Singer/songwriter and former "American Idol" contestant Dave Pittman is set to bow his anticipated sophomore recording, "Different Kind of Love," on Jan. 11, 2019. Produced by Jay Speight and Tyrus Morgan - whose combined production and writing credits include Trace Adkins, NewSong, Unspoken and Ginny Owens - the seven-song set features six original selections, along with a fresh arrangement of the beloved hymn "I'd Rather Have Jesus."
Other highlights of "Different Kind of Love" include the title-cut, an upbeat declaration of God's steadfast love, with guest vocals from acclaimed husband/wife duo Seth & Nirva; worshipful anthem "Worthy"; and "Fall To Pieces" and "Fight To Win," both co-penned by Pittman - the latter a love song for his wife celebrating their commitment amidst life's ups and downs.
Spotlighting some of Christian music's finest writers and musicians, "Different Kind of Love" features songwriting credits from Selah's Todd Smith, Benji Cowart, Daniel Doss and Brian Hitt, among others. The project also includes contributions from NewSong's Matt Butler (cello), Joel Rousseau (electric guitar) and David Ray (piano).
"The main theme of my life has been hope, and I wanted that to be evident throughout this album," Pittman said. " 'Different Kind of Love' is a journey through some of the various seasons of my life. Our culture today is extremely self-focused, so I wanted the title-track to convey the true meaning of what real, sacrificial love looks like: Christ.
"Another personal song for me, 'Fight to Win,' came out of some hard lessons my wife and I had to learn in those first years of marriage, and 'I'd Rather Have Jesus' is simply the core of who I want to be."
"Our identity is not in what we do, what we have or don't have, or in our past failures or successes, it is in Christ alone," he added. "This is the heart cry of 'Different Kind of Love,' because I want people to know that, if they put their hope, trust and faith in him, he will help pull them through their toughest times."
An Arkansas native, Pittman suffers from Tourette syndrome, a neurological disorder causing involuntary repetitive movements and sounds. As a child, Pittman's disability made him the target of bullies, and he eventually became suicidal. Attempting to take his life at only 10 years old, he stopped short of pulling the trigger of his father's gun when his parents returned home from an errand. With the love and support of his family, Pittman's faith began to blossom, and he grew to fully embrace and understand his worth in Christ.
A graduate of Liberty University, Pittman's soulful voice and touching story endeared him to millions during his appearance on "American Idol's" ninth season. While auditioning for the show, he was dubbed "crazy brave" by guest judge Neil Patrick Harris. Those words inspired Pittman's 2011 debut album of the same name and became a beacon of encouragement for the singer/songwriter's career.
In addition to performing at churches and various venues across the country, Pittman has shared his testimony at conferences, schools and special events for those affected by Tourette's.
