While there are many bands that might qualify as “Biblical indie rock”, none have been quite so bold to use it regularly – and truly embrace it as their central emphasis for songwriting.
Sower, the emo/alternative/post-hardcore project of multi-instrumentalist and evangelist Eric Tuffendsam, first broke into the mainstream last year with TWO EPs and a handful of singles, all encapsulating rich and convicting truths found within the pages of Scripture. This year has likewise seen the release of several singles and collaborations. Tuffendsam’s work ethic has not dulled in the slightest. “I WANT TO SEE CLEARLY” is the final single from a forthcoming album of the same name, and it carries the same boldness and clarity (no pun intended) as the rest of the Sower discography.
“I’ll trade my silver for gold. I’ll trade this world for my soul,” Tuffendsam proclaims. Beyond this, he borrows from the parable of the field with the treasure and how God will destroy the wisdom of the wise (1 Corinthians 1:19, Isaiah 29:14). Sower is a project that relishes in the unadulterated words of Scripture, and this particular track is a great showcase of this.
The album will release May 23 and features an assortment of songs centered on the topic of discernment. You don’t need to look far into the Bible to see that the muddling of God’s commandments has been disastrous for humanity (Genesis 3 and the serpent’s question, “Did God really say…?”, Pilate asking “What is truth?”). There is also the difficult concept that God would rightly hide things (Proverbs 25, Mark 4, Jeremiah 5). We are told to seek for wisdom (Proverbs 4, James 1) and even Solomon requested this from God. The logical conclusion is that we, in our natural and unperfected state, will be swayed and subject to ideas that long to destroy us. We need God to give us clarity and discernment, both in matters of His Word and the culture in which we live. These songs acknowledge that only God provides wisdom and that the so-called wisdom of the world is foolish and destructive.
Check out the song and cover art and be sure to stay tuned for the full album next month!