Let me just start by saying that I know it's been a long time, and I appreciate everyone who has still been stopping by to check out the tunes during my hiatus.
I also wanted to let you know that I've been gone for a good reason - I've been in studio!
My friend, Brenda Gallant, wrote a song called "I AM." I had the pleasure of writing and arranging the music, as well has producing the song in studio at In The Pocket Studios in Chandler, AZ
"I AM" is a pop song with a strong latin vibe. I had the pleasure of doing most of the instrumentation (guitars, bass, background vocals, percussion, synth), along with Kathy Hubbard (keys), Dale Snell (Drums), and Tony Ward (Congas).
The theme of "I AM" is simple - it's a summary of many of the things that the Bible says we are Christ. There's real power in knowing what God has to say about you, in knowing that you've been covered by the blood of the Lamb, and that you've been made strong in spite of your weakness, and that He's made you more than a conqueror. There's a special conviction that comes with knowing that you've been set apart, sanctified, and healed by his stripes. God has called you to do great things in his Kingdom, and running the race set before you is going to require that you know who He has made you to be!
So, I hope you enjoy the song! I've included download links and the YouTube video below - please let me know what you think:
Song: "The Ringleader" Album:The Ringleader, Mixtape: Part III Artist: DJ Maj featuring Lisa Kimmey
Before I get into the song, I have to tell you a story:
This album, The Ringleader, was one of the last CDs that I ever bough new. Like, new, with the original packaging and seal, sold as new at the store. I bought it at a Best Buy in 2003 (or '04; I don't remember exactly). I was seventeen.
It was the first CD that I had bought new in a while, and I absolutely fell in love with it once the first track started to play (which this track is, minus the intro). I loved it so much that I gave it to one of the youth leaders from church so that he could borrow it. I hadn't burned myself a copy, as I was certainly expecting to get it back.
Now, my youth leader really liked it, too. He liked it so much, in fact, that he was listening to it when he totaled is car. Now, he was fine - he drove one of those super-lifted mid-80s Suburbans, and someone ended up trying to make a left turn in front of him. His vehicle crushed the other one, but tipped over and fell on it's side in the process. Again, everyone was OK.
A couple of weeks after the accident, having not given it another thought, I asked for the CD back. It was at this point that he informed me that I wasn't going to get it back for the reasons stated above. Needless to say, I was devastated.
Fast forward a few years: after I got on the iTunes train, I kept checking periodically to see if it would become available (as of the publishing of this post, it still isn't). Then, I started checking Amazon MP3; still nothing. Finally (after somehow forgetting), I realized that I could check for it as a used item for sale, and after about nine years found it and purchased it. That's how much I enjoyed this album.
All that to say this: I love this song. I had never heard of DJ Maj before, and haven't really followed his music since, but this song is awesome. It has a very late-90s feel to it, good instrumentation, a fun and groovy beat, and great lyrics. Lisa Kimmy, the lead singer of Out of Eden (remember them?) and the featured female vocal on the track, sounds like she's having a lot of fun singing the song, and really gets the point across: no matter how hard you try to say otherwise, everything you see points back to God as the master and creator of all.
As Christians, we have a tendency to debate a lot, which is fine; some people won't come to Christ if you don't take the time to address their ideas and questions in light of His truth. Ultimately, though, people have to know that, no matter the questions, God is still the final answer.
You will enjoy this song. In case I'm wrong, though, feel free to leave us some feedback, and stay tuned for more great selections from Christian Music Discovery!
P,S. I think I'm up to four albums now that I've purchased used that I simply haven't been able to find elsewhere; you better believe I'm going to be featuring more music from them, so stay tuned . . .
Song: "Truth About God" Album: All Together Separate
Artist: All Together Separate
This whole album is amazing, but today we're featuring the blues. This track hits hard but maintains a wonderful, bluesy attitude, nicely integrating some organ and a fantastic guitar solo.
As far as what the song's about, the title says it all: you can look everywhere you want to, but ultimately, God is the final answer, and to look for fulfillment elsewhere is to commit yourself to a struggle that leaves you weary and restless.
