Winnipeg worship artist Nathan Keys breathes fresh life into worship music with his latest single, "Give Us a Heart," released this Friday morning.
The song, co-written with acclaimed Nashville songwriter Ross King, marks a significant step in Keys' musical journey, blending heartfelt lyrics with a powerful message that calls the church to unite in collective worship.
Reflecting on the song's origins, Keys shared a surprising discovery: "The first verse, I wrote it in 2013," he says showing a note on his phone that he wrote down the words on August 8, 2013. "That was the first part of it, not thinking that over 10 years later I’ll be actually writing a song out of it."
"Give Us a Heart" is a contemplative and corporate prayer, distinct from many worship songs that emphasize individual relationships with God. "It’s not ‘I’ and God, it’s ‘we,’ so the verses are saying, ‘give us a heart, fill up our hearts,’" Keys explained. "When we’re singing this, we’re singing this as a collective."
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Working with Ross King, known for his collaborations with major Christian artists like Newsboys and We Are Messengers, was a formative experience for Keys. Despite initial nerves, he found King to be gracious and supportive.
"He’s so creative, and just the word that I have is just he’s so gracious to spend the time with me," Keys said. "It was just a really cool experience to be able to co-write with someone of his calibre."
The theme of unity and renewal in "Give Us a Heart" reflects Keys' desire to encourage the church to come together in worship. "It’s a renewal song. It’s asking for a renewal of our hearts so that our hearts will be pure and sincere before our Heavenly Father," he said.
For those eager to hear the new track, "Give Us a Heart" will be available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.
Keys hinted at more music on the horizon, despite the challenges of balancing his musical career with a growing family—he and his wife recently welcomed their second child. "I’m working on a couple of songs at the moment, in the process of finishing up a recording that should get released at the end of the year. And then, yeah, I’ve got two or three more songs that I want to get done for next year," Keys shared.
As Keys continues to create and collaborate, fans can look forward to more heartfelt worship music that reflects his journey and deepening faith. "We’re all different parts of the body. We all have something to give to it, so it’s just trusting that God has you here for a purpose, for a plan, and you just need to faithfully live that out," he said.