Tenth Avenue North: Learning to Trust in the Darkest Seasons
Tenth Avenue North, an American contemporary Christian music band, has left an indelible mark on the landscape of contemporary Christian music. From their formation at Palm Beach Atlantic University to their amicable disbandment in 2021 and subsequent reunion, their journey has been one of musical exploration, personal growth, and a steadfast commitment to faith. Their recent album, "Learning to Trust," delves into the complexities of faith, doubt, and the courage to navigate life's darkest moments.
A Journey of Faith and Music
Formed by students from Palm Beach Atlantic University, the band released fifteen original music projects, including eight full-length studio albums. Six of these albums reached the Billboard 200, with one even reaching the top 10. They also garnered multiple RIAA gold singles. The band took its name from an east-west road in Palm Beach County.
In February 2020, the band announced that they would amicably end the band and their upcoming tour would be their last, as the members wanted to spend more time with their families and pursue other career paths. Their final tour was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic after a few shows, and ultimately canceled. The band decided to play a final farewell show with the five main members in Florida in April 2021 and disbanded amicably thereafter.
Before achieving mainstream success, Tenth Avenue North independently released several albums and an EP, eventually capturing the attention of producers Jason Ingram and Phillip LaRue. Jeff Owen joined the band as guitarist before its first major label album, of which Scott Sanders was also part. Sanders departed the band and Juarez and Shirley joined the band in 2009, though they did not appear in promotional materials as band members yet.
Exploring "Learning to Trust"
Mike Donehey, the lead singer of Tenth Avenue North, shares the inspiration behind their new album "Learning to Trust". The album explores the "midnight hour in a person's faith," and was born from personal family struggles, including his 12-year-old daughter hitting rock bottom with anxiety and his own journey of learning to trust God when you can't see the path ahead. The album's title reflects the ongoing nature of faith, emphasizing that trusting God is a continuous process rather than a destination.
Read also: Funding Your Future: Scholarships for 10th Graders
Donehey opens up about how their lead song “Running with You in the Dark” captures the essence of moving forward with faith through uncertain seasons. The song encapsulates the idea of moving forward with faith even when the path ahead is unclear. It acknowledges the presence of darkness and uncertainty, but emphasizes the importance of companionship and trust in navigating those difficult times.
Songwriting as Unriddling
Donehey views songwriting as a form of confession, a way to unravel hidden truths and emotions. He quotes Psalm 49:4, where David says, "I incline my ear to wisdom and with the music of the lyre, I will solve my riddle," to illustrate how songwriting can be a process of self-discovery. Through his lyrics, Donehey grapples with personal struggles, doubts, and the complexities of faith.
One example of this is the song "Great God of Compassion," which was inspired by his daughter's struggle with panic attacks and OCD. The song reflects on the story of Jairus in Mark 5, whose daughter dies, and Jesus arrives too late, but then heals her. The chorus expresses a plea for help and acknowledges God as the only hope, recognizing Him as the king who suffers alongside those who are hurting.
The Lonely Wolf's Club: Finding Community
Expanding on the idea of community, inspired by their song "No Man is an Island," Tenth Avenue North has created something more than just a T-shirt that says Tenth Avenue North on it. Donehey and his buddies talked a lot about community and how there's no lone wolves in the Kingdom of God, that you're made for a pack. A buddy of his who has his doctorate, who's smarter than him, co wrote a book together called The Lonely Wolf's Club that's going to come out this summer, which is basically a field guide to community.
The Lonely Wolf's Club represents the idea that individuals are not meant to be alone, but rather to find belonging and support within a community. It challenges the notion of the "lone wolf" and emphasizes the importance of connection and companionship. The book, "The Lonely Wolf's Club," serves as a practical guide to building and nurturing meaningful relationships.
Read also: Oral Healthcare and Education
Holding it With Open Hands: Stewardship vs. Leadership
Reflecting on the journey of Tenth Avenue North, Donehey emphasizes the importance of holding everything with open hands, recognizing that all gifts and opportunities are on loan from God. He advocates for replacing the word "leadership" with "stewardship," reminding himself that the band was something gifted to him, not something to be held onto possessively. This perspective allows him to navigate the band's retirement and subsequent reunion with humility and a sense of purpose.
Donehey says, don't call us leaders, call us stewards. When I look at the band tenth A and I think of myself not as the leader of the band, but as the steward of the band, it reminds me that the band itself was something that was gifted to me, that's on loan, and that it's not mine to keep and hold and say it's mine, you know, like everything, we have to hold it like this. And so the band, you know, the band retired, and then I had to keep my hands open on retiring the band, you know, because then I had all these mentors and my wife and even my old bandmates. I'll say, we think you should keep doing tenth AB anymore. I think the hardest part for me bringing tenth AB back is worrying about what other people will think, Oh, you couldn't hack it as a solo artist. Oh you tried to do this and you couldn't do it. Oh you're coming back to tenth AB because it's easy or safe, And it's actually much harder to be in a band than being a solo artist. Being a solo artist would have actually been a much easier road. I just feel, as I said about the Lonely Wolves Club, that I think I work best in a community. So here we are back from the dead. Tenth AB two point zero.
Navigating Insecurity and Embracing Authenticity
Donehey acknowledges the challenges of navigating insecurity, particularly when the values of an event or platform clash with his faith. In those moments, he feels conflicted and questions whether his presence implies endorsement of something incongruent with the Gospel. This vulnerability highlights his commitment to authenticity and his desire to align his actions with his beliefs.
Despite the insecurities, Donehey finds joy and fulfillment in connecting with others through music and community. He describes a recent tour finale in Nashville, where his daughter was present and fully engaged, as a moment of profound joy. This experience underscores the importance of doing what he loves with the people he loves, and highlights the power of shared experiences and genuine connection.
Read also: Comprehensive Look at Expeditionary Learning
tags: #tenth #avenue #north #learning #to #trust
