The Fantastic Forrest Frank
Inside the Meteoric Rise of Christian Music's Humble Superstar: 1 Billion Streams and an Outstanding Red Rocks Show
This Monday, my wife Kerry and I had the privilege of experiencing Forrest Frank live at Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado.
The concert was phenomenal, and it inspired me to share Frank's remarkable journey with you all.
From Chill-Pop to Topping Charts as a Christian Artist
Forrest Frank first made waves as half of the chill pop duo Surfaces, known for hit songs like "Sunday Best" and "Wave of You." What many might not know is how his transition to Christian music came about.
During Monday's concert, Frank shared a compelling story about his pivot. He remarked that he the chorus for "No Longer Bound" kept coming back to him whenver he sat down at his piano, singing "You came to set us free / I am no longer bound."
Taking a leap of faith, he released the song without promotion—and watched in amazement as it began accumulating massive streams overnight. Frank interpreted this as a sign from God to keep producing Christian music.
This journey led to "New Hymns," his 2023 album blending traditional hymns with his signature laid-back style. The album features collaborations like "Nothing But the Blood" with Lecrae, which reimagines the classic hymn with contemporary hip-hop verses.
After releasing a lo-fi Christmas album, Frank struck gold with the album "CHILD OF GOD.” The numbers are staggering:
The album has more than 500 million streams on Spotify alone in less than 10 months.
He has gained nearly 2 million monthly listeners in the last month.
He currently stands as one of only two Christian artists (along with Brandon Lake [38]) in the Billboard Top 100, sitting at number 46.
Check out his Google Search interest over time compared to the Weeknd, Spotify’s number 3 most streamed artist in the world
Just today, Frank released "CHILD OF GOD II" featuring 20 new songs, including already-streaming hits like "Your Way's Better" and "Amen."
The Forrest Frank at Red Rocks Experience
Beyond the numbers, Forrest’s most staggering achievement is his ability to shape people’s hearts and minds towards focusing on Christ and God.
As my most-streamed artist of 2024, I've found Frank's music to be both uplifting and powerful. His focus on Jesus, God, and faith paired with catchy choruses and pop/hip-hop production creates something special.
At Red Rocks, Frank explained that he hadn't previously heard this particular blend of pop and hip-hop in Christian music before, but it was what he felt called to create—so he did exactly that.
His live performance was extraordinary in several ways:
Audience Participation: At every show, Frank invites an audience member onto stage to perform Caleb Gordon's rap verse from "God Is Good."At the Red Rocks show a young girl performed it, and knockƒed it out of the park!
Breaking Down Barriers: Rather than staying distant, Frank walked through the crowd, performing several songs amongst his fans.
Family Connection: After learning how many families enjoy his music, Frank opened what was initially planned as an 18+ show to all ages. The diverse crowd created a beautiful sense of community.
Musician & Producer: At a piano positioned mid-audience, Frank spent several minutes demonstrating his music production process, offering insights into how he crafts his songs before transitioning into "Good Day." I’ve included a video of that below.
The encore elevated the energy to new heights. "DROP!" was performed with intense rock instrumentation, showcasing yet another dimension of Frank's musical range. The night concluded with confetti raining down during "Never Get Used to This"—a fitting finale to a transcendent evening.
Musical Versatility
One of the most impressive aspects of the concert was Frank's musicianship. With an outstanding and full live band, many songs took on a more rock-influenced feel. Frank himself demonstrated remarkable vocal range, delivering rock and punk-tinged harmonies never heard on the studio recordings. "Lift My Hands" was particularly transformed by this live energy. I shared a clip of this performance on TikTok, and was inspired to see how many people resonated with it.
Toward the end of the show, during "Altar," Frank sang on his knees in a moment of worship, inviting the audience to join him in singing hymns. He emphasized that the concert wasn't about him but instead about worshiping God.
In an industry often focused on image and commercial appeal, Frank has charted his own path by following his convictions. The result is music that resonates deeply with listeners seeking both spiritual connection and contemporary sound.
If you haven't yet explored his music, I highly recommend diving into both volumes of "CHILD OF GOD." And if you get the chance to see him live—don't hesitate. It's an experience that goes beyond entertainment to something genuinely uplifting.
Thank you for reading!
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