BEC Recordings’ chart-topping singer/songwriter Tasha Layton is heralding the season with her full-length holiday debut, This Is Christmas, out.
Showcasing a range of timeless and new selections, the 10-track This Is Christmas was produced by Layton’s husband, GRAMMY and Dove Award winner Keith Everette Smith. The project features four originals co-penned by Layton: the worshipful title-cut; the R&B-infused “Giving Christmas Away”; the tender longing of “Make It To Christmastime”; and “Comfort and Joy,” a timely reminder of Christ’s promise of peace to a hurting world.
This Is Christmas also includes Big Band tour de forces “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Diddly Squat,” and “Hang Up Your Stockin’”; a wistfully classic rendition of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”; Layton’s soaring take on the sacred favorite “O Holy Night”; and album closer “Somewhere In My Memory,” from the 1990 Hollywood blockbuster “Home Alone.”
“The central theme of this project is comfort and joy,” shares Layton. “The holidays can be a difficult time for so many, so my prayer is that people can find the true meaning of the season through these songs, and ultimately in the joy God so freely offers to us through His Spirit.”
“Christmas is so important to our family because of our faith and the way the holiday season brings us all together,” she adds. “For a family who travels so much, it’s important for us to be home together, to center ourselves and reconnect with God and each other.”
Layton will share selections from This Is Christmas during the 2022 K-LOVE Christmas Tour, which also features such top names as Natalie Grant, Danny Gokey, Brandon Heath and Jon Reddick. The tour is slated to hit 11 cities in December, including Chicago, Kansas City and Austin, Texas.
IVAV recording artist Ty Brasel is excited to release his fourth album, TRANSCENDENT, available today 11/11. Produced by Dove Award-winning engineers Dirty Rice, Joseph Prielozny, and JuiceBangers, the record brings renewed energy to Brasel’s signature blend of rap, R&B, and pop. Listen to TRANSCENDENTHERE.
“To ‘transcend’ something, you rise above your limits and overcome whatever’s holding you back,” says Brasel, who overcame his own struggles — including brushes with crime and substance abuse during his teenage years — to launch a meteoric music career. “That word is reflective of my own life experience. Trauma, fear, and pride can get in the way of you accomplishing your goals. I’m here to show people, using my own life and my own music as an example, that you can always keep going.”
Stacked with ethereal beats, buzzing bass lines, and high-profile guest appearances such as The WRLDFMS Tony Williams, 1K Phew, Aha Gazelle, Aaron Cole, Foggieraw, Jay-Way, and Parris Chariz, TRANSCENDENT furthers the diversity of an eclectic album whose highlights include the timeless R&B melodies of “LOVE?” and the synth-driven modernism of “RIGHT ON TIME,” and is the most energetic album of Brasel’s catalog. Each track finds Brasel not only glorifying his maker, but encouraging others to move past their own obstacles, using his own backstory as proof of God’s patience and forgiveness. It’s not just a mission statement; it’s a rallying cry.
The result is an otherworldly album with a human core. An album that lives up to its name. Salvation is never too far away, and Brasel has created another soundtrack for the life-changing journey from tragic circumstances to triumphant redemption. This is what it sounds like to rise above.
Sixstepsrecords’ Kristian Stanfill releases Make It Out Alive. The eleven songs on this project are his most personal offerings to date. Written at a time of reckoning in his life, these songs were born out of Stanfill’s own need for survival. Along the way, it became clear that these songs could help someone else find hope at their lowest moment and to let them know that they are not alone.
“These songs are about the power of vulnerability, our need for connection, and the miracle of grace,” Kristian Stanfill explains. “I began writing as a way to heal. It was just me and Jesus in that secret place. No walls or pretending.
Just my broken life and His ability to heal me. I was writing my story of surrender. ‘Make It Out Alive’ isn’t just my story…it’s our story of freedom. I started to think maybe these songs could help someone else. I was learning about this new way of life, and I had never felt so alive and free. I want everyone to experience this kind of freedom. The truth is, we are all broken and none of us have it all together.
My goal would be that some of my honesty in these new lyrics and melodies will help someone else step into their freedom.”
Make It Out Alive – Kristian Stanfill is available now.
After months of teasers, HFP is glad to unveil Marizu’s highly-anticipated album, ‘Forever’: a timeless reflection on the believer’s unique relationship with Christ. It features award-winning artists CalledOut Music, Mayo, Sal Ly, and TKE3. With a mix of LoFi, Afrobeats and Pop, he highlights the trials and tribulations we face and the peace and joy we find amidst the chaos.
Composed of ten soul-soaked tracks, “Forever” takes listeners on a journey through Marizu’s mind; as relatable as it is deep. Delivering his vocals atop calm afro melodies, Marizu captures the multifaceted nature of God – how He imparts wisdom within the confusion, reminding us that all things truly work together for our good.
Speaking on this project, the artist shares,
“This project is about my relationship with my Heavenly Father and His love and attitude towards me. I find joy in knowing that even with the large population of the world, I am of utmost importance to Him; we all individually are. I want people to know how much they matter to God. His plans for them will always triumph any and every challenge that’s thrown their way. His sacrifice wasn’t just for our salvation and in this project I’ll be sharing a lot more about it. I want people to know that they can trust God with everything.”
Although a long journey, we are finally here.
“He brought me in contact with great people this year that helped put this project together. This album is a result of my experiences with Him.” This stellar album is available from the 11th day of November, 2022.
Marizu is an award-winning singer/songwriter based in Lagos, Nigeria. In the coming year, he hopes to release more projects, accept more interviews, and headline his first live show.
To stay updated, follow Marizu for updates on future releases!
Today, Grammy Award winning rock band Switchfoot releases their new LP, this is our Christmas album. Marking the band’s first-ever holiday record, this is our Christmas album finds Switchfoot infusing their signature West Coast sound to a number of holiday classics and five, new original Christmas songs. Cheery, nostalgic and brimming with sunshine, the 11 track collection was inspired by everyone from the Beach Boys to Black Flag, and promises to be the perfect soundtrack for the holiday season with a new California twist.
“Christmas is an emotional treasure chest for a songwriter to pull from,” lead Singer Jon Foreman says. “It’s a season stretched tight with contradictions: celebrating the free gifts of love and grace with an outburst of materialist capitalist consumption. An emotional roller coaster of family and friends, hopes and scars- bringing out the worst and the best in all of us.” A project that’s been years in the making, this is our Christmas album, wraps its arms wide around these contradictions.
Alongside the album announcement, Switchfoot announces their North American “this is our Christmas tour” which sees the band visiting Napa, Detroit, Monterey, Anaheim and more. Switchfoot’s live show is a force to be reckoned with, and the band’s first Christmas tour is no exception. Since the band’s creation they’ve performed to sold out audiences in over 40 countries and have racked up over five million tickets sold. These shows are going to be special as the group, that’s been described as “definition of cool” by Vulture, will perform one Christmas themed set, and another set filled with the band’s classic hits like “Dare You To Move,” “Meant to Live” and more.
“It’s truly incredible the way music connects us all: making even strangers feel like family,” Jon Foreman says.“To celebrate this season, singing these songs together in the same room is a gift that we can’t wait to unwrap. We’re so excited to head out on our first Christmas tour ever!”
this is our Christmas album is a follow up to 2021’s interobang, which saw the band opt for raw 60’s era pop-infused feel and straying away from their typical rock sound. Penned through the pandemic, interrobang celebrates the journey when the destination is unsure. It illustrates the contrast between joy and pain, faith and doubt, and marks a bold new creative peak for the multi-platinum rockers.
Curb | Word Entertainment artist We Are Messengers crowns their Christmas EP with new original, “Saviour,” available today (11/4). The fresh selection extends the band’s 2021 seasonal offering to six tracks and can be heard HERE.
New for 2022, “Saviour” exalts the extraordinary child-turned-King whose sole purpose was to rescue and redeem all of humanity. We Are Messengers marvels at the unmatched splendor of Christ and the true meaning of Christmas on this personal, yet universal, declaration of hope. The song serves as the title-cut of We Are Messengers’ expanded Christmas EP, Saviour. “Saviour” was written by the collective’s front man Darren Mulligan and Jeff Pardo, who also produced the anthem.
In September, Mulligan made his Grand Ole Opry debut. Meanwhile, he and his live band have spent the fall traversing the country on “The Wholehearted Tour” in support of We Are Messengers’ third full-length album. The act’s 28-date headlining run, which features special guests Jordan St. Cyr and Ryan Ellis, is set to conclude Nov. 17 in Waverly, Ohio. See a complete list of remaining shows below.
Saviour – Tracklisting:
Remaining Dates on We Are Messengers’ “The Wholehearted Tour”:
Integrity Music presents a new compilation of ‘Songs of Thanksgiving’ featuring many leading voices for the Church’s worship. As we set the table and invite friends and family over to celebrate, these songs are meant to help invoke the season of giving thanks. Full list of tracks and artists is below.
We Give You Thanks – All Sons & Daughters
I Speak Jesus – Here Be Lions
10,000 Reasons – Vineyard
Give Thanks – Don Moen
Living Proof (Reprise) [Live] – David & Nicole Binion
Son of Suffering – Matt Redman
Upon Him (Live) – REVERE, Thrive Worship, Lee University Singers
Light Of Your Grace – Citizens
We Believe – Travis Ryan
Call Upon Him (feat. Trillia Newbell) – FAITHFUL, Sandra McCracken, Rachael Lampa
Philadelphia, PA – Amanda Danziger will release her highly anticipated Seasons EP on Friday, November 4. This project is unique because it isn’t a typical worship album; it was created to emulate cinematic soundscapes, which Danziger describes as devotional worship.
“Devotional worship is a place of listening and stillness,” explains Danziger. “It doesn’t sound like corporate worship or an anthem you sing in church. It’s made to be a spiritual experience in your devotional time with the Lord.”
The Seasons In Sound
Seasons caps Danziger’s musical journey through the year. Each season she teased listeners with singles included on the album, starting with “Vindicate” for winter, “Prison Walls” for spring and “Refining Fire” for summer. And in the album release, “Be Still” will complete the seasonal journey with fall. Plus, the EP will include a bonus instrumental.
Each song in Seasons begins with a distinctive sound to evoke the season. “Vindicate” starts with the rush of a winter storm. Rain and thunder open spring’s “Prison Walls,” and the crackling of a summer campfire introduces “Refining Fire.” For fall, the sound of walking along a leaf-strewn path in the woods begins “Be Still” (pre-save the EP here).
“Each song is approached in a cinematic style that paints a musical picture of the season,” Danziger shares.
With Danziger musically drawing the outline for each song, she relied upon producer and co-writer Filipe Michael to paint in the colors.
“While the songs are my melodies, lyrics, prayers, and my heart, Filipe composed the soundtrack of the entire album. This gave him the ability to think outside the box when it came to composing. He only had stems of my vocals to work with to create the sounds in this album,” she continues.
Collaborating in His name
Childhood friends who met in church, Danziger and Michael have been collaborating since 2019, but they now live in separate states – Danziger in Pennsylvania and Michael in New Jersey. Working remotely with musical sounds as thir primary means of communication, they brought the album together.
“Soundscapes are like painting a picture and my part of our collaboration is to bring these visions to life,” Michael says.
Adding spice to the soundscapes they create is that both come from multi-cultural backgrounds. “Filipe will joke with me that my melodies don’t sound American or mainstream, and that’s because of my upbringing. I’m a first-generation American after my parents moved from Egypt in the late 70s. I grew up listening to Arabic music in my home, so I find myself singing in minor keys and experimenting with the sounds of Egypt.”
Michael grew up in Sao Paulo, Brazil though they first connected in an Arabic-speaking church. “We used to lead our peers in worship, and from then on, we’ve always known we would create a very special musical piece one day. Seasons is it,” Danziger believes.
Recognition
After releasing the first song of Seasons with “Vindicate,” Integrity Music recognized the unique contribution that Danziger made in the contemporary worship genre and signed her to a licensing deal through its Integrated Music Rights program. This allowed Danziger to remain an independent artist, but also gain access to a record label infrastructure and opportunities.
“The timing was all in God’s hands. I was so excited for this opportunity because it came right in time for the launch of Seasons,” Danziger states. “Seasons is a journey. It is a walk through of an entire year of thoughts, prayers, and life — and I’m grateful to launch this project with the Integrity team. They’ve encouraged us and helped us navigate throughout the entire process.”
Seasons arrives on Friday, November 4 on all streaming platforms. To learn more about Amanda Danziger visit www.amandadanziger.com or find her on most social platforms @amandanziger. Be sure to subscribe to her YouTube channel where you can experience visuals of the songs.
Lastly, remember to pre-save her EP Seasons — every save helps independent artists like Danziger and Michael to get their work heard.
Praise for Danziger’s Work
“There is always that indescribably out-of-this-world feeling you get when you get to listen to an artist like Amanda for the first time. Amanda Danziger has a voice of gold; one that you’d easily confuse for a mega superstar and the way she performs, owning the craft and showcasing passion will leave a lasting impression on any listener. Her music really transcends the spiritual boundaries and having a strong foundation through her church upbringing and also from her own personal experiences, she is now a vessel for the gospel and the best thing about her moving songs is that they reflect a very inner and deep reverence for God and his never-ending grace and love.” – Derrik Tchie, Gospel Hydration
“Amanda Danziger sprung onto the music scene in 2019 with her five-song EP, Head & Heart, which featured a refreshing indie/alt bent adding a slight twist on the familiar worship formula. With lyrics drenched in Scriptural influence, arresting vocal chops, and musical soundscapes soaked in gorgeous string sections, she quickly established herself as one to watch.” – Josh Balogh, jesusfreakhideout.com
“Amanda Danziger has become one of my more highly-anticipated recent discoveries. Single after single, she proves to be a competent songwriter with a strong gift for songwriting. She’s even caught the attention of Integrity Music, who struck up a licensing deal with Danziger just in time for her current series.” – Scott Fryberger, jesusfreakhideout.com
“This is not your typical worship leader kinda of stuff that all sounds the same to me.” – Ross Cluver, CCM Magazine
Singer, songwriter, and worship leader Benjamin William Hastings releases his self-titled solo debut today (Nov 4). Hastings’ debut full-length album is an artistic 25-track journey of honest self-expression featuring dynamic songwriting.
Listeners have come to know and love Hastings’ lyrics and voice as he co-wrote and is featured on UNITED’s RIAA Certified Gold song, “So Will I (100 Billion X),” Hillsong Worship’s widely acclaimed “Seasons,” and has co-written fan favorites such as Cory Asbury’s No. 1 single “The Father’s House” and Brandon Lake’s “Gratitude.” The songs he has written have been streamed globally more than 600 million times. Hastings has also toured this year on the Chris Tomlin x UNITED tour along with Jesus Culture’s Bryan & Katie Torwalt.
Leading up to his debut, Hastings has released additional songs that will live on this project: “Homeward” “A Father’s Blessing,” “Anyway,” and “The Jesus I Know.” The Benjamin William Hastings album includes songs co-written by Joel Houston, Aodhan King, Blessing Offor, David Leonard, Hank Bentley, Jeremy Lutito, and Josh Grimmett.
As Lecrae releases, Church Clothes 4, he boldly stands at the crossroads of sacred and secular, a lane he unashamedly accepts.
In the ten years since the first Church Clothes mixtape (hosted by DJ Don Cannon) released in 2012, no one has been able to surpass the heights that Lecrae has reached crossing CHH over to the mainstream, planting his feet simultaneously in the street and the Church without compromising.
While the critics blasted him for not picking a side, the people spoke even louder, downloading the music for the original Church Clothes over 100,000 times within 48 hours.
Today (Nov 4), he brings the righteous and ratchet together yet again and this time for Church Clothes 4, the last of the mixtape series! He maintains the unashamed posture reflecting on Romans 116, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to EVERYONE who believes first to the Jew, then to the Gentile!’ emphasizing that his music also is not just for believers, but for everyone!
![[Download Album] Church Clothes 4 - Lecrae](https://coghive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/unnamed-1-e1666956820342.png)