Award-winning songwriter and renowned leader Matt Redman, along with LZ7, will release his powerful new single, “ Twenty Seven Million,”on February 28. Available for purchase on iTunes ® and all major digital retailers, “Twenty Seven Million” was written by Matt and Beth Redman with Lindz and Lucy West (LZ7) to raise awareness against human trafficking and in proud support of the A21 campaign, a partner organization at Passion 2012 this year.
 
" Twenty Seven Million" started as a conversation between Beth Redman (You Never Let Go and Blessed Be Your Name co-writer) and Christine Caine (founder of the A21 Campaign). Beth was shocked to discover that an estimated 27 million people are trapped as modern day slaves, and of those millions it is estimated that only 1% - 2% are rescued. By way of response Beth collaborated with her husband Matt, as well as husband and wife Lindz and Lucy West (LZ7), Willie Weeks and Jorge Mhondera to write ‘Twenty Seven Million’ - a song which tells the true story of a girl trafficked from Eastern Europe into London’s sex trade.
 
"If public attention and opinion is focused on something, then those in positions of influence soon follow,” explains Matt Redman. “Music has always had a great way of communicating, and we really hope this song will shine a light on this outrageous issue. How can it be that right now there are 27 million slaves on the earth?  It's horrific.”
 
 “It should be intolerable that any form of slavery still exists in the twenty-first century,” says Steve Chalke, United Nations GIFT Special Advisor on Community Action Against Human Trafficking. “Our indifference to the crime of human trafficking diminishes us all. Those who have no voice of their own wait on us to raise our voices and fight for their liberation. 'Twenty Seven Million' is a call to respond. Buy the single, raise the cry and stop the traffic.”

A21, which stands for Abolishing Injustice in the 21st Century, is a non-profit organization established in 2007.  With its primary focus in Europe, A21 works closely with police officials, hospitals and government officials to seek justice for victims of human trafficking and provides shelter, medical care, psychological assessment, educational assistance, counseling and access to legal assistance to those who have been rescued.
 
“Twenty Seven Million” was first promoted when Redman debuted it live at Passion 2012 in front of an audience of nearly 45,000 students at The Georgia Dome. Upon its official release, the single will also be promoted through Passion, Redman and Sparrow social networking sites, which have nearly 385,000 followers combined. Redman has also launched “The 27 Million Tour,” which began in Manchester, England, on February 14 and will end in Peterborough, England, on March 2.
 
"We couldn't be more honored to lend our voices, along with 45,000 others at Passion 2012, to ‘Twenty Seven Million,’ a soundtrack for freedom for those trapped in slavery throughout the world,” state Passion co-founders Louie and Shelly Giglio. “It's absolutely shocking and totally unacceptable that more slaves exist today than at any other time in history. ‘Twenty Seven Million’ is a massive wake up call, sounding the hope of a generation that will rise up and speak up until light crushes the darkness and liberty comes for all."

Passion 2012 was a four-day gathering for college students and was led by renowned teachers Louie Giglio, John Piper, Francis Chan, and Beth Moore, among others, as well as worship leaders Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill, and more. Throughout the four day gathering, nearly 45,000 students representing 31 countries and over 1,700 campuses learned about the horrific realities faced by the 27 million people worldwide who are enslaved as forced laborers, child laborers or trapped within the all- too prevalent sex trade.
 

GRAMMY® nominated worship artist Matt Redman’s newest project, 10,000 Reasons, available nationwide, is receiving praise from critics across the board. The album also made a strong debut upon its release, dominating the charts by taking the No. 1 spot on iTunes ® Christian Albums Chart and placing in the Top 15 on iTunes ® overall albums chart. 10,000 Reasons adds eleven new worship anthems to Redman’s catalogue that already includes favorites sung in churches worldwide such as “Blessed Be Your Name,” “Heart of Worship,” and “You Never Let Go.”
 
The new album, with songs co-written by Jonas Myrin (“Our God,” “You Alone Can Rescue”) and Jason Ingram (“Give Me Your Eyes,” “By Your Side”), is already proving to be a hit with an extensive online and print feature in  Christianity Today, along with receiving critical acclaim from New Release Tuesday, About.com, Worship Leader Magazine and more as evidenced below:
 
“10,000 Reasons is one of the best worship albums of the year. Matt Redman enthusiastically sings Brit-rock style praise and worship and every single song could be added to your Sunday morning worship set.” -New Release Tuesday
 
“Sincere and honest lyrics, unquestionable passion, an authenticity that plugs you right into the Throne Room, exquisite musicianship ... and that is just touching the tip of the iceberg!” –About.com
 
“10,000 Reasons is a worship experience. Ultimately, Matt Redman realized his strongest sense of self on this project: the self only truly found in transparent, vulnerable cries of self-surrender.” –Worship Leader Magazine
 
In support the album’s first single, “Never Once,” which is making its mark at radio now, Redman recently visited radio stations KLOVE and KSBJ. Earlier this week, Redman also presented his new project to numerous radio personnel  at a special event held in Atlanta.
 
While in Atlanta, he took some time to lead worship at his home church in the U.S., Passion City Church, pastored by Passion founder and director Louie Giglio.
 
For more information on Matt Redman, please visit  www.mattredman.com.
 

Prolific worship leader and GRAMMY ® nominated singer/songwriter Matt Redman has been giving life to worship songs for over fifteen years. Penning church favorites such as “Blessed Be Your Name,” “Heart of Worship” and “You Never Let Go” to the more recent  "Our God," and “You Alone Can Rescue” he has led worship for thousands at Passion conferences and events held around the globe. This summer Redman will continue unleashing inventive anthems for the church on his eighth album sixstepsrecords release 10,000 Reasons available July 12.
 
Though Redman moved back to the United Kingdom in August 2010, he returned to Atlanta earlier this year to record 10,000 Reasons with over 1,000 worship leaders from across the country during LIFT: A Worship Leader Collective, put on by Passion City Church and sixstepsrecords.
 
The live recording makes this album what it is: “There’s something that happens in the worshipping, singing church that you don’t find anywhere else on the face of the earth … I hope people end up hearing that on the album; it hopefully gives some life to the songs,” says Redman.
 
Redman co-wrote with many friends on this album including Jonas Myrin, Jason Ingram, Chris Tomlin, Matt Maher, Tim Wanstall and Jesse Reeves. Many of the songs were born in Brighton, England, a town where Redman and his family are serving as active parts of a congregation reaching out to those in that city.
                        
Redman’s crossover experience with the American and British church has affected his songwriting, particularly now that he attends this Brighton church plant: “With a new church, you’re very mindful of the un-churched coming in,” explains the father of five. “You have to find ways to not water down your faith but to be lyrically as accessible as possible. That’s an endless challenge. It makes me always want to keep the cross front and center.”
 
Not all of the eleven songs on 10,000 Reasons were inspired in the Redmans’ new Brighton locale. “Never Once,” the first single from the new album, began in the Redmans’ Atlanta home, where he and his family lived for two years helping plant Passion City Church with friends Chris Tomlin and Louie and Shelley Giglio. Returning to Atlanta to see to their house still on the market, Redman found himself standing in his family’s now empty kitchen with guitar in hand. He was alone with no sound of children around, no furniture or wall-hangings, only the echo of guitar strings. Redman had time to think: “I looked over twenty plus years of being a Christian—so much battle and so much blessing. I just had a sense of the utter faithfulness of God.”
 
With as impressive a track record as one worship leader can have, writing songs that have earned numerous awards, publishing books, including his upcoming book Mirror Ball in stores July 1, and belonging to one of the most impacting worship movements this century, Redman has managed to keep himself out of it and place Christ in the center of it. After years of experience, the worship leader concluded, “You can have clever chord progressions. You can work hard at getting some sort of nice sounding lyrics, but at the end, I just want a song that connects people with God.”
 
For more information on Matt Redman, please visit www.mattredman.com.
 

Award-winning songwriter, recording artist Matt Redman has written 17 Top 500 CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International) songs that are being sung by millions in church services every week around the world.  A dozen of these songs are featured on Redman’s 14-song Ultimate Collection releasing April 20, 2010 from Kingsway with EMI CMG Distribution.

Named the 2009 “Christian Songwriter of the Year” ASCAP Award winner, called “one of the most prolific songwriters in the history of the church” by Chris Tomlin, and praised as “one of the most gifted contemporary worship songwriters” by Christianity Today, the songs of Matt Redman for this collection were selected with great care.

“For a singer, songwriter and worship leader like Matt Redman, choosing the ‘ultimate collection’ wasn’t easy,” says Steve Nicolle, Director of Kingsway in North America. “With a catalogue of songs that has brought in four Dove Awards and birthed ten solo full-length albums, there is plenty to choose from. The Ultimate Collection draws together elements that are intimate and inspiring, songs that that connect with Christians on the deepest levels and have helped change the sound of worship for an entire generation.”

From “Blessed Be Your Name” to “The Heart Of Worship” to “Better Is One Day,” the full Ultimate Collection track listing follows:
 
You Never Let Go
Blessed Be Your Name
Once Again
Nothing But The Blood
Dancing Generation
Shine
The Heart Of Worship
Facedown
Let Everything That Has Breath
Lord Let Your Glory Fall
I Will Offer Up My Life
Better Is One Day
The Father’s Song
Yes And Amen
 

Leading a generation of worshipers, Redman’s songs have been recorded by artists such as Michael W. Smith, Rebecca St. James, Tree 63, Kutless and Passion, among others. Mark Hall of Casting Crowns says, “Matt Redman has always been one of my favorites because he writes amazing worship songs for the church.”

More Matt Redman information can be found at www.kingsway.co.uk/survivor.

Nashville, TN…August 28, 2009…sixstepsrecords’ recording artist Matt Redman is the face behind some of the most often sung songs in the church, with 17 of his songs listed in the top 100 songs on the CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International) Chart, including “Blessed Be Your Name,” and “The Heart of Worship.”  Earlier this week Redman released his seventh studio album We Shall Not Be Shaken and it is attracting attention from some recognizable faces:
"Matt Redman has always been one of my favorites because he writes amazing worship songs for the church. The passion and intimacy make this record his best yet!"  - Mark Hall – Casting Crowns

"I have the highest respect and admiration for my friend Matt Redman.  It is not a stretch to say that Matt is one of the most prolific songwriters in the history of the church.  We have enjoyed many years together now of writing songs that would bless the church and have spent many days on the road traveling together.  Now it is my high honor to be alongside Matt as we plant a new church together.  With all of our past history, I believe the best is still yet to come!  This definitely includes Matt's new recording, We Shall Not Be Shaken.  Song for song, I believe it's Matt's strongest record yet.  I look forward to seeing how these songs bring life and hope to our church locally and to the ends of the earth."
- Chris Tomlin
The album is proving to be another profound release from the celebrated singer/songwriter receiving praise from critics across the board:

“It is tailor-made for worship leaders in church, and it never feels like it is supposed to be a big performance or spectacle, but instead begs to be joined in on and sung along with in honest and reverent worship.”—HollywoodJesus.com

“It's this mindset that once again makes Redman stand out as one of the most gifted contemporary worship song writers. We Shall Not Be Shaken is a treasure chest of genuine, passionate worship songs that are still accessible to your church's worship team.”--ChristianityToday.com
 
“One of my top albums of 2009 and the best overall album by Matt Redman in my opinion”-Christianmusicreview.org

With the launch of a new website, Redman shares the stories behind some of the songs on the latest release, including the title track.  To view the video blogs visit: http://www.mattredman.com.
 
Redman and his band will travel across the states with Casting Crowns on the 41-city “Until The Whole World Hears Tour.”  To see if Redman is coming to a city near you, visit www.mattredman.com.