Colton Beden (provided photo)
Christian artist Colton Beden, Lubbock local and father of four, has dreamed of a career in music for years with things finally coming to fruition when he released his debut single at the start of the pandemic in 2020.
Growing up in a church-going family, Beden was around big choirs and eventually joined the band at his school. By the end of his schooling, Beden said he had learned nearly every instrument that was available to him.
“I’d always sing, you know, with my sister, like all the time growing up,” Beden said.
While attending Texas Tech, Beden became involved with the Lubbock International House of Prayer, a local chapter of the worship group based out of Kansas City.
Becoming involved with the International House of Prayer, Beden met Doug Stone, the assistant director of operations.
Stone said, when they first met, Stone was leading a worship team at the time and during a one-on-one with Beden he discovered Beden’s talent.
“I was honestly blown away by him,” Stone said. “His voice is just amazing.”
Beden started to preform as part of Stone’s worship band helping him lead the team.
In his junior year of college, Beden was doing social work when he lost all of his grants. He chose to avoid student loans and began the next phase of his life. His departure led to him working full-time at the House of Prayer, he said.
“I got to do what I always wanted to do,” Beden said.
The Beden Family (provided photo)
From that point on, Beden said he was making his living off fundraising and the support of his community. During this time, he and his wife Hannah Beden got married and started their family.
Hannah said after this period of their lives together, they moved to Fort Worth where Colton stopped leading worship and worked at a coffee shop to support himself and Hannah.
Colton said he would jot down song lyrics that came to him while he was on shift; however, Colton largely had to put his journey into music on hold.
After living in Fort Worth for about a year and a half, and having two children, Colton said they moved back to Lubbock and got connected with Church on the Rock.
For about a year, Colton said he had been told by many people he should consider a career in music.
“There was still a lot of pain associated with all that,” Colton said
Growing up with a love for music and getting to lead worship for a time, Colton said having to put music on hold was difficult to put aside and get back into it.
“I got literally the same word given to me on a weekly basis from different people,” Colton said.
One day, Colton said when he was working at a restaurant in Lubbock, two strangers came up to him and encouraged him to follow his passion. After that, he was given the push he needed to pursue music.
“I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do,” Colton said, “but I knew that songwriting and stuff was a big part of it.”
Colton said he contacted the only music producer he knew, Gabriel Wilson. Colton said he is one of the most well-known music producers in the worship genre.
Colton said he was still unsure if this was the right path; however, he was sure if Wilson got back to him, he was doing the right thing. The only way he had to contact Wilson was through Instagram.
“In an hour he had sent me his phone number and was like, ‘call me,’” Colton said.
From there, Colton said his path was clear, he would pursue recording and releasing his own music.
On the first trip to Wilson’s music studio, Colton was able to record his first song titled “All You See Is Love” that was released in April of 2020.
Colton’s cover for his single “All You See Is Love” (provided photo)
Colton said it was tough after that because Wilson’s studio ran into trouble from construction to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Hannah said this was a frustrating and difficult process to get through for their family, now with four young children.
After multiple attempts to revisit Wilson’s studio, Colton was able to fly back to Vancouver, Washington, and complete his project.
Colton said he is currently waiting for Wilson and team to process his recordings and have his finished product.
“You know–I think my biggest hope is that the direction that I’m heading is to a place where the things that I’ve experienced can be communicated and become available to anybody that needs it,” Colton said.
Click here to listen to Colton Beden’s “All You See Is Love” on Spotify.
About barrettbergez
Great music Colton, keep it up!