Sanctus Real Share Transformational Message Of Hope In “The Difference”

By Timothy Yap Mar 21, 2025 05:05 PM EDT

Two-time GRAMMY®-nominated, GMA Dove Award-winning and RIAA Gold®-selling Sanctus Real releases "The Difference" today (March 21) at streaming and digital outlets worldwide from Framework Records / The Fuel Music via https://slinky.to/TheDifference.

The single is slated to be serviced to radio in the coming weeks and follows the recent digital single "On The Mend," eight No. 1 songs and 19 Top 10 radio hits.

Produced by the band and frequent collaborator, AJ Pruis, "The Difference" is an anthemic offering built on top of a riff Sanctus Real guitarist Chris Rohman created. Once the principle vibe of the song was recorded, lyrics were crafted by lead vocalist Dustin Lolli, Rohman and hit-making songwriters Matt Armstrong (Casting Crowns, Zach Williams) and Pruis (Matthew West, Anne Wilson) as they began talking about the transformational role of hope in a believer's life.

"We've all felt like hope has been missing in our world for a while," Lolli offers. "We go to churches all over the country, and it's become one of our greatest mission fields, because we see so many depressed and sad people in the church. So, we are in a season of writing songs about hope. When you put your faith in Jesus, He doesn't just give you hope; He is our hope."

"This song points to one thing only as the reason we believe we are transformed into new creations, and that's through a relationship with Jesus," adds Rohman. "It's a declaration of what we believe is possible through Jesus."

("The Difference" chorus)

You are the difference

You are the change

You are the reason

I'm not the same

From lost to found

From then to now

If they see something different

Oh, You are the difference

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah

You are the difference

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah

The transformational hope the band is focused on in the writing room as they work toward their next album, their fourth full-length project with Lolli, is also a value that compels them to take their music across the country.

"We still love getting out there on the road and meeting people and making that personal, face-to-face connection. We don't want a screen to constantly be between them and us. We literally put it in our band name 29 years ago; we want to be real. We want everything we do to be authentic," drummer Mark Graalman offers. "I feel like we're a better live band now than we've ever been."

Taking the new music and fan favorites on the road, Sanctus Real will announce a major market headline tour soon and will play a handful of tour dates this month featuring special guest JJ Weeks. The events include:

Wed, MAR 26 Spartanburg, SC Tickets

Thu, MAR 27 York, SC Tickets

Fri, MAR 28 Plum Branch, SC Tickets

Sat, MAR 29 Troy, NC Tickets

Sun, MAR 30 Morristown, TN Tickets

For all the latest Sanctus Real music, tour and more news, go to www.sanctusreal.com, Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, YouTube, Bandsintown, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.