On Sept. 16 Australian duo for KING & COUNTRY released their sophomore album, Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. Ahead of the album's release, the duo participated in an exclusive GRAMMY.com interview during The Recording Academy Nashville Chapter GRAMMY Block Party, discussing finding their individual musical voice, their 2012 debut album Crave and the power of creating music, among other topics.
"For any person [who] signs up to [make] music, they sign up because, for one, it's inside of them and they've got to figure out a way to get it out," said For King & Country's Luke Smallbone. "But the other thing is, when you merge a powerful thought with a lyric, and you merge that lyric with a melody, it stirs your heart. … You put it altogether and something really powerful takes place."
Comprising Australian brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone, For King & Country started their music career after relocating to Nashville, Tenn., in 1991 with their family, including their sister, Christian singer/songwriter Rebecca St. James. The brothers formed For King & Country in 2010 and released their first song "Light It Up," which was featured in the TV film Drop Dead Diva. In 2011 they released their self-titled EP featuring the songs "Love's To Blame" and "People Change," both of which were featured in the TV series "Vampire Diaries." That same year they landed their first hit when "Busted Heart (Hold On To Me)" reached No. 10 on Billboard's Hot Christians Songs chart, marking the fastest-rising Christian single of the year.
Released in February 2012, Crave made the Top 5 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart on the strength of the Top 20 Hot Christian Songs "Middle Of Your Heart" and "The Proof Of Your Love." That year the duo were featured on Billboard's list of the most anticipated debut albums of 2012.
Co-produced by Christian singer/songwriter Ben Glover and Matt Hales (Aqualung), Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. features 14 tracks, including the album's lead single, "Fix My Eyes," which peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Christian Songs chart.
For King & Country kick off their You Matter tour on Sept. 21 in Louisville, Ky., with dates scheduled through November.