Michael W. Smith ready for takeoff
Christian pop megastar reflects on family, his 30-year career
Michael W. Smith is shining brighter than ever.
In the music video for his first single in three years, A Million Lights, premiering today on usatoday.com, the Christian pop megastar hops aboard a spacecraft and floats among the stars. The rousing worship song is inspired in part by Smith’s longtime fascination with astronomy and the universe at large, as he praises the Lord for his being alive.
A Million Lights also is the title of his new album, out Feb. 16, which he wrote and recorded in Nashville with songwriters including Kyle Lee, Paul Moak and Jonathan Jackson. Inspired by artists ranging from Johnny Cash to The Chainsmokers, the 13track effort marks a sonic departure for the Grammy winner, who has had 32 No. 1 hits on Christian radio.
Smith, 60, chats with USA TODAY about his latest.
Q What inspired the concept for the video?
A My son, Ryan, directed the video, and it’s pretty awesome. I really did want to be an astronaut as a kid. ... Stars and supernovas are actually making sounds because of vibrations and all the crazy stuff that goes on in our universe, so (NASA satellites) have audio they recorded. So we came up with the idea, “What if I was in a spaceship and what I did every day was I recorded the music of the stars?” I look like I’m in Rogue One. It was very fun to put together.
Q When did you start writing the album?
A I started in January. I lost my dad almost two years ago, and I was really close to my dad, so I just went through the grieving process and dried up creatively. The dried-up creative thing has happened my whole life. You always panic and think, “I need to get another job,” and then it all of a sudden, the floodgates open. You can’t hit record quick
enough.
Q Was the writing process cathartic for you after his death? AI
think so. He was my biggest fan. ... He was 82 years old when he crossed to the other side. He had dementia, which is just an awful disease, but he still knew who I was. Honestly, this record is for my dad. I have a song on there called Footsteps that was inspired by (him). I thought, “If there’s any good in me — other than God at work in my life — it’s because of my dad.”
Q What are some of the emotions that drove your writing ?
A A lot of this record was really inspired by what’s going on with our country, the political climate. ... I have a song called Conversation that was inspired by people who get behind their computers and just eat each other alive. It’s a sad thing with social media, that you can get on there and just say whatever you want to say and you don’t care about people’s feelings. That’s not the way I was raised.
Q You released your first album, Michael W. Smith Project, in 1983. Thirty years later, what do you think has been the key to your career longevity?
A I think this is what I’m made for. We’re all made to do something extraordinary, and I still love what I do. I still think my best work is yet to come, and at 60 years of age, I can’t believe I’m even saying that. I don’t feel 60 — I feel 40 or 35.