You may remember Something Like Silas, the modern worship group who debuted on Sparrow Records a few years ago. After a restructuring of members and goals, the group has re-emerged as Future of Forestry, a modern rock group that merges artistry with an attitude of worship.

Recently the band released Twilight, their debut as Future of Forestry on the young label imprint, Credential Recordings and CMCentral’s brenten gilbert caught up with Eric Owyoung to discuss the new album, nature vs. technology and the direction that the band expects to take in the coming days. […read more]

Blessed Be Your Name, In the land that is plentiful, Where Your streams of abundance flow, Blessed be Your name. Familiar with these lyrics? Of course you are. Not only was “Blessed Be Your Name” named Worship Song of the Year at the 2005 GMA (Gospel Music Association) Music Awards, but it was recorded by gospel legends Michael W Smith, Newsboys, and Rebecca St James. The impact of the song has brought thousands to worship and to experience the powerful presence of God, and has been sung all around the world. So who is the original, creative force behind this song? Sitting casually in a chair in down-to-earth attire last week was Matt Redman, the humble British worship leader and the man behind one of praise and worship’s most famous songs. […read more]

The Christian music genre is booming, and Chris Tomlin is at the top of that boom. In 2006, he received two Dove Awards — including male vocalist of the year — from the Gospel Music Association. This year, he’s up for two Grammy Awards, including best pop/contemporary gospel album. Tomlin crafts songs — with hints of country and rock — that he says are bigger than he is, that help people connect to God. […read more]

C.S. Lewis, who authored such classics as The Chronicles of Narnia and Mere Christianity, once wrote, “What we want is not more little books about Christianity, but more little books by Christians on other subjects—with their Christianity latent” (God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics). Though the legendary apologist was referring specifically to books, the principle behind his comments may be applied to the realm of Christian music, and Christians in music. […read more]

In one of the most painfully truthful interviews ever given by a Christian music artist, one-time member of the Newsboys JOHN JAMES spoke in depth to Mike Rimmer. It’s 1997 at the Sheffield Arena and the second (and last) Alliance Festival is in full flow bringing together a mixture of British and American acts. For a journalist like myself, it’s an ideal opportunity to meet and interview a pile of bands and I’m wandering around the backstage area in the afternoon before the gig while the bands are soundchecking. PFR, Iona, dba, The Worldwide Message Tribe and Martyn Joseph are all there waiting for their moment to set up and over in a corner are The Newsboys. Their singer John James is sat on a chair joking with his band mates when I dare to interrupt them. “Excuse me, are you John James,” I ask politely. “Who wants to know?” comes the growled response. […read more]

Goodbye Old-Fashioned Revival Hour. Hello ’safe for the whole family.’ Meet the company that’s transforming Christian radio. Forty years ago, Ardmore, Tennessee’s Christian radio station would have been typical. Purchased by a neighborhood pastor, it aired church services during blocks of time the congregation could afford and Southern gospel music the rest of the week. As Christian Radio author Bob Lochte recalls, the few advertisements it garnered were from area businesses like the local Goodyear Tires outlet.

Locally owned and operated, such stations provided a modest service to their communities. But rarely, if ever, did they draw in large numbers of people or make a significant profit. Most struggled simply to remain on-air. […read more]

Flicker Records announces the formation of the label’s official Podcast on iTunes.  The Flicker Podcast will feature exclusive interviews with the labels’ artists as well as all access music previews, tour information and an in-depth, candid look into the lives of the bands. 

Debuting the Flicker Podcast, NEVERTHELESS talks with Troy Vest, VP Marketing and Artist Development for Flicker, and updates the fans on what has happened with the band since their acclaimed debut in 2006 (“Live Like We’re Alive”).  They chat it up about everything from the making of their music video “The Real” to talking about recording their project in Florida with famed producer James Paul Wisner (Underoath, Dashboard Confessional).

To be in the know with the rock artists, subscribe to the free, informative Flicker Podcast on iTunes or visit the Flicker Website.

This year, Flicker Records is preparing for the highly anticipated releases from new bands Wavorly and Until June as well as follow-up projects from fan favorites Kids In The Way, Flatfoot 56, and eleventyseven.  Stay tuned for more information on these 2007 releases. 

Flicker Records is based in Franklin, Tenn. It exists to foster the development of new artists and their respective music careers and make really loud rock music. Flicker’s roster currently includes Pillar, Fireflight, NEVERTHELESS, eleventyseven, Kids in the Way, Flatfoot 56, Until June and Wavorly. To learn more about Flicker Records and its artists, go online to: www.flickerrecords.com.

Mandisa, a standout top ten finalist on the fifth season of American Idol, will release her debut album via EMI/Sparrow Records in May 2007. Produced by Shaun Shankel (Destiny’s Child), Doubledutch (tobyMac), and others, the set will reflect Mandisa’s personal struggles, joys, and her passionate faith. A powerhouse vocalist, Mandisa quickly impressed American Idol superstar guest coach Barry Manilow in an early 2006 episode. “I’m such a fan already,” Manilow said. “Mandisa is one of those girls that has range; she can sing from bottom to top without any trouble. She’s one of a kind.” […read more] 

The name Bride is quite well known among those who have paid attention to Christian Rock over the years. In fact, the band began twenty-four years ago (twenty-one as “Bride”) when brothers Dale and Troy Thompson teamed up to share the Gospel message with a metal slant. Through the years, the group has released over twenty albums and maintained a level of integrity and respect within the Christian market.

However, the last few years has seen the group take a lower profile as they’ve toured less and gone the independent rout with their most recent releases. But with a new album, Skin for Skin, a solid presence online, and a growing fanbase, the group seems poised to make another run. CMCentral’s brenten gilbert recently caught up with Dale for an eye-opening interview that touched on the new album, the future of Bride, the war on terror, and a possible Presidential bid. […read more]

For the music industry, it’s a good time to be in the God business. With each passing year, the hand-wringing over the downturn in record sales becomes a little more desperate. But one genre continues to experience steady growth: gospel and Christian music.

In July, the Gospel Music Association — which tracks artists who express Christian ideals in their music and hands out the Dove Awards, gospel’s Grammy equivalent — reported that sales were up a hallelujah-inducing 11.6 percent over last year. Consumers aren’t the only ones who have increasingly embraced a gospel message in recent years. It’s become a growing trend for mainstream artists known strictly for secular music to release gospel albums. […read more]

If you’ve ever been caged by a stereotype, you know what it feels like to have people judge you based on their perception of the faults of someone with your same profession, appearance or religion. This is exactly the kind of judgment that has fallen on the Christian and faith-based Rap music.

I’ll admit to not being a fan of mainstream Rap music. I understand that Rap has a history of negative images, perverted behavior and explicit lyrics. As difficult as it is to turn a negative into a positive, there are Rap artists trying to do that with their music and how it plays into their faith in God. […read more]

“Beyond Measure,” the title track of Jeremy Camp’s new album, is an anthem about recognizing life’s joy, and this Christian pop star has taken the message to heart in approaching his current tour. Camp is filled with new energy and appreciation for his job. “When you get into a position you’ve never been in before, where you’re playing for thousands of people and ministering to thousands of people, it demands something,” he says by phone from a Tennessee tour stop. “You have to learn and grow with situations that you’ve never dealt with. […read more]

There will be no ’idol worship’ on the first season of a new Christian reality TV show. But there will be 16,000 contestants, 8 finalists, 3 judges, and 1 winner. That’s the recipe for a new Christian reality TV show called ’Gifted’ to air this week on Trinity Broadcasting Network. The show will be hosted and feature performances by Brian Littrell, member of the multi-platinum selling pop group Backstreet Boys, and now also recognized in his own right as a successful solo artist in the Christian music genre. […read more]

John W. Styll, president of the Gospel Music Association (GMA), recently announced the hiring of Steve Brallier as the new Executive Director of the GMA Foundation. As executive director, Brallier will be in charge of raising funds for the future GMA Hall of Fame to be built in Nashville as well as overseeing the building after its construction. “[Brallier] comes to this position with the perfect blend of music industry experience, sales and development skills and Music City relationships,” noted Styll. […read more]

Don’t call local rock band The Spring a Christian band. They’d rather be known as a group of guys who perform positive music who happen to be Christians. It may seem like an unnecessary distinction, but whether a band is Christian has become a hot-button topic in a country increasingly polarized by religion. Many bands fear the ramifications of the C-word. They worry that it immediately turns off non-Christians and brings unwanted scrutiny from both sides, said Ace McKay, program director for Christian radio station 88.1 WAY-FM in Huntsville. […read more]

Prosecutors are asking for an 18-24-month federal prison sentence for Grammy-Awarding winning Christian performer Phil Driscoll at his sentencing on Thursday for income tax evasion. Paula Junghans, his Washington, D.C., attorney, is asking for a lighter term. She said in a 30-page sentencing memorandum, “A sentence ’sufficient but not greater than necessary’ to satisfy the purposes of sentencing in the case would permit Mr. Driscoll the opportunity to rebuild his ministry, satisfy his tax obligations, support his family, and continue the good he has done for so long.” […read more]

There is no greater thrill than receiving a Grammy nomination for your major label debut. However, newcomer Ayiesha Woods sings for more than just the accolades. CBN: I’ve been reading about you. Your critics are saying: “She has rich vocals and thought-provoking lyrics…” “She is hands-down the best new artist in Christian music this year.” MTV.com’s new URGE service picked you in their Top 10 year-end list for inspirational music. Ayiesha Woods: MTV? Wow! That’s exciting! […read more]

Featuring Music From Future Of Forestry, The Brother’s Martin and Beverly Mitchell along with music from the new collections ”X Worship 2007,” “Amazing Grace” and “Worship Together Favorites”
It’s time to get to the first new releases from 2007. We start this week’s update with the new X Worship 2007 collection featuring hits from Hawk Nelson, Seventh Day Slumber and the new group This Beautiful Republic. We also hear new music from Jeremy Camp, Adie, Steven Curtis Chapman and Shawn McDonald from the Music Inspired By The Motion Picture Amazing Grace project. We wrap up our preview of this week’s new compilation albums with music from Worship Together Favorites.

A couple debuts are hitting stores this week and we preview new releases from Future Of Forestry along with The Brother’s Martin. We also preview the new album from Beverly Mitchell from the hit show, 7th Heaven.

Finally, this week we debut a brand new segment on the New Christian Music PodCast. NRT site founder Kevin McNeese introduces the New Music News Update, two minutes of the latest headlines that you can’t miss. […listen now]