Song of the Week | Chris Tomlin 'Everlasting God (Strength Will Rise)'

This week's song of the week is for my wife. Everyone struggles at some point in their life, but you need to know that God is watching over you, guiding you and never putting you through anything that you cannot cope with. We are all human, we have faults, weaknesses, time of trouble, but it's our faith in the Lord that keeps us standing, keeps us strong.

Everlasting!

Song of the Week | Philippa Hannah 'Work In Progress'

None of us is perfect, our lives do go off on a tangent sometimes and we put ourselves first more often than we perhaps should, but we are all a work in progress...

Song of the Week | Building 429 'Listen To The Sound'

With a name that comes from Ephesians 4:29, Building 429 bring as much message as they do music. With a Dove Award for Best Newcomer under their belts and tours with Jeremy Camp & Casting Crowns, Building 429 might just be your new favourite band. This song is currently cemented in the Christian Billboard charts and I really hope you enjoy it!

World Fair Trade Day

Today is World Fair Trade Day. Support it, live it, not just today, but every day. Buy fair trade, be fair trade! Think about, believe in and pray for those who are affected when things are not fair trader, when they are at the wrong end of the deal and struggle with their homes, businesses and lives.


Find out more here.


Paolo Nutini teamed up with Cadbury for Fair Trade Fortnight last year and released this song which I love:







There was another song I wanted to share with you by Get Cape Wear Cape Fly. It's called Open Your Eyes but I can't find it anywhere for you to listen to online. So instead here are the lyrics, very appropriate for World Fair Trade Day, and if you can find it anywhere yourself, enjoy listening to it!


You say it's fair, a labour source for the masses,
providing cheap garments we can sell and brand,
as a new and hopeful answer to an existence so bland.
Open your eyes, as you don't need to buy.
You do not have to be a coat hanger for a corporation in a market that's lost the plot.
You decide if it's worth having their blood on your hands just to weat the latest Nikes.
Open your eyes, as you don't need to buy.
If I had a cape, that made me dissapear,
I'd fly around the world foro days just so I could hear,
the rich count their dimes whilst the Africans cry,
andn record it on a tape and stream it high across the sky.
Open your eyes, as you don't need to buy it

Song of the Week | Casting Crown 'Until The World World Hears'

I was watching the BBC's Big Questions yesterday morning and the subject was whether the Bible is relevant today. There were those defending the Bible and those attacking it. I think this song sums it up for those of us who believe!

(excuse the on screen subtitles)

Lyrics

You guys obviously know that I post a Christian song of the week every Monday for you to get you teeth into for seven days. I love doing this and it's brilliant way of getting involved with different Christian artists and bands but I hear lots of other inspirational songs, often from secular mainstream bands (even though my MercyMe & Sanctus Real albums have just turned up from America so i'll have those on most of the day! :))


So...


I'm going to start posting at random song lyrics from various songs that speak to me, and hopefully will speak to you too.


Embrace these words today...


You are not your job, and you are not the clothes you wear, you are the words that leave your mouth so speak up, speak up loud...

Above The Golden State Interview

Hello Michael from Above The Golden State. How are you doing? Where are you currently?

Hello Friends! We're all doing great. I am in Bend, Oregon while Jordon is in Portland and Kyle in Colorado Springs, CO.

How’s 2011 going thus far?

Very good! We're all back in school studying at different University's.

If people don’t know Above The Golden State, how would you describe yourself?

People who love Jesus, life and music (music- specifically to share the first two things).

How did the band come together?

I made them come together. Haha!  But seriously, I hired Jordon and Kyle to play with ATGS when we wanted to launch a more "touring" oriented band.

Where did the name come from?

A long list of band names that weren't as good... or were already taken by random myspace bands. Myspace... pfff! What a joke!

When did you give your life to God and what made your life turn in God’s direction?

I did in Middle School but got more serious about living the Way of Jesus in college.

Your self titled debut album was released in 2008. How successful would you say it was and how would you define success?

Haha! That's a "well-worded" question. I would quote Martin Smith (Delirious?) on the measure of success but I don't have his book around because I'm making my friend read it. All in all, from the responses we encountered I believe the album was a success! We knew before we signed our record deal that the music we made wasn't necessarily the "christian industry" norm and therefore any amount of response and recognition was good. Yes, it was NOT a top seller by any means but I still hear amazing stories from people's lives about what God did using those songs and that was my prayer going into it.

Your single 'Sound Of Your Name' was included in the WOW Hits album of 2009. How did it feel to be alongside the likes of Casting Crowns, MercyMe & Steven Curtis Chapman?

Great... but also a little embarrassing too! Living in Portland we don't EVER listen to that kind of music. We're more interested in the new Strokes album. Don't get me wrong though, I rejoice in the ministry and effectiveness of those other artist.

What is your favourite track? Which did you most enjoy playing live?


"I'll Love You So" is still my favorite. "Streets" always felt better live... maybe not for the audience though, haha!

Back to your roots, how did you first come to music?


Mmmm, Green Day, Everclear, Weezer, Nirvana and Offspring we're a big help. Those bands made playing guitar really fun... and easy. haha!

Where do you find influences?


From everything! I love the craft of song writing as well as just flat out weird music. I think as music progresses with weird productions, melodies and rhythms it provides us song writers to re-create the craft and sing "well known" truths of God with new expressions.

How do you write music, how does the process work?

Most of the time it's in front of my computer with a lyrical idea or melody that has inspired me in the recent week or month. I use my voice recorder on my iPhone a lot so I can remember all the little ideas and melodies that come to me. This way I can be anywhere, in my car, at church or reading late at night and I won't forget what idea I had. God can inspire us at any given time in the day... and there's not always a guitar or piano around... or hours in the day to write a song.

Who would you love to perform with, past or present?


Paul McCartney and/or my Fiance, Monica Haha! She doesn't sing much with me, it's not really her thing but I know she has a great voice because in the car she can do amazing impressions of other singers... anything form Brittany Spears to Sugarland.

What artists have you most loved sharing a stage with?


Starfield, Phil Wickham and The Supertones. 

What are you currently listening to on your mp3 player?


New albums from The Strokes, Elbow, The Boxer Rebellion, Radiohead, Augustana and Thad Cockrell- you'll like Thad if you haven't heard of him.

Who do you think is going to sum up the sound of 2011?


Probably something I won't like... unless the new Death Cab For Cutie album is amazing.

What message do you want to give through your music?

Depends on what music I'm writing... but most the time I want to share about the life and love we all have in Jesus.

God's Earth is a huge place, where have you most enjoyed visiting, what cultures have you embraced?


I love our city of Portland with all it's culture and beauty. If you haven't seen the comedyPortlandia, it isn't really a stretch of the imagination... we're that messed up! Haha, and it's awesome. God is moving in this crazy city of ours. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else... but since you asked:
I love Europe... probably for the things that they would think are boring and old but I love it. Hawaii has never let me down either.

Best live performance you’ve played?

Hume Lake Camp this summer. We were their for 10 weeks long with a new group of 1000+ kids each week. There's been nothing better than leading people in worship and than having a concert with no façade or pressure to do any other thing but have fun and sing about the life & love of Jesus. That's who we are and what we're all about.

What do you miss the most when you’re on the road touring?


Good food and coffee!  I fixed both of those as I got better at touring. I brought local Stumptown coffee beans from Portland with a french press as well as a cooler full of yogurt and granola. And you'd think I'm joking, Haha!

How has the Christian music scene changed since you've been part of it?


Amongst the Christian bands and record labels they're all struggling to make money. It's become less about what God is doing and more about taking advantage of 40 year old mom's emotions. I believe things are changing and that there's a LOT of great inspired music out there that God will use for His church (all ages) regardless of radio play, CCLI and distribution.

How does it feel to be in a position to inspire so many people, including young people to turn their lives to Christ?


It's awesome! I don't really think about as often as I probably should... but it's definitely why I do what I'm doing every day.

If Above The Golden State was a Jelly Bean, what colour and flavour would you be and why?


It's a sad day if Jelly Bean makes an ATGS flavored bean! I think we'd be plaid and taste like a well roasted coffee bean.

Some quick fire questions:

Tea or coffee?


Both. Tea's good on the vocal chords.

Summer or winter?

Both. But seriously, you gotta learn to love all the seasons.

Superman or Batman?


I lean towards Batman.

Mac or PC?


Mac duh!

Bread or Wine?


Is this a trick question... as in, how do I go about remembering the Lord's supper?

Favourite passage from the Bible?


I've always loved 1st Cor. 13

You released an EP, 'The Golden Rule' last year and a single has already been taken from it called 'I Am Loved'. Will you be releasing anything else from 'The Golden Rule'?


Well, to be honest the Sparrow (the record label) controls that... so no probably.

What’s coming up in 2011 and next on the agenda for Above The Golden State, when should we expect a new album?


We've got a lot of songs I'm really excited about. I hope we'll have something out before next year. If anxious to hear something, I did a side project call "Strangers & Pilgrims" that you can listen to for free at http://www.ajesuschurch.org/Music
You might like the songs "When All I Have Is You" or "Overdue".

And finally, how would you describe the love of God for all those people who are unsure of their direction and of course those already on their journey with Christ?


Gods LOVE is a perfect balance of Mercy AND Truth... it's very, VERY different then what the world portrays to us through relationships on TV and in magazines. Don't' be fooled! Ask God to show you what this means search the scriptures and find a church community that does the same.

Thanks guys, have a blessed day!


Thank you!

Song of the Week | Above The Golden State 'I'll Love You So'

We just got our interview with Above The Golden State back and reading it through the below song is Michael from the band's favourite. So here to you...a nice prequel, a taster if you will to the interview coming live tomorrow!