Baltimore based rock/pop group, Ashes Remain, is preparing to release their major label album debut, What I’ve Become, with Fair Trade services on August 23.
 
Playing together for almost a decade, the band was formed after vocalist Josh Smith met guitarist/keyboardist Ryan Nalepa leading worship one summer in Maryland. After adding guitarist Rob Tahan, bassist Jonathan Hively and drummer Ben Kirk, the band hit the road in their converted 1987 Ford school bus performing in over 25 states across the nation for more than six years before signing with Fair Trade Services in 2010.
 
On their major label debut, Ashes Remain explores themes of hope through humanity’s brokenness. Many of the album’s tracks discuss the idea that no matter how broken you think you have become there is always hope in the presence of God.
 
To help make What I’ve Become’s grand entrance into the music world, Ashes Remain teamed up with producer Rob Hawkins (Disciple, Fireflight) who helped the band develop their accessible sound that draws from a wide range of influences from 3 Doors Down and 311 to Imogen Heap and Circa Survive.  
 
“Everything Good,” the first single recently released by Ashes Remain, is being well received at radio having already been added by their hometown station 95.1 Shine FM. Other stations on the song include WONU/Chicago, WHZN/Indianapolis, KGBI/Omaha, WAYG/Grand Rapids, WJYO/Ft. Myers among others. “It’s hope, it is praising God when nothing makes sense, says Smith.  “Like Paul singing praise while sitting in jail.” Watch Smith open up about the song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbSEDafv-rA. Adding to the welcome response to Christian radio, Baltimore’s Active Rock mainstream station, 98Rock, is playing the band’s song Unbroken in regular rotation.
 
To hear more about Ashes Remain and What I’ve Become, check out their latest EPK at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62YiKOGTOak.