through us ! It was almost too simple for us . But Matt ended up playing the song for his music director when we were going to record the live record , and his music director said , “ Matt , you have to record this song .” And I ’ m glad we did .
[ WM ] Your songwriting work has expanded into film during the past several years , and your collaboration used in the film , Fatima , and sung by Andrea Bocelli , is magnificent . What can you tell us about the song , “ Gloria the Gift of Life ”?
[ Jonas ] I have always had such a heart for writing songs that can reach culture and speak into people ’ s real lives . “ Gloria the Gift of Life ” has become one of those songs . I wrote it with my friend Ed Cash in Nashville , and we had finished a worship writing camp and on Friday we had a session booked just he and I . Ed said , “ Jonas what should we write today ?” And I said , “ I think we should write a worship song that can bring the hope of God into the world .” He said , “ Who could sing that ?” I said , “ Well what about Andrea Bocelli ?” And he laughed and said , “ How on earth are we going to get a song to him ?” I said , “ With God anything ’ s possible ! I know he ’ s going to make an album so let ’ s just write it and see what happens .” And I literally in that moment said , “ What if we write a song that is talking about the glory of God , and we use the word Gloria . A song about thankfulness and thanking Him for all of the gifts that He gives to us ; the air we breathe , the tears we cry , or the morning sun .” And Ed looks at me and he said , “ What are you singing ?” And I was literally singing the chorus of “ Gloria ”, it just came out of me and I had to run to the piano because I couldn ’ t figure out the chords I was hearing in my head because the chords are quite unconventional as far as the structure goes , it starts on a 2 minor . We finished the song that day and we loved it . We created a little choir around it on the hallelujah section that later was replaced with the Pisa Man ’ s Choir from Italy .
[ WM ] Likewise , your song written for the animated feature , The Three Wise Men , is just wonderful . Tell us about “ Just a Breath Away
( Noel )”. Do you feel confident when you write a new song , and unafraid in sharing that new music with others ?
[ Jonas ] It is definitely scary sometimes to play a new song idea . To me my songs often come from a very real , authentic place , and sometimes they come from my private worship
Just a Breath Away ( Noel )