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Andrew Peterson

Andrew Peterson started out as an independent artist, then signed with Essential after extensive touring with Caedmon's Call, only to return to independence for another season before eventually joining the Centricity Music roster. But signed or unsigned, the singer/songwriter has remained consentient in his thoughtful folk/pop offerings, earning a loyal following that often draws comparisons to the late, great Rich Mullins. That remains true for his latest recording, Resurrection Letters, Volume II, an acclaimed collection of songs inspired by the hope we have through Christ's resurrection. Of course, Volume I hasn't even released yet—a concept album squarely focused on the Easter story—but Peterson has his reasons for the unconventional timing and titling.

So, Andrew, why release Volume II of Resurrection Letters before Volume I?

Andrew Peterson: It's pretty weird! We were already halfway through this record when the idea [for the Easter themed concept album] struck. If we had plenty of time and money, we could have stopped and made Volume 1, then finished Volume II and released a two CD set, but unfortunately, we didn't have that option.

What specific theme or message are you trying to convey with Volume II?

Peterson: A lot of this album ends up paying attention and opening eyes to the idea that just as Christ drew breath in the tomb, we will also bodily come back to life because of him. And that's not some ethereal Patrick Swayze in Ghost sort of a resurrection, but a physical bodily resurrection. The Bible says the earth will be renewed and made clean and that's where we'll live. Hopefully this record will encourage listeners with songs like

"Invisible God" and "Windows in the World," really getting to the heart of the resurrection story and the idea of things being made new again.

There's also the song "Don't Give Up on Me," which is a love song I wrote to my wife. The bridge windows a really hard season in our marriage where we had to "die again" to ourselves and really go through the fire to come out clean on the other side. There are a lot of references to seasons and the sacraments God has given us, like baptism and the idea of lowering ourselves into the water with the likeness of death, only to be raised again to a new life.

Do you have a vision of Volume I at this time?

Peterson: Volume 1 will be very specific about Christ. The initial idea is to have each day of Holy Week be represented—form Palm Sunday to Easter. It's kind of like the little kid watching Star Wars now. The big debate among fans is whether they should start with the originals (episodes 4 through 6) or the prequels (episodes 1 through 3). I think starting with the original and then going back to get the satisfaction of the back-story is the best way to do it.

Do you think there will be any synergy between this album and the Christmas record Behold the Lamb of God—even just in conceptual similarities?

Peterson: The Christmas record was the first intentional concept album I ever made. And I love that way of communicating—if I could make iTunes sell my music as "album only" downloads, I would! This is the ninth year I'm touring behind Behold the Lamb of God, and many times over those years people have asked me if I would write an Easter version of that album. I've always resisted it because it seemed opportunistic—"Well, you had a really successful Christmas CD, so let's go make one for Easter!" But I feel like Behold and Resurrection Letters are celebrating the same thing. You can't get away from the idea that Jesus died and rose again because Christmas wouldn't be Christmas if that didn't happen!

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