For the second year in a row Eddy “Rawsrvnt” Puyol will bring his unique Hip-Hop Worship style to THE STORY Tour.
Presented by World Vision, the event is billed as a Christmas celebration with carols and a musical journey from Genesis to Revelation. It features a full choir and orchestra led by musical director Bernie Herms and songs from Casting Crowns’ Mark Hall, Jeremy Camp,Natalie Grant, Matthew West, Nichole Nordeman, and Selah.
Renowned author and pastor Randy Frazee co-wrote THE STORY project’s book component with Max Lucado and will be on the tour each night to bring its message to life.
“My world collided with Eddy’s (Rawsrvnt) world at THE STORY Tour 2011. He introduced me to the wonderful space of hip-hop as each evening he brought the house down with his performance,” Frazee said. “But, what blew me away the most is the man I got to know off stage. Eddy Puyol is the real deal with a heart of heavenly gold.”
In addition to traveling with the group for last year’s event, Rawsrvnt also performed THE STORY medley on the 43rd Dove Awards national telecast <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2GJbzDJdKg> .
“Last year I heard Natalie Grant say that I raised the ‘cool factor’ of the tour,” Rawsrvnt said with a smile.
“She’s super cool and I’m looking forward to celebrating this joyous season with the audience and some of our faith’s most talented musicians.”
2012 Tour Dates
11/23 Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY
11/24 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
11/25 Gwinnett Center, Duluth, GA
11/26 USF Sun Dome, Tampa, FL
11/27 Colonial Center, Columbia, SC
11/29 Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
11/30 University of Illinois Assembly Hall, Champaign, IL
12/1 Independence Event Center, Independence, MO
12/2 Xcel Center, St. Paul, MN
12/3 Sioux Falls Arena, Sioux Falls, SD
12/4 Sears Centre Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL
12/6 Berry Center, Cypress, TX
12/7 American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
12/8 Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, TX
B.Reith returns with a highly anticipated full-length album, “How the Story Ends”, on 11-1-11, following his 2009 hit “Now is Not Forever”. Reith is a one-man music juggernaut – he writes, raps, sings, and produces – but this new album finds him teaming up with an all-star supporting cast featuring hip-hop phenomenon Lecrae, Grammy™-nominated songwriter Lisa Gungor, indie-pop sensation Dave Barnes, and PJ Morton, an R&B star who is a touring member of Maroon 5. If all that wasn’t enough, four new songs feature mixes by Grammy™ winner Craig Bauer (Kanye West).
It speaks to Reith’s versatility that his collaborators hail from such a multitude of musical genres. This is music that defies a neat label from an artist who long ago broke down any walls of expectation built around him by an industry that didn’t quite know what to make of his many talents. His silky-smooth pop vocals complement his effortless rhymes in songs that are somehow accessible to the masses. “I do music because it burns in me,” Reith declares. “There’s something in me that is wired in such a way that I must do it.” In efforts to better tell Reith’s story, watch his brand new mini-documentary: HTTP://BIT.LY/ONOVCR
“B.Reith’s new record is great! I don’t know anyone who can so seamlessly move between musical genres like Pop, Hip-Hop, Rap, WHATEVER and not sound like he’s trying too hard. The first single “Simple Days” is going to be a sure fire hit for us here at NGEN Radio and I can’t wait to see where this record will take him next.”
-Carlos Aguiar, Program Director, NGEN Radio/KSBJ (Houston, TX)
It was Reith’s musical passion that was recognized by accomplished artist and artist manager, Calvin Nowell (Gungor, B.Reith), whose Nside Entertainment has once again partnered with Reith to launch the new album. Nowell couldn’t be more excited about the project. “I believe B.Reith has delivered his best music to date. It is very relevant to the current pop/hip-hop music culture. Most people struggle to produce a diverse sound, but B.Reith is an artist that does it naturally. Therefore, it was very easy to step to the plate and support a project that I firmly believe many people will love.”
With “How the Story Ends”, Reith has expanded his sound just as he expands his audience. Already a concert veteran touring with the likes of TobyMac, Jars of Clay, and Relient K, Reith has recently been a part of the Misfit Tour featuring Da’ T.R.U.T.H. and BET regular, Mali Music. The response of these new urban audiences has been overwhelming, and it’s sure to grow when the new album drops.
Lastly, Reith is as honest and real as ever in his lyrics, but he offers something missing in so much of hip hop and pop music: hope. Reith offers not just sympathy but recognition, affirmation, and most of all, an answer. See, B.Reith knows how the story ends.
With a ‘who’s who’ line-up, one might expect nothing less than five-star reviews for the monumental project (Music Inspired By) The Story available nationwide . Such is the case as it released this week debuting at No. 1 on iTunes® Christian & Gospel Album Chart with critics nationwide singing its praises:
“This is the most inspiring and emotionally stirring collection of songs I’ve ever heard. There’s something for everyone: Chris Tomlin, MercyMe, Jeremy Camp, Mandisa, Francesca Battistelli, Lecrae and eighteen other artists all brilliantly bring us to the throne room by passionately performing these soul-piercing songs perfectly orchestrated by Nichole Nordeman and Bernie Herms. This is a five star compilation that needs to be heard and experienced.”--NewReleaseTuesday.com
“Nordeman's songwriting is top-notch, as she handles her storytelling delicately, expounding enough to give dimension without embellishing to fit an agenda. Human struggle with feelings of entitlement, questions of destiny, hope in God's promises, and the desire to be part of a meaningful framework make these characters accessible even to listeners unfamiliar with the stories.”-Christianitytoday.com.
“Featuring the most beautiful voices in music (Brandon Heath, Francesca Battistelli, Matthew West, Leigh Nash and many more), each and every track paints a sweeping picture of scripture from the perspective of its characters."-CCM Magazine
“Music Inspired By The Story is an extremely creative idea, …what Nordeman and Herms have created is truly remarkable. One of the better compilations of the year, The Story is well worth diving into.”-Jesusfreakhideout.com
Furthermore, in-depth interviews with the critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Nichole Nordeman, who penned all 18 tracks on the musically diverse album, can be found at Yahoo.com , in CCM Magazine and Christianity Today.
This was an experience that Nordeman will never forget: “As a songwriter, being involved in The Story has been, without a doubt, the most fulfilled I've ever felt creatively,” says Nordeman. “To be charged with giving Biblical icons a modern voice and then to get a front row seat as those songs are brought to life by such gifted artists, was an honor I could never have imagined. As Bernie and I wrestled with these songs, I was reminded daily, sometimes hourly, that Scripture was meant to live and breathe in our lives. Not as mere history or cultural context, but as bold evidence that God really does long to be the Author of our own pages. This experience has deeply changed my own story, both as an artist and a Christian.”
(Music Inspired By) The Story is the first release from the revolutionary partnership between EMI CMG, Provident Label Group, Word Entertainment, Zondervan, World Vision, Proper Management and CAA. The 2-disc album was built on the foundation of Zondervan's best-selling Bible, The Story, Randy Frazee's book The Heart Of The Story and Max Lucado's Book God's Story Your Story, and features a top-notch cast Matthew West, Leigh Nash, Mark Hall & Megan Garrett (Casting Crowns), Brandon Heath, Bart Millard (MercyMe), Michael Tait (Newsboys), Blanca Callahan (Group 1 Crew), Lecrae, Nichole Nordeman, Amy Grant, Chris Tomlin, Peter Furler, Mandisa, Todd Smith (Selah), Francesca Battistelli, Mac Powell (Third Day), Steven Curtis Chapman, Natalie Grant, Dan Haseltine (Jars of Clay), Matt Hammitt (Sanctus Real), Jeremy Camp, Michael W. Smith and Darlene Zschech. See full track/artist listing below.
Produced by the esteemed Brown Bannister and acclaimed Bernie Herms, all of the 18 new songs Nordeman wrote from a first-person perspective based on principle biblical characters and accounts telling God's story from Creation to The Second Coming.
"When I first started working on The Story, I made a ‘dream list’ of 24 artists who I wanted to be part of this project,” says Executive Producer Norman Miller. “God showed us tremendous favor, because we ended up with 22 of these 24 artists singing on the record. I believe that Nichole wrote the best lyrics of her life and Bernie matched her every step of the way with wonderful melodies. Brown Bannister and Bernie Herms were the ultimate production team and this has resulted in The Story being my favorite record of all time".
In support of the album, a new website has launched, www.thestorycd.com where fans can access exclusive video content, the latest breaking news and more.
Additionally, fans can see The Story come to life this December as Lucado and Frazee join multi-platinum selling artist Steven Curtis Chapman, award-winning band Newsboys, Francesca Battistelli, Natalie Grant and other artists featured on the album will travel around the country on “The Story Tour." Sponsored by World Vision "The Story Tour" will be a fully produced multi-media experience with the artists performing the album in its entirety and will include stunning visuals to accompany every song projected on a massive screen encompassing the entire stage. See full list of tour dates below.
For more information on (Music Inspired By) The Story, please visit www.thestorycd.com.
(Music Inspired By) The Story Track Listing:
Disc 1
1) CREATION (“I Am”) - Overture
2) ADAM/EVE (“Good”) - Matthew West & Leigh Nash (Sixpence None The Richer)
3) ABRAHAM/SARAH (“Who But You”) - Mark Hall & Megan Garrett (Casting Crowns)
4) JOSEPH (“Bend”) - Brandon Heath
5) MOSES (“It Must Be You”) - Bart Millard (MercyMe)
6) JOSHUA (“Bring Us Home”) - Michael Tait, Blanca Callahan (Group1Crew), Lecrae
7) RUTH/NAOMI (“I'm With You”) - Nichole Nordeman & Amy Grant
8) DAVID (“Your Heart”) - Chris Tomlin
9) DANIEL (“No Compromise”) - Peter Furler
10) ESTHER (“Born For This”) - Mandisa
11) JOB (“Broken Praise”) - Todd Smith (Selah)
Disc 2
1) MARY (“Be Born In Me”) - Francesca Battistelli
2) JESUS (“When Love Sees You”) - Mac Powell (Third Day)
3) THIEF (“How Love Wins”) - Steven Curtis Chapman
4) MARY MAGDALENE (“Alive”) - Natalie Grant
5) DISCIPLES (“Empty”) - Dan Haseltine (Jars of Clay) & Matt Hammitt (Sanctus Real)
6) PAUL (“Move In Me”) - Jeremy Camp
7) SECOND COMING (“The Great Day”) - Michael W. Smith & Darlene Zschech
"The Story Tour" Dates:
* all dates subject to change
December 1 – Wichita, KS
December 2 – Dallas, TX
December 3 – Tulsa, OK
December 7 – Orlando, FL
December 8 – Atlanta, GA
December 9 – Winston-Salem, NC
December 10 – Va Beach, VA
December 11 – Woodbridge, VA (Washington DC area)
December 15 – Grand Rapids, MI
December 16 – Chicago, IL
December 17 – Minneapolis, MN
December 18 – Kansas City, MO
After selling out the majority of spring dates across the country, “The Story of Your Life Tour” with headliner Matthew West joined by Jonny Diaz will embark on a limited run of the popular tour this October. The string of shows will hit over a dozen markets including stops in Tennessee, New Hampshire, Maine, Illinois and Texas.
The tour’s namesake comes from West’s latest and best-selling album as well as his newest book The Story of Your Life: Inspiring Stories of God at Work in People Just Like You. West partnered with best selling women’s author Angela Thomas for the book which will release in September with Harvest House Publishers. Both projects were inspired from 10,000 real-life stories that West received ranging in topics of bullying, divorce, adoption and more.
West’s latest radio single “Strong Enough” has landed in the top 5 on both the AC-Indicator and National Christian Audience charts, and in the top 10 at AC-Monitored. He will release his first, full-length Christmas album, The Heart of Christmas, this October with Sparrow Records/EMI CMG.
In an unprecedented partnership between EMI CMG, Provident Label Group, Word Entertainment, Zondervan, World Vision, Proper Management and CAA, comes a new project entitled (Music Inspired By) THE STORY releasing September 27. Built on the foundation of Zondervan's best-selling Bible, The Story, Randy Frazee's book The Heart Of The Story and Max Lucado's Book God's Story Your Story, the new 2-CD set and DVD contains 18 new songs written by GMA Dove Award-Winners Nichole Nordeman and Bernie Herms based on principle biblical characters and stories telling God's story from Creation to The Second Coming. The complete artist-line up is nothing short of stellar featuring 24 artists altogether with Brown Bannister and Bernie Herms at the production helm. Serving as Executive Producer and visionary for the entire project is industry leader Norman Miller who developed similar productions such as The Young Messiah, Emmanuel, Child Of The Promise, and more. Miller comments, "When I was asked by Zondervan to put together a musical element to THE STORY project, I was very excited because I saw endless opportunities to create something very special. Nichole Nordeman is my favorite lyricist of all time and having watched Bernie Herms’ amazing talents develop over the years, I knew he was the perfect writing partner for Nichole. I was thrilled when they both accepted my invitation to write THE STORY. We then put together a list of artists we wanted to sing on the project and were thrilled when they agreed to be part of THE STORY.”
Lyrically, Nordeman wrote the songs from a first-person perspective using timeless biblical stories providing a completely new context into how God's story of love and redemption intersects with our story of brokenness and failures resulting in a new story of hope and rescue. "I think for me one of the goals was to be able to listen to these songs and feel more connected to these people that walked before us and learned lessons that we're still learning," explains Nordeman. "There's such a tendency to turn them into superheroes and have these big, takeaway, moral-of-the-story moments. For me it was all about the humanity. These were broken people who were desperate and needed God. They were just like us. I really believe that, and I think sometimes forget."
Musically, the album is quite diverse in style and song structure covering pop, epic and cinematic moments complete with London Strings, stunning ballads, hip-hop and even bluesy-rock. Herm's well-crafted songs take us on a journey of introspection, celebration and after writing 18 varying songs Herms confesses he wasn’t prepared for how all-consuming the project would become. “I think that there are unique moments that we’re afforded in life when you’re being offered something amazing. I felt like I couldn’t pass it up even though it would be such a mammoth task,” explains Herms. Adding to the uniqueness of the project, Herms and Nordeman wrote their songs collaborating via email, text, phone, never writing in the same location. “Most of the time, 90 percent of co-writing is being in the same room and playing off each other’s momentum but by the time Nichole sent me lyrics they were already pieces of literature," adds Herms.
To kick off the project, Nordeman, Herms, Miller, Frazee and Lucado all met in San Antonio to vision-cast and cull down the numerous stories into what would be the final 18 songs for the project. Upon hearing the songs Lucado said, “This is not an album, it is an event. Moving, powerful, unlike anything I’ve ever heard. Prepare yourself to be swept in the gulf-stream of God’s story.” Frazee was equally excited upon hearing the songs as they were developing. “There is a movement afoot to return people back to God’s Word, called THE STORY. The masterful writing of Nichole, the overwhelming composition and arranging by Bernie, and the stellar cast of artists performing the songs are the divine dream team. If folks are only half as moved as I have been listening to these songs, we will have a true revival on our hands” comments Frazee.
In addition to writing all of the lyrics, Nordeman joined Amy Grant in the studio to tell Ruth and Naomi’s story in the song “I’m With You,” the project’s first radio single. Other noteworthy pairings include Matthew West and Leigh Nash on “Good” (Adam & Eve), Casting Crowns’ Mark Hall and Megan Garrett covering “Who But You” (Abraham & Sarah), Michael W. Smith and Darlene Zschech tackling “The Great Day,” Dan Haseltine and Sanctus Real’s Matt Hammitt as the disciples with the track “Empty” and Newsboys’ Michael Tait, Group1Crew’s Blanca Callahan, and Lecrae telling the story of Joshua with “Bring Us Home.” Bart Millard, Chris Tomlin, Mandisa, Steven Curtis Chapman, Francesca Battistelli, Brandon Heath, Peter Furler, Todd Smith, Mac Powell, Natalie Grant and Jeremy Camp round out the compilation’s overflowing talent pool.
Alongside the music, the companion DVD will have all 18 songs set to new cinematic video footage shot all over Europe and Africa as well as stunning and innovative approaches from artisans all over the world. Each video is a work of art in itself and is specifically edited to visually communicate the story of each song and character on the album.
Additionally, "The Story Tour" will commence in December with Max Lucado and Randy Frazee along with a stellar musical cast including Steven Curtis Chapman, Newsboys, Francesca Battistelli, Natalie Grant, Selah, Anthem Lights and will visit 13 major markets. "The Story Tour" will be a fully produced multi-media experience with the artists performing the album in its entirety and will include stunning visuals to accompany every song projected on a massive screen encompassing the entire stage. World Vision will be a tour sponsor but also is a major partner in the production of THE STORY CD. “The Story of Jesus offers life in all its fullness to all who hear it. This one-of-a-kind project also reminds us that there are thousands of children around the world who long for this fullness. With this project, we have the opportunity to change their life story,” comments Jenny Lockwald (World Vision).
CD & DVD Track Listing
OLD TESTAMENT – CD Disc 1
1. I Am – Overture
2. Good (ADAM & EVE) – Matthew West/Leigh Nash (Sixpence None The Richer)
3. Who But You (ABRAHAM & SARAH) - Mark Hall & Megan Garrett (Casting Crowns)
4. Bend (JOSEPH) - Brandon Heath
5. It Must Be You (MOSES) Bart Millard (MercyMe)
6. Bring Us Home (JOSHUA) – Michael Tait (Newsboys), Blanca Callahan (Group1Crew), & Lecrae
7. I’m With You (RUTH & NAOMI) - Nichole Nordeman & Amy Grant
8. Your Heart (DAVID) – Chris Tomlin
9. No Compromise (DANIEL) – Peter Furler
10. Born For This (ESTHER) – Mandisa
11. Broken Praise (JOB) – Todd Smith (Selah)
NEW TESTAMENT – CD Disc 2
1. Be Born In Me (MARY) – Francesca Battistelli
2. When Love Sees You (JESUS) – Mac Powell (Third Day)
3. How Love Wins (THIEF) – Steven Curtis Chapman
4. Alive (MARY MAGDALENE) – Natalie Grant
5. Empty (DISCIPLES) – Dan Haseltine (Jars Of Clay) & Matt Hammitt (Sanctus Real)
6. Move In Me (APOSTLE PAUL) – Jeremy Camp
7. The Great Day (SECOND COMING) – Michael W. Smith & Darlene Zschech
"The Story Tour" Dates:
* all dates subject to change
December 1 – Wichita, KS
December 2 – Dallas, TX
December 3 – Tulsa, OK
December 7 – Orlando, FL
December 8 – Atlanta, GA
December 9 – Winston-Salem, NC
December 10 – Va Beach, VA
December 11 – Woodbridge, VA (Washington DC area)
December 15 – Grand Rapids, MI
December 16 – Chicago, IL
December 17 – Minneapolis, MN
December 18 – Kansas City, MO
GRAMMY ® nominee Matthew West along with best selling author Angela Thomas (Do You Think I’m Beautiful, My Single Mom Life and more) are uniting to release The Story of Your Life, Inspiring Stories of God at Work in People Just Like You with Harvest House Publishers this September.
The book from West comes as a follow-up to his best-selling, latest CD The Story of Your Life where he received 10,000 personal stories from individuals in every state in the U.S. and 20 countries. Upon its release, The Story of Your Life garnered attention from CNN, Fox News, Billboard Magazine, Country Weekly, AOL’s TheBoot.com and more.
West received such an overwhelming response that he could not include all of the stories in the album, and the idea of a book was born to create an opportunity to expose even more meaningful stories. The letters covering topics such as bullying, divorce and adoption have now been turned into redemptive and hopeful devotions in this latest book. This devotional journey inspires readers to discover God as the author of their unique lives and to share the power of their story.
“As stories began to pour in by the thousands, I quickly sensed that not only was something special taking place, but that my life was about to change,” explains West. “During those months, my eyes were opened to see the world outside my door like I had never witnessed before.”
Also following in January 2012 will be What’s Your Story? book and companion DVD. The book, and interactive standalone guide, allows readers to personalize and explore more deeply the messages of God’s hope and redemption in their stories.
West will headline “The Story of Your Life” tour with Jonny Diaz this fall, and release his first, full-length Christmas album, The Heart of Christmas, this October with Sparrow Records/EMI CMG.
Full information on The Story of Your Life, including pricing and ISBN visit http://harvesthousepublishers.com/book/the-story-of-your-life-2011/.
After a successful launch in the fall of 2010, Matthew West is announcing the continuation of “The Story of Your Life” tour with opener Josh Wilson. “An Evening of Stories & Songs with Matthew West” provides an moving concert experience as West brings to life the very stories that inspired the songs on The Story of Your Life album. “What I want is to invite the audience, every single night, to embark on the journey of discovering the power in all of our stories and realizing that their life is a story worth telling,” adds West. The shared songs and stories will be from his latest album inspired by 10,000 stories he received from every state in the U.S. and 20 countries internationally. The tour kicks off in mid-February on the west coast and will continue to hit select markets in the Midwest and east throughout March and into early April.
“No one can capture the true nature of the human experience as Mathew West did on his new project, The Story Of Your Life,” explains John Huie, Creative Artists Agency Agent. “He captured the soul of the very issues that he came face to face with during his time in the cabin writing this album. And this tour brings all of that to life. The journey that Matthew takes people on during the concert connects at a deeper level than your normal concert experience and is changing lives in each city he visits.”
To see the tour announcement from West, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jt_Wd1-1K0. A full list of tour dates are below, all dates subject to change, please visit www.matthewwest.com for the must up to date information.
Since its release to radio in July, “My Own Little World” has continued to receive strong airplay at radio. The song is currently top 10 at AC Monitored. The Story of Your Life’s strong album sales continue, raking in over 67,000 units since its debut in October, 98% ahead of West’s previous release of Something to Say.
The album inspired by 10,000 stories from around the world has been well received by fans making it the No. 3 Christian album in the country according to soundscan and the No. 41 album on the Billboard Top 200. Additionally, Matthew West’s The Story of Your Life consistently held the No. 2 spot on the iTunes ® Christian and Gospel Album charts throughout its street week helping to make it No. 2 on the Christian/Gospel Current Digital Albums Chart. The Story of Your Life earned West his largest street week debut to date, scoring nearly three times the amount of his previous album Something to Say.
CNN.com also recently posted a story titled “Singer gives voice to the stories of thousands” where they spoke candidly with West about the motive for the project, and the impact the singer/songwriter has received from his Oct. 5 release. CNN Online also caught up with the Caple family who inspired the song “To Me” on the album. To view the piece, visit http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/12/matthew.west.new.album/index.html?iref=allsearch. To view the music for “My Own Little World,” go to http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2010/10/12/west.my.own.little.world.video.emi?iref=allsearch.
West is continuing to headline his “The Story of Your Life Tour” into Nov. with openers Jonny Diaz and Josh Wilson.
Matthew West’s latest album, The Story of Your Life, inspired by letters from all over the world is releasing today with momentum from his headlining tour, current radio single and the release of his music video for “My Own Little World.”
West is also releasing a deluxe edition of The Story of Your Life featuring four acoustic bonus songs, and bonus story behind the song videos for every track on the album. The deluxe version of the album is available at iTunes ® and Amazon.
“My Own Little World,” the first single from The Story of Your Life, is currently Top 5 at AC Indicator, and Top 10 at AC Monitor and National Audience Chart.
Twitter has also been lighting up with excitement for the album release as well. Below is an example of the chatter…
“… His new CD Story Of Your Life is AMAZING! I love it! It is so inspiring and his BEST yet!”
“Counting down the hours until I get home and can go by the new @ matthew_west cd!”
“What an amazing artist @ matthew_west. You've taken love to a whole other level. Thank you”
“Was so moved by @ Matthew_West's concert & album (releasing tomorrow) that I wanted to tell u more abt it. Check it out: http://bit.ly/abedEt” – @mandisaofficial
“friend @ MatthewWest's new album releases today. Go check out the stories, listen to the songs, and download the album: http://bit.ly/a3487L” - @michaelwsmith
“Matthew West new CD #TheStoryofYourLife comes out tom. Do yourself a favor & buy it. Best record this year http://ow.ly/2O7P0” - @Mardel_inc
Critics have commended West’s The Story of Your Life. Below is just a sample of their comments on the new album…
“West is a master of getting you to think about the eternal in the midst of the temporal…” – www.ChristianityToday.com
“a powerful new album …” – Billboard Magazine
“An ingenious idea made into an incredible testament to God's power in individual lives… Matthew West captures the heart and soul of his fans in The Story of Your Life as he belts out Christ-focused anthems he penned in answer to the stories they submitted by the thousands.” – www.cbn.com
“With over 10,000 stories pouring in, West’s strong melodic touch, transparent lyrics and crystal clear vocal work results in a deeply personal, moving album that’s ideal follow-up to 2008’s Something to Say.” – www.ccmmagazine.com
“This kind of album is powerful and life changing, especially for those who are new to the faith.” – www.HollywoodJesus.com
“The Story of Your Life is another solid addition to Matthew West's work and explores a wide variety of issues that are sure to relate to countless listeners.” – www.jesusfreakhideout.com
West’s own headlining jaunt, “The Story of Your Life Tour,” has also been well received by fans since embarking two weeks ago. “These are songs, this is a concert, that will forever impact the story of your life,” explains Martha Fry who attended the tour’s stop in Asheville, NC. The show will hit West’s hometown of Chicago, IL tonight with a sold out crowd. The tour, which features openers Jonny Diaz and Josh Wilson, will run through Nov. 7.
In preparation of Matthew West’s fourth album, The Story of Your Life, iTunes ® will be featuring a weekly countdown with a single premiere and podcasts for three weeks leading up to the Oct. 5 release of the album. The countdown is launching this week with the release of “Strong Enough,” a song inspired by a letter from a single mother of three children after her daughter survived a life threatening car accident and struggled with the long road to recovery. Click here to download the song on iTunes ®.
Following the premiere of “Strong Enough,” iTunes ® will debut “To Me” on Sept. 21 as well as “One Less” on Sept. 28. These releases will also be a part of the iTunes ® “Complete My Album” feature allowing consumers to purchase the full record for a special price. Along with the song, listeners will also be able to download a corresponding video podcast with the story behind each song.
West will embark on “The Story of Your Life Tour” this fall with special guests Jonny Diaz and Josh Wilson in partnership with Operation Christmas Child. The tour kicks off this Thurs., Sept. 16 in South Carolina and will run through early Nov. A complete list of tour dates is included below.
The first single, “My Own Little World” has already received a warm welcome at digital outlets and Christian radio ranking in at top 10 on AC Indicator, No. 14 on the National Christian Audience chart and No. 16 on AC Monitor with over 80 stations playing the song. The songs sets the tone for the entire album and reflects on how the stories changed West. “ I look at the world in a different way,” explains West. “The words of ‘My Little World’ are how this process has changed me. It’s not about me and the irony of this record is that I’ve never been so excited about a record - and it’s not about me. I’m the singer and the messenger and I connect with these songs, and it fires me up.” To hear the story behind “My Own Little World,” visit http://vimeo.com/14209837.
Thousands of stories from every state in the U.S. and 20 countries were the source of motivation for Matthew West’s fourth Sparrow Record’s album, The Story of Your Life, set to release on Oct. 5. Also available on Oct. 5 is the digital and physical deluxe editions of the album which include four bonus acoustic songs, and videos of the story behind every song on the album.
The well-known singer/songwriter turned to his fans via web and radio for songwriting material for his new album asking them to submit their stories of restoration, celebration, pain, hope and more. One thousand responded in the first two days alone, leading to the thousands that answered from across the world. He then spent two months in a cabin outside of Nashville, Tenn. reading every story and then transforming them into songs for the record. The songs range from joyful stories about adoption and victories over cancer, to heart-breaking letters of abuse and broken homes. “As stories began to pour in by the thousands, I quickly sensed that not only was something special taking place, but that my life was about to change,” explains West. “During those months, my eyes were opened to see the world outside my door like I had never witnessed before.”
by Jackie A. Chapman
In the collective expression of a unified church, as the people worship their magnificent Savior, a beautiful exchange happens: the exchange of the cross for sins, the exchange of His life for our freedom. This beautiful exchange is the gospel of Christ and it happens in churches and street corners around the globe. It is the message that lies at the center of Hillsong Church, and it is the meaning behind the new Hillsong LIVE project, A Beautiful Exchange.
The 20th Hillsong LIVE recording, A Beautiful Exchange, captures again the heart and soul of what God is doing locally in the Sydney, Australia church. Hillsong worship leaders Reuben Morgan, Joel Houston, Darlene Zschech, Jad Gillies and Ben Fielding, among others, came together with the entire church congregation through the expression of worship to celebrate and seek God.
Remembering the night of the recording of A Beautiful Exchange, Hillsong LIVE Music Director Autumn Hardman says, “The church didn’t want to stop singing, everyone was worshipping with all their hearts. Every song carried a sense of freshness right from the start. Even in the studio sessions weeks out, we could feel the excitement about this year’s recording. Everyone brought their ideas, keyboard sounds, guitar lines, drum grooves, and stayed late into the night many nights working out the songs and arrangements.”
While A Beautiful Exchange shows only a glimpse of a church in Sydney experiencing God’s presence, it is also meant to be an experience shared with others. “This night was about worship, prayer, justice, hope, God’s goodness and faithfulness,” says worship leader Annie Garratt, “but these songs are not just for us and our church. They are for the people of the church on the earth. The truth and power of the songs are the same for me in Sydney as they are for anyone else in the world.”
The 12 new songs of A Beautiful Exchange create a journey that awaken the listener to God’s love and generate awe for an infinite and yet intensely intimate God. The album explores themes of sacrifice and redemption in the title track, extraordinary love in “Our God Is Love,” and features songs of hope, reconciliation and praise.
The debut radio single “Forever Reign” is a collaboration of Reuben Morgan and Jason Ingram. “When we sat down, Jason had a prayer in the verse: You are good, you are good, when there’s nothing good in me. As he sang that, I thought, ‘That is so what I want to sing.’ I love that confession,” says Morgan. “The thought I love is that no matter what, when I feel there is nothing good me, when there is no joy or peace in me, He is joy and He is peace. It’s been amazing to hear the church singing that and humbling to see how the church as taken hold of it.”
An invitation to surrender and receive from God, “The One Who Saves” speaks about a love that endures and a love that saves. “This song is about our salvation, but more specifically it is about the character of our God,” says worship leader and songwriter Ben Fielding. “The Psalms call the love of God enduring. He is relentless and keeps coming after us. I love the thought that God wants us to be with Him in his presence. There is no striving to connect with God, no striving for our salvation. It’s a gift.”
An overwhelming sense of gratefulness leads to the recording’s benediction in “Thank You.” “The verse says, Thank you for your kindness / Thank you for your mercy and more. I love that expression of gratefulness. Here we see that God stands alone, and in that realization you just want to thank Him,” says Fielding, “and I love the thought of closing this with the benediction that I so often heard in church growing up: Let Your face shine on us.”
Just after the June 29 release of A Beautiful Exchange, through a new alliance with EMI CMG Label Group, Hillsong LIVE will embark on its U.S. tour led for the first time by Reuben Morgan. The Hillsong LIVE team will visit church venues in cities across the country, including Los Angeles, Sacramento, Dallas, Detroit, Atlanta and Tulsa in July and August, and will also appear at the music festival Creation West in Washington.
“The hope of the Hillsong LIVE summer tour is to bring our Hillsong Australia worship service to our friends in the US,” says Morgan. “These meetings are charged with the presence of God, and are moments where our lives are often radically impacted by a real and present God. We have seen some amazing things as God continues to speak His life into these gatherings – can't wait to see what God has for July and August in the USA.”
The songs of A Beautiful Exchange are the songs from the Hillsong worship community around the world that have resonated with the church throughout the year. “This is Hillsong Church coming together from all over Sydney to celebrate, to pray, to seek God,” says Reuben Morgan. “We just press record. This is not about an album. This is really about a church, a family truly seeking God together…A Beautiful Exchange is a picture of that.”
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) April 7, 2010--Celebrated singer/songwriter Matthew West has begun work on his latest project, The Story of Your Life, to release fall 2010. A natural continuation of his best-selling 2008 album, Something to Say, West’s upcoming project will tell the real life stories of his fans.
“Something to Say was written in the hopes of encouraging others that they really do have something to say...they matter,” says West. “God has created everyone to live a life that will tell a story of His love to the world in a unique and amazing way. I see now that these lyrics from the last record were pointing the way to where I would be heading with the next album: Your life is the song that you sing, and the whole wide world is listening.”
Beginning early March, West began collecting stories via his web site. In a month’s time, he has received thousands of submissions from fans sharing the most important moments of their lives. These stories will be the foundation for those songs on The Story of Your Life.
“Several months ago I had a vision of the inside of a cabin with thousands of stories from people printed out and spread all over the tables and floors and couches and chairs,” West explains. “I had a vision that I would be there in the cabin, reading the stories, praying for inspiration, and writing like crazy.”
That vision became a reality, as West spent the month of March in a cabin in Tennessee reading stories and writing The Story of Your Life. He will continue collecting stories and writing songs through late April.
“I’m excited to see what kinds of songs come out of this experience,” says West. “Even more, I am honored to share this journey with my fans.”
West’s latest single “Save A Place,” a follow up to his most played Christian song of 2009 “The Motions,” is currently climbing the charts at Christian AC radio. In addition to a music video, available for viewing at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_WynYBz-Ao, the single has prompted a web site (http://www.matthewwest.com/save-a-place-for-me) where fans can share memories of lost loved ones.
For additional information or to submit the story of your life, visit www.matthewwestcom.
GRAMMY Award nominated singer/songwriter Matthew West catapulted onto the Christian music scene in 2003 with his debut single, “More,” the most played Christian AC song of 2003. The multi-Dove Award nominee has since released three critically-acclaimed recordings, Happy (2003), History (2005), and Something to Say (2008), while dominating radio as the most played Christian artist of 2003, 2008, and 2009, according to Radio & Records. All of West’s singles have charted in the Top 10, including memorable hits “Only Grace,” “History,” “Next Thing You Know” and “The Motions.”
Most recently, West's single "The Motions" held the No. 1 position on both the Christian AC radio chart for 14 consecutive weeks and the Soundscan Christian Digital Chart for 15 weeks. The song was ranked the fourth biggest song of the decade according to the 2009 Billboard Christian Year-End chart. Additionally, West was asked to pen the theme song for VeggieTales’ 2009 Christmas DVD release, Saint Nicholas – A Story Of Joyful Giving. West recorded “Give This Christmas Away” with best-selling, award-winning artist Amy Grant, who performed the radio single alongside Matthew on Fox News programs “Huckabee” and “FOX & Friends.”
For more information on Matthew West, visit www.matthewwest.com or www.myspace.com/matthewwest.
The Story of CompassionArt
by Christa A. Banister
For Delirious frontman Martin Smith, music has always been the healing balm he’s used to share a message of hope in a hurting world.
And for more than a decade now, Delirious has not only provided the soundtrack for Sunday morning services and played thousands of electrifying shows for millions of fans in clubs and churches worldwide, but the Gold-selling band has always challenged its audience to be “history makers”—people who look beyond their own needs to make a tangible difference in the lives of others.
Always striving to be someone who practiced what he preached, Smith couldn’t help but wrestle with a troubling dichotomy in his quest to be a history maker.
While he was nestled comfortably in the confines of five-star accommodations, many of those he was reaching out to, particularly in his international travels, were living in slums. If that wasn’t a shocking-enough reality check for the father of six, he also met an abundance of mothers and their young children, caught up in the horrifying, dangerous life of sex trade in India. And in Phnom Penh, a poverty-ravaged locale Smith visited in Cambodia, children were routinely digging through rubbish dumps just to find anything resembling food to make it through another day.
Unable to reconcile his comfortable life with that of “the least of these,” Smith knew something truly unique, something life-changing, needed to be done to start “creating freedom from poverty.” So Smith decided to give back with what he’s been given—a platform, a microphone and a knack for writing songs that connect with the heart—and boldly asked 11 of his fellow musician friends to do the same.
The Birth of CompassionArt
Then in an unprecedented move, he asked these friends, some of the most gifted, well-known and busiest songwriters in the world, to clear their schedules and join him for a songwriters’ retreat in a quaint, little Scottish town of Perthshire. During a week-long span, they’d collaborate on songs for a release where none of them would see a dime for all the hard work. Instead, 100% of the song royalties goes to the work of supporting the poorest of the poor around the world.
And surprisingly, one by one, each artist replied with a resounding “Yes!”
Like anything that’s really worth pursuing, the rather ambitious idea behind what ended up being called CompassionArt almost seemed too big to actually work. But Smith and his wife Anna weren’t about to let the complicated logistics of setting up the infrastructure of a global charity scare them off. And for the better of a part of a year and a half, they worked through most of the red tape.
Then in what Smith described as a “truly pinch-myself moment,” the artists, which included Paul Baloche, Steven Curtis Chapman, Delirious bandmate Stu G, Israel Houghton, Tim Hughes, Graham Kendrick, Andy Park, Matt Redman, Michael W. Smith and Darlene Zschech, began arriving in Scotland with a slew of great song ideas in tow. Later on sessions at the famed Abbey Road studio in London and the recording studios of Music City (Nashville) would feature fruitful collaborations with Chris Tomlin and a slew of genre-defining guest artists including Kirk Franklin, Amy Grant, Joel Houston, Leeland Mooring, Christy Nockels, tobyMac and CeCe Winans.
While pairing well-respected artists together who’ve sold more than 101 million albums, garnered 103 No. 1 songs, 32 Grammy Awards, 202 Dove Awards, 18 Stellar Awards, 3 American Music Awards and 116 of the CCLI’s Top 500 songs, could’ve easily led to some gossip-worthy diva moments, that was hardly the case with CompassionArt. With the endgame in the forefront of their minds, the ideas flowed fast and freely.
Creating Freedom From Poverty
“I love the team dynamic of CompassionArt. The common dream we have to reach out to the world’s poor through this vision made for lots of inspiring moments in both the songwriting stage and in the studio,” says Redman, a multiple Dove Award-winning artist known for congregational worship mainstays including “The Heart of Worship,” “Blessed Be Your Name” and “Better is One Day.”
“One of my favorite moments was gathering around the piano with Martin, Israel, Tim and Paul and writing the radio single ‘King of Wonders,” a song which started off when Steven and I wrote together,” Redman adds. “It was a great memory — friendship, worship, music and compassion all blended into one.”
But more than just one of those great memories that eventually fades away with time, Michael W. Smith says he’ll never forget this history-making occasion. “The time spent writing and recording these songs was one of the highlights of my life,” says Smith. “My hope is that these songs on the CompassionArt album will help feed the poor, satisfy the needs of the oppressed and reach out to the downtrodden.”
A New Era of History Makers
And that’s precisely why Martin encourages Christian music fans and worship leaders to partner in this history-making mission of “creating freedom from poverty” by purchasing the 14-track album and using the songs of CompassionArt in your Sunday morning worship services.
“The truth is that all this started as a response to the question, “How do artists engage in poverty?” When it comes to revealing the enormity of ways in which we who write and play and sing and dance and paint and edit and sculpt and cut and paste can get involved in breaking poverty’s stranglehold. This is a new day and we’re so glad you’ve joined the team,” Smith says.
Smith adds that something as simple as incorporating the songs of CompassionArt into your Sunday morning services can help make a huge difference, too.
“When you sing a song in church it actually makes money. A royalty is paid to CCLI, the global body that oversees the process. They take out a small percentage to cover admin costs and then pass the remainder of the royalty onto the songwriters’ publishers who take a cut themselves and then pass what remains to the writer of the song who then splits it with a management team. Why am I telling you this? Because what comes next is significant: Everyone involved in these songs from writers to publishers, managers to the team at CCLI has waived all their rights and allowed CompassionArt to own the copyrights,” Smith says. “There are no aces up the sleeve for anyone and everyone has given something away to make something extraordinary happen—with CompassionArt everyone is playing their part.”
One half of the proceeds over the songs’ lifetimes will be divided among four projects. Through the work of Hand of Hope (India and Cambodia), relief and restoration will be offered for families caught up in Mumbai’s sex trade and food and education will be provided to suffering children in Phnom Penh. With Ray of Hope (Brazil), a team gathers at the river to provide food, education, medical aid and everyday essentials to those in remote locations deep into the jungle. To rally against the trafficking of people, an ordinary group of activists with Stop the Traffik is a global movement with more than 1,000 member organizations in 50 countries. Finally, Uganda: Watoto helps restore hope to people whose lives are constantly marked with suffering. By providing creative life centers, Watoto encourages artistic education and plans for a better future for all.
The other 50% will benefit these artists’ individual projects, which include everything from Living Hope Community Centre, selected by Michael W. Smith to help those suffering with HIV, AIDS, and other chronic illnesses in Cape Town, South Africa, to Chapman’s Shaohannah’s Hope helping perspective adoptive parents overcome the financial barriers.
Together, these artists have discovered they can accomplish so much more, which is why the work of CompassionArt has been such a meaningful, life-long investment of their time. “The recording process might be over, but the real work of CompassionArt has just begun,” says Zschech. “Our heart and mission to relieve human suffering means for the rest of our lives we will live with our hearts fuelled in worship to have our lives poured out in service. I pray for continued wisdom and revelation, and for great grace and kindness, as justice makes a way for those who until now have only known grave suffering.”
For more information about CompassionArt, please visit www.CompassionArt.tv.
The Charities of CompassionArt
India and Cambodia: Hand of Hope
For families caught up in Mumbai’s sex trade and for children scraping survival on a rubbish dump in Phnom Penh, Hand of Hope offers relief and restoration.
www.joycemeyer.org/OurMinistries/HandofHope
Stop The Traffik
With more than 1,000 member organizations in 50 countries and a grassroots following of ordinary activists around the world, Stop the Traffik is a global movement against the trafficking of people.
www.stopthetraffik.org
Brazil: Ray of Hope
Every week in remote parts of Brazil, the Ray of Hope team heads to the river and the deepest parts of the jungle to meet the needs of children with food, education, support, advice, clothing and medical aid.
www.rayofhopeamazon.com
Uganda: Watoto
From orphaned children to abused mothers, Watoto restores hope to people whose lives have been devastated by suffering. By providing creative life centres, Watoto encourages artistic education and plans for a better future for all.
www.watoto.com
Compassion UK (nominated by Matt Redman)
Compassion seeks out some of the world’s most vulnerable children and through individual sponsors provides them with the means to break the cycle of poverty and create a viable future.
www.compassionuk.org
St Stephen’s (nominated by Andy Park)
For more than 40 years, St Stephen’s has worked among those addicted to drugs in Hong Kong. Founded by Jackie Pullinger, the charity has led thousands of people to faith and new hope.
www.ststephenssociety.com
Caring for Ex-Offenders and The Regeneration Trust (nominated by Tim Hughes)
Working across prisons and estates in London, CFEO seeks to enable prisoners to break the cycle of crime and re-integrate successfully back into society. The Trust works in deprived housing estates in London to help children and single parent families who suffer from the effects of poverty and to prevent others from falling into poverty.
www.caringforexoffenders.org
Hope Rwanda (nominated by Darlene Zschech)
Hope Rwanda provides sustainable solutions to poverty that leads to restoration, primarily by building homes for widows and orphans.
www.hoperwanda.org
Shaohannah’s Hope (nominated by Steven Curtis Chapman)
Dedicated to helping prospective adoptive parents overcome the financial barriers associated with adoption. The charity awards financial grants to qualified families already in the process of adopting, depending on their need.
www.shaohannahshope.org
For The Silent (nominated by Paul Baloche)
Working to bring an end to the sexual exploitation, trafficking and slavery of children worldwide, For the Silent provides a voice for those who don’t have one.
forthesilent.org
Beanz Meanz Livez (nominated by Stu G)
In the UK alone 88% of Britons have an estimated £10 in small change somewhere lost in their house. BML provides a means of collecting the coins and uses the money to provide clean water for families and children in India.
www.beanzmeanzlivez.com
Restoring the Sound (nominated by Graham Kendrick)
Preventing African schoolgoers from getting caught in a culture of gangs and violence. Restore The Sound uses music as a means to better themselves and their community.
www.restoringthesound.com
Baby Watoto (nominated by Chris Tomlin)
In Uganda, abandoned children—from newborns to two-year-olds—are given care, medical support and a loving environment and a future in a family as part of the Watoto Community.
www.watoto.com
Living Hope Community Centre (nominated by Michael W Smith)
Plays a vital role in the prevention, care, treatment and support of people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS, and other chronic illnesses in Cape Town, South Africa.
www.livinghope.co.za
Lakewood Missions (nominated by Israel Houghton)
Reaches out with hope and compassion through medical and humanitarian efforts, to assist people in great need.
www.lakewoodmissions.org
Links International (nominated by Martin & Anna Smith)
From micro-enterprise to clean water, Links International has been serving and inspiring the church to impact local communities around the world since 1985.
www.linksinternational.org.uk
For more than a decade now, RIAA Certified Gold-selling band Delirious? has provided the soundtrack for Sunday morning worship services worldwide. Tracks like “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever,” “Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble?” and “History Maker” have inspired congregations to lift their hands and praise God with abandon.
But when Sunday morning has come and gone, what does it actually mean to be a Christian the rest of the week? What tangible difference are believers making in a hurting, impoverished world? Do our lives actually reflect what we say is important?
These questions, not to mention the band’s first-hand experiences among the poorest of the poor in India, Cambodia, South Africa and beyond, have inspired Delirious? in unimaginable ways. Simply put, it’s been the fuel for their latest album, Kingdom of Comfort, and the driving force behind how they structure their ministry.
“Playing in places like India makes us think about how we distribute our finances and how we’re living our lives,” Smith says. “It’s imperative that we reach out and be a friend to the poor. That’s the only way that God’s light will shine upon us.”
That particularly timely theme of reaching out to those who have no hope is one that’s urgently communicated in the songs of Kingdom of Comfort, the band’s 12th album.
“Seeing children looking for scraps on the rubbish dump they call homes in Cambodia and the education and feeding projects in the slums of Mumbai really had an impact on us,” says lead guitarist Stu G. “It wasn’t possible to simply proceed with business as usual. We had to ask ourselves, ‘What am I building? A kingdom of comfort? Or a kingdom of heaven?’”
The idea behind Kingdom of Comfort came from a sermon from popular Mars Hill pastor/author Rob Bell. “Rob was talking about the contrasts in the lives of David and his son Solomon,” Smith shares. “David built a kingdom of heaven. And Solomon was more concerned about himself. All the decisions he made regarding intermarrying and wealth led to building a kingdom of comfort. Of course, hearing that makes us ask an obvious but important question: ‘Are we focusing on building our lives with eternal things?’”
Like the old saying goes, though, “actions speak louder than words,” so Smith began considering how he, along with the international Christian music community, could truly make a difference in the world together.
After 18 months of prayer, countless business meetings and careful planning, Smith’s dream came true when the first annual Compassionart conference met in Perthshire, Scotland. In what he described as a “I-can’t-stop-pinching-myself moment,” Smith, along with Stu G, Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Darlene Zschech, Matt Redman, Tim Hughes, Israel Houghton and other internationally-respected songwriters teamed up to write songs with 100% of the proceeds from the songs and forthcoming album going to the charities of their choice.
Given everyone’s busy schedules, it would’ve been an impossible feat for many to pull off. But Smith’s passion for helping those in need couldn’t help but resonate with everyone involved.
As anyone who’s listened to a Delirious? album before knows, however, the band had a few new musical tricks up its proverbial sleeve, too. While Smith describes the project as a “step up” from the call-to-action given in 2005’s The Mission Bell thematically, Kingdom of Comfort also marks a new progressive era in the band’s sound. In fact, it’s fair to see that Delirious? has now truly become a guitar band.
Inspired by everyone from Kings of Leon to The Killers to Sigur Ros, tracks like “Give What You Got” and “Eagle Rider” have a decidedly stripped-down, raw sound that meshes well with the album’s insistent message.
With the emphasis on the bread and butter elements of rock ’n’ roll—guitar, bass and drums—rather than incorporating elaborate string arrangements and choirs in the mix, the band was able to translate the frenetic energy of the live concert experience to the studio, giving the album a grittier vibe.
“From a production standpoint, our producer Sam Gibson [Pearl Jam, Crowded House, Hillsongs United, Natalie Imbruglia] kept encouraging us to keep the energy of the live experience rather than overproducing the tracks,” Stu G says. “That deliberate focus made these songs spring to life in an entirely new way.”
While the progression in sound and social justice-minded lyrics are what immediately stand out when listening to Kingdom of Comfort, there’s also plenty of those classic Delirious? moments, replete with soaring choruses that’ll stick in your head for days. Whether it’s the penultimate piano-based track, “All God’s Children” or the gentle strains of “We Give You Praise,” it’s clear that Delirious? remains committed to its worshipful roots. But instead of providing all the answers, the band hopes that listeners will be left with plenty of thought-provoking questions.
“Kingdom of Comfort is a collection of songs inspired by our recent spiritual and physical journeys,” says bassist Jon Thatcher. “Sometimes you get so close to something you can no longer see it for what it is. This record is a journal full of observations, questions and prayers that should leave the listener inspired and inquisitive.”
