Fernando Ortega Talks Exclusively About His New EP "For All The Saints"

For three decades, Fernando Ortega has been weaving his own story into the great hymns of old. Known for reimagining timeless works in the Church's extensive history for an entirely new
generation, Ortega is as adept at handpicking the right selections to renovate as he is at refreshing them. Across 22 albums, hymns remain a hallmark of his career. His latest collection, For All The Saints, is no exception. The five-track EP offers a batch of newly minted songs specifically for the Church to sing. 

For All The Saints draws from a colorful sonic palette and a deep well of rich, time-honored theology. Accented by B3, hammered dulcimer and a string quartet, his latest recording offers a seamless addition to Ortega's substantial catalog.

The project's immediate warmth and hospitality, however, is a direct result of Ortega's creative process. With the help of his co-producer, Matthew Tobias, who also plays drums on all the tracks, Ortega assembled a simple recording studio in his den at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he could tinker with every nuance in between time with his daughter or afternoons spent gardening or photographing birds - two of his favorite pastimes. Thus, For All The Saints was birthed in the fringes of ordinary, everyday life.

Q: Fernando, thank you for doing this interview with us. Congratulations on releasing your new single, "Jesus, Bread of Life." This is your first single in three years. Can you share with us what you have been doing between singles?

Thank you kindly, and . . . excellent question! I'm actually staring at the wall trying to remember what has kept me busy for so long. This single we're talking about was part of a larger project that had to get amended somewhat. I recorded an entire album of new songs, starting about two years ago. When I tried to assemble the 10 songs into a cohesive record, I realized the songs didn't exactly fit together, thematically. So I opted to release 5 of the songs as an EP. All that to say . . . I've been writing and recording a lot the last couple of years and that's what has kept me busy - along with my bird photography and raising a teenager.

Q: I love your new song, "Jesus, Bread of Life." Can you tell us how the song came about?

Sure . . . about 5 years ago I attended a songwriter's retreat in Nashville sponsored by Porter's Gate. Audrey Assad and I huddled around a little digital keyboard and began working on the song. We pretty much finished it that day though I added a bridge after I returned home. That's the part that says "You are the Bread Of Life/ You are the Living Water". In case you're wondering, the melody and chords were written before the lyrics. People often wonder what comes first when writing a song. With me, it varies.

Q: Why should marginalized and downtrodden people be invited to the Lord's table?

"Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest". That's the scripture passage that first comes to mind. There's another beautiful piece written by Mother Teresa which says, " . . . children in the shadows stream in and raise their heads", referring to those who are mostly forgotten by the world. The Gospels are full of examples of Jesus seeking out the poor and marginalized, which is the general thrust of this song.

Q: Your daughter is also involved in this song. Could you tell us a little about her and her contribution?

Ruby is a very talented musician. She plays guitar and sings. My brother and I bought her a Pink Stratocaster a couple of Christmases ago and she plays that thing like a rock star. But her singing is equally impressive - her sense of pitch, harmony, and groove are remarkable. I'm always so impressed at the harmonies she comes up with when we listen to music on the way to school. It felt very natural to have her lend her voice to this song.

Q: Your new EP is coming out very soon. What are you most excited about this project?

I'm excited because I think all 5 songs are very singable for a congregation. In the past I have written a handful of songs that have made it into hymnals and songbooks, but this is the first time I've assembled and entire EP of songs meant for the worshiping church.

Q: How do you hope these songs will impact the faith and lives of your listeners?

I hope listeners can resonate with the theology in these texts - that they can feel the same sense of awe and wonder that I feel when I sing them. In the aftermath of the pandemic, people have become isolated and lonely. Many have struggled to get back into church. And now we are at the end of a very contentious and intense election. I hope that fellow believers will be inspired to worship when they hear this music, and will also perhaps feel admonished to rely on God, encouraged to serve one another, and hopeful that God is establishing His kingdom here on earth in us and through us.  

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