NRT Now Podcast: Recent Episodes
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Welcome to the NRT Now PodCast, giving you the latest in Christian music news, topics and artist interviews directly from the largest Christian music site online, NewReleaseToday.
It's entirely possible, likely even, that you were introduced to Anthem Lights through one of their medleys or mashups on social media. With close to 8 million followers across all platforms, their passion for creating family friendly entertainment is resonating with so many. The group stops in to share with us about why they have poured so much into these projects and about incorporating mainstream music in along with the Christian songs.
If you've noticed that they've been a little quiet lately, it's because they have been focusing on their upcoming album of original music! The song "God Gave Me Freedom" has recently been released to radio, although the guys of Anthem Lights didn't expect it to be their next single. The group shares the story and the life behind the song and about the upcoming project.
We couldn't end the episode without talking about influential vocal groups and boy bands. Anthem Lights talks about the groups that were most influential to them being at the spot they are today.
The Ward brothers have been doing ministry through music for longer than they haven't at this point, which means they have lived a lot of life cooped up in enclosed spaces together. Funny enough, Caleb, Jordan, and Josh share that they were probably better behaved on the road when they were younger and their parents were their means of travel. The heart behind their hit song First Things First comes from the ups and downs of being brothers on the road: in the moments when they're getting on each other's nerves the most, keep the first things first.
The Wards talk about the lessons their dad taught them and the influence he had on them. They share about their parents' legacy of church plants and support for their music career. They also talk about growing up together and which one of the brothers was the instigators and who got injured the most.
Sometimes life hits us hard and in the ways we least expect it... and it can surface wounds we forgot that we had. When this happens, we can either sit in the hurt and the pain, or we can run to our God that can heal us. Blanca shares about her journey of healing coming out of some of the toughest seasons of her life.
Blanca also chats with us about her Latin heritage that is infused in her music and her ministry. Part of her healing was discovering who Blanca really is, which included a trip to visit the places where her parents grew up. The healing journey she has been walking through has taken her from walking through life on autopilot to walking in joy in her identity, both heavenly and earthly.
Tobymac Hits Deep Tour. Newsboys Stand Together Tour. K-Love Live at Red Rocks. Along with quite a few festivals and other shows, Cochren & Co. has had a busy year. Michael Cochren shares his journey from a regional opening artist to taking the stage of some of biggest tours. Podcast host Jake had the chance to attend a few of these shows, Michael and Jake reminisce about some of these incredible nights.
Somewhere in the middle of this busy season, Cochren & Co. found the time to write and record a new album. Michael shares about the life and the lessons that went into this album, both the musical influences that shine through and the lyrics that point people to run home to God.
The CoJo Show has taken the Internet by storm with videos like "K-Love Dads" and "The Steven Curtis Chapman Song", a video that led to a huge surprise while in the K-Love studios. Coby James and Joseph O'Brien sang that they wanted to write a banger like Steven Curtis Chapman... they got the chance to just a short while later! Coby and Joseph talk about the experience of the whirlwind experience.
In a CoJo Now Show challenge, Coby gets the chance to redeem his loss to Joseph in WayFM's Best of 2022 Song Battle. The duo also share how the podcast got started and the reason why they are passionate about releasing content that is fresh and creative while continuing to point people to Jesus.
Video links:
K-Love Surprises CoJo Show
WayFM Best of 2022 Song Battle
In this installment of the Next Big Thing series, we would like to introduce you to CLINE. The group is comprised of the siblings Darrick, Garrett, and Jacquelyn Cline. Garrett and Darrick are brothers, Jacquelyn is Garrett's wife and I'm sure they would all say she's there to make them sound and look good.
While they are relatively new to the CCM and worship space, they are no strangers to the music industry. Jacquelyn has been in and out of studios, and Garrett and Darrick have been in the mainstream Country space as a part of Dylan Scott's band for almost a decade. The Cline's share their experience of being Christians in music and how they keep their faith strong in a mainstream band. They also share about listening to the assignments God gives you to share his word, whether it's staying home with kids, serving in your church, or on the road in a bar.
The Cline's also share their journey in CCM to this point and how working with others and co-writing has been the key to finding their identity.
Ben Fuller's song "Who I Am" has made an impact on so many of us... as evidenced by how long it dominated the charts at #1 and recently earning an NRT We Love Awards nomination. Behind that song is a man who has fought through addictions in a primarily unchurched part of the country. After moving to Nashville, Ben had an encounter with Jesus that broke the chains of addiction.
Ben chats with us about the peace he found once he surrendered his life to Christ. Through his relatively short time as a Christian, he has seen God restore relationships in his life, break addictions, and restore mental health. One of the relationships that has been restored is one with his Dad, a relationship that is now open to emotion. We chat about how important it is for guys to express emotion and to find the kind of friends you can be raw and authentic around.
The term Selah traditionally refers to a rest, most often in a musical context. This is ironic as the group Selah has done everything but rest this past year. They've released 3 full albums, spent time on the road, and celebrated their 25th anniversary.
Selah member Todd Smith shares Selah history and stories from their 25 years. One of the albums released this year was their third volume of hymns... but why hymns? He talks about the heart behind their love of hymns and why they are intentional about sharing them with this next generation. Todd also gives us the story behind his Santa Wars rivalry with author Jon Acuff.
A lot has happened since we chatted with Tasha Layton about this time last year: she released her debut album, there were #1 songs, the tours... and then on top of all that, she released a second album for Christmas. While she's found success and received the accolades, she is more focused on following the call that God has on her life. Plaques fade and a career could be gone in an instant, but loving her family and sharing Jesus lasts long after the lights go down.
Tasha shares some of the moments that this year has brought, from an Opry debut to spending time on the road with her kids. She also tells us how some of the seasons in her life she thought were detours were actually just stops on the journey to get her to where God was leading her.
The magic formula for how to reach the next generation seems to be the most elusive item in the modern church. Every youth group and students ministry has had to struggle with how to best reach students. In modern times, it seems even more of a struggle as social media is ingrained in culture and there are so many voices and ideologies tugging at our young crowd.
At 23 years old, Zauntee is working hard to reach his generation for Jesus. He shares his heart for reaching Gen Z and what makes this generation tick. Zauntee talks about how Gen Z wants to be a part of a movement and to be a part of something real... how they desire authenticity and consistency in how people talk about Jesus and live for them. He suggests that it's not complicated to say, but it can be tough to live out.
Zauntee also shares stories about mentors in the music industry that have helped shape who he is as an artist. He talks about guys like Mark Hall (Casting Crowns) or Tauren Wells who have been consistent in the message they share on stage and the life they live when the lights go down.
The magic formula for how to reach the next generation seems to be the most elusive item in the modern church. Every youth group and students ministry has had to struggle with how to best reach students. In modern times, it seems even more of a struggle as social media is ingrained in culture and there are so many voices and ideologies tugging at our young crowd.
At 23 years old, Zauntee is working hard to reach his generation for Jesus. He shares his heart for reaching Gen Z and what makes this generation tick. Zauntee talks about how Gen Z wants to be a part of a movement and to be a part of something real... how they desire authenticity and consistency in how people talk about Jesus and live for them. He suggests that it's not complicated to say, but it can be tough to live out.
Zauntee also shares stories about mentors in the music industry that have helped shape who he is as an artist. He talks about guys like Mark Hall (Casting Crowns) or Tauren Wells who have been consistent in the message they share on stage and the life they live when the lights go down.
In a recent interview, Bart Millard of MercyMe was asked if he felt like he was preaching to the choir sometimes. His response was that now he absolutely is preaching to the choir because it's divided and splintered. With their time on stage, their hope is that maybe the few thousand people there can agree on something for an hour and a half when it seems impossible to agree on anything. Although we'll still have our own opinions and viewpoints, the heart of MercyMe is to guide the Church to unity on the foundation of Jesus. This theme is woven throughout Always Only Jesus through songs like "To Not Worship You" and "Then Christ Came."
Bart shares parts of the journey in writing the album and the moments in the studio that were special to him. He also shares a hint at a potential special album in the near future?
In this installment of the Next Big Thing series, we are introduced to Todd Rukes. Todd is a Worship Pastor turned HR Director turned Recruiter turned Recording Artist. From his unique vantage point as a recruiter, Todd shares some wisdom for both churches and potential worship pastors as they search for the match for their ministries. Todd also talks about his journey and why he has chosen now to release his debut album after years as a worship pastor in churches. In the process of recording this album, he has had a team behind him that has pushed him forward and was honest when things were not up to par. We chat about the power of having people who can speak truth into our lives and walking through tough seasons in our churches.
Since his debut in 2018, Peabod has become known for his unique, poppy brand of hip hop. While Peabod didn't start out in hip hop, he has found freedom in the genre to explore new ways to create. Just as his career in music was starting to take off, he got thrown a curveball when the pandemic took hold. As a newlywed, there was a silver lining since he was given a season to spend with his wife before being on the road as a full time musician.
In this episode, Peabod shares about his start in music and some fun stories along the way. He also talks about marriage lessons he's learned and his jump to a full time career in music.
Andrew Greer offers the thought that in our efforts to become more diverse, maybe we have become homogenized than we intend. We must speak, act, think the same in order to be heard, and humans are not designed for this. We are created to have relationships and exchange thoughts in a manner that is enriching to one another... but do we have the habit of putting God in a box that looks strangely more like our own opinions and judge people from that standard? What doors would open and who would we meet if we pursued God for how big he is and followed how Jesus taught us to live with each other?
As we chat about a recent project Andrew has produced, an album tribute to the late Rich Mullins, maybe that's what made Rich so relatable. In this episode, Andrew talks about Rich's legacy and the process of recording "Bellsburg." Andrew also shares about other projects that strangely seem to revolve around conversations, including "Empty Stage" and "Dinner Conversations with Mark Lowry and Andrew Greer."
What is the NRT Now Podcast? In each episode, we spend some time with your favorite Christian Artists (or introduce you to an artist... maybe your new favorite artist?) and share stories. Whether it's a story from their journey or the music itself... we share a laugh, encouragement, and deepen our faith one conversation at a time.
A couple years after releasing one of the biggest songs of 2020 with his wife Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes is set to release a live album declaring this truth: God Is Good. In a time where everything seems so complicated, there is power in the simplicity of that truth. There are so many depths of that truth to explore, but it is truly that simple. Cody talks about his heart behind sharing that message through this live album.
Cody shares his journey that started at Gateway Church in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex (TX).
When Hope Darst introduces a new song as part of her church, she can gauge how the song is impacting and how people connect with it. When Hope released her debut solo album in 2020, not only was she stepping out in faith in becoming a solo artist, she released the songs in a period where she couldn't be in the room to see the connection. As she is starting to get out on the road, she's discovering what she was missing as she hears people singing her songs and sharing stories about how her songs have impacted people across the country.
Hope also shares about writing for her church, The Belonging Co. She shares about the heart of why the church pursues excellence in creativity.
After several years of meeting in nightclubs around LA, Fearless Church finally found a building and was getting ready to move in at the beginning of 2020. Though the pandemic delayed their move into the new building for services, Pastor Jeremy Johnson shares how they used their building and the area around it to serve their community faithfully so that the city even took note and partnered with them to help distribute food. In a period where so many issues tried to darken their area, they chose to be a light and build their foundation on Jesus. Jeremy shares these stories and the season the church has been through that birthed the songs from the Hope St. Revival album.
It's hard to believe that it's been 20 years since Kutless released their debut album. To celebrate the album's 20th anniversary, Kutless re-recorded 3 songs from the album and added a 'Kutless in 2022' flavor to them. As we continue the 20th anniversary celebration, Jon Micah Sumrall and James Mead join us to share some stories.
Whether it's near death experiences or epic tour pranks, there has been a lot of life lived since Kutless released that first album. Jon Micah and James talk about the history of the band and the members who have left a mark on the band's legacy. They also give us some hints as to what the future holds for Kutless, although they aren't leaking too much out just quite yet.
It's hard to believe that it's been 20 years since Kutless released their debut album. To celebrate the album's 20th anniversary, Kutless re-recorded 3 songs from the album and added a 'Kutless in 2022' flavor to them. As we continue the 20th anniversary celebration, Jon Micah Sumrall and James Mead join us to share some stories.
Whether it's near death experiences or epic tour pranks, there has been a lot of life lived since Kutless released that first album. Jon Micah and James talk about the history of the band and the members who have left a mark on the band's legacy. They also give us some hints as to what the future holds for Kutless, although they aren't leaking too much out just quite yet.
In this installment of the Next Big Thing series, we are introduced to Sean BE. Sean invites us to step into his story as he talks about his journey from Next Gen pastor to recording artist. Sean shares with us about the leaps of faith it took to get to this season, as well as some of the challenges he faced growing up as a pastor's grandkid.
The hit series The Chosen is filming season 3 in North Texas. One of the episodes in Season 3 is the miracle of the Feeding of the 5,000. Back in August of 2021, The Chosen announced that they would be opening up the opportunity to be an extra in the episode. Over the course of 2 days, over 12,000 people descended on Midlothian, TX to be a part of this episode.
As we went behind the scenes, we had the opportunity to chat with some of the people behind the production:
- Derral Eves, Executive Producer and The Chosen CEO
- Amber Shana Williams, Tamar
- Robert Akin, Owner of CRC Construction and Tad Eckerle, COO
View our time on set here: https://youtu.be/hs5c97fE9LY
When we last caught up with Ryan Williams from River Valley Worship in the summer of 2020, River Valley Church was on the front end of a season full of challenges. Between a pandemic, their city being at the center of our news cycles, and division surrounding them, RVC had a lot to navigate. As we chat with Ryan at the release of their album 'Faith in Our Time,' he shares about the journey that RVC has walked through and how their church has grown in the process.
Kevin Olusola was a pre-med student and training in classical music on the cello. Donovan Donnell was a male exotic dancer. Both Kevin and Donovan stepped out onto the path God had for them and found that it led toward reaching their dreams. Donovan is an author, life coach, and speaker, among many other things.
Kevin is now a member of the wildly successful band Pentatonix. They have come together to bring us the Imagine Faith Talk podcast, unpacking biblical principles for optimizing performance and finding success through a partnership with God. Through their respective journeys, each of them brings a unique perspective to the conversation.
In this episode, Kevin shares the journey from his hometown in Kentucky to the spotlight, starting with his parents' immigration from Nigeria and Grenada. He talks about the God moments that happened along the way which opened the doors to be a part of Pentatonix. He wraps this all into sharing the heart behind Imagine Faith Talk and the following the dreams God has placed on your heart–how do you achieve your dreams without having to sell your soul?
We want to hear about how Christian Music has impacted you. Share your story below: https://nrt.cc/fiveminutes
Mark Lowry's career has spanned a few decades and he has cemented his legacy in not only the Southern Gospel community, but also the Christian Comedian community. Or is that the other way around? Maybe it was his song "Mary, Did You Know?" Either way, he has impacted many lives and shared the Gospel all over the world as part of the Gaither Vocal Band and as part of the Gaither Homecoming series. In Episode 108, Jeff Allen shared his story about meeting Mark and his encouragement while Jeff was doing some shows with the Gaither's.
In this episode, Mark shares a bit about his story and the power of comedy along with music. He also talks about how he has gone high tech to keep the old hymns alive.
As Josh Holiday from Elevation Rhythm reminds us, so many periods of time are marked by the art and music that emerge from them. You can see and feel what's happening as you listen to music or gaze at a painting from that period. Josh and fellow Elevation Rhythm member Davide Mutendji share about this period in Elevation Church's Youth ministry that has been captured in their latest release, Growing Pains. Davide and Josh also talk about the path that Elevation Rhythm has been on and their relationship with Elevation Worship.
The idea for Honor & Glory was started by conversations in the back of Disciple's tour bus. As they were chatting about their weekends, the realization hit them that worship was important enough that they were all playing in church on their days off. Since they were all worshipping separately at their respective churches, why not do it together... right? As Kevin Young tells us, they're all best friends who are wanting to share the message of Christ through music. Every opportunity to share Christ is important, and the Honor & Glory project opens different doors for them to do so.
Over the last few years, for KING & COUNTRY has become one of the biggest names in Christian music. Despite having their faces featured on billboards and touring semi-trucks, features in major publications and TV programming, and all the accolades... their mission remains the same as it was when they started: connecting to people and connecting people to God. Luke Smallbone shares that while they write songs that mean a lot to them, there is power when those songs become part of people's stories.
Also in this episode, Luke shares stories from their current tour, writing the What Are We Waiting For album, and talks about their first meet and greets of 2022 at bookstore CD signings.
River Valley Worship released Altars in the late spring of 2020 while the world was still trying to figure out what was happening and right before their hometown of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN was thrust into the center of national conversations. Even though all this was swirling around, something was bubbling in the Youth ministry at River Valley Church. Ages leader Wes Schrock shares how AGES was birthed to add fuel to a fire that was burning in student worship leaders as they were bringing in their own songs to the church. Wes also shares what has been happening in their youth ministry and how they have navigated the difficult season their area has been walking through.
We Love Awards nominated artist Abby Robertson joined the ranks of artists like Sarah Reeves, for KING & COUNTRY, Sidewalk Prophets... Not only have all these artists been nominated for We Love Awards, but they have all been Pre-Jam artists on past WinterJam tours. On the last stop of WinterJam 2022, Abby talks about her time on tour and how she has grown. She tells us about her journey as an artist and performing for the We Love Awards show.
It's crazy how conversations we have or songs we write wind up ministering to us just as much as anyone else. When Jordan St. Cyr wrote the hit song Fires a few years ago, he wrote it about a man who was on the verge of losing everything. When Jordan was faced with his own fires when his youngest daughter was diagnosed with health concerns, God used his own song to minister to him.
Jordan shares his journey with this album and Fires. He also shares about sharing tours with some of the artists that have shaped his faith and his path in becoming an artist.
Life comes at us hard and at times it feels like we're alone in what we're going through. 10th Annual We Love Awards Host Branan Murphy shares about his heartbeat for connecting with people and walking alongside them. He tells us that even though the last couple years have been tough for him, he wouldn't trade the lessons he's learned or how it's deepened his faith. Branan is hoping that the music that comes from this past season encourages those listening and speaks the universal truth that they are not alone; they are known, seen, and loved by God.
The Bible tells us that there will be trials in this life, but it also tells us that a joyful heart is good medicine. If Comedian Jeff Allen has made you laugh till your sides hurt and made you forget about everything else for a while, he's accomplished his mission. Though Jeff has been in the comedy game for many years, his brand of humor changed after he encountered Jesus. In this episode, Jeff shares his powerful testimony and how that has influenced what you see on YouTube and network TV today. We also talk marriage tips and how our marriages bring us some of the funniest moments... some of the funniest things can only happen in the deepest of relationships.
Just like so many artists, Elevation Worship was set to take Elevation Nights on the road before the whole world shut down. During the season that followed, Elevation Worship released 'Graves Into Gardens' and 'Old Church Basement.' Worship Leader Chris Brown shares about the move that happened in their church and their worship team that came from that season/albums and how that's led into the upcoming album 'Lion.' Collaborations with other worship leaders have unlocked a whole new perspective and how they write, along with the hunger that came from being separated. Chris also shares with us about finally being able to take Elevation Church on the road with Elevation Nights and being able to share these last two albums to live crowds.
When life changes on a dime, it's easy to long for what life was like before and where we were comfortable. In these moments, however, things are revealed that we weren't able to see before. Planetboom, the youth expression of Planetshakers church, is located in Melbourne, Australia where Pastor Noah and Pastor Aimee describe as one of the most locked-down locations during the pandemic. Although Boom nights looked radically different, they discovered new areas to disciple and minister the youth that attended.
When life gets tough, it's easy to say all the Christian things out loud while being in pain quietly. Joseph Rojas of Seventh Day Slumber shares with us how Christian Rock tends to live in the space of expressing the emotion that is under the surface. As we chat about how music impacts us, Joseph shares a story of a CCM Artist friend who helped him get through one of the toughest parts of his life. We also discuss what it means to come alongside each other when it gets tough.
Passion Conference's website says this about their mission: "We are calling this generation, with different voices, but one song, different backgrounds, but one Father, different nationalities, but one eternal home. When we come together for the name of Jesus, we are changed, personally and collectively." Worship Leader Kristian Stanfill shares about the most welcome return of the conference in 2022 after the world shut down. He shares his favorite moments from the conference... from the power in group sessions to the voices that contributed to the music that emerged from Conference. Kristian talks about his journey from solo artist through time with Passion.
After about a decade and 5 albums, life caught up with the members of the Dove Award-winning band Stellar Kart and they decided it was time for a change of seasons. Frontman Adam Agee has continued his career in music as a member of Audio Adrenaline and with his solo projects. As he's releasing his first solo album, he shares his journey from the Stellar Kart days and why he continues to be passionate about Christian music. He also shares why partnering with missions organizations is so important to why he's sets out on the road.
Music has always been a part of Coby James's life. While he may not have been releasing chart-topping hits at 15, he was laying the groundwork for a ministry he knew God was calling him to. Coby's story includes health issues as a kid and moving to a new place as the world was shutting down, but he has remained faithful to his ministry and has weaved those experiences into his music. He shares some of these stories and talks about the community he's found in this episode, along with celebrating his nomination in the 10th annual We Love Awards.
As we close out this amazing year in Christian music, we brought in a panel to discuss our 10th annual We Love Christian Music Awards. NRT President, Founder, and all-around good guy Kevin McNeese joins host Jake Frederick and Visible Music College/Madison Line Records' own Crystal Bergman. The panel chats about the music that came out in 2021, the awards, and the partnership between NRT and Visible Music College.
You may know Mac Powell's distinctive voice from the iconic band Third Day. Although the season of Third Day has come to a close, Mac has not slowed down at all. He has pursued his solo Country work with Mac Powell and the Family Reunion and has recently released his debut solo CCM project. In this Christmas episode, Mac shares about his family Christmas traditions, which include him sharing a birthday with Jesus. We also take a moment to celebrate Waffle House and his Tunie award.
Author and Artist Maddie Rey has been a part of her family's youth-focused ministry since she was about 12 years old. Maddie has continued that passion for youth ministry into books and music. In this episode, Maddie shares about speaking biblical truth into this next generation.
There is power when you're open and raw with your story. When Mōriah Smallbone and her husband Joel Smallbone (for KING & COUNTRY) started their cinematic podcast BECOMING:us, being open with their story was a priority. In this episode, Mōriah shares about their podcast and about her new EP. Part of the story of her EP is the diverse group of friends that contributed to the project, and she shares her heart behind it.
We're starting our 2021 Christmas episodes with a hint of an #NRTwenty theme. We catch up with Shelley from Point of Grace to chat about their music from the albums in the '90s to their brand new Christmas album. We talk about books from Girls of Grace to their recent book How You Live: Lessons Learned. Shelley shares some of their journey over the last twenty years and shares some of her family's Christmas traditions.
We first caught up with Tasha in 2019 for Episode 17 as she shared her testimony. She shared about her faith journey and the miracles that she and her husband Keith Everett Smith have witnessed. We catch back up with Tasha for another Thanksgiving episode and to hear what God has done in their lives over the past couple of years. From their second miracle baby being born to a move that has planted them in a new season, God has definitely still been on the move.
Christmas is the season for joy, generosity, and good cheer. By the time Christmas rolls around, there has been a lot of life lived since the beginning of the year. After the last couple of years that we've walked through, we could definitely use some Christmas. Matthew West has released an album aptly named 'We Need Christmas' and we discuss some events of this past year.
It's not common for an artist to follow up several #1 hits with a hiatus. Shortly after Chasen released their 'That Was Then, This Is Now' album that had 2 of their #1's, Chasen Callahan hit pause and joined the staff at his church in South Carolina. Chasen shares about the season in between where he has found the balance between ministry and being present for his family. It's been over 10 years since 'That Was Then, This Is Now'... Chasen has released a new album with renewed vision.
A prerequisite for revival is desperation... a desperation for God that is new and fresh. Have you heard the phrase God won't give you anything that you can't handle? Rebecca St. James discusses that one piece to this Biblical concept that can get overlooked is that we find ourselves in situations that we cannot handle by ourselves, but we can with Jesus. In a time where it seems like so many are desperate, we need revival and we need the hope that is found in Jesus.
Gospel artist Jason Clayborn and CCM worship leader Stephen McWhirter first connected while Jason's group performed on a Louisville, KY TV show called "The Sound." The instant friendship has led to a series of collaborations celebrating both artists' musical cultures. If Heaven is going to be filled with people of every tongue and every nation, we can only imagine what Heaven will sound like. Although we won't know what that sounds like until we get there, Stephen and Jason are pursuing a creative process that produces music that brings different voices together here on Earth.
Love is a powerful force, it can do things without even saying things. Danny Gokey shares with he wishes that was something he learned when he was younger, and how something as simple as loving your kids can make an impact on someone without you ever noticing. Danny also talks about his new album Jesus People and the heart of compassion that went into writing this album.
The Newsboys have been given the gift of time, both in the longevity of the band and in this recent season. In this episode, we chat about the Newsboys' legacy and the seasons that have gone into this legacy. We also discuss the time that went into crafting the new album, Stand. The Newsboys share their heart behind the album and the songs.
It's inevitable that the seasons in life will change, but sometimes the challenge is moving between seasons when God calls you. As Mike Donehey changes season from Tenth Avenue North to a solo career, we chat about the transition between these seasons and how that has impacted his family time and songwriting. We also chat about loving people through the changes in their seasons.
Boiling Point released a YouTube mini-series named Hope Lives Here that explores their mission work in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Frontman Eric Bjorklund talks about the journey of releasing this project and his heart for this mission. We discuss finding what we're passionate about and finding our mission.
Who knew that listening to KISS albums could lead to a career in ministry? The Protest's frontman Josh Bramlett chats with us about how listening to old rock albums started him down the path to starting the band. We talk about discernment in the music we listen to and missing the rock shows that are now starting to come back.
After visiting NASA, Anne Wilson was all set to shoot for the stars... literally! When tragedy struck her family, she heard God speak and set her on a new path. A video of her singing "What a Beautiful Name" by Hillsong turned some heads and started her journey as an artist.
Baylor Wilson has been described as a cheerleader, a reality game show contestant, and a country music artist. While her path hasn't been what she had pictured it growing up, it has taken her on some unique and exciting turns. Baylor had an experience that caused her to pivot again... she describes it in two words: Jesus happened.
There are so many voices that shout for our attention. In this episode, Wande talks about making God a priority and spending time with him and with people who pursue him. This makes God's voice louder than social media or the other voices that compete for our attention. She also talks about the worship in the Nigerian church she grew up in and cultural differences.
In this episode, our fearless leader, president, founder, and all-around good guy Kevin McNeese takes over the podcast. Kevin caught up with Mike Weaver of Big Daddy Weave in person (gasp!) before they played a 4th of July festival in Boise. They chatted about having 20 years in the business, family, and cancel culture. Mike also talks through changing seasons and working through the tough times that can bring.
Do you have a brand that's unique to your area? There is a brand of pickles that is unique to North Texas that Crowder is a huge fan of. It just so happens that our host lives nearby the pickle factory and we talk about how the town throws a pickle parade every year. Is this an idea for the next Crowder anniversary getaway? We also talk about Crowder's new album and the amazing songs in the middle of the album.
In this episode, Ellie Holcomb shares the inspiration behind her new album, Canyons. In the middle of a scorching desert, the river at the bottom of the canyon was cool and steady. Ellie says this about the heart behind the album: We all know what it is for our hearts to be broken, split wide open by the pain and loss and sorrow we encounter here. We know brokenness. We know division, but there in the middle of all the chaos, in the places where the pain cuts a canyon into our very hearts, there is a river running through. There is a current of love that brings refreshment, hope, and comfort. There is a river of love there to carry us if we'll only let it. There is a river to carry us back home, to the place where all of us came from, to the place of belonging to the one who made us, to a place of belonging to each other.
When we place our worship in anything other than God... whether it is a celebrity, a pastor, our job... it will always let us down. We were created to worship, and only God is capable of handling the full weight of our worship. Anna Golden shares how she stepped out of mainstream music so she could focus on being a worship leader, not being the target of worship. She caught the attention of Tasha Cobbs Leonard and became the first artist signed to Tasha's label imprint.
Whether it's jabbing each other over bad lunch choices or forgetting the members of our favorite bands, there is nothing more real-life than a conversation between a couple of dudes living the mid-30's dad life. We reminisce about the daytime TV shows we used to watch when we were kids and the terrible shows we used to love, some of the things that our kids will never experience. Somewhere in between the reminiscing, we chat about Rhett's new EP and music videos. Rhett tells about how the concept of the Gospel Song music video included no music until the s'mores happen.
This episode is part 3 of our series about the Faithful Project. All throughout the Bible, God uses people that are imperfect to do big things. Rachel Lampa has spent time in women's prison ministries telling people who are imperfect that they are still loved by God. In this episode, we talk about her time with this ministry and about the women in the Bible that would be considered 'the wild ones'.
In this installment of our Next Big Thing series, we chat with Taylor Leonhardt. Taylor is one half of the group Mission House and is part of the Faithful project. Taylor shares stories about the impact of her time writing and performing with the Faithful project. A few weeks before the Faithful project released, she released a new version of her song I Don't Have Much that Mission House recorded with Josh Baldwin.
We are starting a small series focused on the Faithful project: a book and an album inspired by stories of the women of the bible. In this first Faithful episode, we talk with Ginny Owens, who also released a book and an album at the same time as the Faithful Project. We reminisce about sampler CDs and talk about finding joy and praising God when we walk through dark times.
Lincoln Brewster has been a premier guitarist since the early '90s. Throughout the years, his gear choices have changed, but his favorite guitar model has not. In this episode, we chat about Lincoln's current gear choices and some of the stories that led him to primarily use digital gear. We also chat briefly about his time with Steve Perry, his story, and his new album.
I've grown up hearing the phrase "In the world, but not of it." Does that mean that we're a part of our culture or do we separate ourselves from it? In his latest EP, Propaganda talks about the concept that we are a part of our culture, but we also have the choice to change our culture. We discuss this and how Daniel was a great example of this in the Bible.
It feels weird to put this episode in the Next Big Thing series because Alex Henry Foster is so accomplished. His mainstream band Your Favorite Enemies was nominated for a Juno (Canadian music award) and his solo project hit #1 on the Billboard Canadian Albums list several times. His performance at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2019 is considered one of the best in festival history and is also the subject of his upcoming film. With all this mainstream success, his faith as remained at the center for him. In this episode, we talk about the artistry of this album and working through grief.
It's been said that that the best gift that you can give someone is your presence. It's so easy to get distracted and give our attention away freely. What would happen if we were intentional about giving our presence to those around us? What would happen if we were intentional about giving God our presence? One thing about worship is that we have the opportunity to give our full attention to God as we come into his presence.
When you grow up with siblings, you know exactly what buttons to push to make each other go crazy... unwanted hugging and stolen drinks just to name a couple. On the other hand, you can also become each other's biggest cheerleaders. The harmonies that the siblings in the band CAIN have developed as they've grown up extend past the stage. They share that it's very rare that all three of them are down at the same time, making it hard to stay down for very long.
The phrase "the new normal" can come with a dark cloud and bring a fear that everything we don't like will last forever. However, a new normal can also mean that we take the lessons we learn to help shape a healthier future. This last season has had no shortage of lessons to teach us... what would it look like if we took the lessons to heart instead of being so quick to get back to the normal we knew before? Luke Smallbone talks about what he has learned through this season and writing music that comes from real experience.
What would it look like if we truly took the time to pray for our enemies? What would it look like if we were kind to others the way that Jesus was? What would it look like if we stopped worrying about everything all at once? What would it look like if we stopped feeding the negativity in the comment sections? Dave Frey of Sidewalk Prophets about these questions and their new album 'The Things That Got Us Here,' which is what got them a We Love Awards nomination.
In this episode, We Love Awards nominated artist We Are Messengers talk about championing others. They have produced a video for 2 consecutive Together We Love shows that champion the music of other artists. We talk about championing others, both in the Christian Music space and around our spaces.
Often times, we find ourselves comfortable in the order of what we understand and believe. When we allow ourselves to explore the disorder of what we don't know and have conversations with others with different viewpoints, God can reorder our hearts to be closer to his. Jason Gray talks about this as he discusses his newest album.
It's so easy for us to get too busy and to allow too many voices to divide our attention. As we allow more of this clutter, it becomes more difficult to focus on what is important. It is harder to allow God to play the role in our lives that he is meant to. Phil Joel wrote the song Sailing Speed talking about slowing down, clearing the clutter, and making room for our relationship with God. Phil also shares about creating this EP on his own, a challenge he had yet to take on, and his heart behind this project.
We talk quite a bit about how music can have a massive impact on our lives, but it's still mind-blowing when we hear that music has saved someone's life. The words "Can you hear me?/Does anyone around me feel the way that I feel now" from Hawk Nelson's 'Take Me' brought Grace Graber out of a depression and onto a path of becoming a Christian artist herself. We talk about her story and we reminisce about early 2000's bands that had a major impact on us.
One of the things that Jesus is known for is that he had conversations with people who were in opposite corners of society from him. Although it may be contrary to our human nature, there is power when we do the same. This is a message that Legin has preaching through his music, spoken word, and relationships in his community.
For about 20 years, Zach Williams missed moments that Jesus was there and moving in his life. Zach wrote the song 'There Was Jesus' as he looks back on those moments he overlooked. As we turn the page on 2020, it's easy to focus on all the negative that happened, but Jesus was still here and moving in 2020. Zach talks about his collaboration with Dolly Parton, Williams Family Christmas, and what he's looking forward to in 2021.
This episode is all about This Christmas... the holiday, yes, but also Francesca Battistelli's new Christmas album. The song 'Behold Him' was written the year previous, but Francesca felt it wasn't the right time to release it. Little did she know, God had better timing for the release of this song. We chat about the album, this song, and talk about Christmas fun.
It's so easy to find your identity in the gifts and talents you're given, and worship leaders are not immune from this. Being a worship leader can also provide a buffer to hide anything that's happening underneath the surface. Joel Vaughn had given up music to work through placing his identity in the creator of his gifts and to allow himself to be healthy spiritually. While he thought he might pick up music again as a small-time worship leader, he didn't expect a full-blown music career including Billboard chart hits. We chat about his journey, parenting, and his new music coming out.
It's that time of year where we here at NRT start the celebration of the past year in Christian music. We do some things differently than other awards, starting with our emphasis on celebrating the nominations just as much as the winners. While we may pare down our nominations based on several data points, it's the fans that choose our winners. Over the last few years, Visible Music College has become an invaluable partner in putting this celebration together. It's only fitting that we here at NRT catch up with VMC and talk about this year's awards. We also hear from VMC students and Madison Line Records artists Devin Westbrook and Hope VanDouser about their experience at VMC.
In 2019, Skillet's frontman John Cooper started a journey of sharing truth in today's culture through a series of social media posts. While he was initially unsure if anyone wanted to hear this from him, the response he received answered that question with a resounding yes. He is taking his journey of speaking about truth a step further with a book that is set to release at the end of 2020. In this episode, we flashback to episode 12 where John talks about the social media posts and then hear from John about his new book.
This Thanksgiving episode features Dove Award-winning artist Jordan Feliz. Jordan's eyes were not focused on the top of the charts when he wrote his latest album, his task was to put out the best work he could. Nevertheless, the single "Glorify" has landed at the top of the charts. Jordan discusses the process of the album and the heart behind a pair of the leading songs. Jordan shares how he and his family go hard for Christmas, and why he is not likely to release a Christmas album.
In this installment of the Next Big Thing episodes, we are introduced to Seth and Jenna of Him + Her Worship. Their latest album was finished as they were stuck on the road during lockdowns. We get to know this new artist and their journey around the country in their 13ft trailer.
In 2010, Sanctus Real released a song called 'Lead Me' which took CCM by storm. The heart of the song is a wife asking her husband to lead her and the family, which is part of a real experience from the band's frontman at the time, Matt Hammitt. The message of the song landed deep on Matt's heart, so much so that he left the band to live out the song. In 2020, he released a book co-written by his wife that is open and raw with all the experiences around that song. He also talks about the story of Bowen's Heart, a journey with his son Bowen and the health complications he's had in his childhood.
Before we had any idea as to what season was ahead of us, Citizens had the idea to record songs with nothing more than their phones and acoustic instruments. Fast forward, these phone demos would become a picture of what many churches were facing. We chat about the full album 'The Joy of Being' along with some fun anecdotes from small hometowns.
In a season that's hit these brothers hard, Shawn and Michael from Manic Drive have released two songs that talk about being grateful for the life they have and coming back strong from setbacks. 'Thank God I'm Alive' and 'Champion' are two singles from their upcoming EP set to release at the end of the year. We chat about the album, life in this season, and share some memories.
In a season where it seems like everything is a breeding ground for depression and anxiety, Matty Mullins shares his journey in overcoming these obstacles in his life. Although it was actually written years ago, his new single 'No Hold On Me' is a timely statement that only God frees us from any holds. We also chat about his life with Memphis May Fire and his On Point Pomade company.
Jeremy Camp's highly-anticipated biopic I Still Believe was set to hit theaters in late March of 2020 until the pandemic derailed those plans. In the middle of a season where all plans were changed, Jeremy and his wife Adrienne debuted a new worship song over Instagram and YouTube live. That song sparked a worship EP. In this episode, we talk about this EP and worship, along with memories of shows past.
As a part of this Next Big Thing episode, we have an exclusive premiere of a new song from up and coming artist Skye Reedy! After years on the road as background vocals for Mandisa and Michael W. Smith, Skye is following God's path into becoming a solo artist. Skye talks about her story before we premiere the song, which includes lessons learned from her time with Mandisa and her time leading worship at diverse inner-city churches in Florida. This time has also led her to a heart for diversity and unity.
In yet another example of how God can use anything to further his kingdom, an episode of Law and Order: SVU planted the seed for Natalie Grant to begin what has become an international organization to fight child trafficking that has saved many thousands of children. In this episode, Natalie talks about Hope for Justice International and the work they're doing across the globe. She also talks about praising through the storms of life and shares about the making of her latest album, No Stranger.
Natalie Grant's Lifeway Interview
In 2004, Audio Adrenaline (Audio A) established the Hands and Feet Project. The name of the organization comes from one of their hit songs from the 1999 album 'Underdog' that talks about being the hands and feet of Jesus. Although the band is dormant these days, Hands and Feet Project is still going strong and still working in Haiti. To support the cause, two fans started a fantasy football league to raise funds for missions trips. In addition to original Audio A members, Adam Agee (Stellar Kart, Audio Adrenaline, Solo) and Dave Frey (Sidewalk Prophets) have joined in the league, along with other artists over the years, to engage with fans while supporting the mission.
Hope Darst wrote the song 'Peace Be Still' in 2016 and while it was Lauren Daigle's voice that released the song into the worship community in 2017, it is her own voice that released her song to radio in 2020. In this episode, we chat with Hope about her journey that led to releasing her debut album at a non-traditional age on a non-traditional path. We talk about the lessons she learned along the way and how being obedient to God may seem like the death of a dream, but can actually be the birth of something much better.
In this episode, we are joined by a very special co-host along with our guest Mandisa. We chat about children's book ideas, princess tea parties, and babies. We also talk about thunderstorms, prophecy, and the prophet Elijah. We also chat a bit about her new series 'What If I Were Real?"
Episode 40 made mention of previous Worth Dying For and current Kutless band member Nate Parrish. It just so happens that Nate just released his solo project 'I'm a Wreck' that has got the attention of the Christian rock scene. Join us for this punk rock episode where we discuss his time in Worth Dying For and Kutless and the differences of worship in those two groups. We also talk about his album and the reasons why he wrote the songs that fit square in the no filter punk rock category.
In this episode, we catch up with Matthew West, who just released The Matthew West Podcast. We talk baseball, having his dad as his road pastor, and how his new music video for the song 'Truth Be Told' talks about the freedom that comes from being honest about what you're going through. As we talk about his new podcast, we discuss how everybody's story matters and how your story can help someone else.
In this episode, we talk with Josh McCabe of Caves. We talk about growing up in Canada, his connection to The Belonging Co, and how Caves got started. We also chat about some behind-the-scenes of his podcast (Overflow Beyond the Music), as well as this podcast. We have a first for this podcast, we have an exclusive debut for Caves's new song!
In this episode, we catch up with Dan Rivera of SEU Worship. We chat about the trends of incoming students and the challenges that Southeastern University has faced in the current environment. We also talk about the history of SEU, which is rooted in worship and revival. Somewhere in here, we talk about dad things and how one of us is all for the minivan life.
In this episode, we chat with Josh Wilson about his new song 'Revolutionary' and what that means in today's landscape. We also talk about fighting depression in this season and the importance of continuing to be together. We also chat about his journey in music and what he has learned along the way.
This is the second part of our conversation with Jeremy Johnson of Fearless BND. This episode dives deeper into the theme of Fearless/Fear Not and how it applies to our climate today. We chat about applying biblical perspectives to the events that unfold around us.
Episode 40 starts a 2-part episode with Jeremy Johnson of Fearless BND. In the first part, Jeremy talks about the history of Fearless Church in LA. We talk about his youth band called Worth Dying For and how it evolved into Fearless BND. Jeremy talks about being a church that's a light in a dark place, which has a lot to do with the early venues that Fearless held services at.
Our guest for this episode is Leeland Mooring of the band Leeland. We chat about his journey as a teenage artist and how his parents helped shape that path. We talk about his steps to recording a live worship album and we talk about the difference between perfectionism and excellence in leading worship. We also chat about our paths to parenthood.
In this latest installment of the Next Big Thing series, we chat with up-and-coming artist Tori Harper. We talk about her new hobbies through the quarantine season, relationships, and the life behind her latest EP. We also chat about upcoming music currently being written.
In this episode, we catch up with Chris McClarney of Jesus culture and talk about God's timing on releasing songs and pursuing God's call on Chris's life. We chat about fatherhood, the new Jesus Culture albums, and the impact that worship has. We also discuss the church being able to reach outside of normal weekend gatherings.
In this episode, we chat with Colton Dixon about miracles and his upcoming fatherhood. We talk about his self-titled EP, being on a mainstream label, and the love song to his wife that he finally got to write. We also have a conversation about coming alongside those outside of our normal areas.
In this episode, we catch up with Ryan Stevenson just before the release of his latest album 'Wildest Dreams.' We talk about relying on God through the tough moments in our lives and how that can be a light to others. We chat about lessons our parents and grandparents have taught us and being able to see their light through us. We also talk about how Ryan's time as a paramedic has shaped him.
In this episode, we chat with Josh Baldwin from Bethel Music about his song 'Stand In Your Love' and how it is so relevant in our current season. We talk about redirecting fear to trust in God and how that allows us to see how he works. We also talk about his new EP, Live At Church, and his new album coming out later this year.
In this episode, we chat with Micah Tyler about keeping humor about ourselves, our generations, and our situations while processing the gravity of them. We also talk about his new album, New Today, and the life lived that brought this album to fruition. Micah describes being intentional about scriptural influence and being vulnerable with each song on this album.
In this episode, we chat with River Valley Worship's Ryan Williams. We talk about River Valley Church's mission in the Minneapolis, MN area and how their worship team fits into that mission. We talk about what RVW has learned throughout this season and what they will take with them out of this season. We also talk about the stories behind their new album.
In this episode, we round out our Together We Love episode series with Attaboy! We chat about their work in one of the hidden mission fields here in the US: schools. We talk about how the minister to our students and what challenges they see facing our youth. Just a quick trigger warning that one of the topics discussed briefly a couple of times is suicide as a result of the challenges that are facing youth.
Here is the video that was mentioned is now at 15.5 million views on one Facebook page alone.
In this episode, we chat with the guys from 7eventh Time Down about trust, relying on God, and long term friendships. We also learn the wisdom that it's better to scrounge for change than to take your chances with a McFuzzy!
We want to encourage you that as we are navigating these tough times, you are not alone in this. In this episode, we talk with Caleb Crino, and part of our conversation was about the theme of "Be still, and know that I am God." We also talk about having solid friends as guys and how worship changes for us as we walk through different stages of our lives.
In this episode, we chat with Andrew Holt from The Belonging Co. about their new song and about the history of their church. We talk about how this present quarantine is changing how we connect with God and how The Belonging Co is adapting to our current atmosphere. We also talk about what we are learning about our faith through this season.
In this episode, we chat with We Love Awards nominee Wild Harbors about their journey into full-time artistry. We discuss trusting in God while following the direction he is leading us in.
In this episode, we have a special collaboration episode with Seth and Nirva Ready! This episode is airing on both NRT Now and the Freemind podcast. We chat about taking this social distancing/quarantine period in our nation as a pause rather than a crisis. How does this impact our creativity in the church? How do we rest and how does it impact our faith personally? We also chat about their journey as artists and the Freemind podcast.
In this episode, we talk with Chris from Stars Go Dim about the theme of "better," the thread behind the latest release from Stars Go Dim aptly titled "Better." We talk about being still and knowing God. We also chat about his path to Christian music and some of the turns on that journey.
This is a crazy time we're in. We hope that you take a minute and listen to some Christian music for the hope and peace that only worshipping God can bring.
In this episode, we are joined by our guest The Cashmans. We caught up with them before they took home the Next Big Thing award at the Together We Love live event in Memphis, TN. We chat about coming to Christ, new music, and tough roads we've traveled. One of the quotes from this episode: "Your story is what turns a cliche into a testimony."
Follow the Cashmans on Instagram: @thecashmans
Follow NewReleaseToday on Instagram: @newreleasetoday
In this episode, we talk with Meredith Andrews while we were at the Together We Love event in Memphis, TN. Before Meredith hosted and performed at the event, we sat down to chat about her parents becoming foster parents, her time at Vertical Church, and now her time at The Belonging Co.
Watch the Together We Love event here:
Facebook - https://nrt.cc/8thWLAFacebook YouTube - https://nrt.cc/8thWLAYouTube
We have some awesome things in store for the podcast this year, and the first thing that we can say is that we are moving to Wednesdays! Be sure to follow or subscribe to know when new episodes are out! Also, the We Love Awards live show is coming up soon. Make sure that you're following the NewReleaseToday Facebook page and turn on notifications so you know when it's live on Feb 25 at 9pm ET/8pm CT.
In this Valentine's Day episode, we sit down with Hannah Kerr and talk about her upcoming wedding. We talk about the plans for the ceremony and how her and her fiance are preparing for married life. We talk about her transition from college to a full-time music career and the challenges our youth have today. She tells shares her message to young girls and young women about who God says they are as they navigate their way through this time.
In this episode, we catch up with Avalon to chat about life in the last 10 years since their last album release. Though Avalon had done a few dates per year during that time, they have largely been on pause. They are back in full force with a renewed energy and a new album. We talk about how God has moved in that time, how their new songs speak to that, and how it's given a new perspective to their older songs.
Singer/Songwriter/Worship Leader Stephen McWhirter co-hosts this episode as we talk about the Worship categories in the We Love Awards. We chat about his time in Iron Bell Music, his app and podcast God Is Real, and his story about rediscovering how God is real. We also talk about his new song 'Grave Clothes' and how God spoke clearly to Stephen about the song. Be on the lookout for Stephen's new EP coming in late January.
Our guest for this episode is Ben Fielding and Renee Seiff from Hillsong Worship. We caught up with them while they were on tour with Elevation Worship and Casting Crowns. We talk about the tour, the different branches of Hillsong music, the new Hillsong Worship album, and how the worship genre has changed over the years. We also chat about writing music for the local church while reaching a global audience and having questions about our faith. We find learn about Renee's favorite song from a band she recently discovered, Casting Crowns, and Ben campaigns for a We Love Award?
First and foremost, we here at NRT wish you a happy new year! We're excited to kick off this year as a partner with Winter Jam 2020. As Winter Jam launches, we caught up with Newsong's Eddie Carswell to talk about all things Winter Jam. We talk about Winter Jams past, some of the behind-the-scenes action, and what to expect from WJ2020.
NRT News Editor Caitlin Lassiter co-hosts this episode as we recap the year 2019 in Christian Music. We chat about what we loved and what trends we saw. We also reviewed the We Love Awards Nominees in the Hook Award, PopLITE Award, and Group of the Year categories.
Our guest for this episode is I AM THEY. We chat about their new single 'White Christmas' and some of their Christmas traditions... and Christmas fashion? We also have an open conversation about the scars we have in our lives, how they have shaped us, and how God has shown himself through them.
In this episode, we celebrate NRT’s Kevin Davis and his 1,000th Behind the Song devotional. We also talk about the We Love awards and the Female Artist of the Year category.
Our guest for this episode is Tasha Layton, one of the Female Artist of the Year nominees. We talk turkey... well, more like green bean casserole... family, and faith. We chat about the miracle of pregnancies after thinking that chapter is closed. We also discuss her journey of finding the truth of her faith.
Be sure to subscribe or follow the podcast, and don’t forget to share!
Links from this episode:
- Vote Now
- NRT Elle Limebear Interview
It's time for the 8th annual We Love Christian Music Awards! The nominees have now been announced and voting is live!
Host Jake Frederick is joined by NRT and We Loves founder Kevin McNeese and Visible Music College's Crystal Bergman. We talk about what the We Loves are, what's new this year, and a bit about the relationship between NRT and Visible Music College. We also talk about the nominees and what's happening in the categories.
Want to make sure your favorite artists pick up an award? Vote early and vote often here.
In this episode, we are joined by NRT Staffer and newly minted EDM expert Mark Ryan. Buckle in for a conversation about EDM genres and how EDM influences CCM and Worship, it's truly fascinating. We also chat about how in a time where culture seems to focus on differences, Christian Music can start unifying conversations.
Our guest for this episode is Tauren Wells. We chat about his first headlining tour and transitioning between touring and leading worship at a local church. We also chat a bit about a recent CNN article that he was featured in, the opportunities that were missed, and parts of the conversation that didn't make it to the article. That ties into the theme of his upcoming album, Citizen of Heaven, which is releasing in January.
Links from the episode:
- Laidback Luke - YouTube on EDM Genres
- Complex - An Idiot's Guide to EDM Genres
In this episode, NRT Founder/President/All Around Good Guy Kevin McNeese joins us as co-host. We talk about spiritual growth, creating environments that foster growth, and getting involved in small groups. We also talk about the explosion of the Worship genre.
Our guests for this episode are Chris Brown and Jon Barrientes from Elevation Worship. We caught up with them while they were out on tour with Hillsong Worship and Casting Crowns. We talk a bit about the tour, worship out on the road, and the upcoming Elevation Nights. Chris and Jon also talk about being in an environment of growth, which is what prompted our discussion in the first part of the podcast.
For more information on Elevation nights, click here.
This episode is co-hosted by NRT's Kevin Davis, author of the Behind The Song series. He has just published #995... we are officially counting down to #1,000! We talk about the countdown, as well as Next Big Thing artists that have come through the series.
Our Next Big thing Artists that talk about and introduce in this episode:
- Riley Clemmons (pictured)
- Ingunn
- Tori Harper
- Kellie and Kristen
- Chris Renzema
- Paradise Now
- Symphony North
- Josh McCabe / Caves
- Neon Feather
- Verses
- MDSN
- William Cata
- Evin and Eris
- Stefanotto
- King Chav
- Josiah Davis
- CJ King
- Kris Noel
- Cutright
In this episode, we are joined by co-host Mary Nikkel, founder of Rock on Purpose. We talk about what's happening in Christian Rock, how it's evolved over the years, and who to be on the lookout for. We also talk about bands playing mainstream shows and having mainstream influence, which Skillet has been doing very well with.
Our guest for this episode is John Cooper of Skillet. We talk about the side projects the members of Skillet have been a part of and how they have influenced Victorious. We chatted for a bit about the posts where John has been tackling tough issues we've been seeing in our culture while staying centered in Christ. Like any good Sci-Fi fan, we had to talk a little Marvel and Star Wars to close it out.
Photo Credit: ©2019 Chris Jackson Photography, Used With Permission
In this episode, host Jake Frederick talks about seasons in our lives. Seasons are a given, whether they're mountains or valleys. We talk about songs that touch on the topic of seasons and how we go through them.
Our guest for this episode is Joshua Brown of Planetshakers. We talk about Planetshakers Church and the annual conferences, the new RAIN album, and awesome trilogies.
In this episode, we are joined by co-host Legin. Legin is the artist behind the NRT Five Minutes promo. We chat about the impact that music has and how Christian music can impact lives. Music is an avenue that opened the doors to starting safe houses in both South Africa and in the US.
Our guest for this episode is Ben Kristijanto from Bread of Stone. We talk about family, setting the bar for artistry as Christians, and how their production company has an impact beyond the music.
In this episode, we are joined by co-host John Tibbs. We chat about John's career as an artist, introduce his new song releasing soon, and life as an Indie artist. We also chat about 'Next Big Thing' artists, both Indie and up and coming artists.
Our combined NBT list:
- Cochren and Co.
- Joel Vaughn
- Danielle Apicella
- Thomas Iannucci
- Cade Thompson
- West of Here
- Saint the Rapping Cop
- Brett Raio
- We The Kingdom
- Allan Scott
- The Nesbitts
- The McClures
- Jervis Cambpell
- Young Oceans
In this episode, we kick off the first annual NRTNow Fantasy Band Draft! We also talk briefly about the recent topic of Christian leaders publicly announcing a departure from their faith. We are joined by Rivers and Robots after a coffee house show.
Links from the episode:
- NRT Podcasts (Link to Overflow: BTM)
- Denton Freedom House
In this episode, we are joined by Seth Mosley from Full Circle Music to co-host our Dove Awards Nomination party. Seth tells us about Full Circle's focus on CCM and also artists that are not traditionally labeled Christian artists. We discuss the CCM industry and how it's changed, and how that reflects in this year's Dove nominations. We then go through this year's nominations, performers, and presenters.
Put on your favorite tux (or shorts!) and join us for this awards party!
Links from this episode:
- Full Circle Music
- Dove Awards
In this episode, we are joined by co-host Caitlin Lassiter. We discuss current news, including the Flame/Katy Perry lawsuit. We also talk about what it means to be encouraging even when the music doesn't necessarily agree with you. We are joined by the band Unspoken.
Links from the Episode:
- Flame/Katy Perry News Article
- It All Matters (Editorial)
In this episode, we talk about members from former bands who have gone onto other successful projects. We also dive behind the scenes of our interviews and listen to some in-the-field recordings.