Integrity Music announces the signing of Belfast, Northern Ireland’s Bluetree and the forthcoming international release of the band’s new album, Worship & Justice.
Led by founder Aaron Boyd, Bluetree is an organic band, drawing from members of local Belfast churches and from friends in local church communities around the world. They are perhaps best known for their passionate pursuit of social justice, working hand-in-hand with local and international ministries to end human trafficking. In fact it was while leading worship on a church missions trip to Pattaya, Thailand, that they penned their most popular song, “God Of This City,” which has been recorded by a variety of artists, most notably Chris Tomlin and the Passion movement. Boyd recalls that as they were playing in Pattaya, he began to spontaneously sing the lyrics of the song, calling out God’s sovereignty in one of the world’s most notorious locations for human trafficking and the sex trade.
The Bluetree team lives out this “worship + music + justice” ethos through serving their families and their local church in Belfast, sharing their musical gifts and mentoring and encouraging others there and abroad. The band’s passion for justice flows out of their worship, a natural extension of the members’ relationships with Christ and the heart of their church.
“Our response to worship is mission and justice, taking all that we have and allowing others who do not have to benefit,” explains Boyd. “We speak for those who cannot speak for themselves and bring injustice from the darkness into the light.”
“I remember the first time I watched Bluetree play at a small festival in Ireland before ‘God Of This City’ had even been heard by the Passion team, and I was blown away by the band’s passion and energy,” said Adrian Thompson, Integrity’s Vice President of A&R. “After being on the sidelines with Bluetree for several years, we are honored that they have chosen to make Integrity their label partner. Their passion to reach the broken – both the oppressed and the oppressors - with the love of Jesus through song and action, is an inspiration and a challenge to the Church.”
The father of two young daughters, Boyd says that much of the Bluetree team’s focus has been on human trafficking and sexual abuse, “exposing the evil, rescuing the victims, and bringing them life as God intends for all of us.” The band works to raise money and support for ministries such as Ratanak International, World Orphans and Christian Freedom International and also provides on-the-ground support, often traveling the globe for mission support in Cambodia, Thailand, Haiti and Burma (Myanmar).
Not surprisingly, many of the band’s songs are inspired by their journey, including “God of This City,” as well as “Jesus Healer,” a song born out of a sermon series and Boyd’s experience as the father of a child with Cystic Fibrosis.
The song “Jesus Healer” along with a cadre of new songs will be featured on the Worship & Justice album set to release August 26.
