Critically acclaimed singer and songwriter Jenny Simmons, who helmed the Dove Award-nominated band Addison Road, will unveil her debut solo album early next year. The project, The Becoming, will release on February 12, 2013, and will be preceded by the lead radio single, "Heaven Waits For Me," which goes for adds at radio on Sept. 14th.
Partnering with her long-time record label, Fair Trade Services, and the masterful production skills of Paul Moak (Mat Kearney, Third Day) and Seth Mosley (Newsboys), Simmons penned The Becoming in the wake of Addison Road deciding to amicably disband. After years of touring and giving Christian music fans powerful songs such as "Hope Now," "What Do I Know of Holy," "All That Matters" and "This Little Light of Mine," the decade-old band is stepping off the stage.
"As a band, we have collectively decided to put a definite end to Addison Road," she states. Simmons, who started the band with her then-fiancee, Ryan (now husband of 10 years), at Baylor University in 2000 says its the best break-up she’s ever been a part of. “I hate break-ups, but this was as beautiful as a split can be! The guys were tired of living out of buses and leaving their families behind. In our case it was taking a toll on our marriage to raise our daughter on the road, work together, and then try and be married at the end of the day. After our 2010 tour with Tenth Avenue North and Matt Maher, it became clear to each of us that God was releasing us from Addison Road and ushering each of us as individuals into new seasons.”
The Texas-based band debuted with their self-titled record in 2008 that garnered the band their first Dove nomination for Best New Artist, was featured as an iTunes® Discovery Download and garnered a No. 1 single with "All That Matters." They released their critically acclaimed sophomore album, Stories, in 2010, which featured the hit single "Fight Another Day."
Since her emergence on the music scene, Simmons’ vocal abilities have impressed critics and fans alike, lending an honest and authentic voice to lyrics that hit listeners with disarming relevance. Media outlets have described her vocals as "vulnerable and sincere" (ChristianMusicReview.org), as well as "piercing and chameleon" (Phantom Tollbooth).
"I believe in every single word and note on the album," Simmons explains in regard to The Becoming. "I believe this project is exactly what I am supposed to say to the world, and I'm so excited to share it with everyone."
Simmons will mark her solo debut with a performance on August 12th at Live Oak Music Hall & Lounge in Fort Worth, Tex. For more information, please visit JennySimmons.com.
INO Records’ Dove nominated band Addison Road released their highly anticipated sophomore album Stories on June 22 and if the critics are any indication, Stories is exceeding everyone’s expectations:
“This is one of the top 5 albums of the year-a 5 star album. If you liked Addison Road’s debut album, then you’ll absolutely LOVE Stories. This is an excellent album and I can’t get enough of the musical hooks, Jenny’s vulnerable and sincere vocals and the extremely poignant lyrics.” -ChristianMusicReview.org
“Stories is an album that will likely bring Addison Road to the top of music charts in the Christian categories” –ChristianPost.com
“With Stories, Addison Road is poised to become the next MercyMe, and is quite likely soon to discover the rewards of perseverance. Very highly recommended.” –The-Trades.com
“Addison Road transforms their tribulation into triumph on a healthy—and highly-anticipated—sophomore set.”-Christianitytoday.com
“Addison Road’s Stories is a disc of stories of faithfulness and brokenness and an overall great album.”-Hollywoodjesus.com
Fans are also fancying the new album as the record skyrocketed to No. 2 on iTunes ® Christian Chart and in the Top 50 Overall Albums Chart.
With their debut single “Fight Another Day” continuing to climb the charts, the song is currently No. 7 on Billboard’s CHR Chart, No. 16 on AC Indicator and in the Top 25 on AC Monitored.
The female-fronted band recently went out on the road to visit their friends at radio in major cities including Tulsa, OK, Indianapolis, and Chicago, while also hosting free concerts celebrating their album release. Additionally, they made time to stop by LeSea Broadcasting studios and performed a few of their new songs on “Live at Studio B.”
This fall, Addison Road will continue sharing their stories to audiences around the country on The Light Meets Dark Tour also featuring Tenth Avenue North and Matt Maher.
For more information on Addison Road please visit www.addisonroad.com.
It has been two years since Texas natives Addison Road made their debut with their self-titled record home of the hits ”All That Matters,” “What Do I know of Holy,” and “Hope Now.” Now on June 22, the Dove nominated band will release their highly anticipated sophomore album Stories.
The songs on Stories became part of a theme without the band realizing it, a theme the members would soon experience quite personally. Their first single “Fight Another Day,” written by Grammy winning lyricist, TobyMac, is climbing to the top on the radio charts. Having released just a few weeks ago it has already placed at No. 11 on CHR, No. 21 on AC Indicator and No. 22 on AC Monitored. Additionally, it is being played on 60 stations across America including Air 1, Way-FM and in major markets such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Portland and Baltimore. The song’s lyrics hit close to home as the band were the victims of a devastating fire in which they lost all of their equipment and personal belongings just a few months ago.
“We’ve never done anybody else’s song, ever, but he felt sure the song sounded like us,” says lead singer Jenny Simmons.“We had no idea when we recorded lines about feeling the flames when the fire gets hot that we would actually have everything we own literally burn up in a fire.”
“These songs have been the picture of our year,” she continues. “The theme – fighting another day, persevering, getting to the end of your own plans and recognizing that God is going to do something beautiful – we’ve lived that out this year.”
Change is a fact of life for the band. Since their last album, Simmons and her husband Ryan have welcomed their baby girl, Anniston and just last week guitarist Ryan Gregg and his wife are the new proud parents of Lila Kate Gregg. Newlywed drummer Jeff Sutton decided to leave the band and finish his teaching degree; a highly-publicized search for a new drummer was conducted on YouTube, with audition tapes posted from around the world. Bass player Travis Lawrence, has continued to expand his design work, doing artwork for the band as well as other artists. He's also picked up banjo and harmonica, both of which are featured on Stories.
Grammy-nominated Chris Stevens (Matthew West, TobyMac, Big Daddy Weave) returns to handle production on Stories, developing songs with memorable hooks and driving beats. Simmons’ vocal abilities continue to impress, lending an honest and authentic voice to lyrics that hit listeners with disarming relevance.
It’s as if God has brought them through an arduous mountain climb so they can deliver these Stories with genuineness, and remind their listeners that the climb may be difficult, but you can see a lot of good things once you’ve reached the top.
Just one week into their spring tour, 30-minutes before they were going to the take the stage in Vegas, Addison Road received a disturbing call from their bus driver saying their RV and trailer were up in flames. Within seconds after the driver had pulled off to the side of the deserted road, the entire vehicle erupted in flames destroying all of the band’s sound equipment, instruments and personal belongings. The flames were so powerful that the highway was shut down for multiple hours to control the fire, which had melted the concrete underneath it. Immediately, Addison Road received an outpouring of love and support from churches, friends, family, fans and Christian radio helping the band restore what was lost in the accident. As a result, all of the bands’ needs have been met above and beyond measure, and for that they are truly humbled and grateful.
Addison Road shared this devastating experience with their fans on their website and blogs and soon a flow of prayers, money, clothes and other miscellaneous items began to pour in.
“We are completely blown away by the generosity, love and support we have received from the body of Christ,” said lead singer Jenny Simmons. “Through your financial donations, personal stories, prayers, and reminders of so many beautiful passages of scripture, you have not only met our needs physically but you have been a part of restoring or souls and re-igniting a passion for our ministry as a band. We are incredibly humbled to know that we have played a small part in your lives and overwhelmed with gratitude and joy that you have played a HUGE part in ours.”
“It’s crazy because when we sing our songs, the words we are singing hit home for us,” continues Simmons. “Everything does lie on ‘hope now,’ and there is a new song on our record that really makes us laugh because of how true it stands:
‘And do you feel the fire when the flame gets hot, are you living each day like it’s the last you’ve got, Will you step aside when it all falls down and watch it burn away, Have a little faith when the walls cave in, Pray for strength to fly against the wind, Will you walk away when the fire gets hot, Or fight another day.’
The fact of the matter is, we all have plans whether it’s a plan for tomorrow or for years to come, but God has other plans. When things don’t go as you hope them to, you have two choices: to hang your head low in defeat, or fight it out and get through it because God will get you through. We chose to fight.”
Desiring to be wise stewards, the entirety of the donations have gone directly to:
• Cover the unexpected rental cars, hotel fees, and RV maintenance, which preceded and directly followed the fire.
• Paying for new band merchandise
• Covering the cost of new gear and sound equipment
• A new vehicle
To find out more updates as they happen, please visit www.addisonroad.com.
