Two-time GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter Lauren Daigle is poised to debut her full-length self-titled album on September 8th via Atlantic Records/Centricity Music. The project’s first ten songs arrived in May, with another thirteen songs coming on September 8.
All twenty-three tracks showcase the multi-faceted artist’s stunning and powerful voice, rich storytelling, and incredible musicality. Today, Daigle released a brand new single titled “Be Okay,” which can be heard streaming below. The full-length album is available for pre-order.
I wrote this track with my friend Ellie Holcomb and it’s so special to me. Whatever hardship you may be going through – in joy or in sorrow, in strength and in weakness, there is a promise that we can hold on to that God works together good things for our good. You may be feeling like you don’t have a purpose on this earth or you don’t know your reason for being here but I promise you it will all be okay. – Daigle.
Later this year, Daigle will embark on her highly-anticipated US arena tour – The Kaleidoscope Tour – which kicks off on September 6 in Memphis, TN. Tickets are now on sale at www.laurendaigle.com
GRAMMY-nominated, RIAA Certified Gold-selling alternative metal band RED releases its first full-length studio recording in three years, RATED R, Sept. 29 from RED ENTERTAINMENT / The Fuel Music. The album can be pre-ordered/saved now via https://slinky.to/RatedR while the lead single, “Surrogates,” premiered on this week’s SiriusXM Octane Test Drive and is available beginning today (Aug. 4) at digital and streaming outlets globally via https://slinky.to/Surrogates.
Consistently pairing sophisticated instrumentation with hard-hitting songwriting, dynamic performances, and grippingly personal lyrics, RED’s evocative artistry takes center stage on its eighth studio album, RATED R. The follow-up to 2020’s chart-topping DECLARATION, the first release on their own independent label.
The thought-provoking new album finds the band tackling several resonant and relevant topics amidst centering on the ideological and interpersonal divisions, confrontations, and suffering of modern society.
“We’re examining how there’s almost no authentic human interaction and empathy anymore,” guitarist Anthony Armstrong explains. “People jump online to be and say whatever they want. They talk without listening, and it results in bullying and violence. Plus, we lose so much by focusing 24/7 on technology instead of stripping away everything that doesn’t matter and seeing how beautiful and healing it is to live with only what’s necessary.”
Bassist Randy Amstrong agrees: “Traditional family values and systems are broken and it’s causing chaos. Kids are forced to do active shooter drills at school, and it breaks our hearts. As the saying goes, hurt people hurt people, and we’re definitely seeing that. There’s also the notion that we learn by suffering and making the wrong decisions. As philosopher Meister Eckhart stated: ‘The soul does not grow by addition but by subtraction.’”
These sentiments influenced the sequencing and meta qualities of RATED R, as well as the album cover that represents the fake, almost plastic versions of humanity.
“It’s RATED R for RED and we always try to be a bit provocative to get our audience thinking about how our records look and what they’re called,” says Randy.
Stream & Enjoy
With “Surrogates” kicking things off with noise from news reports, symbolizing how overwhelming the media can be, the single will also become the first video from the album, drawing upon the band’s film past. The band heads to Utah later this month to do the filming.
“RED fans will love how ‘Surrogates’ builds upon the story we’ve been telling since our second LP (2009’s Innocence & Instinct). We’re going back to the 1890s Old West because it’s the prequel to the entire series,” Anthony explains.
Behind the scenes, RATED R is notable for two major changeups: Anthony taking over production duties from longtime partner Rob Graves and the addition of drummer Brian Medeiros officially joining the Armstrong brothers and inimitable singer Michael Barnes.
“Rob was busy with his solo project, so he gave us his blessing to try a different route,” Anthony reveals. “That said, we’ve absolutely kept the classic RED formula of symphonic elements, piano-driven atmospheres, heavy yet melodic guitarwork, and deep-seated and robustly delivered messages.”
This fall, and well into 2024, RED will be taking its hits, fan favorites, and RATED R music on an extensive international tour. The first leg of the tour begins in the U.S. on Sept. 8 in Joliet, IL, and traverses 25 cities across 16 states before wrapping up at The Masquerade in Atlanta on Nov. 19.
Following a second string of U.S. dates in the winter/spring, RED is set to rock 135,000+ Graspop Metal Meeting festivalgoers from the mainstage in Belgium next summer with plans to hit additional festivals before traveling to 26 European cities in the fall of 2024.
“We released DECLARATION a month after the pandemic shutdowns began, so we never got to properly tour it. With RATED R, we can. What’s really cool is that we’ll be headlining and offering the complete RED auditory and visual live experience for the first time in years!” exclaims Anthony.
With RATED R, RED delivers a visceral and valuable statement. “This is our chance to reach people and inspire them with our music and what we stand for. We want people to take responsibility for change,” sums up Randy.
Last month, Chris Llewellyn, the Irish singer/songwriter and founding member of the platinum-selling worship band Rend Collective, announced the release of his upcoming solo project, Honest(Sept. 1, Capitol CMG), and dropped its first single, the title track. Leading up to his solo debut, Llewellyn offers two new songs off the album today, “Mother’s House” and “Gamble On Your Goodness.”
While penning “Mother’s House,” Llewellyn offers a new perspective on how to see God. He explains, “The song came about as I realized that we use fatherhood as a metaphor for God’s relationship to us all the time, which is great, but given that the Bible also uses motherhood metaphors for God, I wanted to give that perspective for a change.”
He adds, “I know for me, I see so much of God’s heart in the unqualified welcome party I receive every time I pull up in the driveway of my mum’s house and drop my luggage bags on her front step. I like to think that’s how God receives us.”
With the additional single “Gamble on your Goodness,” Llewellyn explores the question “How do I live in the middle of uncertainty when I haven’t got all the answers.” While it can be easy to feel paralyzed by that, to not know how to move forward or live in a moment like that as a person of faith, “I think the trick is to not get lost in the distractions and ‘side quests’ and just focus on the simplicity of taking one step at a time along the path of the most grace, the most love, and the most compassion when you’re at a crossroads.
Making the mistake of being too gracious hardly even sounds like a mistake. Gambling on the goodness and kindness of God is like playing with loaded dice – it’s a pretty safe bet!”
Mother’s House – Chris Llewellyn
Stream & Enjoy
With all of the songs to be found on Honest, each continues to lead alongside Llewellyn’s Celtic roots and his faith life, exploring life through a lens of honest and inquisitive faith. “This album is me reading my diary to you out loud – no filter,” he states. “It’s full of hope and doubt, hurt feelings and conflict, yet, ultimately, faith. Not a shiny airbrushed faith, but something weathered, tested, and durable.
It’s my hope that by ‘oversharing’ I can offer you a permission slip to ask your own bold questions. Because my story, and I believe the story of the Bible, is that the only kind of faith worth having comes when we take the risk of being honest.”
Inspired by many known storytellers from his homeland including Van Morrison, Glen Hansard, Foy Vance, and U2, Llewellyn has also honed in on his desire to musically and lyrically press forward into alternative pop, Americana, and live looping performances. He is now based in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife Gabriella, and their three children.
GRAMMY-winning, multi-Platinum-selling group Casting Crowns will celebrate the band’s 20th Anniversary this fall. In anticipation of the album, Lifesongs: A Celebration of the First 20 Years, two songs were released today: “All Because of Mercy,” which is the next radio single, and the RIAA Platinum-selling reimagined hit song, “East to West,” featuring Ben Fuller.
“It is crazy to even think about the last 20 years. In 2003, we were just the youth band from our church in Atlanta,” shares Casting Crowns lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall. “I still remember the world taking a chance on our song, ‘If We Are the Body,’ and how we soon learned that the church can handle the truth when it is spoken in love.
And that is what we’ve been doing ever since – ministry in our churches and speaking truth in love. We can’t wait for everyone to hear the band and fan favorites reimagined with some of our friends on this new album.”
The milestone anniversary album will feature 21 songs and 21 guest artists who have taken a Casting Crowns song and re-recorded them in their own reimagined versions. The album will include chart-topping songs like “Voice of Truth,” “Nobody,” “Praise You In This Storm,” and “Who Am I” as well as songs re-recorded by the group themselves.
Casting Crowns will be revealing all of the guest artists and songs via their social media accounts over the course of the next several weeks. This commemorative collection will be a beautiful way to honor the band’s impactful career.
The new single, “All Because of Mercy,” follows the long history of 15 No. 1 radio singles on Christian radio. The message of the song follows in line with the band’s purpose of speaking the truth in love to the church.
Stream & Enjoy
Hall adds, “The message of ‘All Because of Mercy’ is really simple. The only reason I belong to the Father, the only reason I can pray, the only reason I can rest and have peace is because of what God has done and the finished work of Jesus. When I’ve been reminded that the reason I belong to God is because of what He did through Jesus, I can come to Him in any condition and in any situation.
It is all because of Jesus and all because of His mercy.”
Casting Crowns will also embark this fall on the “Casting Crowns’ 20th Anniversary Tour: A Live Symphony Experience.” The band will be joined on tour by a live orchestra for this one-of-it’s-kind concert experience.
Presented by Compassion International, the 20-city tour begins on Sept. 28, in Albany, N.Y., and will make stops in cities across the country including Boston, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Tulsa, Austin, San Antonio, San Diego, and Tucson, among others.
Today, nine-time GRAMMY Award nominee and Curb | Word Entertainment artist Natalie Grant has released a reimagined duet of “Step By Step” with Dolly Parton from her forthcoming album, Seasons.
The iconic song made popular by Whitney Houston, appeared on the soundtrack for The Preacher’s Wife and was dubbed one of Houston’s best songs. This marks the first time Grant and Parton have recorded together, having shared the stage earlier this year at Dollywood.
“In 1996, ‘Step By Step’ is a song I would blast on cassette in my beat up Volkswagen Golf as I drove to my job at Medicare,” shares Grant. “The dream when I moved to Nashville was music, not Medicare, but I had to do what was necessary to keep going.
This song was my reminder to keep putting one foot in front of the other. If you would’ve told me then that one day, I would not only be recording this song, but doing it with an International icon, I never ever would’ve believed it. I still can’t believe it.”
The release of “Step By Step” follows the much-anticipated announcement of Grant’s new album, Seasons, which will be available on October 6th and is now available for pre-order. The 10-track album features Grant’s own twist on songs that have made a lasting impression on both her life as well as her illustrious career.
To create Seasons, Grant invited some of the top artists in their genres to join her including Mary Mary with their first re-recorded version of the smash hit “Shackles (Praise You),” Tasha Cobbs Leonard on Paul Simon’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” and her mother and daughters on Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love.”
The first single from Seasons, “You Will Be Found” with Cory Asbury, has resonated with audiences around the globe with over 20 million global on-demand streams and is currently #3 on Mediabase Audience Chart, matching Grant’s highest charting Billboard Airplay career single, “King of the World.”
This Sunday, August 6th Grant will perform on the 54th Annual Stellar Awards on BET honoring Cece Winans. The touching moment further solidified Grant’s relationship with Winans, who also appears on Seasons performing “My Tribute (To God Be The Glory).” The Stellar Awards air on BET Network at 8:00 PM EST.
Step By Step – Natalie Grant & Dolly Parton
Stream & Enjoy
In addition to the release of Seasons, this Fall Grant and her husband will extend their wildly popular “An Evening with Natalie Grant featuring Bernie Herms” tour.
Seasons Tracklist
1. In Christ Alone
2. You Will Be Found (with Cory Asbury)
3. Shackles (Praise You) (with Mary Mary)
4. We Will Stand (with Tauren Wells & Jekalyn Carr feat. CAIN)
5. My Tribute (To God Be The Glory) (with CeCe Winans)
6. Step By Step (with Dolly Parton)
7. I Need You
8. Another Time, Another Place (with Jonathan McReynolds)
9. Bridge Over Troubled Water (with Tasha Cobbs Leonard)
10. Make You Feel My Love (with Gloria Grant feat. Bella Herms, Grace Herms, & Sadie Herms)
Over the course of the past few weeks, Futures have been releasing their new album Together, With Heavenin drops as they lead to the album’s release date on August 25th.
This week is no different as the group is proud to release their latest new song “By Faith.”
A powerful, hopeful, and motivational song for every listener who hears this incredible song. “By Faith” was produced by Andrew Barlow and co-written by Andrew Barlow, Danae Leslie, Mark Evans, Ryan Rolls, and Chloe Evans.
Stream & Enjoy
“The single thing that links every miracle together isn’t need, it’s faith. Hebrews 11 tells us about the heroes of faith and how it was only by their faith that they saw incredible miracles take place that shaped history. We wrote this song to be an anthem for all of us to know that our God still does miracles and all He asks of us is for the faith to believe that He can do it again, today!” – Ryan Rolls, Futures
Today, Good Weather Forecast & Kutless release their new song “High Enough” available on all digital retail and streaming service providers via DREAM Records. The music video for “High Enough” will also be available on Apple Music and other video retail and streaming outlets everywhere.
“High Enough” was produced by Moritz Braun & Florian Opahle and co-written by Florian Stielper, Brandon Rogers, Mortiz Braun, and Jon Micah Sumrall. This infectious, energetic, and hopeful song was also released to Christian Rock, Hot AC, CHR radio formats where early adopters like The Z FM Spartansburg, SC, Radio U Columbus, OH, and Power 88 Mobile, AL have started spinning it.
“I still remember writing “High Enough” in LA… I just flew to the States to perform a show, leaving my wife and kids in Europe. In the beginning, it was a song about my life journey with my family. During the writing session, the song turned pretty quickly into a spiritual song. I’m not only singing about my family but the journey with Jesus, who stepped in and saved.” – Florian Stielper, Good Weather Forecast
The third single from Unified Sound’s upcoming album, “Abre Mis Ojos” is a Spanish translation of the church classic penned by Paul Baloche, “Open The Eyes Of My Heart.” The new single is led by Puerto Rican artist Abraham Velazquez.
The band echoes the powerful message of this heartfelt prayer with a new worshipful arrangement, where a central hook draws the Church into a full-blown experience of worship filled with Latin rhythms, brass, and arranged background vocals.
Unified Sound hopes that the song’s familiarity within Christian communities will foster a sense of unity and a collective expression of faith and devotion.
AOH Music (vocalist Brianne Nealon, drummer Jimmy Meier, and guitarist/producer Jack Garno) reminds us that resting in Jesus is the only way to truly “stress less” with their new single “Restless,” releasing Friday, August, 4th.
This song was inspired by an encounter with the Holy Spirit while recording at Ocean Way Nashville Studio and was written, and recorded in the band’s studio in New Jersey.
“We’re living in a generation where there are more “techniques” and vices than ever to deal with stress because everyone is more stressed than ever before. Life has gotten very complicated, with distractions and temptations available at our fingertips every second of the day”, says the band.
“So, it’s easy to think we have to complicate de-stressing, but it’s really simple. If you want to stress less, bring your worries to Jesus because, through Him, all things are possible”.
This single is the second release following their EP, “Live at Ocean Way Nashville” which featured the songs “Abba Father”, “Heal Our World” and “Light of the World”. They earned immediate ads on hundreds of playlists, most notably Spotify’s New Music Friday Christian and Amazon Music’s Worship Now.
The band will set out on tour in the fall, playing faith-based concerts and events across the nation. In addition to AOH Music, Nealon, Meier and Garno lead worship nights and perform at faith-based concerts and retreats through the Array of Hope Ministry, where they met four years ago.
Citizens release a new live acoustic version of “good ground.” This new single is fuller sounding than the band’s previous acoustic releases, highlighting new facets of this sung prayer. “good ground” creatively approaches the parable of the Sower, inviting us to perceive Jesus as the One being sown in our hearts.
“We get to participate as gardeners and cultivators through our living testimonies, our stories.
This song is a prayer for the ground of our hearts to be soft so that we don’t miss the best thing we have going for us in Christ,” frontman Zach Bolen says. Citizens invite their listeners to trust the gravitational pull of salvation, embrace the goodness of God, and move in that current rather than fight against it.
With compassion and conviction, Zach concludes that “perhaps a song like this would help to mentally and spiritually free people from the toil of thinking that it’s on us to save the world. Jesus already did that.”
