Chris Cleveland, the driving force behind Stars Go Dim, has long been a master of pairing accessible pop hooks with deep spiritual resonance. With the release of his newest visual for ‘Jesus Works’, off his fourth studio album ‘Roses’, he leans into a softer, more introspective aesthetic, both musically and visually.
The video features a live band performance that’s less about spectacle and more about subtlety. It’s a motif that ties directly to the heart of Roses, an album that Cleveland describes as “so many times in life we feel like we’re living in a wasteland, and we’re missing the fact that we’re actually standing in forests of green, lush life.” Each bloom in the frame becomes part of the worship experience, reinforcing the song’s central message: Jesus is working, even when we can’t see it.
Roses draws inspiration from ‘70s soul, retro pop, and gospel textures. Tracks like ‘Mama Don’t Lie (Alright)’ and ‘Down to Earth’ showcase a warmer, more analog approach, while others like ‘Holy’ and ‘Discover God’ lean into raw, spiritual storytelling.
Cleveland, who co-produced the album for the first time in his career, also made a point of collaborating with lesser-known songwriters on this project, many of whom receive their first-ever cuts here. That humility and openness radiates throughout Roses, and it’s on full display in ‘Jesus Works’, a track that feels more like a prayer than a performance.
