Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Fervent Records signs female duo Cadia

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) Fervent Records welcomes new female duo, CADIA, to its artist roster. Spotlighting positive messages for music fans, the group will release its self-titled, national debut album on Feb. 26, 2008.

Nashville-based CADIA comprises longtime friends Courtney Myers and Tori Smith, both 19 years old. The two became fast friends while participating in a junior high school play and continue to perform together.

“Recording and releasing a national album on a major label has always been at the top of our dream list,” says Myers. “We are grateful to have linked up with Fervent Records, who shares our passion for spreading the Gospel through music.”

“We feel so blessed to have found a home at Fervent Records,” says Smith. “They really understand our hearts and are extremely supportive of our music and ministry. It’’s a great match!”

Produced by Otto Price (BarlowGirl, Out Of Eden, SONICFLOOd) and Rob Hawkins (Big Daddy Weave, Jump5, Rebecca St. James), CADIA’s debut addresses themes of honesty, empowerment, self-esteem, compassion, and confidence in God, issues that both Courtney and Tori have confronted on their own journey to adulthood. In addition to providing fun, meaningful pop music, the record also aims to encourage other teens facing similar life experiences.

“We see a great future for Courtney and Tori here at Fervent,” comments Price. “Not only is their sound fresh and relevant, but they have something important to say. These days, and especially in the business of music ministry, a good message is as important as good music.”
CADIA is derived from the Greek word Arcadia, meaning place of peace, symbolizing the peace found when fears, insecurities, and trials are released. The duo will open on Avalon’s spring tour, and its song “Inside Out,” with accompanying music video, will be featured as the theme song/video for Women of Faith’s “Revolve Tour,” geared toward teen girls. For more information on CADIA, visit www.CADIAonline.com.

(Picture caption: New Fervent Records female duo CADIA records its national label debut at The Sound Lab in Franklin, Tenn. Produced by Otto Price, the album is due in stores Feb. 26. Pictured left to right are Tori Smith, Otto Price, and Courtney Myers.)

New John Schlitt solo album and FREE mp3

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – October 1, 2007 – John Schlitt, multi-Grammy winning recording artist and lead singer of Petra, announces the sampler release of his third solo project (as of yet untitled).

A montage of songs, complete with commentary by Schlitt, is available for download on JohnWSchlitt.com. Click here for the direct download.

“This album has gone in a totally different direction for me and I’m very excited about that new direction. The fact that my interests have changed as I grow older is reflected in this album,” said Schlitt.

“The subject matter on this project is just as important as the music,” explains Schlitt. “The songs cover a variety of adult-themed topics including adoption, divorce, taking care of third world children, among other issues of importance in today’s world. It’s timely for me to do an album like this; not only from the standpoint of the subject matter, but also in the fact that the music itself is going down a whole new path.”

The upcoming album has a unique family connection which contributed to the creative and emotional evolution of the project.

“My son-in-law, Dan Needham, produced the album,” adds Schlitt. “So, ultimately I felt a lot more comfortable going places subject-wise that were really personal to me. There were actually some moments during the process of recording when we all got choked up and had to stop. That was a new experience for me.“

The project follows Schlitt’s previous two solo albums, “Shake” and “Unfit for Swine,” as well as “Vertical Expressions,” the 2007 debut release by “II Guys from Petra” (Schlitt, along with Petra founder Bob Hartman).

Read out interview with John here.

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Inhabited talks about their new song "Hush"

Sara from Inhabited talks about their latest single hitting airwaves, "Hush"--what it means to her, and the message she hopes listeners take away from it:

Here are a few words from Sara:

Girls are constantly told that sex equals love. Every outlet of media has taken this message and morphed the standard of beauty into a cookie cutter image, pressuring girls to measure up. In order to be "loveable", we are taught to simply walk in and get a quick plastic surgery to change everything "not right" about us. This emotional marketing appeals to a girls natural desire to be wanted, and has tainted the true definition of beauty and love.

Hush was written in hopes to interrupt the noisy trends, and encourage girls to stop filling their minds with garbage! It is about spiritual warfare, and teaches them to "take every thought captive" that is contrary to truth! (II Corinthians 10:5) It rallies girls to raise the standard of purity in their minds, which will give them eyes to see truth. There is an undeniable beauty and power found in the light of the presence of God. This beauty is available to every girl, if she will simply seek to find it.

Visit Inhabited's MySpace page to hear "Hush". It's a catchy one, folks!

Friday, September 28, 2007

Red to release deluxe edition of The End of Silence

(Nashville, Tenn.) September 26, 2007 –– Dove Award-winning, rock band Red announces the November 13, 2007 release of End of Silence: Deluxe Edition, a two-disc (CD/DVD) set which comprises the band’’s GRAMMY-nominated debut album, including a dramatic, never-before-heard, acoustic version of “Lost”, along with a DVD that will visually bring the live Red experience to all.

The DVD will feature Red’s ever-intense live concert, filmed at a private, August 2007 show in the band’’s hometown of Nashville, Tenn., for “Red Nation”, an online army of Red’s most devoted fans. The set includes the band’’s new, rock radio single, “Let Go”; the Top 10 Active Rock (mainstream) Radio hit, “Breathe Into Me”; an acoustic version of “Pieces”, a song rarely performed live by the band; and many other songs from End of Silence. Also included on the DVD will be a unique, behind-the-scenes look at life on tour with Three Days Grace and Breaking Benjamin; brand-new interview segments with the band; the “Breathe Into Me” concept music video; unique surprises for hardcore Red fans - and more.

Lane Arnold, a concert promoter with FastLane Concerts / AEG, is personally excited about the release of End of Silence: Deluxe Edition. “During the Red concert that I promoted in Houston, I stood in the back and watched as the band and crowd connected in a way that I’ve never seen before. The guys in Red absolutely gave their all on that stage, and their fans did the same in return. Red fans are absolutely going to flip when they get their hands on End of Silence: Deluxe Edition, and are able to watch Red, in concert, anytime they want. For new and potential fans, this is the perfect piece to understand what this band’’s powerful, live show is all about.”

Read our interview with Red here.
See concert photos of Red performing at Purple Door 2007 here.

Carried Away receives 4 Covenant Award nominations



(NASHVILLE, TENN.) -- Canadian trio Carried Away snagged four nominations last night for GMA Canada’s 29th Annual Covenant Awards to be held October 26th in Calgary, Alberta. Carried Away took a break from their current North American tour with JUMP5 to help announce the nominations in Brampton, Ontario on September 11th.

The group was nominated for Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year ("I Want You"), Song of the Year ("Mystery"), Seasonal Song of the Year ("Soaring Trough the Sky") and Group of the Year, alongside downhere, High Valley, Relient K and Starfield.

Carried Away is currently touring North America with JUMP5's "Hello & Goodbye Tour," which runs through the end of the year. Their most recent album, I Want You, was released August 28th by Canadian-based record label Glide Records, with distribution through Infinity Music Distribution (USA) and CMC Canada. Their debut album, Closer To You (Word Distribution), was Canada's best selling debut for 2005, and earned the group two Covenant Awards in 2005 for Song of the Year ("I know”) and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year.

The 29th Annual Covenant Awards will be handed out as part of GMA Canada Week to be held October 24th-26th in Calgary, Alberta. Carried Away has been confirmed to perform at the awards show. For more information on GMA Canada Week visit www.gmacanada.ca.

For more information on Carried Away, please visit the official website at www.carriedaway.ca.

Read our interview with Carried Away here.
Read our review of I Want You here.

Souljahz Returns as The Washington Projects

Los Angeles, CA (September 6, 2007) – Celebrating a jaw-dropping spread of radio singles, press acclaim and
prominent appearances throughout the early 2000s as breakout group Souljahz, brother and sister duo, Je’kob
and Rachael Washington have rebounded from record label red tape and reemerged as The Washington Projects. The twosome is poised to unveil their debut album, Commanders of the Resistance, October 9th through independent record company, Black & White Label.

As Souljahz, Je’kob, Rachael and their brother Josh had unprecedented success with their Word/Warner Bros
debut, The Fault Is History. Their first radio single, “All Around The World,” shot straight to the top of the charts,
while “True Love Waits” was simultaneously the most added on the CHR and AC formats. In addition, the project garnered two GMA Dove Awards, with five total nominations, and the group received extensive features on CNN Headline News, E!, Billboard, The WB, a slot on Sessions@AOL beside Christina Aguilera, 50 Cent, Shania Twain, Faith Hill and Red Hot Chili Peppers, as well as a cross-country tour in support of the album, performing alongside
the lauded and diverse talents of No Doubt, Nelly, Counting Crows, Ja Rule, Ashanti, Garbage, Kirk Franklin, TobyMac, Boyz II Men, Erykah Badu, Mary Mary and Sixpence None the Richer to name a few.

“We can’t complain about the name change, or even about the unfortunate events that took place with our previous label. We had a great two years being blessed enough to see the world and spread God’s Message of Hope, Love, Peace & Happiness while touring a great record,” explains Rachael. “Music is our gift and though we had to make some hard decisions in leaving (Souljahz) behind, The Washington Projects represent the same mission. Our hearts are in reaching the lost with a message of hope, and no matter what the name, it is what my
brother and I were born to do.”

Commanders of the Resistance is an enthralling soundtrack of hope covering just as many relevant themes as it does sonic spectrums. A quick combing of the track list indicates everything from the club thumping “Crazy” to the neo soul shuffle of “Deliverance” and the rap/R&B attack of “Take It To the Streets.” The project also possesses endless trenches of lyrical depth, such as the relationship-based “Zephyr Wings,” the empowering “Diamonds” and the love song from Je’kob to his wife, “I Will Stay With You.”

Je’kob tells a little more about the album: “This record is incredibly real. It is our hearts over the last four years, poured out in the form of music. We speak of love, hope, happiness and the trials and tribulations we’ve experienced in our lives, not only as a group, but individually as well. Each song on this record has a distinct meaning with our lives. The youth of the world, and even the music industry – Christians and non – need honesty. The world needs to know that being a Christian in the music industry doesn’t mean that every song has to be aworship song, or that we are perfect because we believe in God.”

“We are telling true-life stories from the perspective of Christians,” continues Je’kob. “Music is a powerful tool that has drastic influence on today’s young people…even the artists themselves have influence, whether they believe it or not. We strive to reach kids where they are, to relate to them, be available to them and to speak in their language. Our goal is to use any influence we may have to impact lives.”

In addition to debuting Commanders of the Resistance, The Washington Projects will also be hitting the road this fall and spring. First up is a slot as one of the featured artists on the Dare2Share “Survive” Training Conferences, alongside Hawk Nelson, Sanctus Real, Stellar Kart, Lincoln Brewster and speakers Greg Steir, Derwin “Dewey” Gray and Zane Black. The 3-day Conference tour will be hitting nine cities across the country between November and April. The duo is currently booking additional dates.

“We are so excited to get back out on the road again,” says Rachael. “Even though we have been out doing spot dates here and there, we haven’t had a record to support. We’ve only done five or six shows performing the new material live, and I have to say it is by far the most fun I’ve ever had on stage! I can’t wait to get back on stage, travel the world, and use this gift to the fullest. This tour will be a great launch to get us back on the scene and in the ears and eyes of the youth.”

While the group is securing national distribution, the album will be available on the Washington Projects website as well as iTunes. For more information about The Washington Projects and Commanders of the Resistance, please visit:

www.washingtonprojects.com and www.myspace.com/thewashingtonprojects.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

2 Guys from Petra -- John Schlitt & Bob Hartman

For those who couldn't get enough of Petra, and cried when they broke up, guess what? The voice of Petra (John Schlitt) and principle songwriter/founder (Bob Hartman) have started a side project appropriately named II Guys From Petra.

They've even released a worship CD independently. Check out more info at their Shoutlife page here.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Thousand Foot Krutch Contest

The TFK guys are holding a contest over at their MySpace page. Help spread the word about their new album The Flame In All Of Us and you could win tons of cool stuff. Check it out here.

Listen to an audio interview with lead singer Trevor from our friends at M88 radio here.

Avalon Performs at 9/11 Military Benefit

Award-winning vocal group Avalon joins LeAnn Rimes, among other country artists, for Fox News Channel personality Sean Hannity’s “Freedom Conert” held on Sept. 11 at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J. The event, which additionally featured Montgomery Gentry and Lee Greenwood, benefited the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund for the children of America’s military heroes.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Jaci Velasquez baby on the way!

Jaci Velasquez and husband Nic Gonzales (lead singer of Salvador) are expecting their first child, a baby boy, on November 12th!

And Jaci is releasing a Christmas EP this fall, but you can pre-order now at her website here.