Now is the time to lay out the red carpet and bring out the best in fine china for the arrival of the unquestionable genius of Russ Harris, an amazing visionary from the United States who performs using the Christian artist alias of Fishburn. Hailing from Chicago, Fishburn is not just a producer and songwriter, but a creative powerhouse; a visionary artist who blends soulful and powerful Christian elements with the high-powered energy of dance and pop music. With the release of his new single called “Take It Away” on July 3rd, Fishburn has shown that his creativity has no end, and has created an amazing soundscape that is nothing but divine.

The track starts with a short but breathtaking melody, which is intertwined with soft mouth percussion, establishing an apparently serene mood. However, do not lower your guard; from the very moment that the vocal performance begins to feature in the track, the real essence of the song kicks in. This is a fascinating and emotionally charged moment that grabs the listener by the throat, pulling him right into the depths of spiritual sincerity and contemplation.

“Take It Away” goes beyond the constraints of contemporary Christian pop music in that it focuses on the harsh realities of human experience such as heartbreak and pain. Fishburn creates a story of someone who is not afraid of the oppressive feeling of loneliness and of life’s deep valleys. However, the song’s protagonist is left standing after the storm, struggling within himself in his inability to cope with the heavy burden of his life’s trials. Instead of succumbing to this hopelessness, Fishburn turns the lyrical composition into a genuine offering of one’s soul. Not only does the song express longing for deliverance from this pain, but it becomes a voluntary giving up of control to Jesus Christ since humanity’s strength is exhausted. What makes the emotions expressed by this piece of music more profound is the extent to which Fishburn illustrates the consequences of the surrender experienced. Not only does the protagonist ask for her suffering to be stripped away from her; she goes further in describing the holy transaction in which she receives something better from Jesus in return, exchanging fear for inexplicable peace, loneliness for divine company, and mental strain for healing grace. In telling this story so intimately, the song communicates an eternal theology that speaks to the soul: in moments of personal struggle when one’s faith seems weak, broken, and completely inadequate for the journey to come, God’s unwavering love and mercy do not fail.

In collaboration with an eclectic group of guest vocalists, Fishburn pushes the limits of the genre, creating soulful original songs that blend the dance floor rhythms of contemporary pop music with inspiring stories of a spiritual nature. From his base in Chicago, this innovative producer and songwriter continues to be one who never stops stretching his boundaries to create music that bridges various genres and that aims not only to entertain but to uplift the spirits of listeners.

No matter whether we follow the path of religious devotion or view life from an altogether different point of view, one thing remains common for us all: an innermost longing for a person who can lend us a hand and help us carry the burden that is so heavy on us, or if possible, take that load away from us. This very vulnerability forms the heart of this particular song. Following years of much-deserved recognition in the form of accolades in the Billboard Dance Charts for his fantastic electronic music production and remixed tracks way back in the 2000s, Russ Harris made one huge creative shift in 2020, directing his vast creative talent into producing music that revolves around worship and the powerful message of Jesus Christ. Being immersed in this beautiful piece of music has put me in this incredible state of warmth and comfort, constantly reminding me of an important truth that we sometimes tend to forget, which is that we need not shoulder the burden of the whole world on our own. Fishburn has certainly touched my soul through this music, and I can hardly wait to see what else he comes up with next.

Stream “Take It Away” on Spotify

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