The three things I’ve learned without a record deal

The price of freedom

The day I signed the contract releasing me from my record label, October of 2025, it is hard to translate the emotion. In the snap of a finger, or the press of a button on Docu-sign, I physically felt a thousand pounds fall off of me. Weight I was unaware existed. Since the moment I began “real life” at 18, and began working, I had never once held control of my dream. Yet in a moment, I went from backseat of the car to driving it.

Full freedom.

In the months that followed that beautiful day, I began waking up at 4:30 with full energy in the morning most days. The excitement of life now that it was mine again was invigorating. The biggest fear for most artists, “not having a record deal”, was the gift I was most grateful for!

It has been almost ten months now; 9 since my first independent release, Ain’t Got Enough Faith, in November. We have so far, put out 7 songs (alongside a 10 song acoustic record), and even now, I still feel the same fire I felt the first day I was free.

Here are the top three things I’ve learned over the last 10 months.

1. A life of faith is the path of peace

   Romans 1:17 has become my life verse recently.

   “The righteousness of God is revealed by faith for faith”

   The goodness, realness, glory, faithfulness, and righteousness of God is revealed to others by living our own lives by radical faith. I take this verse to be that I am called to continually place my life in situations, by obedience to the Lord, where only He might receive the glory for any success I might gain. With every turn of my life, let it be known that all that comes will not be by my own talent, gifts, strategy, or effort, but by the faith and breath of God alone. In living this way, and taking my hope out of my own trying or the advice of others, I have been blown away at the peace it has brought. Knowing without a doubt I am exactly where He wants me now, I can be convinced that any gain or loss that comes, will be by His will alone.

2. The power of ownership

   It has been so cool to see y’all’s support over this last year. I truly have never felt closer or tighter with yall than I do now, and it is all because I truly feel like yall are with me on the journey. I’ve said it 100 times, and I’ll be saying it 100 more. The way y’all have supported, and shared, and loved the music has been such a game changer. With zero dollars invested in marketing, we have been able to have these songs grow with each release, and to stream just as well as we did with a record deal! That just goes to show the power of true believers. It means more than you know. The true ownership I feel over these songs has changed everything about the pride I get in releasing and promoting the music. There is no price to feeling this full investment: personally, with my team, and with the support of you guys.

3. The price of freedom

   The cost for freedom will always be worth it. There is a parable Jesus speaks from Matthew 13 that has been firing me up recently,

   “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.“

   The reality of all things in life that are truly worth doing come at a cost. There is a direct correlation of the risk, sacrifice, and gamble of something to the reward in which you will receive in return. Often times in life, we get so caught up in the cost of the sacrifice and we never allow ourselves even the chance at the reward of the return. This man from the parable sold all he had to receive something worth so much more. He did this knowing there was gold to be found on the land, however it probably was still a challenge for him to let go of every single thing he owned. Sometimes in life there are moments God calls you to step out of the boat in blind faith, and give up everything that is safe for He is calling you to so much more. It certainly comes at a cost, but the “return on investment” is beyond anything we could ever imagine before. Just 10 months in, I can already see the truth in this.

Thanks for being by our side. Love Y’all

-Conner