Vere Music and Brickhouse Entertainment’s breakout pop singer/songwriter Mary-Clair releases “Forever.” The track was written by Brickell and Tedd Tjornhorm with the video by Caleb Gauntt.
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Pointing listeners to the Hope of Christ amidst life’s troubles, critically acclaimed husband/wife folk duo Kenny & Claire are set to bow their full-length debut, Upon The Storm, July 19. Produced by GRAMMY Award-winner Mitch Dane (Brandon Heath, JJ Heller), the 12-track set showcases four freshly penned originals and eight modern renditions of enduring hymns.
The album’s title-cut—a stirring take on William Cowper’s 18th century hymn “God Moves in a Mysterious Way”—is now available. With updated verses and a new arrangement by Kenny & Claire and Mitch Dane, “God Moves (Upon the Storm)” carries deep meaning for the couple following Kenny’s struggle with a brain tumor as well as a life-altering chronic illness diagnosis.
“Though we do not always understand why God does what He does, we recognize that He is a God of mercy, and we are people who need mercy,” Kenny shares. “That’s one of the reasons the lyric, ‘behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face,’ in ‘God Moves (Upon the Storm)’ is so powerful. This world is dark and stormy and full of struggle, yet behind that struggle, God—in His kindness—watches us and intends our fight through these struggles for our good.”
“In our own struggles with suffering—particularly related to Kenny’s health—we have continually returned to the promises of Scripture as well as the lyrics of old hymns,” Claire says. “’God Moves (Upon the Storm)’ reminds us of the truth of His sovereignty over all things, including a scary diagnosis. The humbling reality is that we do not fully understand the majesty of the Lord and that what He allows can sometimes be so very gut wrenching, but He is indeed faithful and trustworthy. This song lifts our eyes to God while recognizing the reality of life’s storms.”
Hallmarked by thoughtful, organic arrangements firmly anchored in a folk/Americana soundscape, Upon The Storm also features Kenny & Claire’s signature take on such classic hymns as “O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” and “Come Thou Fount,” among others, along with a uniquely emotive rendition of the popular Keith Getty and Stuart Townend-penned hymn, “In Christ Alone.” New selections including “Surely His Goodness,” “Have Mercy on Us” and “We Believe”—all written by Kenny & Claire and Mitch Dane—bridge the past and present with thematic consistency.
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“We want to be singing the same songs that saints who have gone before us sang,” Kenny explains. “There’s a comfort in knowing that brothers and sisters who ended their race well sang these songs, and that they are in the Great Cloud of Witnesses encouraging us to cast off the weight of sin and finish well.”
“Our hope is that this album is a lighthouse pointing to the majesty, power, sovereignty, and holiness of the Lord in the midst of the reality of life’s storms,” Claire adds. “Through our own experiences, we’ve needed songs that point our hearts to Christ and help us rest in His glorious Gospel. We want the music we share to be songs we need ourselves, as 2 Corinthians 1:4 says, songs that ‘…comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort which we ourselves are comforted by God.’”
The Spirituals continue their journey of reimagining hymns with their newest release, “Tis So Sweet,” a standout track from their new Hymns project coming in October 2024. The Hymns project was born out of the desire to breathe new life into timeless songs, bridging the gap between the past and the present and telling God’s endless story in a fresh manner.
These hymns have transcended generations, carrying the message of God’s love and hope. “Tis So Sweet” is a joyful and uplifting song that explores the meaning of trusting in Jesus. It reminds us of the importance of placing our faith in Him at all times, through every season of life. The Spirituals’s rendition invites a new generation to fall in love with these sacred words and melodies, fostering a deeper connection with God.
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Today, Roxanne Grace, GLADDEN, AWZY release “Thinking” available today via DREAM Records. This easy to sing-along upbeat song is a summertime pop song & was written to bring encouragement, hope & joy to the listener as a celebration of God’s favor. The song was written by Dameon Aranda (Switch), GLADDEN and Austin Moore.
“‘Thinking’ is a fun summer bop that we all need. It has a powerful but simple message. The message is to NOT get overwhelmed by everything going on around us, but rather let’s keep our mind on Jesus and things above. Life is so much easier and a lot more fun when we allow His peace, His love and His truth to be our guide. And I got to work with two of my favorite artists, GLADDEN & AWZY.” – Roxanne Grace
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“Our new song “Thinking” is about keeping our mind fixated on the Lord. We regain hope. Our priorities are straightened and everything is made clear when we focus on God above all things.” – AWZY
“Roxanne reached out to me about writing and recording some verses on a song that God had laid on her heart. The theme was the center on how our thoughts change for the better once we surrender our lives to God. The negativity and sin in the world tend to pull us down unless we purposely keep our minds focused on the goodness of God. I’m extremely honored to be featured with Roxanne Grace and AWZY.” – GLADDEN
“Thinking” was produced by Austin Moore in Phoenix, Arizona. It is available everywhere music is sold and streamed digitally.
Matt Redman releases a special album titled “Coming Back To The Heart (Live Collection).” Recorded at the Beverly Theater in Las Vegas, this project revisits songs written or co-written by Matt for the Church over the last 25 years. After noticing new enthusiasm around some of his older songs, he decided to re-imagine them and invite people into a fresh expression of worship
. One of the hallmarks of this record is the joining together of various songs: “I was amazed how well that worked – some just interlocked together so beautifully and naturally – like ‘Better Is One Day’ with ‘Facedown’ (both reverential songs around the theme of God’s presence) and ‘Never Once with ‘You Never Let Go’ (both songs about the faithfulness of Jesus),” Matt shares.
This live collection also introduces a brand-new song, “Let Me See Jesus,” which captures the album’s central message, as Matt explains, “that’s what the ministry I’ve been entrusted with is about.” Beholding God naturally leads to expressing praise and singing, “it’s the natural reflex of a soul who has glimpsed something glorious about God,” he continues.
“Coming Back To The Heart (Live Collection)” is sonically communal and dynamic as it was recorded with stripped-back instruments in order to make room for the congregation’s voices. The room was filled with local worship leaders and singers, a deliberate move to go beyond the city’s entertainment reputation and into encounter with the living God.
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Featuring classics such as “Heart of Worship,” and a gospel-inspired outro on “10,000 Reasons,” the new album expresses something familiar in an unfamiliar manner. “I hope these songs will help us sing age-old truth in a fresh way,” Matt concludes.
Run51 releases their new song “Start Right Now” on DREAM Records. Sung by Chaz Miles, this upbeat uplifting song is both hopeful and motivational.
“What we have in common with so many people is that we all have moments and seasons where life becomes challenging. It might be marriage, parenting, finances, health, relationships, or finding purpose. Sometimes we may feel stuck or stagnant.
Start Right Now, is an up beat reminder that God has given us what we need to move forward, keep going, to pick up the broken pieces of our life when we are in those hard places and go! We hope this song lights that fire inside of you to run after the person God has made you to be.” – Jason Burris, Run51
“Start Right Now” was produced by Jeremy Green and MANTRA and co-written by Jeremy Green, Jason Burris and Crystal Whitaker.
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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.
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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
Internationally recognized praise band Planetshakers releases “Delight-Live” globally today. The single will be featured on the band’s new, full-length album, The Winning Team, set to release July 19.
Written by Andy Harrison and Josh Ham and produced by Joth Hunt, “Delight” was recorded live at Planetshakers Conference 2024 in the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Referencing the exaltation by King David in Psalm 37:4 to “take delight in the Lord,” Hunt says the song is “about gathering up all of our affection and our praise and channeling it up to God.”
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“Along with the heartfelt, scriptural lyrics, ‘Delight’ is an upbeat praise song that has a bit of funk, hip hop and dance EDM,” continues Hunt. “It’s kind of a lit bit of everything with even a rap in the bridge. People of all ages, including the older generation in our church, fully embrace it too. My mum and dad are in their late sixties, seventies and they’re getting into it. The participation has been great.”
“Even people that don’t normally dance are expressing themselves physically,” adds Ps. Sam Evans, which can be seen in the companion video to the song. “There is the touch of God that is getting people out of their mindset or their situation, getting them celebrating.”
This time it’s personal. Prepping her new studio project slated for Friday, August 16, Grammy Award-Winning Platinum Recording Artist Tamela Mann will release Live Breathe Fight, a collection of many of the most compelling and deeply vulnerable songs of her decorated career. The debut single “Working for Me” takes over gospel radio Monday, June 24. The personal anthem is the first of ten tracks on the forthcoming studio album release from Tillymann Music.
“‘Working for Me’ is a song that celebrates God’s sovereignty,” says Tamela. “Even though life is hard sometimes, we still have to trust and believe that God is working things out for our good. Like the scripture says, things will work out for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Live Breathe Fight’s upbeat track list includes songs penned by Tamela Mann, Phillip Bryant and Jevon Hill and is produced by Tamela, Hill, and David Mann.
“I am talking about things in my personal life on this album,” says Tamela of the intimate nature of the collection. “I started saying no. I’m not going to do things that I used to do, so that caused a ruckus in my life.”
One new song on Live Breathe Fight titled ‘Power’ speaks to this new-found freedom in her life. “It talks about the power of JESUS and how He can strengthen us through every situation that we’re dealing with,” says Tamela. Another song titled ‘The Altar’ talks about how God invites us to take everything to Him. “You don’t have to carry the weight; take it to the altar and leave it there,” says Tamela, who found this a therapeutic songwriting route on her new album.
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“I’m playing a much bigger role than I’ve ever played,” Tamela says of her involvement in the album’s creation. “I want the Lord to be proud of the work I’m doing and the ways I’m using the gift that He’s given me. That’s my goal and it can’t change because that’s what I’m supposed to be doing. I’m a child of the King and I want to make Him proud.”
The new single, ‘Working for Me,’ by Tamela Mann is now streaming on all platforms, and the lyric video is now live on MannTV.
