“I’m ready, these hands are dedicated to change” – from Shaken by Hawk Nelson

Although Hawk Nelson creates a celebratory “party” atmosphere at their concerts, at their core, this band’s mission and purpose is to bring about change in the lives of people who listen to their music and in the lives of the poor around the world.  The band members – Jason Dunn, Daniel Biro, Jonathan Steingard, Justin Benner – strive to write lyrics with substance, hoping the message of God’s love for humankind shines through their music; for they believe that it is in knowing Jesus Christ that one finds true fulfillment in life.  “As human beings, all of us have that inner desire to find purpose,” says drummer Justin Benner, “and we want there to be a message with what we are doing.”

Hawk Nelson not only communicates God’s love through their music, but also sings about the need for social change.  Shaken, a song in their new album “Live Life Loud,” tells the journey of a man whose eyes were finally opened to the pain of the broken people around him.  “Shaken” by this revelation, he expresses his deep desire to bring about change in people’s lives.

“We are bombarded with pictures of people starving to death,” Benner expressed when he described the emotion and motivation behind writing the song.  “Are you just going to sit around and accept it for what it is, or are you going to do something about it?”  In effort to live out the lyrics that they write, Hawk Nelson partnered with Toms Shoes, a shoe company that donates one pair of shoes for every pair purchased, and is now seeking partnership with Aklesia.

While on tour in Oregon in late October, the band met up with Aklesia’s Kei Morita and Nate Retzlaff.  After seeing each other’s desire to assist the impoverished, Hawk Nelson and Aklesia are now formulating a plan of action as to how the two entities can best champion the cause of combating global injustice.  Although Hawk Nelson and Aklesia are still in the early stages of their relationship, Benner is hopeful for what this new partnership will bring.

Hawk Nelson hopes to be a true example of people who not only talk the talk, but walk the walk.  Sticking to their commitment to effectuate change, they sing powerful songs of how God’s love can change a person’s life, helping him or her to find purpose and fulfillment.  In response to the love God gave the band members of Hawk Nelson, they now seek to give that same love to those who are suffering around the globe.