In Christian music today, many artists likely would consider having performed onstage with Brandon Lake and guest-featured on a song with Forrest Frank some solid accolades to look back on at the end of their career. For Tate Butts, these opportunities arose at the age of 14, highlighting the respect that accomplished artists in the industry already have for the up-and-coming talent. As he nears eligibility for a driver's permit, Butts releases his debut, seven-song EP for the world to hear, Something To Believe In.

The music itself remains in a relatively straightforward pop vein throughout the seven songs, allowing for his voice to stand as the centerpiece. That decision works out well for his first release, effectively introducing himself to his listeners. Butts' vocal talent is evident throughout the entire runtime, but "Brought Me This Far" and the chorus of "Hideaway" stand out in particular for the way his powerful voice comes through. He carries great confidence in his vocal delivery and feels no need to hold back; that aspect comes as the EP's greatest strength. To comment on the runtime, only two of the seven tracks reach three-and-a-half minutes in length -- and they barely do so -- making the seven-track offering feel short and like a sampler of what is to come, rather than a completed work; perhaps Butts is planning to record a few more songs to make an album out of the collection, but such thoughts are mere speculation from the reviewer.

Lyrically, Butts focuses his attention on God's character. Songs like "Hideaway" and "Shadow" remind the listener of God's reliability, regardless of circumstances, while "My Defender" and "I'm Gonna Sing" serve as direct praise to God for who He is. The one main exception to this lyrical theme comes in the closer, "Coulda Shoulda Woulda," a song Butts wrote about his grandmother who passed away. Even though they are heavy, some of my favorite lyrics on the EP come towards the end of the song: "Walking down the coastline / Looking at the waves / Just like God, the tide gives and it takes / But He took you quicker than I / Could even say." It may be a sad song to wrap up the project, but Butts' honesty and vulnerability shine through beautifully and admirably. "Could Shoulda Woulda" also carries the most unique sound of the offerings, leaning more in a folk direction, and makes me curious to hear what Butts could do in experimenting with different genres and instrumentation down the road. Pop works well for the South Carolina native, but his voice also would find success dabbling in other styles without forsaking the core of the direction he aims for sonically.

These songs may not reinvent the wheel, but Something To Believe In showcases Tate Butts' high level of talent, and a desire to use that talent for the glory of God, putting him in a position few people his age find themselves in. The future remains uncharted for Mr. Butts, but he shows great promise, making him someone worth checking out and keeping an eye on as he comes further into his potential and hones in on his sound and who he is as an artist.

- Review date: 7/12/26, written by Noah Schmidt of Jesusfreakhideout.com

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