Music has always been a part of Michael Cochren's life.

"My grandparents were so musical. My grandma played organ and piano at church. My grandpa sang," said Cochren. "In our small town, they travelled around and sang at weddings and funerals. My dad played the guitar around the house all the time. It was just  in my blood."
Music became an even larger part of Cochren's life when he realized he wasn't very good at sports. Growing up he took piano lessons, but while in middle school, he found a passion for the drums. 

"I got asked to be in a band with upperclassmen and travel around and play music. That's where my love for performing and taste for the road came from," Cochren explained.

Towards the end of high school, Michael started playing piano again, and by the time he hit college, he wanted to do music full time. He moved to Nashville and started playing wherever he could get a gig.

"Around that time, God had really begun to work in my life, and draw me back to him. I kind of went wayward in high school, which is a lot of peoples' story," said Cochren. "At the same time God was drawing me back to him, my music began to shift, and I began to think, you know, I could do this for the Lord and his people and write songs that encourage him."

And that's exactly what he is doing. Michael Cochren is now a singer/songwriter and worship leader playing music across the country with his band, Cochren & Co.

They head out on tour next week, joining TobyMac on his Hits Deep Tour. The lineup also includes CAIN, Crowder and Terrian.

“The heart behind Hits Deep is to bring together artists that not only have hit songs but songs that hit deep in our hearts," shares TobyMac. “We’re back for another year, and this one is going to be special. We’re talking hit, after hit, after hit with some of my favourite artists!”

This year, the Hits Deep Tour will once again be giving back to each local community visited by linking arms with the Salvation Army. Since the pandemic, food insecurity continues to be the No. 1 need impacting millions of families who don’t always know where their next meal will come from. With the support of the tour sponsors, a representative from each local Salvation Army chapter will be presented with a cheque to make a direct impact on food insecurity in their community. 

"Since the beginning of The Hits Deep tour in 2016, we have had a desire to give back to each community we visit," explains TobyMac. "Thanks to the fans and our amazing partners, this dream has become a reality."

Today on Connections, Michael shares how he made the transition from secular music to worship music, what the past couple of years have been like and what he's looking forward to the most on this tour.