Six-time GRAMMY nominee and two-time GMA Dove Award winning singer/songwriter DOE has announced a new album! Heart of a Human. And, you can hear one of the new songs from that record today as “Right Where You Are” is now streaming.
I’m super excited to share this project that has hit so close to home. Mental health and walking with the Holy Spirit have become pillars in my life that I carry daily. It is a love letter that I hope blesses you. -DOE
DOE Announces New Album & Drops “Right Where You Are”
Manitoba native, 2023 Juno Award recipient in an Album of the Year category, and 16-time GMA Covenant Award winner Jordan St. Cyr launches his sophomore album My Foundation on June 14, Father’s Day weekend.
My Foundation isn’t just the title of an album or a song though, it’s a revelation of St. Cyr’s way of life. “This album comes on the heels of a challenging season centered around my daughter Emery’s health,” says the 41-year-old husband to Heather and father of four: Aidan (13), Liam (11), Willa (9) and Emery (5).
“As a family we had to root down and lean into faith – our foundation,” he continues. “Emery was diagnosed with Sturge-Weber Syndrome at birth (Nov. 2018) which developed into regular seizures as she continued to grow. When she was 4 years old, we moved to Nashville and connected with excellent doctors at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, and our now-5-year-old baby girl has been seizure-free for over a year.”
Jordan St. Cyr’s Sophomore Album ‘My Foundation’ Out Now
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A construction worker by trade, St. Cyr expressed his family’s journey of gratitude and faith through song, with the Biblical parable of the wise and foolish builders (found in Matthew) at the core of the album. “The fact my faith parallels my also being a builder; the song and album title were obvious choices.
Thinking back now, I recall my wife and I staying up night after night for weeks praying for Emery; I now rejoice for all the gifts He gave us through the process. This record is quite literally a statement of faith declaring not ‘what,’ but ‘Who’ my and my family’s lives are built upon.”
My Foundation follows St. Cyr’s 2022 self-titled debut LP, which earned a Juno Award as Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year (2023), and includes acclaimed radio singles, “Fires” (his debut U.S. single and Top 5 after 45 weeks on radio charts), and his first U.S. #1, “Weary Traveler.”
St. Cyr also earned two GMA Dove Award nominations (Best New Artist and for Short-Form Video Of The Year for “Weary Traveler”), and swept the 2022 GMA Canada Covenant Awards with six wins — the most out of all other nominees — including Artist of the Year, Album and Male Vocalist of the Year along with Best Pop Song, Live Music Artist, and AC Artist of the Year.
St. Cyr was recognized with additional five honors during 2023’s GMA Canada Covenant Awards, including Artist of the Year, making him the most-awarded artist for a second consecutive year.
With this momentum, St. Cyr is sought-after on the road in the U.S. and Canada. Having toured with artists including Mac Powell, Jeremy Camp, Anne Wilson, Colton Dixon, Crowder, Matt Maher and the K-LOVE Christmas Tour, St. Cyr will be embarking on Summer tour dates in June.
FAITHFUL releases their newest single, “Harbor,” an acoustic song with delicate harmonies and lyrics inspired by an excerpt from Psalm 46: “Be still, and know that I am God.” With disruptions all around, we are invited to find stillness and refuge in God.
“It’s a good gift in friendship to study words and melodies together as we did in the FAITHFUL project when we wrote this one; to play with these creative blocks like colors and shapes and to see how the Spirit of God makes something beautiful out of our collective efforts.” “Harbor” reminds listeners to cling to Jesus in the clamor of business, inviting everyone to live in the peace of Christ.
International gospel singer, Omowumi Akanbi releases a brand new EP Album tagged ‘Assurance’.
With the release of “Assurance,” Omowumi Akanbi continues to solidify her position as a prominent figure in the international gospel music scene. Her dedication to creating meaningful and impactful heavenly inspired music is evident in every aspect of the EP album, from the production quality to the lyrical content. “Assurance” serves as a testament to Omowumi Akanbi’s unwavering commitment to sharing her faith through her artistry.
Fans of gospel music can look forward to experiencing the uplifting messages and soulful melodies found in Omowumi Akanbi’s “Assurance” EP album. As she continues to captivate audiences with her powerful voice and inspiring lyrics, Omowumi Akanbi’s music is sure to leave a lasting impression on all who listen.
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.
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
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.
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.
