Worship For Everyone – the all age worship movement hailing from the UK – releases a new album titled “Breathe.” Made up of Nick and Becky Drake, parents to four children themselves, Worship For Everyone has been ministering to kids in church groups and schools for years. From their extensive experience, they recognised a need for worship songs that create an atmosphere of stillness, which they offer through the ten songs on “Breathe.”
“Knowing that so many children have enjoyed our songs over the years, we wanted to create an album that would still feel familiar to our listeners, but with a totally different feel,” they share. “Breathe” is sonically spacious, creating an opportunity for families to enjoy peaceful, reflective, and meditative moments together with simple and beautiful worship.
“We hope these songs will bless every generation, creating and serving those quieter moments that we need and often long for. We hope above all that people of all ages will be able to draw comfort and sustenance from God as these songs minister to them,” they conclude.
Worship For Everyone’s new album speaks to an anxious generation, reminding them to catch their breath and slow down, but also of the Breath of God who made and restores them.
Reach Records’ pioneering force in Christian hip-hop, Wande, has announced a name change. She will now be known publicly as Anike. She shared her heart behind this decision on social media, saying she is entering a new season and her name change reflects a life of obedience, surrender and submission to the Lord.
Yahweh has called me into a new season. In moments of stillness with Him, He brought to my remembrance my names given to me at birth Mutiat & Yewande. Mutiat is an Arabic muslim name meaning obedience/devotion to Allah. Yewande is a Yoruba name meaning “the mother has returned” (aka reincarnation).
The Lord guided me to pray with my mother with whom we both share the Christian faith. From her & my time with the Lord I was renamed.
(I’ll share my full list of new names soon)
The name I felt led to go by publicly is “Anike” the short form of my fully hyphenated new middle name Ireoluwa-Anike
Meaning: The goodness of God – we have something to care for and cherish and not take for granted.
This isn’t a marketing scheme etc, just a life of full obedience, surrender, and submission to the Lord.
“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ”
Philippians 3:8 NLT
“For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:9 NLT
My husband, parents, family, and business partners have been extremely supportive during this time as I step into this new season of letting go of old and stepping into new all for the glory of Yahweh
““Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.”
Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV
I encourage anyone who feels like the Lord is speaking to them to lean in to His voice & tap
into the Bible . Regardless of culture or what you may have been known for. Love you
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.”
Atlantic Recording Artist Colton Dixon has announced his fall 2024 Up + Up Tour featuring Austin French with special guest Jeremy Rosado. Sponsored by Compassion International, the tour will kick off September 19th in Dothan, AL and ultimately hit 24 other cities across the country. Tickets for fifteen of the shows are on sale now via ColtonDixon.com, with more being added daily. Additionally, limited VIP Tickets with early entry Q&A and signed tour poster are available.
Named after his brand new single, “UP + UP,” Dixon is excited to share the stage with French and Rosado.
“I’m stoked to be on the road with such incredible artists sharing a common goal,” remarked Dixon. “The message of “UP + UP” is that God’s plan is to give us a hope and a future – lifting us up and up again no matter the battle. That’s exactly what this fall tour is all about.”
“UP + UP” has received a very warm welcome at Christian radio, with 23 adds in its first week alone, including including KLTY/Dallas; WGTS/Washington DC; WCIE/Tampa; KLJY/St. Louis; and WJQK/Grand Rapids. He performed the track live for the first time at the annual Christian Music Broadcasters MOMENTUM conference in Orlando, FL. Most recently Dixon received his first RIAA Gold-Certification for his massive hit, “Build A Boat,” the biggest Christian radio song of 2022 holding the No. 1 spot for 11 weeks and also receiving Song of the Year nominations for both the K-LOVE Fan Awards and GMA Dove Awards.
Lula Street Records, founded by industry veteran Wisdom Moon, is thrilled to announce the signing of emerging Christian artist Amanda Nolan. This exciting partnership marks a significant milestone in Nolan’s burgeoning career and solidifies her position as one of the most promising new voices in Christian music.
Amanda Nolan, a Pennsylvania native now based in Nashville, has been making waves in the Christian music scene with her soulful tone and heartfelt lyrics. Her journey in music began at age eleven, and she has since grown into a formidable talent, collaborating with many established songwriters and producers in the Christian music industry.
“This is a day I have dreamed of since I was a little girl, and I can’t believe it’s here,” said Nolan. “I am so thankful to God for blessing and trusting me with this opportunity to make music to encourage His people. Thank you to Lula Street Records and my manager Wisdom Moon for believing in me and coming alongside me on this journey!”
Nolan’s recent single, “Second To God,” has garnered attention for its powerful message and showcases her artistic growth. Her music, born from personal experiences including overcoming mental health struggles through faith, resonates deeply with listeners.
“We’re excited to welcome Amanda to the Lula Street family,” said Wisdom Moon, founder of Lula Street Records. “Her authentic approach to songwriting and her dedication to her faith make her a perfect fit for our label.”
In addition to signing with Lula Street Records, Nolan has also recently begun working with Moon as her manager, further strengthening their professional relationship.
Nolan’s impressive accolades include over 4.7 million YouTube views, a strong social media presence with over 123,000 Instagram followers, and multiple songwriting competition wins. She was awarded 1st Place in the Christian category of the Unsigned Only Songwriting Competition and was a finalist in the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
Five-time GRAMMY-nominated Christian artist and songwriter Matthew West sets his sights on the road, plotting his headlining Don’t Stop Praying Tour in partnership with Awakening Events to kick off on Oct. 30 in Pensacola, Fla.. Spanning across 17 cities nationwide this fall and winter.
“One of Christian music’s most prolific singer-songwriters” (Billboard) takes his music to fans across the country inspired by his Christian radio single “Don’t Stop Praying,” which currently holds the No. 2 spot on the Billboard Christian Airplay and Billboard Monitored AC chartsand continues to climb the Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart. Tickets are on sale now with a limited amount of VIP meet and greet packages available at matthewwest.com/tour.
Despite all the political slogans this year, West encourages Christians to hold onto the message of “Don’t Stop Praying,” sharing, “there will be no shortage of campaign slogans this year my friends, but here’s mine – Don’t Stop Praying.”
Matthew West’s Don’t Stop Praying Tour To Visit 17 Cities Nationwide This Fall
Penned by West and Jeff Pardo, “Don’t Stop Praying” has had the largest debut streaming week in the history of West’s monumental career and is on track to be his most streamed song to date. The award-winning artist followed up the hit track with an acoustic version last Friday (6/21) to highlight a more intimate, stripped down perspective of the uplifting song.
Before the track’s release, West dropped the poignant and relatable “18 Summers,” which “perfectly captures the moment he’s living in now” (Woman’s World) as a father of two teenage daughters. Later accompanied by a music video that showcases “a myriad of realities that plays out beautifully” (People), West continues to bring inspiring tracks to the forefront and looks forward to sharing them on stages across the nation with fans.
Don’t Stop Praying Tour dates:
Oct. 30, 2024 in Pensacola, Fla. at Saenger Theatre
Nov. 1, 2024 in Knoxville, Tenn. at Chilhowee Hills Baptist Church
Nov. 2, 2024 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. at Beach Church
Nov. 3, 2024 TBA
Nov. 7, 2024 in Clarksburg, W. Va. at Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center
Nov. 8, 2024 in Bensalem, Pa. at Christian Life Church
Nov. 9, 2024 in Frederick, Md. at International Community Church
Nov. 10, 2024 in Anderson, Ind. at Madison Park Church of God
Nov. 14, 2024 in Naperville, Ill. at Calvary Church
Nov. 15, 2024 in Gaylord, Mich. at E-Free Church Gaylord Campus
Nov. 16, 2024 in Fond du Lac, Wis. at Lighthouse Christian Church
Nov. 17, 2024 in Lincoln, Neb. atLincoln Berean Church
Nov. 18, 2024 in Mt. Vernon, Ill. at Central Christian Church
Nov. 21, 2024 in Searcy, Ark. at Searcy High School Performing Arts Center
Nov. 22, 2024 in Leesville, La. at Christian Living Fellowship
Nov. 23, 2024 in Abilene, Texas at Abilene Convention Center Auditorium
Nov. 24, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas at Oak Hills Church – Crownridge Campus
A six-time author, West has notched more than 30 No. 1 songs as an artist and songwriter combined and has received five GRAMMY nominations and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. He awaits the fall tour to continue sharing his music’s encouraging message nationwide.
This week, Sarah Kroger announced she and her husband, Dom, will be releasing a podcast series based on her latest project, A New Reality.
In this inaugural episode of No Filters, hosts Sarah Kroger and Dom Quaglia discuss Sarah’s song ‘Glory Be’. Ever wondered how a song idea comes to life? You’ll learn about the inspiration, writing, producing, and live performing of this song, which is based on a well-known prayer… the type of prayer Dom used to complain about.
Whether you’re a music lover, a prayer warrior or just a person who has ears and can hear, this episode is sure to give you something to think about.
GRAMMY nominated recording artist Jeremy Camp has notched his 44th No. 1 single with “These Days.” The living-in-the-moment anthemic track was the lead single off of his album ‘Deeper Waters’ which also topped the Billboard Top 200 Christian chart upon its release. Released Fri., May 18 via Capitol CMG, ‘Deeper Waters’ marked Camp’s highest album streaming debut of his marquee career.
The 13-track collection is a pop-fused reflection of the past two-plus decades of his life in the spotlight, as well as the appreciation for the moment of the now. Fused with Camp’s personal experiences, steadfast faith, and innate gift of storytelling, ‘Deeper Waters’ takes the listeners on a captivating musical journey of exploration and surrender.
Jeremy Camp Earns 44th No. 1 Song With “These Days”
Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG) has announced the promotion of Walter Thomas to Vice President of Artist Development at Motown Gospel and TAMLA Records. Additionally, Alexandria “Dria” Dollar has joined CCMG in the role of Senior Director of A&R at TAMLA & Motown Gospel.
The new position takes Thomas from Director of Artist Development for CCMG in 2023 to his new role which comes with expanded responsibilities including overseeing the growth and nurturing of the company’s artist roster and development initiatives along with facilitating its marketing initiatives.
He reports to CCMG Co-Presidents Brad O’Donnell and Hudson Plachy. Prior to arriving at CCMG, Thomas served as CEO of Agency 22 Music & Entertainment, managing artists such as DOE, JJ Hairston, Jonathan McReynolds, Maverick City Music, Smokie Norful and more.
“I am deeply honored to step into the role of Vice President of Artist Development for Motown Gospel and TAMLA,” says Thomas. “These iconic labels have a legacy of inspiring and uplifting music, and I am committed to continuing this tradition by developing the next generation of extraordinary artists.
I am equally thrilled to welcome Alexandria Dollar as our new Senior Director of A&R. Alexandria’s innovative approach and keen ear for talent are unmatched, and I am confident that together we will elevate our artists to new heights. This is an exciting time for us, and I look forward to all that we will accomplish at Motown Gospel and TAMLA.”
“Walter Thomas is a great music executive and we are confident he’ll excel in this new role,” shared Brad O’Donnell, CCMG Co-President. “He has great instincts and strong relationships across the entire industry. I know he’ll serve our artists and partners well in this expanded capacity.”
“I want to congratulate Walter in his new role,” added Hudson Plachy, CCMG Co-President. “We are excited about what he brings to this company and the industry overall. He’s an experienced executive who is innovative and creative along with passion to serve artists.”
Dollar, a two-time GRAMMY Award winner and recipient of Stellar and Dove Awards, brings a wealth of industry experience and an unparalleled ear for identifying the next big acts across positive hip-hop, R&B, and beyond. In her new position she will work closely with Thomas and spearhead efforts to discover, develop, and sign new talent.
Prior to joining CCMG, Dollar served as Director of A&R at Reach Records in Atlanta, GA. collaborating with many of music’s biggest names, including Lecrae, For King + Country, Kirk Franklin, Chloe x Halle, PJ Morton, The Disney Channel, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and more.
Stephanie “Lady Redneck” Lee hails from Dallas, Texas, and has been captivating audiences with her unique blend of humor, heart, and genuine storytelling. Born in Blackfoot, Idaho, and raised in the tiny town of Howe, Stephanie moved to Idaho Falls before junior high. Growing up in a musical family, she played in the family band, Dusty Boots, performing all over the Northwest and selling 40,000 CDs during their career. She is proficient in guitar, piano, bass, fiddle, mandolin, and drums.
Now, carving out her own path, Stephanie has earned the respect of fans and critics alike with her solo releases. Her single, “I Dented Your Truck,” reached the top of the international iTunes country songs chart, and “Pray for Peace” hit #1 on the UK iTunes Christian music chart. Her most recent album, “God so Loved the World,” released in December 2023, continues to showcase her shift towards Christian-based music. Her last single, “3 Days,” also topped the UK iTunes Christian Songs chart and the Saudi Arabia Spotify charts, and it made it to the first ballot of this year’s Dove Awards!
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey in the music industry and how you got started in Christian country music?
I would love to! I’ve performed and written music all my life. I love all genres, but country always resonated with me, my beliefs and personality.
I think we can all agree 2020 wasn’t the best year, and I’m not sure it brought out the best in me. I started feeling more anger and contention than I had ever felt. By December, I went into a deep evaluation of my soul and by the end of the month, I knew I wanted to bring more light and love into the world… I wanted to share His message and His love.
When I would sit down to write, Christian songs just poured out of me, so now I do a mixture of both.
Your new album “God So Loved The World” released in December, can you give us a peek into what listeners can expect from it?
My heart and soul… The album begins with a song I wrote called, “After The Rain, You’ll Find the Son.” This song talks about how when we go through trials, if we choose not to become bitter but turn to Him, we will find the “Son,” meaning the Son of God. The 3 verses in that song specifically are feelings I felt during 3 very big trials in my life so it’s very personal. The other songs are the same way. Two of the songs I had written a few years earlier. They were “It’s His Fight Too” and talked about a time when my husband and I lost everything and how He carried us through those trials.
Christian Singer Songwriter Lady Redneck is Keepin’ it Real in this Exclusive One-on-One
Stream & Enjoy
The song “Tender Mercy” was about a time when for the first time in my life I felt I had lost hope and really understood how important hope was, then later realized that when I thought He wasn’t there – He had truly been with me every step of the way.
So, yeah, the songs are really personal. As I wrote them, I would always pray about what to write about- what this world needed – and “His love” was always part of the answer.
You’ve had multiple #1 hits on the UK iTunes Christian/Gospel Songs chart, what do you think sets your music apart from others in the industry?
That’s a good question. I would say, “because It’s real.” I’m not just going along with an algorithm that makes a hit song. I’m writing from the soul. It’s not that I don’t want a hit song ☹, because I definitely do – but if you can’t feel it, that’s a problem for me.
Your music is often described as relatable and honest. How important is it for you to connect with your audience on a personal level through your music?
I love hearing that and it truly makes me happy. It’s SO IMPORTANT. Especially with AI taking over the way it is. When Chat GPT came out, I jumped on there and asked it to write me a song, gave it a subject, told it I wanted 3 verses and a chorus – gave it specific parameters and it wrote a pretty good song! But it wasn’t REAL….Ya know?
There’s something about truth. Truth resonates in our soul. When the singer feels the song, the listeners feel it. When a songwriter writes a song and it’s true, I believe we feel it. It’s important for me to connect that way with my listeners. I don’t want to sound like everyone else. I don’t want to be like everyone else. I want to be me… the good, the bad, and the ugly part of me – and if they can love me like that, I can love them like that!
Don’t we all want to be accepted and loved for who we truly are? I think that’s one of Christ’s greatest teachings.
In addition to your music, you are also an entrepreneur. How do you balance your music career with your other business ventures?
I’ve been doing a little more business lately than I’d like. Since my hearing accident, it’s made me a little insecure and I haven’t been performing as much as I have wanted to. I’m in the process of getting this figured out so plan on doing a LOT of music in the near future… But it’s a good question. Especially since when I turn on my business side of my brain, It’s quite different from my artistic side – so I have to do one or the other. I love doing business, not as much as music, but it’s so fun for me.
As far as balance, it all goes back to my goals. I am one of those people who write them all out and read them every day. Then I just work with the end in mind… what do I need to work on today, business or music?
Your song “Pray for Peace” received a nomination for “Christian Songwriter of the Year” at the Josie Music Awards. How did it feel to be recognized for your songwriting talents?
Very good! I remember releasing my FIRST song I had written, wondering if anyone would like it. Songwriting is so intimate. You truly share so much of who you are. I think if someone were to sit down and listen to all my CDs, they would pretty much know exactly who I am. My father is a songwriter and I grew up loving his songs. I still do. My mind thinks in song format, so it’s very natural to me.
What inspired you to write the title track “God So Loved The World” and what message do you hope to convey through it?
When I wrote it, it wasn’t “God So Loved The World.” It was about asking, and you shall receive; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. It was a great song, but the night before I was supposed to go to the studio, God put different words in my heart, and I changed it that night. Then while driving there the following morning, He gave me more changes! When I got there, I wasn’t as confident with the song because of all the last-minute changes and it made me rely on Him and make sure I shared the message He wanted me to share. I loved how it turned out and love the fact that the spirit instructed me what needed to be said in that song. That one wasn’t mine…
You have a strong faith and it shines through in your music. How do you stay true to your beliefs and values in an industry that can be challenging at times?
It is challenging and thanks for saying that! It’s easy for me to stay true to my faith in God, even though I had never had a true hater until I became a Christian singer, and it was from a Christian so that was sad and weird for me. My faith and love for my Savior is a ROCK. The harder part, for me, is being modest and keeping my values. I’ll see other ladies showing some skin and they get a lot of views and attention for that! I’m not that girl and I don’t necessarily want to be – but maybe sometimes something inside of me does just a little… (one of my weaknesses).
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your music career so far, and how did you overcome it?
Losing a lot of my hearing 2 years ago. It rocked my world. I was at an outside shooting range and someone shot a large gun when I didn’t have my hearing protection on, and I immediately couldn’t hear. I thought it would probably come back in a couple hours or the following day, like when you go to a loud concert – but it never did. With music being my life: teaching, singing, performing, etc… it was devastating. I was able to continue teaching, because I could “feel” the vibrations and pitches. I did a few live shows but because of insecurities have done mostly recorded music since. I’m working in a solution for this now and hope to have it resolved soon.
In the meantime, I will continue putting out more music and growing my fan base, so when I’m ready – I can START DOING MORE SHOWS!!
What advice would you give to aspiring Christian artists and entrepreneurs looking to break into the industry?
Be real. Pray before every show, everything you write, and everything you do. Trust Him. If you look at it like you’re “an instrument in His hands” to share His message and His love – it makes even your weaknesses become strong in Him. Don’t wait until everything is perfect, and the stars line up.
Start now! I see people all the time who are waiting for ___ (insert excuse here) and then it never happens. God needs you NOW. He needs you to share His message, His love and to touch hearts. Do it for Him and do it now. Vist Lady Redneck at www.ladyredneckmusic.com
