The record, co-produced with Rob Hawkins (Fireflight), features 10 personal tracks, most written by band front man Chasen Callahan who has penned songs for Addison Road and Stellar Kart among others. Fellow artist and good friend Edwin McCain was among the music influences for the project as well as Switchfoot, David Crowder*Band and Hillsong.

“On and On,” the album’s first radio single which already has taken the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Christian CHR for three weeks in a row and is in the Top 15 on Billboard AC Indicator/Top 20 AC Monitored, is a stirring anthem penned by Callahan. “The nation was reacting to the recession and weighty political issues as well as all the negativity in the media,” Callahan recalls. “We’d lost that joy, but when all else fails, God’s love never does. I serve a God that is much bigger than the economy or who our president is. His grace goes on forever so I’m not going to worry about tomorrow.”

Another standout tune on That Was Then, This Is Now is “Castaway” which praises the gift of redemption and a second chance. Callahan teamed up with Sam Mizell (Matthew West, Michael W. Smith, Jordin Sparks) for “Slow Down” which was inspired by a conversation Callahan had with his mother on a rough day about the comfort and peace found in Christ. Among other tracks, “There Is Love,” also deeply personal, was inspired by the amount of love God has for His children from the perspective of the Callahan’s own love for his family.

Chasen is comprised of Chasen Callahan, Evan Silver, Aaron Lord and Jared Barber. Callahan entered the music scene after nearly a decade of service as a worship pastor. The Greenville, South Caroline based band released their first independent project Shine Through the Stars in 2008 and experienced solid radio success with two songs landing in the Top 5,“Crazy Beautiful” and “Drown.

For more info on Chasen, visit the JFH Artists Database.