GMA Song of the Year Dove Award winning artist Tim Hughes releases his fourth, full-length studio album, Love Shine Through, today from Kingsway with EMI CMG Distribution in the US. Writer of “Here I Am To Worship,” “Beautiful One,” “Happy Day,” “Jesus Saves” and many more modern worship anthems sung by tens of millions every week in worship services around the world, Hughes’ first studio album in four years is being heralded by critics as his best album to date.
Produced by Martin Smith (Delirious?), Love Shine Through is Hughes’ most collaborative project yet, featuring co-writes with Smith, Stu G (Delirious?), Ben Cantelon, Phil Wickham, Nick Herbert, Nikki Fletcher and Keys Kraayenoord. Additional guest musicians adding their unique stamp on the album include members of Rend Collective Experiment on various instruments, Jesus Culture’s Kim Walker-Smith adding her distinct vocals, Michael Guy Chislet (Hillsong UNITED) on guitars, Josiah Sherman (The Listening) adding his keyboard work and Marc James (Vineyard, Verra Cruz) on slide guitar, background vocals. Additional backing voices on the album include: Jerry Brown, David Grant, Fay Simpson and Jesus House Gospel Choir. The album was mixed by Sam Gibson (Pearl Jam, Jesus Culture, Elvis Costello) and mastered at Abbey Road. There is also a bonus track, “At Your Name,” produced by Nathan Nockels (Brenton Brown, Chris Tomlin, Passion).
The first track on the new album, “Counting On Your Name,” written by Hughes, Herbert and Cantelon, is being offered as a free download this week by Gospel Music Channel (http://www.watchgmctv.com/music/download) and HearItFirst.com (http://www.hearitfirst.com/1clickdownloads/download.aspx?iid=1051093), where you can also hear a full stream of the album now. The song’s companion video is airing at broadcast outlets internationally and can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hwZnJdcJjU.
“The song captures so much of what faith comes down to; that we’re nothing without God. We try to rely on so many things - finances, health, friendship, love, sex, happiness, whatever - but none of these physical things are eternal. Only God is the one we can really depend on…I hope the song captures a sense of desperation, a rawness, a sense of it being all or nothing,” says Hughes.
Another standout song on the album, “Jesus Saves,” which was also recorded by Jeremy Camp and released as a radio single, received a Most Performed Song award during the 33rd Annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards held last month.
“Love Shine Through is both a prayer for change, and a statement of truth,” states Hughes. “In my walk with God and my expression of worship, I’ve been pushing myself to be more real, daring and honest. I guess these songs are an attempt to articulate that longing for more of God; that belief that He is everything and the desire that in all things, His love would shine through.”
The response to Hughes’ offering has gathered cover features from Worship Musician (May/June 2011) and Encounter Magazine (early 2012), as well as current or upcoming feature stories from CCM, NewReleaseTuesday.com (which is also streaming the album), Cross Rhythms, Baptist Standard and more. Here is what media are saying about Love Shine Through:
“It’s exciting to see Hughes put his beliefs into such magnificent action on Love Shine Through…his broadest and richest effort to date.” – Foursquare Leader
“Overall this album is a great mix of styles and sounds, with strong songs produced creatively…if this is how the fresh wave of worship is going to sound, then the future looks exciting. Tim hasn’t settled for a safe mediocre album. He has gone for songs that are bolder and stronger than anything he has written before; the most complete album Tim has ever made.” – Louder Than The Music 5-Star review
“This is one of the top worship albums of the year and the best overall album by Tim Hughes... Love Shine Through is chock-full of several great new worship anthems…” – NewReleaseTuesday.com
“Four years since his last release, Tim Hughes is back and going strong with powerful worship anthems adoring Jesus for saving us. He’s great at what he does, both musically and lyrically, and I wouldn’t be surprised if one or more songs on this record become worship service standards in the near future.” – Indie Vision Music
To listen to Hughes giving his first-person overview of the album, see the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTwdOc9kRNU&feature=youtube_gdata.
Artist-worshipper, songwriter, author and UK-native Tim Hughes encourages listeners to take worship further than Sunday morning by freely worshipping Christ in every thought, action and aspect of daily life. Having received two GMA Song of The Year Dove Awards for “Here I Am To Worship,” the song has also been recorded by artists such as Michael W. Smith, Chris Tomlin, Rebecca St. James, Jeremy Camp and Passion. The Director of Worship at London’s Holy Trinity Brompton (home of the Alpha Course), Hughes is also an acclaimed author of the Regal Books release, Holding Nothing Back.
More information on Hughes can be found at www.myspace.com/timhughesmusic, www.timhughesmusic.com and www.kingsway.co.uk.
GMA Song of the Year Dove Award winning artist Tim Hughes releases his fourth, full-length studio album, Love Shine Through, April 19 from Kingsway with EMI CMG Distribution in the US. Writer of “Here I Am To Worship,” “Beautiful One,” “Happy Day,” “Jesus Saves,” and many more modern worship anthems sung by tens of millions every week in worship services around the world, Hughes returns to the recording studio after a four-year hiatus. The album follows his acclaimed studio album Holding Nothing Back (2007) and live DVD/CD Happy Day (2009).
For the new album, Hughes was joined by longtime collaborators and Delirious? founders Martin Smith and Stu G, each playing an integral role on the new album post their Delirious? days. Stu G co-wrote the song “Wake Up” with Hughes, and Smith not only added his voice and songwriting talents, but also revealed his gifts as a producer for the album.
“Martin and I initially connected to write a few songs together, but then chatted and dreamed together,” says Hughes. “When I asked him to produce, he wasn’t sure - it was supposed to be a year where he could take time out following Delirious?, and he initially felt that he might just have input with the songs. A little later he agreed to help with the arrangements, and then - bit-by-bit - it felt right for him to produce. He seemed to really enjoy it, was hands on, and completely owned it.”
His most collaborative project ever, Hughes further co-writes for Love Shine Through with Ben Cantelon, Phil Wickham, Nick Herbert, Nikki Fletcher and Keys Kraayenoord. Additional guest musicians adding their unique stamp on the album include members of Rend Collective Experiment on various instruments, Jesus Culture’s Kim Walker-Smith adding her distinct vocals, Michael Guy Chislet (Hillsong UNITED) on guitars, Josiah Sherman (The Listening) adding his keyboard work and Marc James (Vineyard, Verra Cruz) on slide guitar, background vocals. Additional backing voices on the album include: Jerry Brown, David Grant, Fay Simpson and Jesus House Gospel Choir. The album was mixed by Sam Gibson (Pearl Jam, Jesus Culture, Elvis Costello) and mastered at Abbey Road. There is also a bonus track, “At Your Name,” produced by Nathan Nockels (Brenton Brown, Chris Tomlin, Passion).
“Some of these are people I often work with at live events, so it was great to be in the studio together,” Hughes explains. “Because of this we were able to be a bit more bold, to make more of an artistic album, one that captures a bit more beauty perhaps.”
“One of the comments we get back from Worship Central is that people love this sense of community,” adds Hughes, who founded Worship Central five years ago as a way to train and equip worship leaders, musicians and worshippers (www.worshipcentral.org). “People crave community, and music needs to have an element of this…I hope the resulting album [Love Shine Through] is a collection of songs that the whole church can sing, but that are honest and vulnerable as well.”
The first single from the new album, “Counting On Your Name,” written by Hughes, Herbert and Cantelon, is being serviced to radio this month. “The song captures so much of what faith comes down to; that we’re nothing without God. We try to rely on so many things - finances, health, friendship, love, sex, happiness, whatever - but none of these physical things are eternal. Only God is the one we can really depend on…I hope the song captures a sense of desperation, a rawness, a sense of it being all or nothing,” says Hughes.
Having spent the last five years helping lead Worship Central and traveling the world to resource and equip the church, Hughes reflects that the modern worship movement is in a period of change. “I feel like we’re on the cusp of a fresh move with worship,” he explains. “In some ways it feels like we’ve got a bit stale, maybe we’re in danger of settling on a formula in congregational worship. There’s been a great challenge of late for pursuing excellence in production, visuals, lights and a bigger use of creativity, which I love. My only fear is that we miss the raw, messy, Spirit-led type of worship that leads people to engage with God.”
That sense of change distills into the new offering from Hughes and his band of collaborators. The album is meant to be relevant to the wider church, while simultaneously personal as it deals with real emotions alongside foundational truths like salvation, the goodness of God and the potential of the local church.
“Love Shine Through is both a prayer for change, and a statement of truth,” says Hughes. “In my walk with God and my expression of worship, I’ve been pushing myself to be more real, daring and honest. I guess these songs are an attempt to articulate that longing for more of God; that belief that He is everything and the desire that in all things His love would shine through.”
The full Love Shine Through track listing follows:
1. Counting On Your Name
2. God Is Coming
3. Never Stop Singing
4. Saviour’s Song
5. All Glory
6. At Your Name (Forever)
7. Jesus Saves
8. Love Shine Through
9. Keep The Faith
10. Wake Up
11. Ecclesiastes
12. At Your Name
Artist-worshipper, songwriter, author and UK-native Tim Hughes encourages listeners to take worship further than Sunday morning by freely worshipping Christ in every thought, action and aspect of daily life. Having received two GMA Song of The Year Dove Awards for “Here I Am To Worship,” the song has also been recorded by artists such as Michael W. Smith, Chris Tomlin, Rebecca St. James, Jeremy Camp and Passion. The Director of Worship at London’s Holy Trinity Brompton (home of the Alpha Course), Hughes is also an acclaimed author of the Regal Books release, Holding Nothing Back.
More information on Hughes can be found at www.myspace.com/timhughesmusic, www.timhughesmusic.com and www.kingsway.co.uk.
Modern worship songwriter, two-time Song of the Year GMA Dove Award winning artist Tim Hughes releases in the U.S. his first-ever live DVD/CD, Happy Day, Oct. 20 on Kingsway with distribution by EMI CMG.
Directed by Andy Hutch (Delirious?, Darlene Zschech, Matt Redman), produced by Nathan Nockels (Chris Tomlin, Passion, Point Of Grace) and mixed by Sam Gibson (Pearl Jam, dc Talk, Crowded House), the high-energy, celebratory Happy Day was recorded live before a capacity crowd at the famous London venue, Shepherds Bush Empire. Opening with the brand new corporate anthem “Jesus Saves,” the recording features a combination of favorite worship songs and brand new tunes written by Hughes, 12 in all on both DVD and CD.
For the recording, Hughes led an acclaimed team of worship musicians, with Delirious? members Stu G handling guitar work for the CD/DVD and frontman Martin Smith joining Hughes on his No. 1 CCLI song, “Here I Am To Worship.” Also featured on the rousing “Dance” are rappers from The 29th Chapter and the dance team Sacred.
Tim Hughes has led worship for tens of thousands across the globe and currently has four top songs on the CCLI charts, all featured on Happy Day: “Here I Am To Worship,” “Beautiful One,” “Happy Day” and “Consuming Fire.”
The new songs on Happy Day, in addition to “Jesus Saves,” are “Remember,” “Give Us Your Courage” and “We Won’t Stay Silent,” which is also featured on the CompassionArt: Creating Freedom from Poverty recording. All the royalties ever received from this song will go to benefit the poorest of the poor.
Besides the music, the high definition, 56-minute DVD includes Hughes telling the story behind some of the songs, teaching how to play select new songs and giving suggestions for leading worship. It also contains worship visuals and a talk from Soul Survivor’s Mike Pilavachi.
Calling the CD/DVD “easily, the best live worship recording of the year,” Worship Leader Magazine goes on to say, “…the massive British sound and expansive approach to worship that includes both proclaiming the truth and moving beyond the walls of the Church, make this an excellent release for all worshipers.”
To see video clips and photos from the DVD, hear music from the CD, receive a free music download and more, click on this link: Tim Hughes Ecard.
The full DVD and CD track listing follows:
Jesus Saves
Beautiful One
Give Us Your Courage
Here I Am To Worship
Remember
Happy Day
Dance
Consuming Fire
Everything
We Won’t Stay Silent
God Of Justice
When I Survey
Artist-worshipper, songwriter, author and UK-native Tim Hughes encourages listeners to take worship further than Sunday morning by freely worshipping Christ in every thought, action and aspect of daily life. He has written songs sung by millions each week in churches and concert venues across the world. Having received two GMA Song of The Year Dove Awards for “Here I Am To Worship,” which has also been recorded by artists such as Michael W. Smith, Chris Tomlin, Rebecca St. James, Jeremy Camp, Passion and more, Hughes further heads up Worship Central, a new school of worship to train and equip worship leaders, musicians and worshippers (www.worshipcentral.org). The Director of Worship at London’s Holy Trinity Brompton, Hughes is also an acclaimed author of the Regal Books release, Holding Nothing Back.
More information on Hughes can be found at www.myspace.com/timhughesmusic, www.timhughesmusic.com and www.kingsway.co.uk.
