After a string of hit songs from their first four albums including "You Decide," "Unbreakable," "For Those Who Wait" and "Stay Close," Fireflight releases INNOVA, their first new album in over three years. INNOVA is the result of a successful fan funding campaign and is releasing independently through The Fuel Music.

The long-awaited album was forged in a challenging season for the group, informed by struggles that only made the final project stronger. The result is something of a rebirth for the band, 15 years into their career. Fans have already had a taste of INNOVA with "Resuscitate," "We Are Alive" and "Safety." There is a lot of infectious energy in these great new songs as they celebrate their new life as a band and the truth that they are alive in Christ. I had the chance to speak with Dawn Michele about "We Are Alive."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

"We Are Alive" is a different musical direction for us, and it's even a little bit dance-y. We had a little bit of an electronic sound on our last album, but we didn't go as far as we wanted to. With this song, it is a fulfillment of our musical expression in a different kind of way. 

To me, it's about finding God everywhere. The song talks about community, being together, and I think that's one of the most powerful forces in the body of Christ and also one of the least utilized and most attacked by the Enemy. This song is about embracing the power of God's Holy Spirit working in us when we work as a community together. We go out and play shows and experience community like no other because we are in a building with like-minded individuals who are there to worship God through music, who are passionate about music. It doesn't have to be hymns or the ABC's of worship music, but it's about finding God in everything. 

This song is really about that joy that we can have despite our circumstances, realizing that God's power is an electricity that moves throughout His Creation. He is the Supreme Creator of all things. That power from His Holy Spirit and that love, despite all of the hard times we have to face on earth, ultimately there is so much joy there in the beautiful things that we can only experience in this short time that we have on earth. When we get to heaven it will be absolutely perfect, but there are some things like marriage, parenthood, loving people, having mercy, forgiving people and feeling unconditional love which are gifts from God. 

This is our opportunity. We are alive, and this is our chance to take this life and make it all it should be. Love others who are hurting, because there won't be any hurting in heaven. This song tries to express that there's a power in this lifetime that we're given, and we can have joy and love and celebrate that. In celebrating life, we are ultimately worshipping God in beauty and truth and recognizing Him for everything that's around us-- not just the specific things we list in our prayers.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Colossians 3:1 (NIV): Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Romans 6:4-5 (NIV): "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His."
 
Ephesians 2:6 (NIV): "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus."

Daniel 12:3 (NIV): "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever."
 
Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV): "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing."

What is the takeaway message of the song and album?

Life is precious. Every moment is another chance to thank God for the power and beauty that He surrounds us with and to celebrate the miracle of His grace that has set us free. I feel like God has moved in us in a whole new way with this album, and He has really opened my eyes. 

I think that in a lot of ways we put God in a box and restrict Him to our own understanding of Him. More recently, I feel like God has opened my eyes to how He is in every aspect of my life. Every good thing comes from God. We live and breathe and have our being in God and His power. It's really been helping me to see the world around me and how everywhere I look, I see God. I see Him in all circumstances, good and bad. In the hard times and the heartbreak. We can find God showing up in each of those places, and even in places we wouldn't normally look for Him. 

We think we need to go to church to look for God, but you can find Him in the shopping mall. You can turn on mainstream radio and listen to the songs and find God in them. Anything that is good and pure and has amazing power all comes from the Creator of our universe. This album has been an expression of finding God even in unexpected places, and it's maybe a little less elementary in how we talk about Him and more experientially encouraging people to find Him in those unexpected places as well.

Lyrics:
Standing here under heavens light
I do believe
I take hold of this precious time
Given to me

Catch the moment and take it in
This is the dream
You and I we were born for this
Here now we're free

We're feeling good tonight
Can't keep it all inside
We are alive
We're shining like the stars
Just being who we are
We are alive

Share the love, give all that you can
Your heart is full
Let it rain like a waterfall
Unstoppable

Nothing can stop us now
Nothing can slow us down
We're feeling so alive

"We Are Alive" is a great upbeat song, with Dawn proclaiming "We're feeling good tonight, Can't keep it all inside, we are alive, we're shining like the stars, just being who we are, we are alive." This is a great message and song for us to celebrate our freedom based on our faith in Christ Jesus. 

It is also commanded by Jesus in Matthew 5:16 to "let your light shine" so that others may praise God based on seeing the power of His life in us. Sometimes we forget to give Jesus credit for our freedom and accomplishments. We need to celebrate that freedom with our hands reaching out to others in Christ, showing His light in us and letting Him shine in us.

Over the years, I've struggled with perfectionism and people pleasing. This song really opens up my eyes to the truth that those feelings are actually selfish and not God-honoring. Living in true community and service to others is what matters the most, as expressed in the lyrics, "Share the love, give all that you can, your heart is full, let it rain like a waterfall, Unstoppable."

The song has a very catchy and worshipful electronic dance-pop musical style with a holy energy and vitality pulsing through every word. "We Are Alive" is an amazing reminder of how we are called to be a light for Jesus, every day, "without complaining or arguing." Amen to that!

(Watch the music video here.)