Songs of the Spirit: Eddy Mann on Faith, Fatherhood, and Finding Peace Through Music

From the streets of Philadelphia to the quiet corners of chapel halls, Eddy Mann has spent decades weaving soul, scripture, and sound into something deeply personal and powerfully universal. With more than 20 albums to his name, he’s built a catalog that doesn’t just preach—it comforts, uplifts, and reflects. His latest songs, like the tender “Fly, Fly Away,” speak to the tension between earthly weight and spiritual release. In this intimate conversation, Eddy opens up about hearing God’s call during a secular music career, balancing fatherhood with faith, and staying grounded in a world that too often forgets to listen. For Mann, music isn’t just a craft—it’s a daily devotion.

Eddy, your music often feels like a conversation with the divine. When did you first hear that still, small voice calling you to share your faith through song? 

There was a moment when I composed a very quick little song called Swept Up in Joy, and I had this epiphany that I should have been using my gift to further His kingdom all along. Mind you, I was twenty years into a secular music career, but it was a turning point for me.

“Fly, Fly Away” is such a tender release — a song about letting go with love and grace. Was there a specific person or moment in your life that inspired those lyrics? 

Well I wrote it from the perception of the carnal world, and all the things that we think we need to have, but the moment we accept Jesus there’s this new found freedom. We get to fly away from these things. We’re set free!

I was about two verses in when I realized that my youngest daughter was in the throes of getting married, and I was about to (as they say) give my daughter away. It struck me that this was also a chance to gift her the third verse.

You’ve said before that you write music to bring light and hope. Do you ever feel the weight of that calling? And where do you go when your own light starts to dim? 

I start each day with devotions. They create the framework in which I tackle each and every day. The songs are almost always a result of being inspired by God’s word. The daily writing is my personal commentary on my scripture of the day.

Your sound blends gospel, Americana, and Philly soul. That’s a rich tapestry. What part of your personal story lives in those musical influences? 

Well, all of it. It’s the soundscape of my life. I’ve always listened to all kinds of music. I believe there’s something to be garnered from all of it. My childhood was steeped with it and I’ve continued listening throughout my life.

In a world that seems louder and more chaotic every day, your songs offer peace and reflection. What do you think people are really yearning for right now? 

Peace and quiet… There’s so much unrest, and the landscape seems to change daily. What we find in our faith is a peace that’s beyond this world. That’s what I think people need. The kind of peace that puts the world’s darkness in perspective.

You’ve released over 20 albums and seen chart success — yet you remain so grounded. How do you keep your heart humble when the industry can be so focused on ego? 

I’ve grown to realize that I write, record, and perform for an audience of one. That simplified approach quiets all the other voices.

As a man of faith, how do you navigate writing about real-life struggles without losing sight of hope? Is it ever difficult to balance the human with the holy? 

No, by no means. The answer to my struggles are revealed in the lyrics of my songs. They’re personal in that they paint a picture of how my wife and I survive each and every day. I’m really just sharing my journey through each and every song.

If someone were hearing your music for the very first time — maybe even searching for God without knowing it — what would you most want them to feel? 

Loved! There’s not enough compassion in our world. We’ve lost our way and have become centered on ourselves instead of on others, and it’s pretty obvious that it isn’t working.