WHEN I STARTED WORKING ON IGNITION, I WAS TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING ON MY OWN: RELATIONSHIPS, WORK, CREATIVITY, FITNESS, AND PURPOSE. EACH TIME I TRIED TO IGNITE MY OWN FLAME, IT EVENTUALLY BURNT OUT. THIS WASN’T BECAUSE THE EFFORT WASN’T REAL, BUT BECAUSE THE FUEL WAS WRONG AND THE ENGINE WAS WEAK.

SOMETHING I LEARNED DURING THE MAKING OF THIS ALBUM IS THAT A FLAME LIT BY MAN WILL ALWAYS BURN OUT OR LEAD TO DARKNESS. WHEN I WAS FUELLED BY MY OWN SELFISH MOTIVATIONS, PHILOSOPHIES, AND WAYS, THE FIRE I CREATED COULD ONLY STAY LIT FOR SO LONG, AND IT NEVER FELT LIKE ENOUGH.

A FIRE WITH GOD AS ITS SOURCE IS ROOTED IN FAITH, CONVICTION, THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND THE FIRM FOUNDATION THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. ONCE I ACCEPTED THAT TRUTH, THE WAY STARTED TO REVEAL ITSELF, AND MY PURPOSE BEGAN TO BECOME CLEAR AGAIN. OCCASIONALLY, I WOULD VEER OFF THE ROAD, BUT I KEPT GETTING BACK ON IT.

ULTIMATELY, I LEARNED THAT YOU CAN’T TAKE OUT A FLAME THAT GOD MADE. IGNITION MARKS THE MOMENT I STOPPED FORCING MY WILL AND BEGAN SURRENDERING TO GOD’S. I HOPE I HAVE CREATED SOMETHING REAL, BUILT WITH THE PROPER ENGINE, THAT CAN HELP OTHERS FIND THEIR WAY AS WELL.

– NICHOLAS PETRUNGARO