is what we have been about from day one. That is what we are still about.”

When Adam, along with bandmates Cody Pellerin (guitar), Jordan Messer (drums), and Brian Calcara (bass) hit the studio, Eskelin’s frenetic energy ignited Stellar Kart’s powder keg of creativity. The result is an explosion of new music chock full of pop melodies, catchy choruses, and singable lyrics.

If it is true that first impressions are the most important, Stellar Kart goes for broke on its first radio single: the blazing, no-holds-barred confessional, “Jesus Loves You.” An impassioned song about conviction and redemption, it cuts through the comfortable shades of gray with an unabashed declaration that “Jesus Loves You,” whether you believe it or not.

“The reason I do what I do now is because of what I didn’t do when I was younger,” Adam explains of the song’s bold lyrics. “I grew up in church; my dad was a pastor. I accepted the Truth at an early age, but I was a kid just trying to get by. I didn’t really do anything with my faith until I got to college. That was when I started to realize there was more to life than just getting by.”

“The bottom line is, we are not doing this just to make music. We want people’s lives to be changed,” Brian interjects.

Stellar Kart proves it can thrive in a broad range of musical realms as Expect the Impossible sustains its momentum with tracks like the classic rock anthem, “Shine Like The Stars” and genre-defying, fist-pumping, “Eyes,” with its synth-laden 80’s groove and Beach Boys-esque, feel-good, summertime melody.

“‘I Give Up’ is hands down my favorite song on the album,” the band’s classically trained guitarist, Cody Pellerin adds. “It’s the kind of song that got me into playing music in the first place. It’s rock ‘n’ roll. It’s Judas Priest meets Van Halen meets Motley Crew. I got to just rip it up on the guitar, which is what I really love to do. I know some people may listen to it and think, ‘Wow, that doesn’t sound like Stellar Kart,’ But this is where we are musically. And I think it is a good progression for us and our fans.”

“Sonically, we wanted to shoot for a broader sound,” Eskelin says. “Stellar Kart has never been afraid to challenge the current trend, so we decided to incorporate some new elements. This album will please the band’s die-hard punk fans while offering something to straight-up pop and rock lovers as well. The goal is to meet listeners where they are, driving an emotional connection to the music.”

Stellar Kart puts an exclamation point on Eskelin’s statement with such diverse tunes as the tender-and-tough pop ballad, “Pray,” in which Adam encourages listeners to ‘Pray...Even if you think you are not good enough.’ The bouncy, infectious, “The Right One,” evokes strains of such pop/rock legends as The Beach Boys, The Cyrkle, and their more contemporary offspring like Weezer and Jimmy Eat World. The happy-go-lucky anthem “Sunshine” boldly asserts that Stellar Kart is as much a bona fide pop band and serious chart contender as it is a punk quartet.

Which is not to say the band has abandoned its punk roots. “Automatic” has enough head-nodding hooks and frantic drum kicks to satisfy punk purists. And frontman Adam Agee even manages a couple of authentic rawk screams on “Eyes” and “Innocent.”

But as satisfying as Stellar Kart’s expanding musical repertoire is, it’s the lyrical honesty coupled with the band’s personal growth that most radically informs Expect the Impossible. “We are a pop band,” Adam explains. “When we made our first record we were young, and it reflected who we were at the time. The next record reflected a natural progression. Expect the Impossible is the next step. It is casting a wider net. It gets more people involved.”

“I love seeing kids attach themselves to something bigger than just school or work or friends or the latest fad,” Brian adds.

It's Not Over
Stellar Kart Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've been released from darkness
My life has been redeemed
Now I am found in you
You've pulled me
From the fire
For all eternity
My chains have been removed
My chains have been removed

My God, my hope, my rescue
The cross has set me free
No power can stand against you
I'll shout it out, shout it out

Your blood has bought my freedom
No greater love than this
My king would die for me
Not even death could hold you
The battle has been won
My sins are washed away
My sins are washed away

My God, my hope, my rescue
The cross has set me free
No power can stand against you
I'll shout it out, shout it out

My God, my hope, my rescue
The cross has set me free
No power can stand against you
I'll shout it out, shout it out

Shout it out, shout it out
Shout it out, shout it out

My God, my hope, my rescue
My sins are washed away
My God, my hope, my rescue
My sins are washed away

Shout it out, shout it out

My God, my hope, my rescue
The cross has set me free
No power can stand against you
I'll shout it out, shout it out

My God, my hope, my rescue
The cross has set me free
No power can stand against you
I'll shout it out, shout it out

Shout it out, shout it out

Shout it out, shout it out
Shout it out

Overall Meaning

The song "It's Not Over" by Stellar Kart is a triumphant declaration of the singer's gratitude and amazement at the transformative power of God's love. The lyrics express the idea that the singer has been released from a state of darkness and found redemption in God. This is symbolized by being pulled from the fire and having chains removed, imagery that speaks to the intense emotional and spiritual struggle involved in overcoming fear, doubt, and suffering. The chorus of the song reinforces the idea that God's power is invincible and that no power can stand against Him. The singer shouts out his joy and gratitude for being saved from sin and death by God's love, represented by the washing away of his sins.

The song's overall message is one of hope, resilience, and triumph in the face of adversity. It speaks to a universal human experience of struggling to overcome challenges, both internal and external, and finding solace and strength in a belief in something greater than oneself. The idea that love and selflessness are the path to salvation is at the heart of the Christian faith, and this song powerfully expresses that belief in a language that is both uplifting and deeply emotional.

Line by Line Meaning

I've been released from darkness
I have been freed from a life of sin

My life has been redeemed
I have been saved and given a new life

Now I am found in you
I have found a new life in Christ

You've pulled me from the fire
You have saved me from a life of destruction and despair

For all eternity
I will always belong to you

My chains have been removed
I have been set free from the bondage of sin

My God, my hope, my rescue
God is my source of hope and salvation

The cross has set me free
Christ's sacrifice has saved me

No power can stand against you
God is almighty and powerful

Your blood has bought my freedom
Christ's blood has paid the price for my salvation

No greater love than this
Christ's love for me is beyond measure

My king would die for me
Christ willingly sacrificed himself for me

Not even death could hold you
Christ conquered death through his resurrection

The battle has been won
Christ has already achieved victory over sin and death

My sins are washed away
My sins have been forgiven and forgotten

Shout it out, shout it out
I will proclaim and celebrate Christ's victory

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: ADAM BENJAMIN AGEE, CHASEN CALLAHAN, IAN ASHLEY ESKELIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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