"My name is Erik. I'm a songwriter -- a storyteller, of sorts. One of my greatest joys is seeing the Lord use songs to challenge and encourage hearts for His purposes and His glory. I was thirteen years old when I wrote my first tune. Little did I know, that song was the beginning of a journey that I pray will one day usher me all the way to the Gates. I am a firm believer that the power of an effective melody, coupled with the truth of the Gospel, is a force that can be used to change the world. To be honest, it's not the music that really excites me. I love the music, but what fuels my soul is the relationship that the music brings. And more importantly, the purpose behind the songs that we sing. How cool is it to think that in 1779 a slave trader, captivated by God's forgiveness and redemption, penned the words to a song that we still sing to this day? A song that would become one of the most well versed and impactful tunes in history. Of course, that song I'm speaking of is John Newton's Amazing Grace. If you don't know Newton's story, spend a few minutes and google it. His testimony exemplifies the power of music. A power that, when coupled with the Word of God, has infinite possibilities. And the fact that hundreds of years later we still turn to Newton's wisdom, in times of trial and in times of triumph, is proof that a song really can change the world. So when people ask me, "Why music? Why songwriting?" Well, that's why. Because nothing can perform soul surgery quite like a song can. And no one can heal a heart quite like Jesus can. When you look at it from that perspective, personally I think it's a no brainer." - Erik... Read more