Anxiety. Depression. Suicidal thoughts. Some days can get so dark it feels like there’s no light in sight. But a band in Southern California believes the very darkness they face can give birth to light. It’s their name and the essence of who they are: they’re “Hopeful.”

In 2021, lead vocalist Randy James experienced extreme health complications. After battling an autoimmune disease for nearly a decade, things became even more intense. He was constantly sick, which led to anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. Suicidal thoughts tormented his mind, and he was ready to give up on the music he loved to create. Until God gave him a lyric—and that lyric changed everything for him.

Formed in Oceanside, California, Randy and guitarist Hunter Jackson started recording music together shortly after God gave Randy the lyric that inspired hope. Joining forces with their friends Eddie Bulena, James Barragan, and producer Gable Price (founder of Gable Price and Friends), Hopeful. was born.

The punctuation in their name isn’t an accident. It’s essential to their story. Hopeful. strives to be a rebellion against hopelessness, and the period symbolizes that hope is the end of all discussions. God has changed each of the band members’ lives, giving them strength in their darkest seasons. And now they’re ready to make music that “kicks hopelessness in the teeth.”

“We’re making music because we want our songs to reach people at their darkest moments,” said Randy. “My goal for Hopeful. is that we can reach someone who’s at their breaking point and bring them back on a path of hope.”

Comprised of Randy on lead vocals, Hunter on lead guitar, Eddie on rhythm guitar, and James on drums, Hopeful. is producing “alternative ‘slap depression upside the head’ rock,” according to the band. Their sound is reminiscent of other bands like Switchfoot, Colony House, and The Killers, beginning with the release of their debut EP, When The Turbulence Hits.

Each of the five tracks on the EP was written for one purpose: to provide hope. When The Turbulence Hits begins with “Oxygen Mask,” an alternative rock-driven track encouraging listeners to care for themselves before helping someone else with their metaphorical “oxygen mask.” The second track, “Shipwrecked,” turns inward to when God rescued Randy from another bleak season of his life.

“I wrote some of the lyrics of ‘Shipwrecked’ six or seven years ago,” said Randy. “It was written during a dark time—even darker than that time in 2021. I was backsliding. But I heard God speaking to me, ‘Randy, you don’t close your eyes so you can see or hold your breath so you can breathe.’”

After working with Gable Price on “Shipwrecked,” those lyrics found their way into the catchy pop/rock track featuring Randy’s soaring vocals and the band’s booming electric guitars.

“We’re going to write music about hope, but we’re going to do it in a fun, unique, fresh-sounding way,” said Randy. “Gable has been a huge asset to that.”

Halfway through the EP, “Steady… Steadily” encourages listeners that “everything you’re going through is gonna make you strong.” With an arrangement reminiscent of a Coldplay song, the song has an emotional build-up and a drum and guitar-heavy finish featuring both Randy and Hunter on vocals.

As the record continues, “Pressure” is an upbeat song written by Randy, Hunter, and Bryce Suyenaga (drummer of Jettee). The song was inspired by their individual struggles with anxiety, juxtaposed with the hope of Jesus.

“The bridge is essentially Psalm 23,” said Randy. “We wanted to transition the song to how Jesus met us in our darkest moments and carried us through. Because of that, we’re feeling ‘so much better now.’”

The EP finishes with “Wasting Away,” a stripped-down, acoustic-driven song that wrestles with the frustration and negativity the music industry can bring. It was also inspired by Randy’s struggle with depression, and is a prayer encapsulated with the lyrics, “Please save me, Father, from wasting away.”

For Hopeful., When The Turbulence Hits is only the beginning. They’re currently working on a full-length album, with a new single that will be released by the end of summer. In the meantime, Hopeful. will make their debut at Alive Music Festival in Mineral City, Ohio, on July 19.

Today (Jun 7), Mosaic MSC releases Sunday, Vol. 2 (Live) EP.

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The Reconcile EP is the result of years of study on the relentless call of Christ to forgive.

The more I study scripture, the more poignantly I am left with the belief that at the absolute core of the Christian faith is the call for us to become ministers of reconciliation. Jesus says in order to receive forgiveness, we must be willing to extend it. In other words, I think God’s grace must be a river, not a reservoir. What we want to communicate with this EP is the simple message that a radical commitment to reconciliation is the gift and call for every follower of Jesus.

We believe it is the key to healing and essential to every kind of revival we wish to usher into the world. May God use it to that end, for His glory. – Mike Donehey of Tenth Avenue North

Reconcile – Tenth Avenue North

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Chris Blue, the winner of NBC’s The Voice season 12, releases his debut album, Foundations: The Hymns of My Heart, today on Gaither Music. The 10-song collection brims with passionate renditions of songs that have personally impacted and shaped the soulful vocalist. A 13-track Foundations: The Hymns of My Heart concert DVD companion, featuring an interview with Blue hosted by Gospel Music Hall of Fame member Bill Gaither, is also available today.

The Hymns of My Heart – Chris Blue

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“This is where my life, my story, my faith began. I really want people to know who I am, at my core, so why not start at the beginning?” Blue says.

Blue dazzled audiences on The Voice back in 2017 with his expressive vocal vibrato, rousing dynamics and his magnetic stage presence. After his audition aired, during which he performed a soulfully-stirring rendition of The Miracles’ “Tracks of My Tears,” Blue quickly became a fan favorite and eventually became the season’s winner.

Blue’s new album, Foundations: The Hymns of My Heart, is a joyful testament to his walk of faith. Here, Blue takes us to church with his distinct dulcet tones and emotive deliveries on a program of beloved classics. The album bursts open with churchy energy on “Wait’ll You See My Brand New Home.” From there, “Near the Cross,” “I Am Redeemed” and Bill Gaither’s “Center of My Joy” are soul-filled tracks that highlight Blue’s interpretive balladry. Another album standout is Blue’s take on the Bill Withers’ classic “Lean On Me.” Here, the song opens sparsely and stately before sweeping up to the heavens with devotional exuberance.

The Knoxville, Tennessee talent started singing at church and with his family band at the age of three. One year later, Blue was fronting the band. At the age of 12, Blue was ordained; and he later became a worship leader. While still in his teens, Blue performed with legendary gospel artists like Fred Hammond and Kirk Franklin.

Releasing the album on Gaither Music is a full-circle moment for Blue. “In our house, growing up, Mr. Gaither was the Billy Graham, the godfather of gospel,” Blue remembers. “It didn’t get any bigger than that.”

“Every now and then a unique talent comes along that has that certain something and Chris has it!” Bill Gaither says. “He brings a special spirit to our nightly concerts, and it has been a joy to watch how God uses his gifts.”

A television special featuring performances and interview footage from the filming will premiere on Aspire TV on Sunday, June 23, at 2 p.m. ET. The special will also air on networks including RFD-TV, TBN, Heartland, Proclaim Broadcasting, CTS, The Walk TV, CTV, Total Living Network (TLN), Vision Television & Hope TV (Canada) and The Miracle Channel (Canada).

A YouTube premiere of the filming will premiere on the Gaither Music TV YouTube channel (over three million subscribers) on June 23; and songs from the DVD will be featured on Apple Music, on the Gaither YouTube channel and on the Gaither Facebook page (over two million subscribers). The first individual video released from the project has garnered over 700K streams to date; and the full-length video will be available on demand on the GaitherTV+ platform, an ad-free subscription streaming service.

Worship leader, songwriter, and vocalist Skye Reedy releases her debut live album, Your Church, available now. This new album features her songs “Crown Him,” the powerful anthem “Promise Keeper feat. Joe L Barnes,” a love song of a life surrendered, “Only Jesus,” and “Names of God,” which was written after a beautiful moment of spontaneous worship.

“This album – Your Church – is meant to be a meeting place with God,” shares Skye Reedy. “These worship songs came from deeply healing encounters with God’s presence. My prayer is that the same healing love would be experienced as you worship and sing these songs.”

Your Church – Skye Reedy

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Not a newcomer to the musical scene, Skye Reedy is a seasoned vocalist having worked with artists such as Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Cece Winans, Cody Carnes, Brandon Lake, Brooks & Dunn, Disney, and more. For more than two decades she has traveled around the world leading worship in more than 10 countries. She has also been part of performances on programs including Good Morning America, the ACMs, CBS This Morning, and the Dove Awards.

After dealing with a long season of life-threatening sickness and chronic disease, Skye Reedy has experienced her own personal healing miracle while worshiping God in her home being completely healed. Singing from her own experience, each song on her debut album is an anthem of praise and prayer for healing for others.

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Today, worship leader and songwriter Kim Walker-Smith releases her first new album in three years. The latest project, Trample, features 12 new songs including the released songs “Boxes,” “Let Revival In,” “Mama,” and the title track.

“As an artist and songwriter, so often our songs and new projects express the process we find ourselves in,” explains Kim Walker-Smith. “I’ve written many songs from a dry and difficult season. I’ve written songs that convey the wrestling that I feel in my spirit.  

But this collection of songs was written on the other side of the fight. Trample is a compilation of songs written from a place of victory. Victory is not expressed purely and only with joy, as you will hear in the song “Horizon”, but it is also expressed with humility and an understanding of what is needed to continue moving forward.”

Other songs on the project include “Mercy Seat” which was written to express the vulnerability and total honesty of what Kim has learned in the fight. “As Long As I Have You” and “Only Jesus Could,” solidify her resolve for the one thing that matters most to her in the battle and the victory; that’s Jesus.

Trample – Kim Walker-Smith

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Kim adds, “My hope and my prayer with Trample, is that these words and melodies will prophetically awaken the resolve and determination inside of the listener, to stand in victory through Jesus.  I pray the honesty of the lyrics brings repentance where it’s needed and straightening to crooked paths. And lastly, I hope this album makes clear where I’m headed and I hope others will join me; worship belongs to Jesus and all the glory is His alone.”

With more than 20 years of worship leadership, Kim Walker-Smith is known for her spirit-led worship anthems. She will be touring internationally this summer with a nearly sold-out South Africa tour followed by a headlining tour in the US this fall.

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SEU Worship delivers a new live project, Move of God, available today. The new album features 11 live songs, which represent the worship movement at Southeastern University. Listen to the new album here.

“The album Move Of God articulates the ongoing movement witnessed not only within our campus and community but across the globe,” shares SEU Worship’s Chelsea Plank. “A powerful divine movement is underway. Reflecting on Matthew 5:8, which states that the pure in heart shall see God, this album serves as our prayer, urging us to dedicate ourselves to holiness, enabling us to truly perceive God. Through these songs, we ask the Lord to transform us into offerings, sanctify us like an upper room, purify us, and grant us the vision to perceive His movement and actively participate in it.”

Move Of God – SEU Worship

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Building off the success of their 2022 viral hit song, “Monday Morning Faith”, every song released so far from Move of God has broken previously held debut streaming week records for SEU Worship. The band released their first song, “FREE!” in February while in the midst of the 39-city Winter Jam tour, followed by the title track in April and most recently the group’s highest streaming debut, “Slower I Go” in May. The reception of these songs before the album release indicates the move of God that is happening all across the globe in the college-aged and below listeners.

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London-based singer-songwriter, Sarah Téibo, who was told she may never sing again has defied the odds and released a new EP – ‘Human Like Me’ –  after recovering from thyroid cancer. 

Sarah was also told by medics that her vocal cords were at risk of being permanently damaged after urgent surgery to remove a cancerous tumour on her thyroid. Though devastated by the news of the diagnosis and struggling to process what this could mean for her future as a singer, the mum of two who had already released three award winning Gospel albums,  took a step of faith to book and attend songwriting sessions within three weeks of major surgery. 

“I could barely produce coherent sounds, yet I went into the songwriting sessions to write new music – even with dressing from surgery still on my neck … I don’t know how I got through it, but somehow I did!” says Sarah. 

“This was undoubtably the most anxious I’d been at any point in my life and I thought I’d never be able to sing again, as I was diagnosed with ‘mild vocal paresis’ resulting from the surgery. This meant I would require vocal rehab to help me completely re-train and learn how to sing again. The thought of possibly never being able to sing with my signature power and pitch was quite terrifying, but my faith played a huge part in keeping me positive about the future.” 

She was eventually given the ‘all clear’ from cancer, as well as discharged from vocal therapy after regaining most of her singing voice. Months later, she released  the first single from the EP –  ‘All Clear’ –  which is dedicated to her journey back to recovery.  On the rest of the project, Sarah creates a musical tapestry interwoven with stories, melodies and warm sonics that take listeners through her experience processing diagnosis, anxiety, fear, scars, faith and ultimate healing. 

‘Human Like me’,  Sarah’s fourth studio project, is now available to stream and download from all music platforms. 

Human Like Me – Sarah Teibo

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The best art is often born from darkness. It takes heartbreak before there’s redemption. For rising Christian artist Carly Ann Taylor, this has been her life’s story.

Growing up in an abusive household until she was 15, Taylor was well-acquainted with the darkness surrounding her. Her biological parents were both drug addicts, and her life was full of instability. By the end of her freshman year of high school, Taylor found the darkness inside herself. She hit rock bottom, battling suicidal thoughts and living a reckless lifestyle–until an unexpected phone call changed her life.

Taylor was working at a Baskin Robbins in her hometown of Kona, Hawai’i and was on a break when she received a call from her half-brother Randy, who’s 16 years her senior. He invited her to spend a week with him and his wife in California. When she arrived, she found a room waiting for her and was overwhelmed by the kindness they showed her. When they learned about her living conditions and the abusive household she came from, they invited her to move in.

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At just the right time, God brought Taylor out of a toxic life and gave her new parents. And when her new family brought her to church, she encountered Jesus and immediately accepted Him into her life after the first message she heard. Now residing in San Diego, Taylor is using her music to share how God changed her story.

Captivated by R&B artists like Alicia Keys and Tori Kelly, Taylor is putting a creative spin on contemporary Christian music. Her powerhouse vocals are reminiscent of Adele but infused with modern-day worship and surrounded by lyrics offering a fresh perspective on what it looks like to find hope and healing in Jesus. On her new debut EP, Changing My Story, Taylor puts lyrics and melodies around her new life in Christ.

“God revealed to me that my identity is in Him,” said Taylor. “It’s not in anything anyone has ever said to me or the labels that have been put on me, or the things I’ve done. My new identity is found in Him.”

Featuring six tracks, each song on Changing My Story is a chapter of Taylor’s life of coming from brokenness and abandonment to finding healing, hope, and salvation in Jesus. The EP begins with “Saved My Soul,” an impactful song about how Jesus redeemed her life. The record continues with “Your Beauty,” a song about the brighter side of her story, and “Sunrise,” a soulful track about how Taylor has found herself in Jesus.

Halfway through the EP, the lyrics shift from introspection to encouragement for Taylor’s listeners. “Drift Away” is an encouragement to anyone who feels tired from the storms of life, and was written for her family during a season of loss.

“I wanted to write a song that would comfort my family,” said Taylor. “But it’s also a song for people going through difficult things. They can trust that God’s not going to let them drift away. He’s going to stay close to them.”

As the EP continues to journey through Taylor’s life, “Runnin’ (The Assignment)” focuses on the future, expressing that time and attention are the only way to see what God has in store for her. The EP concludes with “Here I Am,” featuring Hopeful., the band her half-brother Randy fronts. For Taylor, having her brother sing on the last track felt like a full-circle moment.

“On the first track, ‘Saved My Soul,’ I envision myself on my break, getting that call from Randy. That was basically the beginning of God changing my story,” said Taylor. “It’s all wrapped up with Randy singing with me on ‘Here I Am’ as I surrender my life to Jesus.”

Carly Ann Taylor will continue to share her story through music and plans to write and record more songs this summer.

Josh Wilson is entering a season of new music with a new 11 track LP out now. The poignant Mental Help album is now available to download/stream. Wilson’s new music was inspired by his struggle with anxiety, depression and alcohol addiction and is meant to be a source of encouragement and support for those struggling with mental health. Wilson promises 24 new songs slated for release throughout this year, stay tuned for more details soon.

Today, my first full length album in ten years released. It’s called “Mental Help,” and it’s the most personal project I’ve ever written. There are songs about anxiety, depression, addiction, loss, and through it all, HOPE. There is always hope. There is help. You are here for a reason. God loves you. He isn’t mad at you. Truly. – Wilson

Mental Help – Josh Wilson 

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