On Sunday, Oct. 4, Grammy award-winning Christian artist David Phelps brought his Speak of Love Tour to the Howard Performing Arts Center (HPAC), delivering an evening that was filled with powerful vocals, familiar classics and messages of hope. The concert featured a wide variety of musical styles from classical opera and covers, to hymns and contemporary Christian songs. Phelps opened up the evening with “Speak of Love,” the title track of his latest album, before moving to songs such as “You’re the Voice,” “End of the Beginning,” a cover of “Dust in the Wind” by the band Kansas, and a rendition of “Nessun dorma.”
The variety of his setlist reflects Phelps’ approach to music. Rather than limiting himself to one genre, he draws from genres that have influenced him throughout his life. “I consider myself a stylist,” Phelps said in an interview before Sunday’s concert, explaining how he fell in love with the “magic” of certain songs. Many of the pieces that he performs are songs that he grew up listening to and hearing with his family. For him, the common denominator is simple: “great songs, great musicians.”
The concert also highlighted Phelps’ ability to move between dramatic performances and quieter, more intimate moments. After a 15-minute intermission, he returned to the stage with several well-known hymns, including “If That Isn’t Love,” “I’ll Fly Away,” “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” and “All in All.”
For Phelps, music is more than simply entertainment. “Music is a tool,” he expressed, stating that the ultimate purpose of music is to deliver emotion and make someone feel. Whether that emotion is love, sadness or even victory, Phelps said that if he can make an audience member feel what he is trying to communicate, “I’ve done my job.”
Faith has also remained an important part of his music and his personal identity. Phelps said that he will always sing gospel music because it is “a part of who [he is].” He also believes that people need hope, especially during difficult times.
“I believe the world needs hope right now,” Phelps said. “If I can be a tool to bring that to somebody, I feel like I’ve done my job.”
That message was especially evident in the music from “Speak of Love.” Phelps wrote the album in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, a period where he saw a lot of negativity and division. Phelps believes that we need to choose kindness and remember that people can disagree while still recognizing our shared humanity. This message was carried throughout the concert, particularly as he performed songs like “What the World Needs Now Is Love” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
Although Phelps has won many awards and performed in some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including The Metropolitan Opera, the Sydney Opera House, The O2 in London and even the White House, he said that those accomplishments are not what matter the most to him anymore. “I’m not as focused on those accomplishments now as I am being able to stand on stage and look someone in the eye who bought a ticket to come hear me sing,” he said. For Phelps, the most important and meaningful part of performing is creating a moment that an audience member will remember.
That same mindset extends to his songwriting. Phelps said he writes constantly, rather than waiting around for a new album to begin. With approximately 50 songs to choose from when putting together an album, he considers the message of each song, how it fits with the rest of the album, and the balance of tempos and styles. At times, he will even write a new song specifically to fill in a gap in an album.
Even after decades of performing and writing music, Phelps said he still finds excitement in the creative process. “I’m a student, I want to keep being a student,” he said. “The process of learning is glorious.” That desire to continue learning has also influenced his songwriting. Phelps said he is more restrained in his writing than he once was, noting that life experiences have given him a deeper perspective to draw inspiration from. “Lyrically, I’ve lived more, so there is hopefully deeper things to say about any given topic because you’ve lived through it,” he said.
David Phelps finished off his concert with his most famous solo performance, “No More Night,” receiving a standing ovation before the song even finished. As the sound of applause filled the HPAC, Phelps’ goal for the evening came into focus. He wanted the audience to be entertained and enriched by good music, but he also wanted them to leave with something more. His hope was “to give hope and for them to know that Jesus loves them and that he has a plan for their lives.”
With soaring classical vocals, familiar hymns and heartfelt messages, Phelps’ performance offered the audience more than just a concert; it offered an evening that was centered on music, connection, faith and hope.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of 大象传媒 University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, 大象传媒 University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.