Longtime artist, author, and Bible teacher Shai Linne is back on the scene with new music. After an almost seven-year hiatus, his latest single Elder Statesman drops Friday, November 10, 2023, along with an accompanying music video. Shai’s next project comes at a unique juncture in his personal and professional life, as he and his family have recently moved from Philadelphia, PA to Portland, OR.
Elder Statesman, the lead single from Shai’s next album 'Lyrical Theology Part 3' is a collaboration between Lamp Mode Recordings and Humble Beast. When asked about... Read More Longtime artist, author, and Bible teacher Shai Linne is back on the scene with new music. After an almost seven-year hiatus, his latest single Elder Statesman drops Friday, November 10, 2023, along with an accompanying music video. Shai’s next project comes at a unique juncture in his personal and professional life, as he and his family have recently moved from Philadelphia, PA to Portland, OR.
Elder Statesman, the lead single from Shai’s next album 'Lyrical Theology Part 3' is a collaboration between Lamp Mode Recordings and Humble Beast. When asked about the move and the collaboration, Shai commented: “Me and my wife Blair are partnering with Humble Beast to release Christ-exalting, God-glorifying content. While I’m still releasing music through Lamp Mode, Humble Beast is getting behind us and empowering us to release Christ-exalting podcasts, conferences, books content across the board and we’re excited about it.”
Thomas Terry, President of Humble Beast, said the following: “Humble Beast is delighted to partner with Shai Linne in collaboration with Lamp Mode for Shai's upcoming album release. Both Shai & Blair Linne have been long-standing friends, and wonderful examples of creatives who use their talents to Glorify God, and help others flourish in the Christian Life. Sharing this vision, Humble Beast is thrilled to support the Linnes in bringing their creative work to our audience. In collaboration with Lamp Mode, a label known for their doctrinally sound music, I’m confident this partnership will deliver an album that seamlessly blends theological depth with artistic excellence, ultimately aiming to lift the listeners' gaze to the Creator of creativity.”
Shai’s last album, “Jesus Kids”, released in 2018, came shortly after his landmark album “Still Jesus” in 2017. In any normal seven-year span, a lot can change. But we’ve endured the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing political turmoil, which makes these seven years feel like decades. No one has been immune to the societal shifts brought on by these phenomena. When reflecting on life since he last released music, Shai noted:
“It’s been a difficult season in some ways . . . a lot of broken relationships. The political climate over the last seven years has created a lot of polarization. I haven’t seen that only on a large-scale, but also in my life personally. Hard lines have been drawn in the sand, and sadly, it’s been along political lines more than anything. But, the bottom line for me is: I’m still saved, by the grace of God. I still love Jesus, by the grace of God. And my aim is still the same: proclaim Christ-crucified, risen, and exalted. At the end of the day, that’s what you’re gonna get from me.”
That’s precisely what we get in Elder Statesman. A hard-hitting song that opens with an emphasis on our finitude, Shai mixes lament with the hope of the gospel. On the one hand, he grieves seeing close friends walk away from the faith, and bemoans how political polarization has created rife division in the church. At the same time, Shai points his listeners to the One who transcends all, in whom sinners alone can find hope and redemption:
“Sin’s the worst disease / and can’t be cured by surgeries. But Christ serves reprieves / when for the church He bleeds / Search to perceive what Jesus taking our curse achieved. Risen and exalted, the LORD is a warrior / ain’t nothin’ changed but the weather, Soli Deo Gloria.” (Elder Statesman)
Shai continued:“Elder Statesman is basically my reintroduction to those who may have wondered how I’ve been and what I’ve been up to the last few years. My aim with it is to clear the air and pave the way for LT3, which I believe will be a unique contribution to the national conversation in our present cultural moment.”
