Dream Label Group is making preparations for the Christmas season with the latest in their Dream Christmas series. 29:11 Worship, Futures, All Creatures and Joel Vaughn all contributed songs to Volume 7. The new EP is available now to pre-save ahead of its October 28 release. In this TCB Exclusive, Futures talk about their new holiday songs “This Christmas” & “JOY.”
What holiday message do you hope the listeners take from “This Christmas”?
Mark: We’ve all heard many times “Jesus is the reason for the season”, and to us, nothing is more important than this message. We set out to write a song that would declare that this Christmas, and everyone to come, all eyes be on Him. As we give our attention and honor to Jesus this Christmas, may hearts be filled with joy again, may homes be filled with peace again.
Joy is one of the focuses during the Advent season. How do you have a personal connection with “JOY” during the Christmas season?
Danae: Maybe it’s just me but I think as the year wears on, our souls can grow weary and true Joy can feel a million miles away, despite the cheery music and lighthearted festivities. Sometimes I need to shake off the dust from the year that has passed and remember the reason we celebrate in order to find that deep soul joy again. As we were writing JOY I read in Luke 2 that the birth of Jesus brings ‘good news of great joy for all people’, and I think that promise is just as relevant today as it was over 2000 years ago. When I lift up my voice and focus on Jesus, Joy is never far away!
What is one of your favorite holiday traditions with family and friends?
Danae: I absolutely love getting in the kitchen and whipping up a good festive dessert – fruit mince pies are one of my specialties! So many amazing families over here in the USA have opened up their homes to this wandering aussie over the last few years and I figure the least I can do is bring a few homemade treats to share.
What are your biggest hopes personally and professionally as we prepare for 2023?
Mark: Professionally, we are praying for the upcoming Live recording which will take place simultaneously in two continents. It will be a unique experience where the crowds and vocalists alike will be broadcast live into the rooms on the other side, creating a synchronicity and unity in worship across the globe never before achieved. Personally, it’s always the same for us; to do our very best to follow the purposes of God. It’s really as simple as that (simple, but hard to do). We subscribe to the idea that Kingdom ambition > Selfish ambition.
