On the surface, the genre of Christian pop music seems like it might only exist in a bubble. But there are always exceptions to that, and the duo For King and Country is surely one of them. The group consists of brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone, who are originally from Australia but found a home in Nashville and have become stars on the Christian music scene. Not only have the brothers gained a great following, but they won a Grammy with their second album and have even been called “Australia’s answer to Coldplay.” No matter what genre of music you want to assign to For King and Country, that’s high praise for any band and a big reason why anyone with interest in Christian pop should put seeing For King and Country live on their bucket list.

Always Positive

The quality that stands out the most about the Smallbone brothers and perhaps the biggest reason for their budding popularity is the band’s positivity. For King and Country always creates upbeat tunes that attempt to lift up the emotions of listeners and make a positive impact on their lives. Joel and Luke have said many times that the driving force behind the band is to make a positive difference for people. That’s why it’s not surprising that the group’s influences include groups like Switchfoot, U2, and The Beatles, all groups that have made an impact on the world while producing a bright and positive sound.

Working Well with Others

Perhaps the most surprising part of For King and Country is the fact that the band has collaborated with a variety of other artists, including those who have nothing to do with Christian pop. A collaboration with Dolly Parton on the song “God Only Knows” is one of For King and Country’s biggest hits to date. The band has also collaborated on songs with Christian artists like Needtobreathe and Lecrae, but also with those who are outside of the Christian-music bubble, including Echosmith and Timbaland. In many ways, their ability to combine with other groups and create a unique sound is part of what makes For King and Country a special band that has transcended the Christian pop genre.