Alternative, independent DIY artist Alex Henry Foster honors the legacy of Lou Reed, releasing a cover version of “The Power of the Heart” May 6 to digital and streaming outlets everywhere from Hopeful Tragedy Records. Along with a four-minute radio-ready mix, there is an eight-minute-27-second version of “The Power of the Heart” included with the single. There is also a lathe-cut vinyl, silkscreen-printed, signed and numbered limited-edition version.

Perhaps Reed’s most underrated song, “The Power of the Heart” was also a favorite of creative pioneer Laurie Anderson who was his longtime partner and wife until his death in 2013. Bringing his own signature, dense sonic texture to the song, Foster recorded “The Power of the Heart” in part at his Virginia studio, where he currently resides, along with a grandiose orchestration captured live in his Quebec-based The Upper Room Studio.

“I’ve been a fan of Lou Reed’s music ever since I found that strange-sounding LP titled Transformer in the prime section of my father’s vinyl collection when I was a kid,” shares Foster. “It took me years, streaming into the bleakest turbulences of my own inner voyage, to envision the prospect of making a monument of sincerity such as ‘The Power of the Heart’ mine.

“Being liberated from the anguish to be seen for who I am is the reason why I didn’t feel the pressure to mimic Reed’s incarnation of the song. Nor was I constrained by the burden of having to emulate his intimate intent,” continues Foster. “Musical arrangements evolved into some sort of spiritual uplift for me, turning it all into a celebration of what can’t be owned, measured or defined; a boundless and infinite transformative ascension that can only be experienced once shared and given away.

“That is for me the true everlasting nature that is the power of the heart,” summarizes Foster. “Liberating in its contemplation. Compassionate in its acceptance. Transformative in its incarnation.”

Playing the new music and fan favorites while on tour, Alex Henry Foster & the Long Shadows return to Europe for a 27-city, 10-country Not All Wonders Have Been Lost tour, including select encore appearances in markets played in 2021.

Around last year’s tour, PROG Magazine (Manchester, UK) noted that Foster has “a solid bond with his followers by opening up on the topics of depression, loneliness and mental illness, but mostly, by inviting them to care for others, to hope for a brighter day and to keep on dreaming.”

Trójka Radio (Warsaw, PL) adds, “Swans, Radiohead or Nick Cave? What if we could combine the results of their sounds? Then we would have Alex Henry Foster…One of the best concerts in my life.”

Slam Alternative Music Magazine (Budapest, HU) says, “… there is almost no lost translation of the burdensome feelings from the charismatic artist to a captivated audience and the display of musical intensity culminates in a perfectly orchestrated symbiosis of emotional experience and an overwhelming concert experience” as Rock&Folk Radio (Paris, FR) shares, “We are welcoming a Canadian artist who has literally filled up the Élysée-Montmartre.”

For all the latest Alex Henry Foster tour, music news and more, go to http://alexhenryfoster.com/, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp and Hopeful Tragedy Records Store.

Chattanooga, TN: Writing Rounds is a budding, influential two-year old virtual community of creatives whose voices are being heard through its songwriting retreats, recording label, and audio production /consultation services. In a short time, it’s amassed a global following stretching from North America to Australia. Co-founded by singer Jessica Hitte and producer LeBron Arnwine, Writing Rounds is expanding its enterprise via a partnership with  Tyscot Records, recording partner with Grammy® Award winner PJ Morton’s Morton Records label, and gold-selling acts like Anthony Brown & group therAPy, and VaShawn Mitchell. “We do all genres of music, this union is to expand opportunities,” Hitte says. “We’re partnering with like-minded people to provide more opportunities for these songs. We feel a connection with Tyscot. If we feel any fatigue, having the Tyscot family come and help hold up our arms is a benefit to us.”

“Initially, I was interested in Jessica as an artist,” says Tyscot President, Bryant Scott. “ I love her voice, but when she invited me to peek in on what they are doing at one of their retreats, I said, `Wait a minute, there’s something bigger here.’ I saw a different opportunity.” A couple of years ago, Tyscot staffers began discussing ways to tap into the growing worship music movement that Maverick City Music, Bethel Music, and other entities had already cultivated. “We were already planning to do worship camps and to do some of the same things Writing Rounds already does,” adds Tyscot A&R Director, Claudius Craig. “We thought they do it so well, so why try to reinvent the wheel? Why not partner with them? We believe in what they do and we’re looking to see how we can help each other grow.”

One of the first joint ventures is an upcoming Writing Rounds Experience that will take place April 28-30 in Franklin, TN. During the retreat, there will be song co-writing sessions, educational sessions about various aspects of music creation and administration, song-share performances to critique new works, and a live recording of the music created during the gatherings . “It’s a big hang-out of creatives,” Hitte adds. “We encourage each other’s gifts. At 2 am or 4 am, people are still up writing songs together. We’re advocating for people who have gone through what we’ve gone through with getting doors slammed in our faces or not being able to get into a certain room because they don’t have a resumé full of Grammy® awards.  We are creating a platform where your songs get heard. They don’t have to collect dust.”

Indeed, the songs do not collect dust. Writing Rounds staffers actively pitch songs to artists looking to record new music such as Stellar Award-winning gospel artist Isabel Davis who recently agreed to record three of the community’s songs for her forthcoming album. In addition, Writing Rounds has created its own recording label to release music from the community. It will be distributed by GoDigiPath Distribution which partners with ADA (a Warner Music Group company) for the mainstream market and with New Day Christian Distribution for  the Christian retail industry. Writing Rounds also offers full production facilities and can also be contracted  to consult with private firms and churches.

Writing Rounds’ genesis begins with Tennessee natives Hitte and Arnwine who first met as students on the campus of Lee University circa 2008. They reconnected in 2013 when she was a Chattanooga schoolteacher awaiting her big break as a singer-songwriter and he was learning all he could about audio production. “She needed a producer to take a chance on her [as a vocalist] and I needed an artist to take a chance on me [as a producer],” Arnwine says. “It was a perfect fit. We learned together – all of the mistakes, all of the let’s-not-do-that-agains. That built  a camaraderie between us that you won’t have just walking into somebody’s studio.  We had nothing. All I had was an interface and a broke down laptop.”

Their collaboration resulted in Hitte’s 2016 debut album, You Never Give Up, which was released independently. “I thought it was going to be easy putting out an album and that everyone was going to love it and that it was just going to blow up,” she laughs. “When it didn’t, I was like what did we do wrong?” She learned that much more goes into making records hits than simply making the music itself. She also realized that the album didn’t fully reflect who she is an artist. “That’s when I realized every song that I write isn’t for me and I started writing for other people,” she adds.

Writing Rounds was born during the COVID 19 pandemic. “I went to a Maverick City Music writing camp in March of 2020 right when everything was about to shut down,” Hitte recalls. “I was so terrified. I thought, `How am I going to write with these strangers’, and I ended up loving it.  I didn’t want it to end. Then, I thought, `How can I keep doing this?’ I talked to a couple of people who were at the camp, Drew Scott and Steve Davis. I asked them if they want to meet on Zoom the next Friday. They said yes and in three to four weeks, we had like 50 people showing up.” She was overwhelmed and told Arnwine about the demand for the Zoom Writing Rounds songwriting sessions.  and he volunteered to help structure them. Soon, they were coordinating multiple parallel Zoom songwriting sessions.   They brought in noted singer-songwriters such as Leon Timbo, DOE, Ay’Ron Lewis, Kim Cruse, Catherine Mullins, Tywan Mack to host virtual writing sessions by the end of 2020, around 800 creatives had participated in the sessions.

After COVID began to decline in 2021,  one of the community members suggested that Writing Rounds do an in-person writing retreat. When the first one was announced, they planned to rent a single Airbnb residence. They ended up having to rent three of them to accommodate the 70 people who showed up. For the first one, Hitte’s mother and sisters came through to handle cooking chores. “There were people overseas who wanted to come but they couldn’t because of the COVID travel restrictions,” says Arnwine.

After the success of the first in-person retreat, Writing Rounds began charging for their online community to find the writers who were serious about their craft. “In the beginning it was everybody,” says Hitte. “We wanted strong writers who hadn’t really had a shot. Even people who felt like their careers were over. There’s a place for everybody here. You heard a song on the radio, but you don’t know what it takes to get it on the radio. We show you all of that in our Writing Rounds Experiences.” For more information, visit: https://www.writingrounds.com

Northern California duo, NOBLE POETS, came together to shine a light on the darker side of life. Jevon ‘ODW’ Barnes and Caleb May are bringing an honest, earnest brand of Hip Hop, derived from real life to real fans of the genre. The duo’s EP – THE FLAW – is available today. This will be the first of 2 EPs released of their (per Soundsphere magazine) “cool Alternative Hip Hop.” 

The three previously-released singles (“Never Fit In” / “Humpty Dumpty” / “Xans”) will be included on the EP and had epic music videos inspired by Barnes’ real life experiences with domestic violence, addiction and living on the streets. He also brings his daughter’s POV of his addiction to light through “Xans.” Barnes’ son, Nolan, plays him in the “Never Fit In” video and his eldest daughter, Mekenzie, is played by his youngest, Adelyne in “Xans.”

He brings forth his story in order to help others see that it is ok to seek help dealing with all manner of trauma. “His story is jaw dropping and inspiring… you’re going to be hearing a LOT about Jevon Barnes,” says Recovery Today Magazine. 

Discovered by Brian ‘Head’ Welch of KORN, NOBLE POETS brings something fresh to the scene. “I met Jevon around 2012 and it didn’t take long to realize how much we had in common. Years ago, after hearing some of his demos, I noticed right away there was something appealing about Jevon’s flow and how he opened himself up so completely with his lyrics,” Welch explains. “No flash, no pretense, just REAL life and real suffering laid out, in order to connect with others. With the addition of Caleb, the missing ingredient was discovered and the formation of Noble Poets was the logical next step. I really believe Noble Poets put something together that goes deeper that just music and will affect their fans in a profound way.”

FOLLOW NOBLE POETS:

Twitch: @noblepoetsmusic

Instagram: @noblepoetsmusic

Twitter: @noblepoetsmusic

Tik Tok: @noblepoetsmusic

Facebook: @noblepoetsmusic

Reggae maestro, Dr. Jerry, releases a new single for Easter titled He Is Risen.

Easter is another opportunity to commemorate the special sacrifice of love God showered on us when He sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins. His death was the price He paid but His resurrection was the assurance that the price was worth it and our debt to sin had been cleared. Jesus has risen. Hallelujah!

Watch Video Below; 

Songwriter and a performing Gospel artist, Chinyere Akomas aka Chi Akomas has released a brand new single titled “Your Name”.

According to her, “Your Name” erupted from the magnitude of God’s greatness and the overwhelming power that He exhibits. From a heart of worship, we gather to exalt His supernatural name, the name that shakes the devil just at the mention. God inhabits the worship (praise) of his people… Psalm 22:3. You could be surprise the length our worship goes to unlock God’s blessings and miracles for us.

Chi Akomas resides in the small town of Richton Park in Illinois, USA. She is married with 3 beautiful kids and is a healthcare worker by profession.

Isabella Melodies Teams Up With Prospa Ochimana On Omeriwo Reprise!

Following the highly publicized release of the original song in February which was extremely well received and already being sung by various churches across the country,  Isabella Melodies collaborates with Prospa Ochimana to bring a gripping twist to Omeriwo.

The Omeriwo Reprise is guaranteed to get you moving so put on your dancing shoes and get your praise on this Easter as you celebrate the victory we have in Jesus Christ.

Watch Video & Download Audio Below; 

Emerging Gospel artiste, singer  Bandele Kehinde Victoria, popularly known as Veeki Royce has released a brand new music video titled “Papa I Thank You“.

Produced by Tyanx, this is a song of praise and appreciation by the songwriter. According to her, how else can we acknowledge God, if not through our supplications, and therefore the only thing we can do each day is to appreciate HIM for all He has done.

Being thankful and expressing gratitude is an important part of being happy in life. Thanksgiving is a tool for unlocking greater blessings!  This amazing video is set to bless you and put you in a mood of Thanksgiving,. Remain blessed and have a month filled with testimonies.  — Veeki Royce.

Meanwhile, Veeki Royce is also set to release another brand new single titled “Oba“. She announced the good news in a social media post via Instagram. “God is going to bless you and touch your life through this song, I promise!”, Veeki wrote.

Papa I Thank You visuals was directed by Ralph Kanye.

Watch Video Below;

Mr. M & Revelation shares a new single ‘My Father For Life‘ coming after the last single ‘My Advocate (What God Cannot Do Does Not Exist).

A father over all creation, a close friend to those who come him through his grace and a sweet loving Father

God’s ways are “perfect” (Psalm 18:30), that He is a “faithful God who does no wrong,” and is “upright and just“ (Deuteronomy 32:4). That makes Him the perfect Father you never had.

If you are searching for a Father who is approachable, loving, dependable, and has your very best in mind, welcome to the true God experience.

Watch Video & Download Audio Below; 

Anointed gospel music minister, Funmi Oyetti releases a brand-new song titled “The Blood.”

The timely song comes at a period of reflection on the sacrifice Jesus Christ paid on the cross of Calvary.

Speaking about the song, Funmi says, “In The Blood of Jesus we find forgiveness of sins, redemption for our souls, and Power to overcome every work of darkness. The Blood of Jesus was shed for this purpose and more. As we release this new sound, get ready for an encounter, and get your hearts prepared for this sound.”

“We pray that you encounter the power in the Blood of Jesus as it is activated in your life, our nation, and the church at large” – She concludes.

The song is produced by Segun Adenekan.

Nigerian prophetic songwriter, singer, and worshipper, Ebere Okeke makes a bold statement with the release of her debut single, “I Will Not Die Now” available today on digital platforms. The faith-inspiring song is a prophetic prayer and declaration anchored on the scripture Psalm 118:17 “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done”.

According to Ebere, “I Will Not Die Now” explores the dilemmas of mental illness and emotional turmoil; and the complexities, many Christians face when faced with depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, emotional turmoil, and addictions. “It is a song of hope, restoration, deliverance, and recovery.” She added.

Recorded live while 5-month pregnant, the singer further revealed the song was inspired by a very difficult life transition, and it preserved her life.

Although “I Will Not Die Now” is her debut single, Ebere Okeke has been writing songs in a personal capacity for three decades. She acknowledges God primarily called her into songwriting.

Ebere is very passionate about emotional and mental health empowerment through God’s word and Christian music. Her mission is to spread the good news of the gospel that God saves, delivers, restores, mends, and heals.

Her new single, “I Will Not Die Now” is accompanied by a music video.

Watch Video & Download Audio Below;