Joseph O’Brien didn’t expect to become a pop-rock artist signed to one of the biggest names in Christian music. If you had asked him a few years ago where he thought his career was heading, he might have mentioned becoming a professional tennis player. Or maybe pursuing a quiet life in music, writing songs behind the scenes. What he wouldn’t have predicted? Competing on America’s Got Talent in front of millions or getting signed to TobyMac’s label, Gotee Records. But that’s exactly how it all played out.
“I grew up in a musical household,” O’Brien says. His dad, Michael, was a member of the Christian band NewSong, most known for their holiday single “The Christmas Shoes.” “So I grew up around the industry. I loved performing. I loved being on stage. But I also loved tennis. I thought maybe that was the path.”
By age 11, music won out. He started writing songs, always gravitating toward Christian themes. But breaking into the industry? That was the hard part. Like most aspiring musicians, he wasn’t sure where to start. Then, on a whim, he auditioned for America’s Got Talent.
“America’s Got Talent was kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing,” O’Brien admits. “I didn’t expect to go far. I just thought it’d be fun.”
Fun, sure. But also completely surreal. O’Brien found himself standing in a line with thousands of other hopefuls in Nashville, vying for a chance to perform on national television. “There were like 50,000 people there. It was insane.”
Against all odds, the producers kept calling him back. His genuine musical ability made him a unique contestant. The judges loved him. The audience loved him. But when the show ended? Nothing happened. No label deals. No overnight success. Just…silence.
“I thought being on AGT would open doors right away,” he says. “But God had other plans.”
With no immediate career traction, O’Brien did what any reasonable person would do: he went back to college. “I just figured, okay, music’s not happening right now. I’ll finish my degree.”
It wasn’t until 2020 that things shifted. A song he was working on got into the hands of TobyMac’s team. “I wasn’t expecting anything and his team saw something in me that I didn’t even see in myself.”
Goatee Records didn’t just sign him—they championed him. Unlike traditional label deals, where artists often feel like they have to prove themselves, O’Brien was given creative freedom.
“They weren’t like, ‘Earn your spot.’ They just believed in what I was doing. It was the first time I really felt like, ‘Oh, maybe I do have something unique to offer.’”
O’Brien’s musical influences read like a nostalgic Christian teen’s dream playlist: Coldplay, Relient K, Owl City. And yes, he was a proud member of the Christian pop-punk scene.
“I was a Reliant K, Hawk Nelson and through,” he laughs. “That stuff was my life.”
His own sound, however, has evolved. Initially, people compared him to LANY or Lauv—the whole bedroom pop, vibey aesthetic. But O’Brien realized that wasn’t where he wanted to stay. “That sound just isn’t the thing anymore. So I had to rethink my direction.”
The result? A fusion of pop, rock and singer-songwriter storytelling. His upcoming album, set to release in September, leans into live instrumentation. “Lots of real drums, electric guitars—still pop, but more organic,” he explains. “It feels the most me.”
As he’s developed his artistry, O’Brien has also wrestled with the divide between mainstream and Christian music. Some artists choose to stay strictly in the worship space, while others attempt to carve out a place in the broader music industry without overtly religious messaging. O’Brien finds himself somewhere in the middle, writing both explicitly faith-based songs and ones that touch on broader human experiences.
“I know some people think Christian artists should only make ‘vertical’ music, meaning songs explicitly about God,” he says. “But being a Christian means having a biblical worldview in all things. I think there’s room to write about relationships, emotions, struggles—things that don’t have to be straight-up worship music but still reflect faith.”
To O’Brien, faith isn’t something that should be compartmentalized into only worship songs. It should be present in everything. He sees music as a way to bridge the gap between deeply personal human experiences and faith-based truth. “I love writing songs about real life, things people are dealing with—love, doubt, struggles. But that doesn’t mean those songs aren’t Christian.”
This tension—between writing explicitly faith-driven songs and those that explore broader themes—has shaped his career. Early on, he thought he’d gravitate toward the mainstream, but he’s found himself leaning into his faith more than ever. “I thought I’d go more in the mainstream direction, but actually, people might be surprised by how Christian this new album is. Not worship, but definitely faith-driven.”
That approach allows him to connect with a wider audience while still being authentic to his beliefs. “Christian music doesn’t have to fit in a box. It doesn’t have to sound one way or only say certain things. I want my music to reflect the reality of living as a believer—sometimes that means worship, sometimes it means wrestling with big questions.”
For now, O’Brien is focused on his biggest project yet. “Lyrically, I think this is my best work. The lines are really intentional, really thoughtful. I’ve never been this excited about lyrics before.”
And despite his self-deprecating humor, there’s a quiet confidence in the way he talks about it. Like maybe, just maybe, he’s stepping into the artist he was always meant to be.
