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JSP is offering powerful consolation to those struggling with past hurt with “It’s Not Your Fault,” a second single following closely behind “Taking It Back.” The mid-tempo ballad “It’s Not Your Fault” was co-written and produced by Josiah Prince (Disciple).
For Australian husband and wife duo James and Sarah Petterson, the song is more than just an offering to the world: it’s a gift to their past selves.
“This song was written in the context of writing a song to ourselves in the past (where we were still living in that place of hurt), and, if...
Read More JSP is offering powerful consolation to those struggling with past hurt with “It’s Not Your Fault,” a second single following closely behind “Taking It Back.” The mid-tempo ballad “It’s Not Your Fault” was co-written and produced by Josiah Prince (Disciple).
For Australian husband and wife duo James and Sarah Petterson, the song is more than just an offering to the world: it’s a gift to their past selves.
“This song was written in the context of writing a song to ourselves in the past (where we were still living in that place of hurt), and, if we were given the opportunity what would we say to ourselves then from the position we are in now,” James explains. “The song acknowledges the real pain and hurt from the events that occurred in an environment where it shouldn't have. The opening line is hard-hitting — “In a moment life takes a turn, in a place it should not have occurred” — and delves into the mindset of coming to terms with the trauma experienced in a Christian environment that should have been safe. It leaves you questioning all you were taught, wondering, ‘Is there something wrong with me?’”
“It’s Not Your Fault” is here to reassure you: there’s nothing wrong with you. No matter what has been done to you or what you have experienced at the hands of others, it’s not your fault.
The band takes it a step further by boldly proclaiming that even if the hurt happened at the hands of supposed Christians, it’s still not your fault. That narrative plays out in the accompanying music video, which will be released on JesusWired.
Although acknowledging the pain with great tenderness, JSP does not leave the listener (or their own stories) there.
James says, “In acknowledging the pain, there's a point of needing to move beyond it, noting that while trying to protect yourself from more pain and hurt, you in fact are only hurting yourself more. Instead of living life, you become a participant to it, carrying a burden that was never meant for you.”
“It’s Not Your Fault” is intended to be freeing, moving survivors through recognizing what’s happened to them, acknowledging that it wasn’t their fault, and then reaching towards a brighter future.
“There comes a place in the healing process where you begin to understand that what happened to you was not your fault. That the circumstances that led to it occurring were not because of you or something you did or didn’t do — and that you can heal and be free again,” James offers.
The mid-tempo ballad structure of the song perfectly builds this healing arc. To achieve that effect, the band worked with producer Josiah Prince (Disciple). The song was mixed by Matt Arcaini (Fireflight, Matt Moore) and mastered by Sam Moses (Disciple, Kutless). The result shows a softer, more heartfelt side of the band, who came out swinging several weeks ago with “Taking It Back.”
“It’s Not Your Fault” and “Taking It Back” are both tracks from the band’s upcoming debut album, which will be released in November. Despite being fresh on the scene as JSP, both James and Sarah have been making music for decades in their native Australia. To record the debut album for this new era, they traveled to the United States to record with Josiah Prince. Their music has quickly picked up steam, with “Taking It Back” landing squarely in the top 30 on ChristianRock.net almost immediately.
“It’s Not Your Fault” continues to serve as an invitation for more listeners to come to the table with their own stories of hurt and healing. They’re even launching a form for listeners to anonymously share their own testimonies, which the band may then share on social media as proof that so many listeners are on this journey together.
The band concludes, “When you live in the world of pain, you think you're the only one going through it and that nobody understands. The bridge of the song is one of the most powerful, acknowledging the pain and what it's like not to be believed, while showing that while you’re in that place, you are not alone. Having walked the same road, we can tell you that there's hope, and freedom can be restored.”
“I know the pain you feel
No one believes that it's real
I've walked that road
You're not alone
I know the shame
You’re not to blame
Spread your wings
Now it's time to fly.”
“It’s Not Your Fault” is available on all major streaming services now
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Australian husband and wife duo James and Sarah Petterson, known collectively as JSP, have exploded onto the Christian rock scene with their chain-breaking anthem “Taking It Back.” The song was co-written and produced by…
