Introducing Chris McClarney – Chris McClarney

“Chris McClarney is quickly becoming one of the most popular up-and-coming worship artists and songwriters in America today. This young 28-year-old Nashville native has written songs that are already making an impact around the world. Having given birth to the song ‘Your Love Never Fails’, Chris has found himself as songsmith-of-choice for one of the most dynamic movements of the day; the Redding, California-based Jesus Culture. Having adopted this song as the title track of their 2008 album, this army of believers are singing of God’s constancy in the midst of trials that seem to grows larger each and every day.

Introducing Chris McClarney features six songs, five of his powerful modern worship songs together with his rendition of the classic hymn “Blessed Assurance”. If you appreciate worship music with inspiring lyrics sung passionately with excellence, you are going to Love Chris McClarney!” – From Worshiptogether.com

Shining – Neil Greenhaw

“With the release of his newest album, Shining, Neil is living out his passion for leading others to worship to God. Shining has many great songs from honest, reflective songs of worship to energetic anthems of praise. In addition to being a songwriter and independent artist, he also currently serves as a Worship Pastor for Fellowship Bible Church in Northwest Arkansas. His journey began after college where Neil had the privilege of playing electric guitar for various Christian artists such as Joel Engle and The Katinas. He traveled all over the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand but found that those experiences fueled him back to the states to serve the church. Now, Neil still travels throughout the year by leading worship at various conferences, camps, and events.” – neilgreenhaw.com

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The Now and The Not Yet – Jeremy Riddle

The sheer force of Riddle’s sometimes guttural sometimes delicate falsetto pulls you in the moment you first hear The Now and Not Yet. Moments are undeniably Bono-esque (but show me a Christian artist who isn’t at least a little bit Bono) and at other times he channels the vocal style of Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody, but the effect with either intonation is the same: emotionally gripping and filled with an infectious devotion to the Father. One of the highlights of the release is that the sounds are completely distinct from what you hear coming out of Nashville. His musicality has closer ties to the Icelandic instrumental group Sigur Ros with building crescendos and atmospheric tones to create an overall ambiance.

As a sophomore release, The Now and Not Yet builds on the strength of his surprising debut. Of course the reason Riddle has already had such an impact with Christian music listeners is the way his lyrics are crafted with unique poetic twists that are clear symbols of faith but also feel free from the shackles of Christian-ease. Though the major melodic tone is melancholy there is a passionate celebration of redemption, a call for the Church to become the body of Christ, and a joy for the work accomplished on the cross. This is all delivered with a vulnerability, which can be compared to the way Keith Green used to pour out his heart on his CDs. Yes, it’s that powerful.

Review by Worship Leader Magazine

Compassion Art

Creating Freedom From Poverty
Various Artists

CompassionArt is a charity that joins the dots between art and poverty. CompassionArt’s goal is to create Freedom From Poverty by raising money to help breathe life into the poorest communities, restoring hope and igniting justice.

It Started When
Martin Smith (Delirious? frontman) found himself sitting in 5-star hotel rooms, then going to the slums to minister to the poor. The dichotomy of it all hurt him to the core. He decided to give back what he has: a microphone, a platform and the ability to write songs, and asked some of his closest friends to join him and do the same. His friends happened to be among the most well-known and gifted songwriters/artists in Christian music – Paul Baloche, Steven Curtis Chapman, Stu G (Delirious?), Israel Houghton, Tim Hughes, Graham Kendrick, Andy Park, Matt Redman, Martin Smith (Delirious?), Michael W. Smith, Chris Tomlin, Darlene Zschech. Together the group crafted songs to change the world, welcoming the help of some genre defining vocalists to record these songs on – Kirk Franklin, Amy Grant, Joel Houston, Leeland Mooring, Christy Nockels, tobyMac, CeCe Winans.

The end result
A CD/DVD project titled CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty that is determined to engage people everywhere to help end world poverty. Featuring 14 brand new songs from 19 of Christian Music’s most accomplished artists and a 50-minute documentary of the movement, all the proceeds from the songs will directly impact the poorest of the poor around the world.