Peter Furler is widely recognized as the dynamic frontman of Newsboys, the band he established during his teenage years in Australia. However, in 2009, Peter Furler made a significant life change, stepping down from his leadership role within the band, entrusting it to his bandmates. This decision, driven by a conviction that God was guiding him and his wife, Summer, towards a new path, had been developing for two years.
Peter Furler performing with Newsboys
“We had spent two years living in an RV, traveling to every Newsboys show, covering 110,000 miles across North America,” Peter Furler recounted. “It was a personal journey for us, a process of simplifying our lives, and it turned out to be the best two years we had experienced. We had ample time to reflect and consider our life’s direction. Throughout this period, I felt a clear message from God to ‘let the ground rest, let the creative process and the music rest… I will give you something better.'”
Stepping away from Newsboys was not a source of worry for Peter Furler, but rather a decision made with full support for the band’s future. He also sold his shares in Inpop, a record label he had co-founded in 1999, which played a crucial role in launching the careers of notable artists such as Newworldson, Mat Kearney, and Shane & Shane. Peter Furler and Summer then made a significant downsize, selling their house, cars, and most of their possessions, keeping only his essential studio equipment. They relocated to the Gulf of Florida, a place Peter described as ‘the closest thing to Australia in the U.S.,’ and also the location where he had proposed to Summer two decades prior.
“I genuinely had no idea what my next steps would be, and I found that liberating,” Peter Furler admitted. “For over a decade, my life had been a constant cycle of performing over 100 shows annually, writing, and then producing albums. It was fulfilling, but it was a relentless cycle.”
In Florida, Peter Furler discovered a newfound sense of time and freedom. Days unfolded without rigid schedules or pressing tasks. For the first time in his adult life, Peter was genuinely surprised by the simple choices he now had. “I was faced with choices I hadn’t had before: Should I mow the lawn myself or go to Home Depot? These were normal, almost trivial things, but they felt significant to me. There were no deadlines, no pressure to rush anywhere.”
This slower pace and the freedom to make choices brought Peter Furler a valuable artistic realization. “Artistically and creatively, I began to understand that God didn’t create the horse to win races, but for His own pleasure – to simply watch it run,” Peter Furler explained. “I felt a strong desire to reconnect with nature, to express myself creatively, and to pursue activities purely for the joy they brought.”
The Creative Circle Turns
And so Peter Furler did just that. When the surfing conditions weren’t ideal, he turned to painting, an artistic outlet he had always been drawn to. Simultaneously, he started writing again, not forcing the process with a guitar in hand, but rather capturing ideas as they naturally came to him.
“The songs never really stopped coming. They just kept flowing. I would go for a long walk, and a song idea would come into my head,” Peter Furler shared. “I always carried a small recorder with me, so I would record these ideas. I didn’t think much of it at the time; I had always recorded lyrics and song ideas in that way.”
Around this time, producer and musician Steve Taylor, a longtime friend, visited Peter Furler and saw the collection of works in progress. They decided to explore these ideas in a studio setting, joined by Jimmy Abegg (Ragamuffin Band) and John Painter (Flemming and John), with the intention of simply ‘messing around.’ “I found myself singing background vocals and playing drums,” Peter Furler described the experience, “It was so carefree, so much fun. It felt like the early days of making music, incredibly refreshing. I just wanted that feeling of ‘cluelessness’ to last.”
This rekindled joy in creating music purely for enjoyment sparked a significant creative resurgence for Peter Furler. These informal jam sessions not only contributed to a Steve Taylor and Some Other Band project that was soon to be released, but also generated a collection of songs from Peter Furler that quickly began to take shape. Word soon reached Nashville, and Sparrow Records (EMI CMG) expressed interest, offering distribution for what was becoming a potential solo record. Peter Furler was initially hesitant, wary of letting this newfound fun evolve into a business venture with expectations. However, sensing a guiding hand, he moved forward.
“I could feel the Lord guiding my steps… and that this was just another part of my journey,” Peter Furler explained. “There were no pre-set expectations, and there still aren’t. My expectations were already fulfilled – simply by the joy of creating music, making something from nothing.”
As the recording sessions progressed, Taylor, Abegg, Painter, and Phil Joel (also from Newsboys) contributed their voices to the project, which became “On Fire”. With the addition of producer and songwriter Seth Mosley (Me In Motion), songs like “I’m Alive,” “Matter of Faith,” and “Reach,” the album’s first single, were finalized.
“You feel the pain of the world, but you never push mine aside… and you reach for me…”
“Reach,” a song that resonated deeply and became a Billboard hit single, held a personal significance for Peter Furler. “We all need to be reminded that God is personal,” he stated. “The One who created the heavens, the One who is omnipresent and all-knowing, deeply desires a connection with us… He cares for each of us individually, right where we are.”
And that was just the beginning. “On Fire” featured 11 vibrant and infectious tracks – characterized by quirky pop melodies, energetic guitars, and memorable lyrical hooks – delivered with the signature style of an award-winning songwriter and pop innovator like Peter Furler. Featuring powerful worship songs, a hallmark throughout Peter Furler’s music career (“He Reigns,” “It Is You”), “On Fire” reflected the freedom and joy of an artist at peace with himself, having discovered the profound depth of his calling.
Discovering Deeper Meaning
“I’ve reached a point in my life,” Peter Furler reflects, “where I’m less concerned about others’ opinions, not in an arrogant way, but with a clearer sense of who I am and my purpose on this planet. As a husband, my role is to remain faithful, to love, care for, and support my wife. Beyond that, my role in music has become more focused. I know deeply that God has given me gifts to use throughout my life. I write songs. I have a gift for melody and words, and I am here to use these gifts to encourage those who listen.”
Music, for Peter Furler, is meant to be vibrant and full of life. By prioritizing what truly matters in his life, music itself has taken on an even greater significance. This is a key reason why Peter Furler was enthusiastic to share these new songs with the world.
“I feel a bit like Forrest Gump in all of this,” Peter Furler concludes. “You start running from your porch, then to the county line, then the state line, and eventually towards the ocean… all for the sake of discovery. Living as a free spirit, not being held down by worldly concerns, not planning my future years in advance… Life becomes much more adventurous this way. “On Fire” is the music that comes from living such a life.”
