Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

MercyMe


Interviews don't always go as planned. JFH staff member Matt Johnson learned this on MercyMe's Coming Up to Breathe tour when the band took a moment for an interview before their show in Erie, PA. The problem was the interview was being held in a stadium suite where those watching Aaron Shust's set could see the interview taking place in the illuminated room. Sadly, the interview was cut short, but here's what Matt caught on tape...
This interview took place on 3/23/07.



  • Jesus freak Hideout (Matt Johnson): You recently released acoustic version of Coming Up to Breathe, what inspired you to do that?
    Bart Millard: Our label demanding it would be one reason. It was their idea to do an acoustic version of it, so we did it in the beginning for iTunes and Yahoo. They were wanting exclusives. We didn't know which ones to do, so we did the whole record and they just sat around for awhile. Then the label decided to make an album and we just got an e-mail that said it's going to be put out and we were like "Oh no, what's it going to sound like?" Because we never had that intention, but it's ok I guess. We've put out worse. *laughs*


  • JFH (Matt): How is this tour different than the others factoring in the new music, AudioA being in the last leg of their career, and with Aaron Shust who is new?
    Nathan Cochran: This is a lot of fun for us. This Spring leg of the tour is hitting a lot of cities we've never been in before, so it's fun seeing lots of new faces. We're having a great time being out with Audio. They've been friends of ours for a long time. They were supposed to call it quits in the Fall, but we convinced 'em to stay out.

    Bart: I think we begged them.

    Nathan: We're going to hire them to just always play before us.

    Bart: We can get [Mark] Stuart to do sign language instead of sing, we can probably get 'em for another year. *laughs*


  • JFH (Matt): Have you had a powerful ministry moment that you can remember on this tour?
    Bart: There have been some nights where you're really feeling like you're connecting with the crowd more than other nights. There are just certain nights where you know things are taking place that are much, much bigger than you. Those are usually the nights that we just don't feel like being up there. Last night was a good example. We flew all day. We were kind of tired. We were dreading doing the show, but the second we got on stage, it was like "Ok... these people are here for soemthing much bigger than us." It was really cool to be a part of that.

    Nathan: I'd say we were probably ministered to more last night than the crowd was. We weren't expecting it to be a great night. The crowd being that involved in the worship times really brought us back to life.


  • JFH (Matt): Back when you decided you were going to go into the music business and even into the music ministry did you imagine anything like this?
    Bart: Jim was just talking about this the other day?

    Jim Bryson: What was I saying the other day? To answer your question, um... no. We all felt like we were called to be a part of this ministry, but we never envisioned it getting to this point, joining a label, and doing this for a living. We did this for six years and then we let Mike join the band. It's way beyond any of our expectations.


  • JFH (Matt): I was told that you guys are prepping for an album to release soon...
    Bart: Prepping... We go into the studio in May and we don't even have a single idea for a song. So if prepping means that we've talked about how we need to do it, then yes, we are prepping.


  • JFH (Matt): Do you have any thoughts on the new album?
    Bart: It's hard to say because we may go a different way and it would be a completely different album. Our plans have been something geared more specifically to the church, but not geared towards something that could work more mainstream or to the Christian market. It's hard to say it without alienating anyone... Mainstream is not in the equation. We started out as worship leaders and we always try to make albums that are God-centered, but this one is going to be more corporate worship type stuff. We've had moments on each of our records that churches would sing, but we've never dedicated an album except when we were an independent band. We thought it'd be fun to go there again. It's a plan. Now when the record comes out and it's nothing like I just said, just forget all that.



    MercyMe's mysterioso album, decisively titled All That Is Within Me is in stores now.




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    This Wednesday, October 22, 2025
    SINGLES
    Phil Wickham Fear Has No Power - Single [Fair Trade]

    This Friday, October 24, 2025
    ALBUMS
    John Allan Resurrection Power - EP [Centricity]
    Dan Bremnes The Villain - EP [Curb]
    Clear Convictions Endure (2025 Remaster) [Resuscitation]
    Fepeste This World Ain't Mine to Change [Velvet Blue]
    gio. FINE BY ME [Capitol CMG]
    God Behind Bars Music Live From Angola Prison Vol. 1 [Provident]
    Hulvey HE WILL RETURN - EP [Reach]
    Brandon Lake Amazon Music Songline [Provident]
    Latter Day Exploits Within Consumed (Expanded Edition) [Charon Collective]
    VaShawn Mitchell SOUNDCHECK [Fair Trade]
    MORIAH Nice Life - EP [F2]
    Tyson Motsenbocker Modern Worries [Tooth & Nail]
    Smalltown Poets St. Augustine (independent)
    Zahriya Zachary Rediscovery [Bethel]

    SINGLES
    29:11 Worship, Zion Rempel You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
    The Band JAREN Poetic - Single [Hit and Run]
    Joe L Barnes Grief, Joy, Gratitude - Single [Provident]
    Chad Cory, Zacardi Cortez My First Love (Remix) - Single [DREAM]
    Leanna Crawford Beginning Of Your Grace - Single [Provident]
    darthy Juniper Tree - Single [WieRok]
    EJ Swavv & Jericko Love Like This - Single [Syntax]
    Emerson Day Midnight Hour - Single [Fair Trade]
    Good Weather Forecast lows2highs - Single [DREAM]
    goodwill. REST - Single [Syntax]
    Grace + Max Rich - Single [WieRok]
    Mat Kearney Good Old Days - Single (independent)
    Kelo Car Freestyle - Single [Syntax]
    Vic Lucas I Need You (ft. IsaiahLaRoi) - Single [Syntax]
    Jamie Macdonald You Can't Take My Song - Single [Capitol CMG]
    Myles Maestro No Place - Single [Syntax]
    Mercy Tribe Music The King is in the Room (feat. Ayiesha Woods) - Single (independent)
    Mountains in the Sea Breakthrough - Single [DREAM]
    Razzie & Glenn Ray Second Chances - Single [Syntax]
    Seph Schlueter Already On The Way (feat. Benjamin William Hastings) - Single [Provident]
    Tomb Slayer The Christmas Lamb (feat. Khristian Dentley & Sarah Whittemore) - Single [Tomb Slayer]
    tonyxtrotter, Yung Drew, Wayne Klassik HOLY HOLY HOLY - Single [Syntax]
    The Undertaking! All Smiles - Single (independent)
    Unseen Faith Cold Resolve - Single [Rottweiler Records]
    Kim Zamolo Your Ways Are Higher - Single (independent)

    VINYL
    Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]

    Next Friday, October 31, 2025
    ALBUMS
    Hope Deferred Darkness Remains [The Charon Collective]
    MORIAH Nice Life - EP [F2]
    Testimony of Apocalypse Agony in the Garden [Roxx Records]

    SINGLES
    Dreamers My Heart His Home - Single [DREAM]
    Roxanne Grace Try Again - Single [DREAM]
    Lock & Chi Do To Me - Single (independent)
    John Long Simple Pursuit - Single (independent)
    Warren Zeiders How Great Thou Art - Single [Warner]


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