New Salvos youth music launches across the summer
BY ANTHONY CASTLE
Salvos Youth United (SYU) is a new musical resource that connects with youth and young people across the country.
New Salvos music is released under the Revolution Worship brand of the Worship Arts Team, and SYU has been established to reach young people throughout the week, not just on Sunday mornings.
“The new music is oriented towards youth events, but it’s also for young people to listen to during the week,” says Dan Casey, Worship Arts Coordinator. “It makes sense culturally, compared to what they’re usually listening to. It’s influenced by pop dance tracks. It’s high energy, something they can dance to.”
SYU music is being launched at upcoming Summer Parties.
Summer Parties are opportunities for youth ministries to gather and start the year with a fun and safe event. Typically held at different sites, water recreation parks, and centres, evening rallies are an opportunity to eat together and share the Good News of Jesus. Dan is touring with a band to Summer Parties in Queensland, NSW and Victoria to debut the new music.
“The first single is being released now,” Dan says. “The single is called ‘I’m Free x2’. It’s an upbeat celebration song, declaring that Jesus set us free. We say that about 75 times in the song. It’s about experiencing the freedom of Jesus. It’s a party song.”
‘I’m Free x2’ is a single from an upcoming EP written by Dan Casey, Luke O’Dea and Paris Briggs. The upcoming EP will also feature the tracks ‘Praise You’, ‘No Longer Lost’ and ‘No Wonder’.
“We want young people to have as much space as they can to be filled with joy. I want the youth of the Salvos to own SYU and its music.”
“I think it’s important to meet people where they’re at,” says Dan. “We don’t want to try to conform young people into what we think they need to be. We ask them where they’re at and meet them there. The message stays the same between all our music resources, but the method changes.”
SYU music was played at the recent National Creative Arts Conference (NCAC) and at state youth camps last year, and the single was well received. To help connect the music with its fans, shirts and hats promoting SYU and its distinctive smiley-face logo are being produced.
“We want young people to know that we care about them, and we believe in this thing,” says Dan. “We want young people to have as much space as they can to be filled with joy. I want the youth of the Salvos to own SYU and its music. We make this music, but it’s theirs.”
SYU music will be available on all streaming services, with more information on the newly launched SYU Instagram.
