GRAMMY-nominated and Dove-winning Peter Furler releases his first independent album since the leaving the Newsboys—On Fire—June 21 from Sparrow Records (EMI CMG Distribution).

Has going solo been a significant adjustment?

It kind of has. It’s something that I’d never thought of. Newsboys was something that was very dear to me, still is dear to me. It was like a tree I planted when I was a teenager, and obviously God made it grow. Over the years it’s been such a blessing, and when it came time—really because of the non-stop touring schedule—I just really felt, to be honest, I felt the Lord tell me it was time to let the ground rest, even though I wasn’t actually tired the last couple years I headed the band, which were the best years really. I thought we were at the top of the game and things were great, but at the same time, I was getting this sense to let the ground rest. I didn’t know what it meant because I wasn’t tired or burnt out, none of the things that usually happen, but I knew I had to follow the little checks I was getting. … I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I kind of liked that. I’d had 20-odd years of knowing exactly what was happening pretty much a year in advance, but then the music itch came back.

You bring a joy to your music, just as you did with Newsboys. Are you just naturally a happy kind of guy?

I’m not a life-of-the-party type person. When I’m out on stage, I definitely like to encourage people and stir up things, cause a stir. I enjoy that to a certain degree, but that’s not who I am usually around my home. I’m not a depressed person either, it’s not that. It’s something that we have to stir up within us. We have to kind of put on something and think and watch our thought life. These songs, at the same time, they are full of joy, because that is within me also, but it doesn’t come natural. … It comes from the Lord.

The first single was “Reach,” about God reaching for us. Have you sensed that greatly in your own life? 

To me, it’s become more evident that God is everywhere, which we know that from Scripture. … The greatest example of Him reaching out to us is through Jesus and Him coming to earth. That’s the greatest example, but also at the same time, we can sometimes feel like we’re forgotten as people and we’re just caught up in this big world. But God cares for us individually.

“All in Your Head” talks of getting a “kick of love.” Is it a motivational song? 

It is, and it’s really just a thing of not letting life pass you by. I think for my wife and I, in the last couple years I was with the band, probably even a few before that, we had another inkling, another stirring to simplify. … My wife and I bought an RV, so instead of riding in the tour bus and getting driven to shows, I drove myself and her and her little dog. We drove to every show, performed the concert, then I’d get in and drive again. It was just such a thrill. We’d stop at the KOA campgrounds and sleep at the Wal-Mart Supercenters, which was kind of strange. You’d play a show for 10,000 people in Minneapolis, and that night you’re sleeping in the Wal-Mart Supercenter. It was definitely an eye-opening experience. … We sold the house we had and bought a smaller one. We got rid of things, got rid of furniture. We’re kind of still in that process, in a way. It was a really great time for us to do that and to live the adventure—to step out and take some chances, and to not just settle. I think even in our life as Christians, to really get on mission trips and to step out a bit, or do something in your local community or local church. Any time someone’s depressed, my first advice is to say go on a missions trip—to get out there. That was the song, again stirring up folks to not settle.

What touring are you planning? 

I’m looking at doing quite a few shows around the release of the record in June. We’re working all that out. Then doing a full tour—probably about 25 cities—in the fall, then, hopefully, the possibility of being on Winter Jam.

Listen to the complete conversation at meettheartist.christianretailing.com.

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