Joe Kisselburgh always dr… Read Full Bio ↴Joseph A. Kisselburgh - lead vocals/guitar
Joe Kisselburgh always dreamed of having the opportunity to author a project which encompassed the full spectrum of his artistry. In 2006 he left his previous outfit, Falling Up, and began to pursue his ultimate musical end--which was becoming a songwriter, lyricist, frontman, and musical conduit.
This pursuit is called The Send.
"It was so challenging and inspiring to start anew. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing something from its inception grow, expand, and evolve into a dream fulfilled. I feel like this project is me. It's so close to my heart. It's my songs. Being able to share who I am, and especially my relationship with God, is so important to me."
And so the journey began for Kisselburgh, armed only with an idea. The name, the Send, is a reference to the progression of the thought from his mind and soul to his music and finally to the listener. But even though the band was essentially brand new, the songs themselves had been a long time in coming. While on the road with his former outfit (and even well before), he stole away to write every chance he got. After several years of work he finally had the material he needed to craft his debut release, Cosmos.
"I want to have musicality and tastefulness, but if there isn't a good song beneath that it might come across as dated one day. I love acoustic guitar. I love great songs, and that is the hardest thing in music to do. It's easy to be crazy and arty and write something no one will understand. It's much harder to write great songs that will always be great songs...and that's my goal."
It is in this spirit that Cosmos has been conceived. And "conceived" is precisely the correct verb to describe Kisselburgh's approach. Admittedly, he teamed up with famed producer Aaron Sprinkle (Kutless, Jeremy Camp) to "bring spiritual songs into existence from beyond," rather than force a pop record. It shows. Consider the lead single "An Epiphany." This track is a musical progression of tasteful instrumentation and ambiance that lifts into a vibrant chorus that will seep into your subconscious. Such is the feel of the album as a whole; it is uplifting, bright, vulnerable, and genuine in emotion as well as sonics. With influence ranging from The Police to Death Cab For Cutie to Coldplay, The Send does not lack in pop sensibility. It is difficult for most to balance all these elements, but this is both delicate and balanced nonetheless.
Honesty is the chief virtue in the lyricism of Cosmos. A concurrent theme throughout is an acknowledgment of human weakness. Joe boldly reflects on his own shortcomings with courage, candor, and clever articulation. The result is nothing short of inspiration. On "Santiam" Kisselburgh reflects on God's glory: Any script written could not contain you.
True love is not like it's played in a movie. When I close my eyes, I feel you with me
Because you bled for a love that is Holy. On "Blocking the Sun," Joe paints a vivid picture of God's acceptance: So you know everything about me, and still you love me as I am? And finally, on "Drown," he pulls no punches in proclaiming his need for divine intervention: You remind me how I begin to drown. You're the only thing that can save me now. If you are looking for a shiny portrayal of perfect spiritual existence, look elsewhere. These are songs for real people to cry out to God with in the midst of trial and mistakes. These are songs to lead you to life from death.
When Cosmos hits shelves on July 31,2007, Joe Kisselburgh will most likely be found doing what he knows and loves--making all-night drives with his band to push on to the next city, to share his soul with audiences across the land. Having honed his touring skills with Falling Up, he knows what lies ahead of him and welcomes the experiences that are on the horizon. Even though he is only 20, he is decidedly mature in his approach to the road; he will do whatever is necessary to get his music out to as many as possible. He plans on performing at least 200 times in the next twelve months, and has already completed national tours with Ruth and The Myriad recently. Look for The Send on tour in the summer of 2007 with industry powerhouses Hawk Nelson.
"I asked myself recently, 'Why am I doing all this?' I realized that In life there are moments where you have a choice to face God and be convicted about how you live or to ignore this fact. Although I fight Him sometimes, I ultimately want my will to bend towards His. Portraying the tension between who I want to be and who I need to be and what I want to do is really important to me. Finding the sincerity in this process is the growth, the reward, and hopefully the encouraging point between myself and the listener. I am so thankful to be able to be in this position--a position to write, sing, and play this music in way that hopefully is like no other."
An Epiphany
The Send Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You try to pull it all apart
And keep the pieces not too far
We could wish upon a star
Or dream of kisses in the dark
But then we'd wake to find our hearts
And tried to force it, all of it
Into a lifeless silhouette
What the tree needs is the wind
And all a child wants is a kiss
To promise them that there is no mystery
We've got the motions down
And we all have the moon and the raining clouds
We need to realize that only love
Will show us what we all are living for
Beyond the moon and endless space
Could there be a final place?
To take us in with saving grace
Of the past that's far from dead
And all the times that I have bled
I've found that hope has always led and shown me
We've got the motions down
And we all have the moon and the raining clouds
We need to realize that only love
Will show us what we all are living for
I've seen the face of God inside the setting sun
I've awoke in the dark to believe the things I've seen
It's all there
We've got the motions down
And we all have the moon and the raining clouds
We've got the motions down
And we all have the moon and the raining clouds
We need to realize that only love
Will show us what we all are living for
The Send's song "An Epiphany" appears to be about seeking meaning and purpose in life. The singer seems to be aware of the complexity of the world around them, and acknowledges how difficult it can be to make sense of it all. The first stanza describes the singer's attempt to "pull apart" the world they find themselves in, but also their desire to "keep the pieces not too far" from each other, perhaps indicating a desire to create order out of chaos.
The second stanza discusses the futility of relying on wishes and dreams to give life meaning, as they ultimately lead to disappointment. The third stanza suggests that the singer has tried to force their own will onto the world around them, but recognizes that this approach leads to a "lifeless silhouette." The fourth stanza brings a shift in tone, as the singer suggests that what people truly need is love, both in terms of human affection ("a child wants a kiss") and a spiritual concept ("what the tree needs is the wind").
The final stanza seems to reflect a moment of insight or revelation for the singer. While they have grappled with the difficulties of life and the search for meaning, they have also experienced moments of transcendence ("seen the face of God inside the setting sun"). Ultimately, the message seems to be that the key to finding meaning is to recognize the value of love and to look beyond the mundane routines and motions of everyday life.
Line by Line Meaning
When a world is in Your arms
When you have control over everything around you
You try to pull it all apart
You attempt to understand and dissect everything, sometimes to your own detriment
And keep the pieces not too far
You try to maintain some level of control even when things seem to be falling apart
We could wish upon a star
We can hope for something better or beyond ourselves
Or dream of kisses in the dark
We can imagine things that make us feel loved and secure
But then we'd wake to find our hearts
But then we come back to reality and realize what we really want and need
I have whispered in the wind
I have tried to communicate with something beyond myself
And tried to force it, all of it
And I have tried to control and manipulate that something to fit my own desires
Into a lifeless silhouette
But in doing so, I have reduced it to something meaningless and without life
What the tree needs is the wind
What we need is to be open and receptive to the things around us
And all a child wants is a kiss
And all we really want is to feel loved and accepted
To promise them that there is no mystery
To assure us that everything will be okay and to ease our fears and uncertainties
We've got the motions down
We're used to going through the motions of life without really understanding why
And we all have the moon and the raining clouds
We all share the same experiences and emotions
We need to realize that only love
We need to recognize that only love and true connections with others can bring us meaning and fulfillment
Will show us what we all are living for
Will give us a sense of purpose and direction in life
Beyond the moon and endless space
Beyond what we can see and comprehend
Could there be a final place?
Is there something beyond this life that we're all striving towards?
To take us in with saving grace
To offer us a sense of salvation or redemption
Of the past that's far from dead
Of the things that we carry with us from our past, that continue to affect us
And all the times that I have bled
And all the pain and struggle that we've been through
I've found that hope has always led and shown me
I've found that having hope and optimism has always been what's gotten me through tough times
I've seen the face of God inside the setting sun
I've found beauty and meaning in the world around me
I've awoke in the dark to believe the things I've seen
I've had moments of clarity and insight that have given me faith and hope
It's all there
It's all around us, waiting for us to see it
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
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