In a move of vulnerability, Rend Collective releases a song for anyone caught in the thick of depression called “Fight Of My Life.” Although the band’s latest single was birthed from a season of sadness, the song is anything but gloomy. In fact, it boasts infectious energy that evokes the exact emotion lead singer Chris Llewellyn asks the Lord for in the lyrics: joy.
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Despite the jubilant, prayerful pop that comprises “Fight Of My Life,” Llewellyn was hesitant to share the track publicly. “I kept this song ‘secret’ for several years… I didn’t think Christian music fans wanted a song about depression,” he says. “Now that it’s finally out, I’ve been overwhelmed by the response. So many of you have let me know that this song is meaningful to you in your struggle. Please don’t stop sharing those stories. It means the world.”
Regardless of how dark the night, “Fight Of My Life” affirms that the joy of the Lord will always be our strength. The single also emphasizes the catharsis found in honesty. Llewellyn discovered relief in remaining transparent about his struggles through prayer and even through writing this song.
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The foot-stomping original — penned solely by the frontman — appears on the second installment of Rend Collective’s recent “FOLK!” album. The Northern Ireland natives will return to the U.K. this fall for a run of shows in support of the project, with special guests Elle Limebear and Benjamin William Hastings. The group will then head stateside for a U.S. leg beginning mid-October.
Known for popular singles like “Counting Every Blessing,” “Build Your Kingdom Here” and “Hallelujah Anyway,” the Irish band has been showcasing their joyful campfire pop since their debut dropped in 2012. Their 2014 hit, “My Lighthouse,” inspired Rend Collective co-founder Ali Gilkeson’s first children’s book of the same name. Her second book for kids, “Keeping the Light,” arrives Sept. 23.
