This project began with a desire to create acoustic songs inspired by hymns from the 19th and 20th centuries. Many of the songs were composed by Dwight Armstrong, and others by Joachim Neander, William H. Havergal, Thomas O. Chisholm, and William M. Runyan. Old classics in the Public Domain.

From childhood, I grew up singing these songs in church services and the melodies became deeply ingrained, inspiring a persistent desire to eventually re-create them in a contemporary style.

The words and melodies touch the heart and I am transformed whenever I hear them. They evoke not only a sense of emotion and nostalgia, but also reinforce God’s plan and purpose.

This is primarily a passion project for my own listening pleasure, but I hope others with the same affinity for these beautiful compositions derive joy and inspiration from them.

The production:

I’m a self-taught music producer, and even though I have two guitars and midi keyboards, I cannot sing or perform well enough for adequate live performance so it was necessary to use digital instruments. I primarily used Native Instruments ‘Session Guitarist’ series of plug-ins for Logic Pro X, and similar plug-ins for cello and violin. Most of the production was completed in my home studio in Los Angeles, but some vocals were recorded at 1Shot Studio in Woodinville, Washington.

This project represents many hundreds (if not thousands) of hours of effort. That said, it is a non-profit venture, intended entirely for the enjoyment and spiritual inspiration of church members and gospel music listeners everywhere, and all profits are donated to various Church of God groups.

The name:

The name Spirit Tide was chosen for symbolic reasons. It suggests an ebb and flow or rise and fall in the human spirit, similar to moments of inspiration and rush of emotion. I believe that emotion, while not necessarily a priority in a spirit-led life, is nevertheless a powerful component that can fuel purpose. Like wind in our sails.

I hope you enjoy these songs. Feel free to drop an email and let me know what you think.

~Jason Busa

Jason at his home studio in Los Angeles.