Jeff Weiss

weathervane

biography written by Rachel Curet

The Background

By definition a weathervane is a device that turns freely on a vertical rod and with a point in order to indicate wind direction. Derived from the old English word “fane”, meaning flag or banner, the weathervane has been a part of life from ancient cultures to our present day pointing us towards the direction of the wind.

Numerous times through out the Bible the Holy Spirit is referred to as a wind. John, Chapter 3 is the story of a prominent Jewish leader, Nicodemus, who could not grasp the meaning of being born again. Jesus uses this analogy of the Holy Spirit as the wind of God to help Nicodemus attain a greater understanding of his spiritual birth.

The objective of this project is to be a flag, a banner, a device that turns freely and always indicates the direction the Spirit is moving – toward Jesus. These songs are a weathervane, a tool that will help you direct others towards a personal spiritual journey with Christ.

Weathervane establishes Jeff Weiss’s life-long passion. He explains, “My heart’s desire is that people will be encouraged by these songs. When others listen to this album I want people to be transported out of their everyday lives.”

Weiss’s acoustic pop rock is an astounding collection of musical styles and introspective lyrics. Produced by one of the industry’s up and coming producers, Julian Kindred (who’s worked with Delirious?, Rebecca St. James, Mercy Me, Big Daddy Weave, Glassbyrd) Weiss was not left in his comfort zone during the production of this album. Weiss enlightens, “As we moved through the recording process I was able to see Julian’s wonderful creativity and musical energy. He pushed me to give my best performance every time.”

The Songs

Walk with Me possesses a melody that inhabits your thoughts. It is also embraced with remarkable instrumentation that will keep every listener intrigued to the message of God’s uncompromising hope. Written in Romania, while Weiss was part of leading a worship conference, he was inspired by Psalm 23 to write this incredibly encouraging song.

With the up tempo beat and soaring chorus listeners will not be able to resist singing along with Fan the Flame. This song will challenge each person to wake up each day with a burning fire of love for our Lord and for each other. It has seen a lot of airplay on several radio stations in Wisconsin. Jeff’s home state.

“Fan the Flame was written in the midst of personal upheaval in my life. I wanted to relay the feeling that there was so much more passion that God wanted to reveal in me and in all of us.” Weiss continues, “Just as Paul encouraged Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God. I asked that God fan the same flame within me because I know that I can do nothing without Him.”

Time is one of the most valuable commodities to all mankind. Each of us is always wishing we had just a little more time. Right Here Right Now came at a time when my keyboard player and then roommate, Josh Engle, and I were struggling financially. We had been painting houses but business had slowed down. Josh wrote the great chord changes for the verses and when I heard it the music really took me to a place of quietness. I thought about how it seems so hard for us to shut out the things that demand our attention and lay ourselves, every part of us, at the feet of Jesus.” Weiss explains he wanted this song to be a reminder to live in the wisdom of Matthew 6:25-34 which states “Don’t worry. Trust me, I will listen and lead.” The lyrics of Right Here Right Now transparently articulate how we must continually lay our brokenness before God. In return we receive His unending hope and continual love.

You are the One was written out of the desire to write a simple worship song with easy to remember melodies, vertical lyrics and sparse instrumentation. Weiss explains, “Leading people in worship is at the heart of who I am and what I do. I can think of nothing better than leading people in corporate worship in such a way that we all forget who is and is not on stage because all we can think of is sitting at the feet of our great and glorious Lord.”

So whatever direction the Spirit is moving in your life this album will encourage you to let the wind blow through you toward Jesus. Weathervane will inspire you to be a device that God uses to point others in the direction of Himself.