JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 After two decades as a band, NEEDTOBREATHE says the feeling of walking into a studio or stepping onto a stage hasn\u2019t faded \u2014 it has deepened.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt hits a little differently now,\u201d Josh Lovelace explained ahead of their upcoming Jacksonville show. \u201cWe feel very appreciative that we still have the opportunity to do it. A lot of people dream about being in a band, about reaching that moment. But they don\u2019t always think about longevity.\u201d<\/p>\n
For NEEDTOBREATHE, longevity has become the gift. Rather than taking it for granted, the band says time has brought perspective \u2014 and motivation.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo get to live the dream as long as we have, it makes us want to try as hard as we can to keep doing it,\u201d they said. \u201cWith every record and every tour, we want to be the best we can be.\u201d<\/p>\n
That mindset has helped the GRAMMY-nominated, multi-platinum group carve out a sound that blends rock, soul and pop \u2014 and continue evolving without losing their identity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re still figuring that out,\u201d they said. \u201cThe most important thing is being true to yourself. What makes NEEDTOBREATHE sound like NEEDTOBREATHE is whatever we\u2019re inspired by in the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
That willingness to follow instinct has earned the trust of their fanbase, who have stayed with the band through musical and thematic shifts.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we\u2019re inspired by something, we\u2019ll chase it,\u201d they said. \u201cBut it always feels like us because we\u2019re listening to our gut. If we love it, hopefully that comes through in the music.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking back at earlier albums brings mixed emotions \u2014 part nostalgia, part renewed appreciation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a little bit of both,\u201d the band said. \u201cIt can feel like flipping through an old photo album, but it also means something to fans in a really deep way.\u201d<\/p>\n
While NEEDTOBREATHE is often most excited about its newest work, touring has brought renewed attention to older songs longtime listeners still connect with.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have fans who tell us, \u2018We\u2019ve seen you 10 times, but you never play this one song,\u2019\u201d they said. \u201cWhen you\u2019ve been doing this for so long, you realize a song from your first record might mean the world to someone.\u201d<\/p>\n
To honor that connection, the band has made an effort to rotate setlists from city to city, making each show feel personal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important that the fan feels like it\u2019s a special night when we show up in their town,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n
That approach carries into their upcoming Jacksonville stop, part of an acoustic tour that strips things back.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis tour has been a breath of fresh air,\u201d they said. \u201cIt feels more like a songwriter night \u2014 sitting down, playing the songs, talking about them.\u201d<\/p>\n
The format allows the band to revisit deeper cuts while still delivering the songs fans expect.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you go see the Rolling Stones and they don\u2019t play \u2018Satisfaction,\u2019 you\u2019d feel like something\u2019s missing,\u201d they said. \u201cSo we try to blend the songs people love with ones we haven\u2019t played in a while.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyond the music, the band is also looking forward to Florida\u2019s warmer weather after a winter filled with storms, ice and unpredictable conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re excited for some sunshine,\u201d they said. \u201cWe love playing Jacksonville. It\u2019s always fun to come back.\u201d<\/p>\n
As NEEDTOBREATHE looks ahead, the excitement feels fresh \u2014 especially with a new album on the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re putting out a new record in March, and every record still feels like the first in some ways,\u201d they said. \u201cWe\u2019re always trying to make the next record our best one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Titled Long Surrender, the upcoming release represents what the band says is a new beginning \u2014 fueled by inspiration, gratitude and a genuine love for making music together.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t really have an end in mind,\u201d they said. \u201cWe just love this. And as long as people want to hear it, we\u2019ll keep showing up.\u201d<\/p>\n
NEEDTOBREATHE brings that spirit to Jacksonville soon, promising a night rooted in connection, storytelling and the kind of music that\u2019s grown alongside its audience for 20 years.<\/p>\n
Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 After two decades as a band, NEEDTOBREATHE says the feeling of walking into a studio…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":148206,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[104,116,118,117,1407,71625,15612],"class_list":{"0":"post-148205","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-jacksonville","8":"tag-entertainment","9":"tag-jacksonville","10":"tag-jacksonville-headlines","11":"tag-jacksonville-news","12":"tag-music","13":"tag-needtobreathe","14":"tag-rock"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148205","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=148205"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148205\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/148206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=148205"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=148205"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=148205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}