Music Mondays: All Things New by Rivers & Robots

Music Mondays are a weekly reflection on a different Christian album and artist written and shared by community members of UCM at UBC. Most modern day Christians get the brunt of their theology from music these days, so we're digging into these songs to let you know what's going on and why. For weekly updates, go check out our social media (@ucmatubc on IG and UCM at UBC on fb).

This week’s album is “All Things New” by Rivers & Robots which is a personal fave. When I first heard this album, I mainly liked it because of it stands out from typical worship music sounds (InDiE vIbES OnLy) . Musically, it’s a mix between acoustic and electronic instruments (which is where the band got their name!).

NGL I am not a musical genius so if you hear funky fresh sounds for the Lord on this album that you want to share pls comment below!

After taking a closer listen to the album’s lyrics, you’ll find that most of the songs have very short lyrics that are repeated. It reminds me that simple lyrics often make for the most beautiful words that capture just how wonderful our Creator is. The lyrics in this album really feel like simple, personal prayers that are often direct quotes of Scripture (we love that). I hope you give it a listen – let me know if there are any that stick out to you!

Listen to the full album here: https://open.spotify.com/album/3jXUhc7v2rGvSJss6cxt6a?si=JykAWcKUQ5GT-Wcl3KSt4g

Hit the "read more" button to open the whole post! ------->

​1. We Have Overcome
The album starts with a catchy song reflecting about what the implications are for us Christians because of Jesus’ work on the cross. The song reminds me of John 16:33 where it says “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” It really is a simple declaration of what Jesus has done for us and what that means for us. It sings of us being “purified”, “hidden in the wounds of Christ”, and “unashamed”. I love that it takes the focus off of us but talks about how our posture should be in light of the glory of Christ and the transformative power of Jesus Christ!

2. Perfect Love
The track opens with a fun lil electric riff. Keep your ears open to some fun bass things going on throughout too! This second song is a reminder of the simple truth of God’s perfect love for us. Lyrically, it’s only 11 lines which is quite short compared to most songs. Again, there’s something beautiful about repeating simple truths. God’s perfect love is greater than our wildest dreams, deeper than we could ever comprehend, and casts out all our fear and failure. A line that sticks out is “the mercy that has set me free from death”. How amazing is it to have a merciful and loving God who will always reach out to us?

3. White as Snow
This track takes it back and chills out to a lighter acoustic vibe. With lines such as “all my sins like scarlet will be white as snow, though they’re red like crimson they will be as wool”, the lyrics are reminiscent of classic hymns like “Jesus Paid it All” and “Nothing but the Blood”. There is an interesting pattern in three of the four verses: the first half talks of our own shortcomings and the second half is how these things are redeemed by Jesus’ blood. I feel like this is pretty reflective in our own lives: we fail, and Jesus redeems us again and again.

4. Fall Down
This track begins with a long instrumental opening and only has a one verse and a chorus for lyrics. It declares the greatness of God and how only Him alone “belongs all the glory and all the honour”. Every other name and everything else that we have tried to make cannot come close to God’s greatness and will fall down before God. It reminds me of Philippians 2:10-11 “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

5. Arise
This next song juxtaposes the last in title, musical vibe (idk what the term should be), and lyrically. Musically, this track uses more acoustic elements while Fall Down used more electronic sounds (which I find a bit ironic cuz of the title). While the last song talks about everything falling down before God, this track talks about lifting Jesus up. I love that it reminds us that we can lift Jesus up not just in our worship, but also in the way we live. Again, the lyrics are not complex in metaphor or length, rather, it is a declaration of simple phrases again and again.

6. You Hear Me
This track also leans into them acoustic vibes! I’m sure you’re starting to get the feel of how the lyrics of each song go: short and sweet (7 lines for this one!). The first line declares “Lord your ways are higher than my mind could ever reach” which is a major shout-out to Isaiah 55:8-9. However, the song goes on to say that even though this is the case, our God still wants to converse with us – yay for prayer! How crazy is it to know that we have an all-powerful God who still wants to listen to us and who hears us? It really makes me wonder “what is man that you are mindful of me?” – Psalms 8:4. It really is incredible that we have such a patient and loving God who hears us.

7. In the Family
This song is very much one of celebration and triumph. It’s first line “I have been redeemed” captures the essence of the song: we were once broken, slaves to sin and death, and basically a hot mess. Now, we are made alive in Christ and we have been adopted as God’s children into his family. I’m reminded of the verse Romans 8:15 which says “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

8. Keep My Fire Burning
Next, we have another acoustic song with simple lyrics that are repeated. I love this one for its simplicity and it feels very much like a prayer of self-reflection. It reminds us that we need God’s help to pursue him more every day until He returns. It draws from passages like Luke 10:27a “He answered, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind…” and Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”. Praying while keeping God’s own word in mind is so important and powerful!

9. Shepard of my Soul
The title of this track immediately draws us to remember Psalms 23 which is a passage about the Lord being our Shepard. The song works with this as its focal point, but it also draws attention to the fact that our God is also the author of ALL creation! He is “Lord of the mountains and sea”, the “God of the seasons and sky”. He “created the stars and the sun”. I love it goes on to list characteristics of God: He comforts, sustains, is unshaking, unmoving, unafraid… it keeps going! This song declares that He is our Shepard and so many other things. It really gives a good perspective of just how grand He is while so personal as our Shepard.

10. Light Will Dawn
This track changes perspective towards hope about the future and clinging to the promise for Christ to come again. It declares that our hope and strength come from God and that our hope is rooted in Him. I think this song is very fitting relative to all things going on in our world right now. It’s one of hope in spite of the darkness of our world. I love the line “Though darkness surrounds, The Lord will arise, and light will dawn across this land.” We know that full redemption will come eventually, and our hope is in Christ’s return.

11. Voice that Stills the Raging Sea
The album concludes with a song that begins with an interesting line: “Wake up, we’re only at the start of it.” I find this pretty ironic because this is at the very end of the album. That being said, I love that it acts as a send-off for us Christians. It acknowledges that our faith is a journey. As the title gives away, the song alludes to the story of Jesus calming the storm. Specifically, it is a nod to the account recorded in Mark 4:35-40 which records Jesus speaking “Peace” over the storm. The song has two lines which give this away: “so let your voice that stills the raging sea speak over me” and “Speak ‘peace’”. While we may get distracted by all the waves and wind that is life, we can pray for Jesus’ perfect peace and to trust is His promises. How beautiful is that?
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https://open.spotify.com/album/3jXUhc7v2rGvSJss6cxt6a?si=JykAWcKUQ5GT-Wcl3KSt4g

Tanya Lui

Tanya is our student president. She's passionate about the outdoors, loves coffee, and most of all loves Jesus. Check out her full bio here.