Finding Your Way Home
The Faith Journey in Cochren & Co.’s Music
Michael Cochren, of the award-winning Christian music group Cochren & Co., discussed his music with us, and particularly the album “Running Home.” And the song has topped the charts and resonated deeply with listeners across the country.
Raised in a small Indiana town, Michael’s journey from local worship leader to nationally recognized artist is nothing short of inspiring. After graduating, he hit the road with a band of friends, and later his wife Leah, under the name Cochren & Co. Their debut album, “Don’t Lose Hope,” was a significant success, featuring hits like “Church (Take Me Back)” and “Who Can.” Known for hope-filled lyrics and timeless melodies, their music blurs the lines between American pop/rock and soul/blues, creating a sound uniquely their own.
If you’ve never listened to a Cochren & Co. song, Michael suggests starting with “Running Home.” Michael explains, “It’s kind of rare for an artist, I think, to get to take to radio a song that they feel like represents who they are, but that’s what we got to do this time around.” It’s the perfect introduction to their work.
The Creative Process Behind “Running Home”
Creating “Running Home” was a journey of discovery and artistic growth. Michael recalls “Actually, we had written so many songs—like 30, or 40 maybe—in this season for this second album.”
Collaborating with renowned songwriters Matthew West and Jeff Pardo, Michael envisioned a “big rock anthem” that declares, “I’m going home.” He wanted to capture not just where he’s been but where he’s headed, inspired by the grace of God drawing him in.
Michael’s musical background deeply influenced his journey to creating this song. “I was raised on all kinds of music, but predominantly 70s singer-songwriters and 70s rock kind of stuff. My dad was always playing the Eagles, Billy Joel, Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen, and Van Morrison. So that all just bled in, and I felt like on the first record we were thinking,
‘Okay, what do I want to say?’”
The Message of “Running Home”
The message of “Running Home” reflects on the story of the Prodigal Son, a parable Jesus told. Michael shares his personal journey of understanding God’s grace. “It’s more about the just the grace of God that’s drawing me to Him all these years. And so that was the theme…He greets his son with a robe around the back and a ring on the finger.”
God offers each one of us His unconditional love and acceptance.
Michael continues, “For years, I just felt like if I returned to God, that He was just going to be waiting in anger and punishment for me—as if the father in that parable is running to his son, and then all of a sudden he pulls a whip out and starts beating him in the field… and that’s not the story at all.”
Personal Expression and Audience Needs
Balancing personal expression and the needs of his audience is a key part of Michael’s creative process. “It’s got to have ministered to me first in some way. It’s got to be something that moved me, and usually that comes from my story or stories of people close to me,” Michael explains.
Michael’s approach to songwriting involves drawing from his own experiences and having served at his church for over a decade, he is deeply connected to the struggles and triumphs of everyday believers. “What does my mom need to hear? What does my pastor friend need to hear? What does this couple on my worship team need to hear?” He asks. He lets these questions guide his songwriting process, ensuring that his music is both personal and universally relatable.
As you listen to “Running Home,” and other songs from Cochren and Co., may you find inspiration in the message and be reminded of God’s unconditional love.
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