Skip to main content

"Locked In" by JONATHYN: A Call to Total Surrender


(by Jasper Tan) Looking for a different kind of CCM song? Then Jonathyn's new single "Locked In" might be the one that you are looking for. In this side chain bass-tinged song, Jonathyn delivers a catchy, danceable track that offers a different worship experience. Jonathyn was experimenting with a song using a sidechain bass, grounded in an appealing melody, before the words were added. As someone who's struggling to be a good Christian, Jonathyn instead chose to focus on writing a song that encourages us to be someone who is totally sold and committed to Jesus, rather than just relying on being a good Christian. This theme is drilled into us when he repeatedly sings the lines "Locked in, I'm locked in All in" that feels like we are put in a trance as the words bleed with the hypnotic beats of the sidechaining bass technique used in the song. 

JONATHYN - LOCKED INImagine being on the dance floor while singing to these lines "Locked in, I'm all in, I'm sold out for You again, God, You're showing, You're showing me the way, And I'm all in, All in." It's really taking our worship experience to another level. And if you are a fan of dance music, this song could pretty much compete with similar-sounding secular dance songs. Being a song about our faith is another positive, as we are reminded of our Christian faith while partying to the song. I'm not sure if everyone will ever be ready for these types of CEDM tracks, especially if you are on the traditionally conservative side of CCM. But these types of songs are what I believe would draw interest from the young generation of Christians that we are shepherding to be the next generation of torchbearers of our Christian faith. For the lovers of CEDM, this is a great way to be locked in, beall in, and sold out for Jesus in ways that will re-energize your Christian faith.

(Related scripture: Psalm 40:2; Matthew 22:37; Matthew 5:14; Ephesians 2:10)

Connect with JONATHYN

Would you like to hear more CEDM music? Then check out our Christian playlists on: https://www.christiandance.eu/playlists

PS: Did you know that the posts we have on Christian Music Today also contain the backstories that artists have shared with us? Check it out on: https://medium.com/christian-music-today/

Popular posts

"Jesus Is His Name" by Aaron Goodhew: The Name That Changes Everything

“Jesus Is His Name” by Aaron Goodhew is a song written as a Christ-centred declaration of who God is and what He has done. The song begins by asking, “Who designed creation and called it into being?” and quickly answers by pointing our eyes “high above the heavens” and leading us to the very place “where he rests his feet.” In other words, this is worship from creation to restoration. Each verse walks through different parts of Christ’s work: parting waters, calming storms, healing lepers, restoring outcasts, setting captives free. The chorus invites the church to confess together: "He is the Lord God // Lifted up // Mighty to be praised // Sovereign King of kings // Name above all names." But most of all, He is the personal Savior “The one who paid our ransom // The one who saved a wretch like me.” The bridge crowns this declaration, calling Jesus “wonderful counsellor, mighty king and friend,” the Lion and the Lamb whose glory we cannot fully comprehend. A declaration...

"Heaven Country" by Jensen & Company: Where Faith Meets Fiddles

Jensen & Company's 'Heaven Country' features Heidi Jensen North. It's a song that bursts with an infectious Texas swing energy, with steel guitars, fiddles, and washboard rhythms that pull you into the vibe. Beneath this melodic energy is a message with a promise: heaven isn't just a destination, it's a homeland where every tear is wiped away!  Can you imagine streets where lions walk with lambs, hunger vanishes, and divisions dissolve into unity? What a contrast compared with today's world! One of the lines that stands out: "There's no divide - there's just one side // The Son is shining every day."  What if we were to start living today as citizens of that eternal country? What's stopping us? The song challenges us: "All the love that you've acquired here - it's your money // Be sure to fill your account." It's a call to invest in what truly lasts. You've never seen its glory, never heard its songs - but...

'Lonely Dirt Road' by Dax: A Journey to Solitude and God

Dax's 'Lonely Dirt Road' is a conversation that Dax has with himself and God. Dax shares his journey of turning mental health walks into healing solitary drives. As you listen, you can almost feel the cruise, where it's just you, your thoughts, and God.  The chorus is so relatable: 'When I need space, that's where I go, a place to escape that nobody knows.' What do you do when life's pressures stack high? Do you also have a space where you can let go? That lonely dirt road that Dax sings about symbolizes solitude, but it is also an incredible opportunity for connecting with God.  Dax's honesty is raw and relatable. 'I didn't want my family to see me cry… dealing with the pressure of trying to provide.' There are times when we all put on a smile to hide how challenging situations may be. Like his father, Dax says that he finds peace on this lonely road, where challenges become opportunities to grow. This shows the core of our faith: that...