With more than 20 albums to his name, Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter Eddy Mann has built a career on weaving faith, storytelling, and soul into a sound that transcends genre boundaries. Blending gospel, folk, R&B, and contemporary Christian influences, his music has long been a source of encouragement and reflection for listeners searching for hope. In this candid conversation, Mann reflects on the grounding role scripture plays in his daily life, the tender inspiration behind his uplifting single “Fly Fly Away”, and the ways his latest album Turn Up the Divine serves as both a time capsule of personal growth and a vessel for guiding others closer to God.
- Eddy, you’ve touched so many lives through your music over the years. When you look back at your journey, what keeps you grounded and inspired to keep creating faith-filled songs like those on “Turn Up the Divine”?
What works for me is being connected to scripture everyday. Creating the time to read and to study God’s word allows me to stay in touch with my ongoing sanctification process, and that inspires me to write what I’m experiencing.
- Your latest single, “Fly Fly Away,” is such a tender and uplifting track. What inspired this song, and what message were you hoping to send to listeners about freedom, faith, and finding peace?
It’s the voice of resignation; the acceptance of change; the releasing of the things that have served their time and purpose; and now must be lovingly left behind or free to move on.
- So many of your songs feel like stories from scripture, lived out in modern life. How do you approach writing lyrics that connect biblical truths to everyday emotions?
Somewhere along the journey I subscribed to the idea that each of us is living out our own parable. So in essence all I’m doing is sharing my story, the adventure of my life and how I get by each day by leaning in to hear His voice.
- You blend gospel, folk, R\&B, and contemporary Christian sounds so seamlessly. How does your background—and being from Philly—shape the way you express your faith musically?
I feel comfortable in most musical settings because I was brought up in a home where all kinds of music was played. That being the case I really just want to guide a song to where it naturally wants to go. So I’m not afraid of challenging the norm that seems to want to put us as creatives into nice little genre boxes.
- Songs like “The Humble Cottage by the Sea” paint such vivid images of faith in action. Can you tell us about a time in your life when you experienced a ‘humble cottage’ moment—a quiet miracle that changed everything?
Well I never expected to be called to be a worship leader, but a pastor I didn’t know, from a church I never attended, heard an album, and something in me that led to a meeting. The fifteen minute scheduled meeting turned into a three hour conversation in which we shared all things Jesus …and when it ended, I was a worship leader. It was truly a call to serve!
- You’ve released over 20 albums—what makes “Turn Up the Divine” feel especially personal or different from your previous work?
I write what I’m living through, so each project is kind of a time capsule in itself. It’s a reflection of what my life looks like at that time. The relationships, the blessings, and the challenging valleys.
- In this season of so much uncertainty in the world, how do you hope this album speaks to listeners who might be struggling with their faith, or feeling distant from God?
My prayer would be that it would lead the lost to a relationship with Jesus, that the struggling would find a deeper connection to Him, and that ultimately those chosen by God to receive a message though it, would do just that.
- What’s next for you, Eddy? Whether in music, ministry, or life—how do you see God leading you in this next chapter?
I’m amazed at what the Spirit continues to put forth in front of me. My aim is to fulfill my purpose, whatever God deems that to be. I’ve got a single I’m releasing as fall arrives concerning the violent course of our world. There’ll also be a couple of Christmas singles this year, and the New Year will mark the arrival of a new album entitled The Unveiling.” So as I said earlier, I’ll be busy indeed as I continue my writing my parable.
