FFH
Acoustic-pop band FFH is ready to explore the wide open, poised to sing a fresh song on the wings of career sales nearing one million units and propelled by No. 1 hits like “Before It Was Said,” “On My Cross,” “Watching Over Me,” “I Want to Be Like You” and “One of These Days.”
On its fourth and latest Essential Records’ release, Ready to Fly, FFH soars to new heights. The album maintains the foursome’s signature sound—upbeat pop melodies over an acoustic, guitar-driven rhythm—while incorporating evocative production elements complimentary of a truly personal album.
A dozen years ago, FFH emerged as an independent a cappella group playing primarily for small church services. Quickly, co-founders Jeromy Deibler (lead vocals, guitar, piano) and Brian Smith (bass, vocals, trumpet) gained a reputation for offering outstanding praise & worship music. Eventually Jeromy’s wife, Jennifer (vocals) and Michael Boggs (guitar, vocals) emerged as indispensable contributors to FFH and its top-notch live performances. Once recognized for charting the highest indie-act single in the history of Christian radio, FFH is today a core artist within Christian music, lauded for its inspiring, vertical lyrics.
Yet, on Ready to Fly FFH plots a course for uncharted territory, musically exploiting piano-based melodies and emotive strings— details that lightly peppered 2001’s Have I Ever Told You.
“I think listeners will notice stylistic diversity on this CD,” says Jeromy, who is also the group’s primary songwriter. “Piano is what I’ve written our songs on thus far, so, incorporating for the first time my piano playing into the recording process is more of a natural progression than most people may initially realize.”
Several cuts shape Ready to Fly’s distinct sound by integrating classy orchestration to create powerful, emotional moments. “We used strings to amplify certain songs and further drive some of our points home,” Jeromy explains. The title track best exemplifies this, a song that builds momentum as it venerates spiritual empowerment found in Christian faith. Likewise, “Follow Love,” featuring Jennifer’s lush vocals over a sweeping piano melody, celebrates the dreams and desires God places in our hearts.
Fans appreciate many aspects of FFH’s live show, none more than the group’s vulnerability when members share their hearts from stage. Perhaps like no previous FFH project, the lyrics on Ready to Fly capture that same sort of openness. It was an unplanned, but welcomed, thematic discovery.
“Yes, this record became a more personally focused record than our other projects. It is about freedom and it’s about honesty,” says Jeromy. “The songs ended up telling a story about where we are with the Lord and where we are with each other right now.”
“Here I Am” is a touching anthem in which the group shares the comfort of freedom in God’s grace. “That song came out of a period of wrestling with what grace means to us in light of where we’re all at, both in our lives and within society,” says Michael.
God’s relentless pursuit of His children is echoed on “You Found Me.” The song kicks off with Jeromy and Jennifer trading vocals, each surrendering to God’s unconditional love and faithfulness: “You found me in the places of my loneliness/You told me there’s more to life than this/You captured me with tenderness/You found me.” Fun wah-wah guitar parts illustrate the joyful spirit characterizing FFH’s approach in interpreting this song.
The most endearing and personal song on the record is “Waltz for Jennifer,” Jeromy’s simple Valentine to his beautiful wife of eight years. “It’s just a cute love song,” he says. “I haven’t written that many songs that aren’t directly about the Lord, so this song creates a clearer window into our personal lives.”
FFH members credit the group’s new-found lyrical and sonic independence to Jeromy’s increased leadership in the studio. On the heels of his work with the debut record from Fervent recording artist Big Daddy Weave, Jeromy receives a co-production credit for Ready to Fly, working alongside producers Scott Williamson (Lincoln Brewster, Point of Grace) and David Hamilton.
“The buck really did stop with Scott, but having just come out of the studio with Big Daddy Weave, I was ready to lend input on our music. Even though I had only a small hand in that process, it was very fulfilling to know the record turned out the way we all hoped it would.” With Michael contributing several self-penned songs, Jeromy’s new piano work in the studio and Brian recording his first trumpet solo (on “Good to Be Free”), Ready to Fly is truly a group effort.
Now FFH is ready to hit the road again, a privilege members enjoy some 200 nights a year. Taking off this spring will be the major-market “Ready to Fly” tour with FFH as the headlining act. In what will no doubt be a command performance, the tour will continue in the fall as well.
“It’s pretty awesome to see how God can work through us in the cities we visit,” says Brian. “In each concert setting, we feel it’s essential to share a gospel message since we’ve been given the platform to do so. God is clearly using those times and the music to touch people in major ways.” The group is often blown away by the many listeners who make decisions for Christ as they worship together - more than 5,000 in the last two years alone - and they find fulfillment in being able to provide discipleship materials and follow-up to reinforce those individuals’ decisions.
“Ministry is our entire purpose,” Jennifer confirms, recalling the group’s mission statement of reaching “as many people as we can for Jesus as quickly as possible.” “At our concerts, we want our audiences to focus on God, not on us. We’re up on stage worshiping right along with the crowd.”
“Art is the only thing on the face of this earth that allows room for creation and interpretation,” Jeromy concludes. “Our goal with Ready to Fly is for it to be a medium to share simple stories like Jesus did with parables and then follow-up with hardcore ministry that God can use to change lives.” |
