HILLSONG UNITED RELEASE “AFTERMATH”

It’s that time of year again, and Hillsong United’s latest album, “Aftermath” was released this week. In a world of digital music sales, it would seem no review is more important than that of iTunes, and this is what they had to say:

It almost isn’t fair that Hillsong has such a deep roster of seasoned praise & worship leaders to craft an album as diverse as Aftermath. Because historically, if there’s one complaint about modern Christian worship music, it’s that it can lack variety and rarely ventures outside its safe zone. In that context, listening to Aftermath is truly an experience: an event as real and engaging as the worship team’s well-documented stage show that has been seen by the masses on six continents. Most bands would consider and album like this to be their magnum opus, but that would connote an apex, and Hillsong shows no indication that they are going anywhere but up. Alternating vocalists between tracks adds fresh variety and pomp. The team shouts refrains on “Nova” and “Go” amid percussive rhythms that sound like a cross between Chris Tomlin, Coldplay, and even Kings of Leon. The guitar work on “Take Heart”, “Father” and “Rhythms of Grace” is delicate and captivating, evolving into a Sarah McLaclan-like trance on “Like an Avalanche” and “Bones”. The stand-out track is first single “Seach My Heart”, included here in both radio and congregational versions. Aftermath shows that Hillsong continue to set the bar high and blur the lines between studio albums and live worship.

Hillsong United’s “Aftermath” is available at a Christian Music Store near you.

MARK CHATS TO IDOLS TOP 7 – CAMERON BRUCE

Before performing his energetic rendition of Tree 63′s “Treasure”, Cameron Bruce announced to a packed auditorium and a national television network… “I’m a Christian boy, and that’s what this song  means to me”.

While the judges weren’t particularly thrilled with Cameron’s performance, your vote is the one that counts.  If you missed the performance last night, catch the Power Hour between 12 and 1 to not only hear the song, but also to listen as Mark chats to Cameron about his journey on Idols, so far.

MUSIC NEWS: Christy Nockels

One of Christian music’s most recognizable and prolific female voices, Christy Nockels is performing for national audiences on Chris Tomlin’s “Hello Love Tour” her first solo radio single, “Life Light Up.” The song will vie for adds at Christian radio beginning this month and appear on Nockels’ sixstepsrecords debut, Life Light Up, in stores June 2.   Former member of celebrated vocal duo Watermark and perennial Female Vocalist of the Year Dove Award nominee, Oklahoma native Nockels began writing and leading worship music with her husband, Nathan, in 1995.  In 1996, Passion founder, Louie Giglio, got a hold of their independent release and invited them to attend the very first Passion Conference in Austin, Texas.  They’ve continued leading worship with the Passion movement the past 12 years and recently moved to Atlanta, Ga. to be in the founding family of Passion City Church.    Also recently joining the sixstepsrecords family of artists, Nockels was invited to sing vocals with friend and labelmate Chris Tomlin on his spring 2009 headlining tour, which kicked off January 22nd.  The tour has already performed in front of 100,000 people in markets including Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Seattle, Newark, N.J., Baltimore, Philadelphia, Grand Rapids, Mich., and San Antonio.   “Everybody has their favorite singer, and amazingly, I’ve been able to sing with my favorite, Christy Nockels, for more than ten years now,” says labelmate Chris Tomlin. “I’m honored that she’s currently out singing with us on the ‘Hello Love Tour.’ Christy has always been part of the Passion family, and I’m excited she’s making new music with sixsteps. I can’t wait for people to hear and start singing these new songs.”   In addition to accompanying Tomlin on vocals, Nockels is debuting her first radio single, “Life Light Up,” on the tour.  The single, which went for ads at Christian radio March 6, is currently available to fans for free download at http://www.christynockels.com. The single will appear on the upcoming full-length release, Life Light Up, produced by husband Nathan Nockels, in stores June 2nd.   “Christy’s heart and voice have been a prominent part of the Passion Movement since our earliest days,” says Louie Giglio, sixstepsrecords founder and director. “Out of that friendship, we could not be more excited about this new chapter in Christy’s life and our opportunity to partner with her as a solo artist. We believe her contribution to the music landscape is unique and much needed.”   For more information on Christy Nockels and to hear songs from her upcoming release, visit http://www.christynockels.com/.

vote casting crowns for american music award

Click on http://abc.go.com/amavote/index?pn=index&cateId=144568 to give your american music awards vote to CASTING CROWNS.

Artist bio: KEES KRAAYENOORD

 

Dutch worship leader, Kees Kraayenoord, has recently recorded a brilliant new album that has also attracted international attention. The CD is called Broken and was recorded in the chapel of a hotel 3,500 feet high in the Swiss Alps. A variety of top Dutch musicians joined Kees in this temporary recording studio where they spent a week in an atmosphere of worship, allowing the music flow from this foundation. The result will be apparent to the listener as it stirs and urges one into spontaneous worship.

“Musical excellence is not irrelevant,” says Kees, “but it’s not superior to worshipping God together with our instruments.”

Broken is the follow-up to Kees’ debut CD, This Is My Cry, which was recorded live during the Flevo Festival in 2003. That album was a significant break through for him as a worship leader. The enormous positive reactions to “This Is My Cry” led to his making plans for a second CD.

Kees came into contact quite early with spiritual music; as a youth his parents encouraged him to sing and make music. After a difficult period during which he turned his back on God and church, a converted Kees began to lead worship weekly for his church youth group. His heart began to long more and more for those moments of worship in the attic of the church. He participated in a course of “Worship Leading” at Youth With A Mission, sang in “Opwekking” (a Dutch Pentecostal organization) conferences, was involved in the CD recordings of the popular “Opwekking” songs and decided together with his wife, Nicole, to pursue a theological degree at Azusa Theological College.

Not long after graduation, Kees met recognized singer/songwriter Ralph van Manen. Since then, they have worked together in national and international settings but also in co-working on songwriting.

Kees is a sought-after speaker in churches and regularly gives courses and lectures on praise and worship. In 2005, Kees sang and spoke to approximately 35,000 youth at the annual “EO Youth Day” (EO: Dutch Evangelical broadcasting company). Currently, he is the Music and Worship Director at De Meerkerk , a fast-growing church in the western province of the Netherlands.

Next to his ongoing ministry as a worship leader, Kees is also expanding his talents as a songwriter. His new album, “Broken” consists of a number of his own compositions and teaming up with such established writers as Chris Eaton and Ralph van Manen. His songs are sung with passion and can be best characterized as a blend between up tempo pop songs and beautifully tender ballads. They each have a singular purpose: to worship God the Father and our redeemer Jesus Christ, as well as bringing a message of hope and love to a broken world filled with broken and empty people.

MARK SCHULTZ to appear on Extreme Makeover (Home Edition)

Word Records’ Dove award winning and platinum selling artist, Mark Schultz, is set to appear on ABC’s hit show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” on Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 8/7c on ABC.

Filmed at a children’s hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas, the episode will feature Mark performing his hit song, “He’s My Son.”

Pictured (l-r) are designers Eduardo Xol, Tracy Hutson, Paige Hemmis and Paul DiMeo with Mark Schultz. Photo Credit: Greg Lucid.

In a short span of eight years, Schultz’ incredible talent and God-centered music has garnered rave reviews, chart-topping hits and a strong fan base. He reached Platinum status in 2005, won his first Dove Award that year, named one of Christian Music Today’s top male vocalists in 2003 and was listed No. 1 as Billboard’s “Hot Christian Adult Contemporary Songwriters” last year. In addition to nine No. 1 hits, Schultz’ song, “He’s My Son,” was recognized by Esquire magazine and his “Letters From War” was selected as the centerpiece of U.S. Army’s “Be Safe” –Make It Home” campaign in 2004.  He has further been featured on 48 Hours and CNN.

Word Records is a part of Word Label Group, a division of Word Entertainment, a Warner/Curb Company. The artist roster heralds some of today’s top Christian music performers and songwriters including Diamond Rio, Point Of Grace, Mark Schultz, Randy Travis, Nicole C. Mullen and Stellar Kart. The Word Label Group leads the industry with over 57 years of music-making history.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which has won back-to-back Emmy Awards as Best Reality Program (non-competitive), is in its 6th season on ABC. The program is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. Anthony Dominici is the executive producer; and David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA.

SANCTUS REAL ON extreme makeover: home edition

Sparrow Records’ Sanctus Real connected with award-winning ABC reality program “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” to host a benefit concert in the band’s native Toledo, Ohio. The more than $50,000 raised will be given to the Frisch family, also from Toledo, whose house was selected for an “extreme makeover.”

Held last month at Centennial Terrace in Sylvania, Ohio, the ticket-only show drew more than 5,000 people who rallied in support of the building project to take place that week. Among those in attendance was the cast of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” who joined Sanctus Real on-stage during the band’s more than hour-long set.

“The beautiful thing about being a part of the ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ benefit concert was that we saw OUR community, OUR town, OUR home brought together like never before,” says Sanctus Real frontman Matt Hammitt. “There’s power when people are unified, and there’s a righteousness that’s unbridled when that force is molded to serve, love and sacrifice for the ‘greater good.’”

The Toledo episode is scheduled to air in November. For more information and show times, visit http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/index?pn=index

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” which has won back-to-back Emmy Awards as Best Reality Program (non-competitive), is entering its 6th season on ABC. The program is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. Anthony Dominici is the executive producer, and David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA.

One of the top Christian rock bands today, five-member Sanctus Real’s breakthrough album, The Face of Love, released in April 2006, landing at No 2 on the Billboard Top Heetseekers chart and amassing a string of radio hits including No. 1 songs “I’m Not Alright” and “Don’t Give Up.” While The Face of Love was inspired by real-life heartache and rediscovered joy, the band’s fourth studio release, We Need Each Other, marks a completion of that healing process and is a call for unity. Described by multiple media outlets as Sanctus Real’s best project to date, the record’s title track was a No. 1 hit on Christian Hit Radio. Popularly known for its captivating live performance, the group toured with Third Day last spring and is currently headlining the “We Need Each Other” tour with special music guests Tenth Avenue North and VOTA. For a complete tour itinerary and all the latest Sanctus Real news, go to www.sanctusreal.com, www.myspace.com/sanctusreal, and www.emicmg.com.

GOD OF THE MOON AND STARS Lyrics

God of the moon and stars
God of the gay- and singles bars
God of the fragile hearts we are, I come to you
God of our history, god of the future that will be
What will you make of me, I come to you

God of the meek and mild,
God of the reckless and the wild
God of the unreconciled, I come to you
God of our life and death
God of our secrets unconfessed
God of our every breath, I come to you

God of the rich and poor
God of the princess and the whore
God of the ever open door, I come to you
God of the unborn child
God of the pure and undefiled
God of the pimp and paedophile, I come to you

God of the war and peace
God of the junkie and the priest
God of the greatest and the least, I come to you
God of the refugee
God of the prisoner and the free
God of our doubt and certainty, I come to you

God of our joy and grieve
God of the lawyer and the thief
God of our faith and unbelief, I come to you
God of the wounds we bear
God of the deepest dreams we share
God of our unspoken prayer, I come to you

God of a world that´s lost
God af the lonely cross
God who has come to us, I come to you

CHRIS TOMLIN announces “HELLO LOVE” Tour

On the heels of his seventh No. 1 single, releasing his chart-breaking project HELLO LOVE, which took the No. 9 spot on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart and was the highest charting iTunes® debut ever for any album in the Christian industry, Chris Tomlin has announced his ‘HELLO LOVE TOUR,’ featuring Israel Houghton and New Breed.

“For me, it’s always been about the relationship between music and the people,” explains Tomlin about live shows.  “What could be better than a tour where you get to travel from city to city leading people to experience God?   It is a privilege and honor doing it with Israel Houghton.  Israel and his band are incredible musicians who have a passion for worship.  In fact, when my band heard they would tour with us, they said, ‘We need to practice!’ We hope this tour unites the Church in worship like never before.”

The nationwide tour, which kicks off on January 22 in Hershey, PA, will hit over 35 cities across the U.S. through April 9th, including Baltimore, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, AZ, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Newark and more. Tickets for shows through February 6th go on sale today, October 1st, with the remaining cities available as of December 1st.   To purchase tickets online, http://www.christomlin.com.

“On behalf of myself and the New Breed team, we are beyond excited about being a part of this tour,” says Houghton. “From the moment we heard about it we knew we wanted to serve alongside such a gifted worship team as Chris Tomlin and his crew. He has successfully impacted the Church and the world through his songs and worship, and it’s an honor to join him for the ‘HELLO LOVE TOUR’ in 2009.”

The artist Time Magazine calls “the most often sung artist anywhere” is currently performing new songs and past favorites on Passion’s first world tour, recently returning from South Africa, and scheduled to hit Mexico City, Vancouver, Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney this fall.  For more PASSION World Tour details please go to www.ChrisTomlin.com.

With six records, seven No. 1 radio singles, two GRAMMY nominations, 14 Dove Awards, one platinum and one gold album to his credit, Chris Tomlin is among the most well-known and influential artists in contemporary Christian music. Referred to by Time Magazine as “the most often sung artist anywhere,” Tomlin additionally has 10 Top 100 CCLI songs with 6 in the top 25. ASCAP’s 2007 Songwriter of the Year, Tomlin’s “How Great Is Our God” was his first No. 1 on the CCLI Top 25. The award-winning song moved to No. 1 after becoming one of the fasting rising modern day hymns in CCLI chart history. Tomlin continues to tour many dates every year and plays regularly at Passion Conferences in the States and worldwide.

With two Grammy® Awards, a Soul Train Award and multiple Dove and Stellar Awards, Israel and New Breed’s desire to draw people of all races, ages and cultures together through worship has only grown stronger as they strive to create music that breaks down barriers and defies categorization.  Their gold-certified album Live From Another Level catapulted them into the limelight, followed by the gold-certified and Grammy® Award winning Alive in South Africa and Grammy® nominated A Timeless Christmas.  In 2007, A Deeper Level, garnered them their second Grammy® Award and two 2008 Dove Awards.  A special salute to Gospel Music during the 50th Annual Grammy® Award Ceremony also allowed them to sharie the Grammy® stage with the legendary Aretha Franklin and perform their radio hit “With Long Life” during the 2008 live telecast.

 

KEES KRAAYENOORD

Watch a video clip from ‘GOD OF THE MOONAND STARS’ by Kees Kraayenoord:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbcLArwrtN8