On song with new musical venture
By Wendy Shaw
A Launceston parishioner has found a new creative outlet in song writing and music production.
The chairman of the Launceston Catholic Parish Finance Council, Jason Bresnehan, has written and produced 55 original songs since the start of the year.
Some 22 are what Jason terms “Catholic worship or Christian-adjacent works spanning a range of contemporary Christian music genres including soft rock, soulful and ethereal worship, Christian rock and an Irish folk song called ‘But for the Grace of God’.
“If there is one thing I have learned, it is that God can sometimes lead us in directions we never expected,” he said.
“I have always been a writer. Over the years I have written business plans, quality manuals, books, articles and reflections, but I had never written a song. Earlier this year I decided to see whether I could express ideas through music rather than prose.
“Once I wrote the first song, I realised song writing combined many things I already enjoyed: storytelling, creativity, faith, observation and connecting with people.”
Jason worked as an accountant before moving into corporate finance, venture capital and early-stage technology businesses as well as internet technology companies and large agricultural operations.
He has published three books, including A Catholic Gospel Journey Through the Lens of Alcohol Recovery, with two more works under way.
“When I look back, the common thread is not the industry but a willingness to learn new things, start again and explore ideas that interest me,” he said.
“Song writing is simply the latest chapter in that journey. While the medium is different, it still involves creativity, communication, storytelling and finding ways to connect with people.”
Faith is central to his songwriting.
“Some of my songs are contemporary Christian worship songs inspired directly by scripture, particularly the Psalms and Gospel passages,” he said.
“Others tell stories about everyday life, relationships, recovery, perseverance and personal growth. However, even when a song is not explicitly a worship song, my faith still shapes the way I see the world and the messages I am trying to communicate.
“I believe God gives each person unique gifts and calls us to use those gifts with purpose. That belief sits underneath almost every song I write. Themes such as hope, redemption, identity, forgiveness, courage and moving forward through life’s challenges appear repeatedly because they are also central themes of the Christian faith …
“Songwriting is another way of exploring and expressing the same themes that appear in my books, Gospel reflections and parish life.”
While this month (October) sees Jason travelling to the USA to pitch songs to TV and film companies, his goal is ‘not simply commercial success’.
“It is to continue creating music that connects with people, tells meaningful stories and encourages them to reflect on their own lives and journeys,” he said.
“If some of those songs find a wider audience along the way, that would be a wonderful outcome.”
The songs are available on streaming platforms including Spotify, YouTube Music and Apple Music. View the catalogue at Seventh Ribbon Music: https://seventhribbon.com/