“Seasons”
By Chris McQuistion, Jonathan Jackson & Leslie McKee
Interview by American Songwriter
Chris McQuistion, Jonathan Jackson & Leslie McKee are the American Songwriter Songsgiving Song Contest Promotion winners for their song “Seasons.” American Songwriter caught up with them to get the story behind their song.
How long have you been songwriting?
Chris McQuistion: I have been writing and releasing music for a little over 5 years now.
Leslie McKee: My early songwriting days started around 13 years ago when I started recording and releasing music. At that time, I was mostly giving concepts, hooks, and a few lines here and there, and my producer at the time ran with those things and penned the songs. I contributed much more to the writing on songs on my album that followed in 2017. In 2018, I felt led to join Krissy Nordhoff’s Writing Worship Mentorship. This was a significant turning point for me in my life as a songwriter. I’ve found a love for co-writing and am writing on a regular basis with other amazing songwriters.
Jonathan Jackson: I’ve been writing music for 15 years, the last 6 as a writer/producer in the Nashville, TN area.
Why did you enter American Songwriter’s Songsgiving Promotion?
CM: I entered “Seasons”, because I thought it really spoke to the vision of what Songsgiving is about. I really thought that it turned the listener to the thankfulness of the Lord’s many blessings in any season of life, as well as representing gratitude, and a spirit of giving back. It takes the listener to a nostalgic place surrounding Thanksgiving and the holiday seasons in general. Overall it felt like the song spoke of a journey that no matter what comes in life, the Lord has already provided blessings upon blessings and has brought the greatest gift of them all. Lastly, I entered “Seasons”, because I thought it really represented the CCM genre well, which may be unique for this platform.
LM: It was a pleasant surprise to find out that Chris had submitted our song and that it won! I love what Chris has shared in his response and stand with him in his reasoning.
JJ: Chris entered it and it won, amazing!
What was the inspiration behind your song, “Seasons”?
CM: Honestly, Jonathan, Leslie and I all came together about a year ago in the month of November feeling inspired to write a song for Thanksgiving specifically. We felt that there were not many songs that literally fell into the holiday very well. So we got to work and within a few hours crafted this lyrically driven song you hear today. I have talked with many others and they all feel that this is one of the richest and deepest, lyrically written songs that I have in my catalog now. I would agree with that statement. From verses to chorus it is just such a well rounded tune and inspires me and my journey every time I listen to it or lead it in a live setting.
LM: As with most writing sessions, we tossed some different ideas around to write about. I remember suggesting that I’d love to have a thanksgiving song, and the idea seemed to resonate with Jonathan and Chris, especially given the fall season and the Thanksgiving holiday coming up. For me personally, it had been a difficult year with some health challenges, and I had so much to be grateful for with how I experienced God’s presence and faithfulness in my life. I had also been spending a good bit of time reading the psalms in scripture, which were also an inspiration for wanting to write with thanksgiving in mind. I love where it landed and feel it is a song that can resonate with anyone regardless of their circumstances.
JJ: I remember thinking about specific things that I was grateful for, blessings that I didn’t deserve, grace that I’d received, the beauty of creation, I think we all felt grateful and the lyrics came from there.
Who are your all-time favorite songwriters and why?
CM: I would say my top three favorite songwriters would be Chris Tomlin, Chris Cleveland (Stars Go Dim), and Brandon Lake. I would say that these guys all find ways to glorify the Lord through their music and bring hope to others. I think Tomlin is great at making it point to have a very vertical focus in his writing to the Lord, while inspiring churches across the world to join in that same song of heaven. For Cleveland, he inspires me in a different way, as he brings the joy of the gospel in a fun and poppy fashion, while composing things that literally go to new heights vocally and lyrically. For Lake, he finds ways to bring out the grittiness and the soul of worship, and inspires others to go on the journey of deliverance with him in his songs. All great writers and very different in their own way, following the CCM and Worship Genres of music.
LM: I’ve considered Steven Curtis Chapman my singer-songwriter hero for some time now. He is an amazing storyteller whose songs are an emotional experience. I’ve also admired how he has remained relevant in the CCM music industry through decades of changing styles. Matthew West is another singer-songwriter who is incredible at storytelling in his songs. There are so many worship writers that I admire and who inspire that it’s hard to narrow it down, but Brooke Ligertwood, Mia Fieldes, Meredith Andrews each have written songs that have impacted my life in the worship setting or in my personal life during different seasons I’ve walked through.
JJ: John Mayer, James Taylor, Julia Michaels, David Crowder are some significant influences of mine.
Are you planning to release any new music this year?
CM: I do have plans to release a couple more songs this year as well as fine tune my catalog into my first album. I’m super excited to see that project through!
LM: Yes! I have a couple new songs in production that will be ready for release this winter and spring, and I’m trusting God for provision to be able to get a few more out later in the year as well.
JJ: Yes, hopefully 3-4 songs this year, stay tuned!
What would you tell other artists who are considering entering the contest?
CM: Keep writing and keep writing with other writers who are better than you. Keep building those relationships and finding those that you click with in a cowrite as well. Don’t be afraid to try new ideas and new lyrics to keep things fresh. When an idea is sparked, write it down or take a voice memo of it so you remember that idea and can come back to it later.
Also being in more of the CCM and worship genre of music, I try to see if the song is truly reflecting my faith and giving the Lord the glory. If it lines up with scriptural truths and gives him praise you can’t go wrong with that. Overall Keep Going. You never know when your next song may land differently with the listener.
LM: Go for it! I’m a big believer of stewarding our songs well, and this is one way to do that!
JJ: Enter it! American Songwriter is awesome!
Check out the winning song below:
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