The Christian music world received an Easter-week surprise as popular early 2000s band
Plus One announced their return on various social media outlets and an updated website--and, most importantly, with new music.
In a YouTube video published Monday, April 14, three of the five founding members announced their return, with a brand-new song serving as background music. Original members Jason Perry, Nathan Walters and Gabe Combs presented the following statement together:
"It's hard to believe a decade has passed, and though we've been away for a while, your support for Plus One has never faded. We've been encouraged and uplifted by your stories of how our music has impacted you, and this has further inspired us as we engaged in other pursuits. But something has been tugging at us, and there are more stories to tell. And it feels like the perfect time to come together to share those with you."
The band is offering a brand-new song, "My All," to people who sign up for their e-mail list at
PlusOneOfficial.com.
The Christian music world is already taking notice. Chart-topping pop artist Jamie-Grace tweeted her excitement:
Christian music's early millennium answer to secular acts such as N*SYNC and Backstreet Boys, Plus One
splashed onto the scene with their 2001 debut, The Promise. Boasting hits "Written On My Heart," "Last Flight Out" and "God Is In This Place," the album sold more than 500,000 copies and earned them RIAA certified Gold status.
The group, initially part of the "boy band" movement of that time, transitioned to a more mature sound with 2003's
Exodus, which featured original songwriting and a wider array of instruments.
After 2002's successful follow-up,
Obvious, Plus One said goodbye founding members Perry and Jeremy Mhire heading into the
Exodus album, and the group disbanded shortly thereafter in 2004. Former lead singer Nate Cole went on to form a number of indie rock bands, most recently Doom and Gloom with his wife, Lisa. Walters and Combs started a recording studio, Multitone Musik, together, but not before each of them tried their hand at other projects (Walters with a 2005 solo effort, and Combs with Cole in their former band,
Castledoor).
With the band launching a Twitter and Facebook page at the end of 2013, today's announcement follows a ten-year hiatus and months of fan speculation.
