Chris Renzema crafts atmospheric, ethereal soundscapes by fusing modern indie folk and rock with an unwavering Christian perspective. His introspective songwriting and vulnerable vocal delivery quickly cultivated a devoted audience, paving the way for a move to the Centricity roster after the independent 2018 release I'll Be the Branches. The label introduced him with Let the Ground Rest in 2020, followed a year later by the reflective and fervent Get Out of the Way of Your Own Heart. Subsequent 2023 singles such as "Faith!?" and "God and Prozac" continued to trace the shifting contours of his spiritual journey.
Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1995, Renzema attended church regularly throughout his upbringing and maintained a steadfast Christian commitment. During high school he picked up the guitar and began composing as an outlet for his emotions and beliefs. Drawing from '70s folk traditions, present-day indie songwriters, boundary-pushing Christian artists like John Mark McMillan, and especially Wilco—whom he frequently names as his favorite band—he soon performed locally at church services. After a post-graduation mission trip to Guatemala, he chose to capture his material on record. Using savings from part-time work, he tracked the debut EP Age to Age in 2014 over the course of just 19 hours. The following year he relocated to Nashville, taking miscellaneous jobs while seeking an entry into the music industry.
After issuing the 2017 single "Son of God," Renzema achieved his initial breakthrough with the self-produced, self-released full-length I'll Be the Branches in 2018. Tracks such as "How to Be Yours," "I Don't Wanna Go," and "Found" circulated widely online and drew significant streams, prompting Centricity Music to offer him a contract.
His sophomore album, Let the Ground Rest, arrived in April 2020 and explored mental-health struggles, anxiety, and reliance on divine comfort. With live performances halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Renzema purchased hundreds of gift cards from independent coffee shops in cities on his canceled itinerary and announced on social media, "I decided that I want to buy you a cup of coffee for when this is all over." The gesture reflected his characteristic generosity toward listeners, which stood alongside the depth of his faith. In the ensuing year he entered a highly productive phase, issuing the 2021 EPs Let The Ground Rest B-Sides and Hope or Nostalgia Live as well as his third album, the encouraging and sincere Get Out of the Way of Your Own Heart. During this period he received a nomination for New Artist of the Year at the Dove Awards. Renzema further examined his evolving relationship with belief on the 2023 singles "Faith!?" and "God and Prozac."
