http://www.cmwired.com Christian Music Interviews, Reviews, Videos, News And Articles From Across The Web. Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:05:31 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Some big news on the Switchfoot MySpace blog. Sony Records and Switchfoot have parted ways and now Switchfoot will go independent. It was also mentioned that a new Switchfoot album will come out in 2008 in support of this new venture. Furthermore, Jon Foreman, lead singer of Switchfoot will release ... http://www.cmwired.com/2007/08/24/news-switchfoot-goes-independent/ Most artists can't wait to give up their day job when they get a record deal. But Casting Crowns frontman Mark Hall isn't your typical artist, and Casting Crowns doesn't operate like the typical platinum-selling act. As the band prepares for the August 28 release of "The Altar and the ... http://www.cmwired.com/2007/08/23/article-casting-crowns-opens-door-to-new-songs/ “John” watched anxiously as his students hungrily devoured meager portions of rice gruel and traditional, plain wheat buns – called “mantou” – during mealtime at his music school in Beijing. A choir comprised of church members throughout the San Francisco Bay Area participate in a concert with musicians from China's ... http://www.cmwired.com/2007/08/23/article-chinas-rising-generation-of-christian-musicians/ Shock-rocker Alice Cooper has a surprise for those who see him only as the man in haunting black eye make-up whose stage show features mock hangings, real snakes and plenty of fake blood. The self-styled "Prince of Darkness" is throwing his energy into building a Christian centre in Phoenix, Arizona ... http://www.cmwired.com/2007/08/23/news-rocks-prince-of-darkness-sets-up-christian-centre/ While we could talk for some time about the sudden rise to popularity of Jeremy Camp as a performer—the string of massive No. 1 hits from his first three studio recordings, the headlining tours, the film soundtracks he's showing up on, the Dove Awards he's garnered, the excitement over his ... http://www.cmwired.com/2007/08/23/article-jeremy-camp-love-beyond-measure/ 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 ... http://www.cmwired.com/2007/08/23/article-artists-in-the-mainstream-preachers-poets-and-prophets-2/ For mainstream rap pioneer Nas, "hip-hop just died this mornin'‚ and she's dead, she's dead." But the truth is, hip-hop is alive and well. At the mainstream level, the genre continues to yield sizable dividends—in 2006, it accounted for 10 percent of all album sales. By comparison, Christian hip-hop is ... http://www.cmwired.com/2007/08/22/article-state-of-hip-hop-rhyme-scene-investigation/ When it comes to talk of Christian artists breaking through the real and perceived barriers that supposedly exist between followers of Jesus and the mainstream marketplace of music and ideas, people will now always mention Relient K. Is Relient K ready for this next step? The band’s three Gold albums, ... http://www.cmwired.com/2007/08/22/article-relient-k-something-so-right-2/ "The entire time we were making Cities I couldn't stop thinking about how excited I was for the world to hear it," says producer Aaron Sprinkle (MxPx, Hawk Nelson). The world indeed. Sprinkle's recent collaboration with Winter Haven, Florida's Anberlin has resulted in one of this year's first breakout albums. ... http://www.cmwired.com/2007/08/22/article-anberlin-bright-lights-big-city/ Two years ago, I landed on the cover of CCM for the first time by myself. I wore a dress "borrowed" from Neiman Marcus, that I'm pretty sure cost three times my current monthly mortgage. To put it simply, it was the quintessential Cinderella dress. It was everything I've dreamt ... http://www.cmwired.com/2007/08/22/article-image-authenticity-by-nichole-nordeman/ “Someone once said, ‘Songs of devotion spring from a life of devotion.’ This couldn’t be more true than for Matt Redman,” fellow worship artist Tim Hughes tells CCM. “The depth and impact of his many songs flow from a life lived centered around Christ. Matt is a passionate worshipper whose ... http://www.cmwired.com/2007/08/22/article-matt-redman-the-beautiful-news-about-worship/ Yes, Mat Kearney’s a major talent. Yes, he’s a hard worker. Yes, he’s a follower of Christ. All that and an enigma to boot. Driving across Indianapolis through rainy late afternoon puddles, on the Tuesday of Holy Week, just prior to Easter, it wasn’t a huge surprise to hear Mat ... http://www.cmwired.com/2007/08/22/article-mat-kearney-nothing-left-to-prove/ After making its national debut five years ago, the rock act 12 Stones quickly compiled quite the resume: Opening for Creed, headlining 2004’s “See Spot Rock Tour” (that had Skillet, Pillar and GRITS on the undercard) and being a featured artist at Creation and other major festivals. The band’s front ... http://www.cmwired.com/2007/08/22/article-12-stones-american-anthem/ When Underoath's second vocalist/drummer spends his down time making a solo pop/rock record, then forms another band to play live, he ends up with two extremely successful acts on his hands. “It’s such a cool feeling being on stage and playing ‘Amazing Because It Is,’ and there’s 600 to a ... http://www.cmwired.com/2007/08/22/interview-the-almost-almost-time/ While in sunny California, ccmBuzz caught up with rockers, Kutless. Currently on the road with the newsboys and Stellar Kart, the guys are finishing up with the GO tour while preparing for a trip to Europe. As summer approaches, the band readies summer festivals and has just signed on for ... http://www.cmwired.com/2007/08/22/interview-on-the-go-with-kutless/ ccmBuzz had the pleasure of speaking with Story Side B lead singer Lucio “Lu” Rubino! Read on to find out about their influences, how they’ve grown in such a short amount of time, and their future tour plans! And don’t forget to pick up their sophomore album, We Are Not ... http://www.cmwired.com/2007/08/22/interview-storyside-b-is-not-alone/ ccmBuzz had the pleasure of talking with Ruth lead singer, Dustin Ruth. Learn about the origin of the band's name (it's not what you think, I promise!), what he learned while living on his own, and what he hopes new fans will take away from their show. [...read more] http://www.cmwired.com/2007/08/21/interview-ruth-finds-dream-into-the-industry/ Dressed in the clothes of teenage rebellion but preaching God's word, Christian rock is on the warpath in America. Martin Hodgson reports. Night has fallen, and a full moon is rising above the treeline as a five-piece band called Flyleaf launch into their set at Cornerstone, a Christian rock festival ... http://www.cmwired.com/2007/08/21/article-o-come-all-ye-faithful/ In 1993, a little song about heaven made Audio Adrenaline a household name in Christian music. "Come and go with me to my Father’s house" Yet at a peak in their career, Audio Adrenaline, known to their fans as Audio A, decided it was time to say goodbye. The decision ... http://www.cmwired.com/2007/08/21/article-audio-adrenaline-goodbye-old-friends/ Joining the company of artists such as James Blunt, Keith Urban and Kelly Clarkson last year at mainstream Adult Contemporary radio with his first Top 10 single (“When Did You Fall In Love With Me”), Chris Rice continues to head in a fresh direction with his upcoming studio release, What ... http://www.cmwired.com/2007/08/21/article-chris-rice-discovers-what-a-heart-is-beating-for/