The Story Behind Love is Love | Pride Invocation
“I became fascinated with the idea of creating what I called "a love anthem for all people." Not just a song about romantic love, but a song about all the ways love sustains us.”
nYk p
This Pride, we are exploring the intersection of worship, music, and what it looks like for us as LGBTQ+ Christians to Play It Proud. This year’s theme emphasizes our joy in our community, in our communal worship of the Divine, in our gratitude for unconditional love, and in our collective expression of who we fully and freely are. Today, QCF EDI Advisory Council Member and musician, Nik “nYk p” Pettye, reflects on an original piece titled “Love is Love”.
I've been reflecting on why I wrote "Love is Love," and honestly, the song came out of a season when I was trying to find my footing.
I had just finished seminary and was navigating my transition into being a public theologian and artivist. At the same time, I was wrestling with the Church's responses—or silence—on social, political, and ethical issues that mattered deeply to me. There were moments when I questioned whether it even made sense for me to continue as a gospel artist.
Around then, a producer friend challenged me to write more personally. He asked me what people knew about me when I was in love, angry, sad, joyful, or afraid. That question stayed with me and pushed me toward writing music that reflected real life and real human experiences.
I became fascinated with the idea of creating what I called "a love anthem for all people." Not just a song about romantic love, but a song about all the ways love sustains us.
As I wrote, I found myself reflecting on the love of family and friends, especially my late grandmother, whose love continues to shape me every day. I thought about romantic love, God's love, love for humanity, love for the Earth, and the ongoing journey of learning to love myself. All of those experiences found their way into the song.
As an LGBTQ+ Christian, "Love is Love" also became a statement of faith. So many of us have been taught that our identities somehow place distance between us and God. My experience has been the opposite. Love has consistently been one of the ways I encounter the Divine. I hope this song helps others connect with that truth and find themselves reflected in it, regardless of who they are or whom they love.
The song also marked an artistic turning point for me. I leaned into my love of R&B, embraced my countertenor voice, and began stepping into my identity as an urban-pop artist.
While I love every version of the song, the "Stripped Version" remains my favorite. With only my voice, piano, and strings, it feels completely exposed in the best way. Those are the sounds that speak most deeply to my soul and blend most naturally with my voice. I also composed the vocal, piano, and string score myself, which made the process incredibly vulnerable and cathartic. More than any other version, it feels like the truest expression of what I wanted this song to be: an honest reflection on the power of love.
