Former Young & Free member Aodhán King steps out on his own with lead solo single “Thank You So Much Jesus.” Still, he does it with a little help from his friends — more specifically, his friend, Paul Klein, who serves as the lead vocalist for alternative-pop outfit LANY. King’s worshipful pop duet with Klein is simultaneously anthemic enough to be led on a Sunday morning and hooky enough to ascend the charts at Christian pop radio.
“This song was the first song that I wrote when I started writing my solo record,” King shares of the selection he penned with Klein and Ben Tan. “[Paul and I] had always talked about writing a worship song, and it felt right that the first one we would write together would be one of thankfulness. It’s really just a simple song to say ‘thank you’ to Jesus for all He’s done in our lives.”
“Thank You So Much Jesus” is rooted in the familiar refrain of Psalm 100:4-5, which says, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.”
Last fall, the Australian-born singer dropped his debut solo project, “Beyond Us,” a 13-track set of originals all co-penned by King. In addition to the standout recording with Klein on gratitude-filled “Thank You So Much Jesus,” the album also features more surprising collaborators, including mainstream pop risers’ Griff and Jenna Raine, as well as Hannah Joy — from Sydney-based trio Middle Kids — and a notable appearance from award-winning Christian artist Lauren Daigle.
As a part of Young & Free, the self-taught guitarist helmed songs like “This Is Living,” “Sinking Deep” and “Highs & Lows,” among others. Now, King is poised to carve a path uniquely his own as he crafts music that blurs the lines between modern worship and vibey pop.
