Please join me this Friday (2/5/21) at Noon (Utah time) as Neon Trees front man Tyler Glenn and award-winning pianist and composer Paul Cardall return to Mormon Stories Podcast to premiere a new music video: “I Know It Hurts”, from Paul Cardall’s memoir-style album “The Broken Miracle.” We would welcome your questions for Tyler and Paul during this live Q&A.
“I Know It Hurts” was co-written by Cardall and Glenn after they met several years ago at the famed LOVELOUD Festival, where they were both performing. Glenn is co-founder of the festival, alongside Imagine Dragon’s Dan Reynolds.
“Before writing this song, Tyler and I discussed at length the challenges we all feel that result from trauma,” Cardall explains. “In my case, though my heart transplant was a beautifully orchestrated miracle, it was still the grand finale to a lot of years of medical trauma. It triggered anxiety and depression. For everyone who is suffering, not necessarily physically, but because they are different or feel like an outsider, I want to say to them, ‘I know it hurts.’ This song acknowledges that you are not alone. This song validates our feelings in a way that says, ‘keep going, keep fighting, we understand.’”
Glenn adds,
“I wanted the lyric and performance of this song to convey a sense of understanding how it feels to get through a trauma or heartache. So much of life for many is the search for a sense of belonging, a sense of self-worth. This song feels more like an acknowledgement of that, and I hope it brings a feeling of being seen and comforted. I hope those in pain from whatever it may be, feel a sense of validation.”
The video, directed by Rob Norbutt, is in stark black and white, the simplicity of which amplifies the power of the message:
You’ve been floating out in space
You just wanted to believe
There were tears upon your face
And your body felt no ease
Dear God is there not more
Cuz it’s cold on the church floor
Cardall’s new album is more than a colorful collection of 19 emotionally-charged songs. The Broken Miracle is a musical memoir, a personal manifesto that celebrates a life filled with nearly unfathomable tragedy and heady triumph. An enthusiastic collaborator, Cardall welcomes an all-star cast of creative partners on The Broken Miracle. The title track was penned with Christian music veteran Matt Hammitt and Carter Forge, and is sung by Hammitt. “Broken Machine” features singer/songwriter Rachael Yamagata’s vocals on the tune Cardall co-wrote with Yamagata and Trevor Price. In addition to Glenn, the project also includes appearances by Ty Herndon, J. Daniel, and Akelee; while pop star David Archuleta sings the power-ballad “My Heart Beats for You.” His collaboration with Thompson Square on “All I See is Snow” was declared “ the Christmas song of the pandemic.”
Cardall’s evolution as an artist continues with the release of The Broken Miracle, a title inspired by his true-to-life story of being born with a congenital heart defect, which nearly took his life numerous times. Cardall received a heart transplant 10 years ago and continues to thrive as a father, husband, and artist. The Broken Miracle will also be released as a biographical fiction novel written by J.D. Netto. The book will be released February 2.
About Paul Cardall:
Paul Cardall is a Dove Award-winning pianist, recording artist, and producer at Anthem Entertainment Group. In 1999, Cardall founded Stone Angel Music, which became the headquarters for his budding empire. Out of his 23 albums released, Cardall has had 11 #1 albums on the Billboard charts, four of which debuted in the top spot, and 21 Top 10 albums, on a variety of charts from New Age to classical. He has legions of fans around the globe, and has amassed 3+ billion streams. In 2018, Cardall’s holiday album, Christmas, was awarded the Gospel Music Association’s prestigious Dove Award for Instrumental Album of the Year. Cardall lives in Nashville, TN.
About Tyler Glenn:
Tyler Glenn is a songwriter, singer, and keyboardist who was introduced to the pop, rock, alternative, and dance charts as frontman for multi-platinum act Neon Trees. In early 2009, Neon Trees was signed to Mercury/Island Def Jam Records; The group’s debut, Habits, arrived in early 2010, and the single “Animal” became a Billboard Alternative Songs chart #1. 2012 saw the release of their sophomore album, Picture Show. In March 2014, Glenn revealed in a Rolling Stone feature, that he was gay. In April 2016, Glenn released his first song as a solo artist. The brusk electro-pop single “Trash,” and its accompanying music video, drew controversy for criticizing the conservative values of the singer’s former faith, Mormonism. Titled Excommunication, his full-length debut project was released on Island Records that fall. In the summer of 2018, Glenn was awarded the starring role in the hit Broadway show Kinky Boots. As a proud gay man, Glenn is a strong advocate and voice for the LGBTQ+ community and currently lends his voice to the theme song for new Hulu series Love, Victor.
