"Hello, Hello" - New Single(s)!

This song is nearly four years in the making. (skip backstory to hear it)

When our church began walking through Philippians in 2022, I made the plea for our church's songwriters to begin tackling various portions of scripture to give our people homegrown songs they could take to heart and carry home with them. Most of the songs written were sung during our weekend gatherings that year (and eventually recorded as the project Tighter), but one that stayed on the shelf was this one, based around Paul's famous passage of being "anxious for nothing..." (Phil. 4:4-9)

What do you do when anxiety rings and faith begins to feel… complicated? when thoughts spiral faster than prayer, and all you can manage is a desperate Are you there, God? That’s where this song lives.

Lyrically, the song moves from suffocating anxiety toward something sturdier: hope that doesn’t ignore pain, but outlasts it. It’s a cry for help that turns into a declaration—"Hello, hello, the God of peace is over this"—as we discover that although life doesn't suddenly get easier, our God chooses to enter right in the middle of the mess with us.

Musically, though, I couldn’t land on just one expression.

So I didn’t.

“Hello, Hello” exists in two entirely different worlds—built on the same lyrics, melody, and heart.

The first version, “Hello, Hello,” is full-tilt punk rock. Fast, loud, and a little unhinged in the best way—in the spirit of bands like Relient K. This version feels like shouting your prayers while driving with the windows down, guitars buzzing, drums pushing everything forward. Josh Sutter co-produced this track with me, played nearly all the instruments, and mixed it, bringing an incredible amount of energy and grit, mastered by none other than Ted Jensen (whose work includes records from Relient K and Green Day, which still feels wild to say out loud!)

Then there’s “Hello, Hello (Reimagined).” Same song, completely different posture. This version strips everything back to the bones: vocals, piano, and strings. It’s quieter and heavier in a different way—like sitting alone with God after the noise dies down. I produced and mixed this one myself, playing piano, singing, and invited Keiko Ying to layer all the stunning cello work you hear. Mastered by Drew Elliot, the track has the space and warmth needed to breathe.

These two versions represent the same prayer from two angles.

Sometimes faith sounds like shouting through clenched teeth.

Sometimes it sounds like barely whispering at all.

Both are honest. Both are welcome.

“Hello, Hello” (and its Reimagined counterpart) are out everywhere you stream music—Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, all the usual places.

Huge thanks to Josh Sutter, Keiko Ying, Ted Jensen, and Drew Elliott for helping bring these songs to life. If this track resonates with you, share it, sit with it, or let it soundtrack your own prayers—loud or quiet—reminding you that God is already closer than you think.

Hello, Hello (CCLI 7275907)

Verse 1

Anxiety, like a devil singing over me,

Like a panic-stricken ecstasy

I cannot breathe for the life of me 

or is this really death?

Like the dream of a time gone by

When my hope hadn’t been exposed as just a lie

I try and try—but if all we do is die, 

then is this all there is?

Or is there more than this?

Please tell me there is

Chorus 1

Hello, hello, come now and help me out of this

Hello, hello, I’m sinking deeper down into this

Hello, hello, I want to find another way

Than begging or pleading, I’m praying, I’m bleeding

Hello, hello

Verse 2

Ingratitude, festering beneath the altitude

Surfacing in snippy attitudes

And platitudes, God, you died for more

Yes, so much more than this

Cause you came to our world in need

Hallowed then, hallowed now, and you’ll always be

You’re hollowing out the death in me

Until there’s nothing more

Jesus, you are Lord

And you’ve come to restore

Chorus 1 

Hello, hello, come now and help me out of this

Hello, hello, I’m sinking deeper down into this

Hello, hello, I want to find another way

Than begging or pleading, I’m praying, I’m bleeding

Hello, hello

Bridge 1

Rejoice rejoice the Lord is at hand

Rejoice rejoice the Lord is at hand

Rejoice, rejoice

Bridge 2

I don’t wanna settle for the peace of God

When I know you have more

Cause there’s better still in store

I don’t wanna settle for a piece of God

When I know you are more

So much more, You are more

Chorus 2

Hello, hello, the God of peace is over this

Hello, hello, I know that you are with me in this

Hello, hello, You came to show another way

Than begging or pleading; I’m praying, You're bleeding!

Hello, hello