Accumulating the biggest first-week sales numbers of his history-making career, GRAMMY® winner and multi-platinum recording artist Chris Tomlin’s latest album, Burning Lights, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. With more than 72,000 units sold, Burning Lights marks Tomlin’s first trip to the top of the Billboard 200 and only the fourth time in history that a Christian music album has entered that chart at No. 1. The scans for Burning Lights, released via sixstepsrecords, reflect a 60 percent increase over first-week sales of Tomlin's last studio album, 2011’s And If Our God Is For Us…, which moved 45,000 units.
The success of Burning Lights this past week comes on the heels of an outpouring of acclaim from national media including The New York Times, USA Today and Billboard, among many others. As one of the most acclaimed worship leaders of our time, critics have applauded Burning Lights’ “solid songwriting” and “stirring melodies,” underscoring Tomlin’s efforts of crafting songs for the church that cross cultures and generations. The day of its release (Jan. 8), Burning Lights claimed the No. 1 spot on the iTunes® Christian & Gospel Albums Chart.
The internationally renowned GRAMMY® winner, whose venerable career has yielded widely known worship anthems such as “How Great Is Our God,” “Holy Is the Lord” and “Jesus Messiah,” has given voice to the Church and millions of people around the world as they worship Jesus. Burning Lights was released just days after the conclusion of the Passion 2013 conference in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, where Tomlin lead worship with a generation of 60,000 18-25 year olds from around the world at the significant, four-day gathering. Comprised of 12 tracks produced by Jason Ingram (Tenth Avenue North, Aaron Shust), Ed Cash (Kari Jobe, Matthew West) and Dan Muckala (MercyMe, Brandon Heath) and featuring the powerful first single "Whom Shall I Fear [God Of Angel Armies]” and an all-new studio recording of the radio hit "White Flag," Burning Lights is the follow up to 2011’s Grammy® winner for Best Christian or Gospel Album, And If Our God Is For Us…
A year after celebrating his first Grammy® Award, Tomlin is honored with another nomination and will attend next month's ceremonies in Los Angeles as an eight-time nominee. He is nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music song for "White Flag." Co-written with Jason Ingram, Matt Maher and Matt Redman, the song is from the live album Passion: White Flag but also appears on Burning Lights.
In addition, Burning Lights’ anthemic lead single, “Whom Shall I Fear [God of Angel Armies],” keeps its momentum building toward No. 1 at radio, with it claiming the No. 5 spot at Christian AC Monitored, No. 6 on the National Christian Audience Chart, No. 7 at AC Indicator and No. 16 at Hot AC/CHR this week. In addition to charting in the Top 10 on the National Christian Audience chart, the single garnered over 7.8 million audience impressions this week. "Whom Shall I Fear" also holds steady in the No. 1 spot on the iTunes® Christian & Gospel Songs chart.
Tomlin will launch his nationwide “Burning Lights Tour” beginning February 19 in Charleston, W.V., visiting 34 markets including New York, Seattle and Dallas, before wrapping at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver on May 4. Friend and pastor of Passion City Church/Communicator/Passion founder, Louie Giglio will join Tomlin on the road for select dates, with Sparrow Records' Kari Jobe appearing at all shows. For more information, please visit www.ChrisTomlin.com/tour.
As one of the most acclaimed worship leaders of our time, Chris Tomlin is set to deliver his newest studio set, Burning Lights, on Jan. 8, continuing his efforts of crafting songs for the church that cross cultures and generations.
The internationally renowned Grammy® winner, whose venerable career has yielded widely known worship anthems such as “How Great Is Our God,” “Holy Is the Lord” and “Jesus Messiah,” has given voice to the Church and millions of people around the world as they worship Jesus. Now, Tomlin is set to release his new album, Burning Lights, on the heels of the Passion 2013 conference in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, where he will lead worship with a generation of 18-25 year olds from around the world at the significant, four-day gathering. Comprised of 12 tracks produced by Jason Ingram (Tenth Avenue North, Aaron Shust), Ed Cash (Kari Jobe, Matthew West) and Dan Muckala (MercyMe, Brandon Heath) and featuring the powerful first single "Whom Shall I Fear [God Of Angel Armies]” and an all-new studio recording of the radio hit "White Flag," Burning Lights is the follow up to 2011’s Grammy® winner for Best Christian or Gospel Album, And If Our God Is For Us…
“It’s amazing sitting here thinking that this many years past, this many years on, I’m still making records and still making records that mean something to people—not just doing it just to do it,” says Tomlin. “I feel that it’s a very important responsibility that God’s given me, to write songs for His Church and to give people a voice to worship God, so I take that very seriously. So I’m not just throwing a bunch of songs together to make a new record and hope that it just rides on the wind of what I’ve done in the past. I want it to be the very best thing I've ever done every time.”
Burning Lights’ lead single, "Whom Shall I Fear [God Of Angel Armies],” impacted radio on Sept. 28 and received 30 adds in its first week. Since then, the track has quickly risen to No. 15 at AC Monitored, No. 14 at National Audience, No. 17 at AC Indicator and No. 10 on the Soft AC/INSPO chart, with 5.2 million total audience impressions.
Tomlin will launch his nationwide “Burning Lights Tour” beginning February 19 in Charleston, W.V., visiting 34 markets including New York, Seattle and Dallas, before wrapping at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver on May 4. Friend and pastor of Passion City Church/Communicator/Passion founder, Louie Giglio will join Tomlin on the road for select dates, with Sparrow Records' Kari Jobe appearing at all shows.
Burning Lights Tour
2/19 Charleston, WV - Municipal Auditorium
2/21 New York, NY - Theater at Madison Square Garden*
2/22 Baltimore, MD - First Mariner Arena*
2/23 Pittsburgh, PA - Consol Energy Center*
2/28 Toledo, OH - Huntington Center
3/01 Indianapolis, IN - Bankers Life Field House
3/02 St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center*
3/03 Kansas City, MO - Independence Event Center
3/05 Springfield, IL - Prairie Capital Convention Center
3/06 Jonesboro, AR - ASU Convocation Center
3/07 Springfield, MO - O'Reilly Family Events Center
3/08 Dallas, TX - Verizon Theatre*
3/09 Houston, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion*
3/13 Jacksonville, FL - Veterans Memorial Arena*
3/14 Ft. Myers, FL - Germain Arena*
3/15 West Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Amphitheatre*
3/16 Tampa, FL - USF Sun Dome*
4/11 Cincinnati, OH - Bank of Kentucky Center
4/12 Chicago, IL - Willow Creek Community Church*
4/13 Omaha, NE - Omaha Civic Auditorium
4/14 Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
4/16 Fargo, ND - FargoDome**
4/19 Portland, OR - Theatre of the Clouds at Rose Garden Arena
4/20 Seattle, WA - Key Arena
4/21 Kennewick, WA - Toyota Center
4/23 Boise, ID - Taco Bell Arena
4/25 San Jose, CA - Events Center at San Jose
4/26 Sacramento, CA - UC Davis - The Pavilion at ARC
4/27 Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre*
4/28 Fresno, CA - Save Mart Center
4/30 Las Vegas, NV - Henderson Pavilion
5/01 Phoenix, AZ - Grand Canyon University Arena
5/03 Albuquerque, NM - Santa Ana Star Center
5/04 Denver, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre*
*with Louie Giglio
**Tomlin only
Referred to by Time as "most likely the most often sung artist anywhere," and known for being a songwriter for the generations, sixsteprecords’ Chris Tomlin picked up his first GRAMMY® Award, winning Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for And If Our God Is For Us….
A video of Tomlin's heartfelt acceptance speech can be viewed here:
www.grammy.com/videos/chris-tomlin-wins-best-gospel-album
Tomlin was nominated for three awards, “Best Contemporary Christian Music Album,” “Best Contemporary Christian Music Song” and “Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance,” leading the nominations in categories within the genre. The twice-nominated song “I Lift My Hands,” which was co-written by Louie Giglio and Matt Maher along with Tomlin, is found on the aforementioned GRAMMY® winning And If Our God Is For Us…. This marks six career nominations for the internationally acclaimed worship artist. For additional video coverage of Tomlin's GRAMMY® win, please visit www.grammy.com/videos/chris-tomlin-at-thank-you-cam.
Impacting radio on February 24th, Tomlin is featured on the first single, “White Flag,” from the upcoming album PASSION: White Flag. Recorded live at Passion 2012 and featuring fellow sixstepsrecords artists David Crowder* Band, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels and Kristian Stanfill, along with the voices of more than 42,000 college students at Atlanta's Georgia Dome, PASSION: White Flag will release worldwide on March 13th. White Flag is the follow-up record to Passion: Here For You, which debuted at No. 11 on Billboard’s Top 200 when it released in March 2011 selling over 30,000 units and garnering the No. 1 spot on the Christian Albums Chart.
Known for being a songwriter for the generations, Wednesday night The Recording Academy recognized Chris Tomlin with three GRAMMY ® nominations in the categories of “Best Contemporary Christian Music Album,” “Best Contemporary Christian Music Song” and “Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance.” The twice-nominated song “I Lift My Hands” was co-written by Louie Giglio and Matt Maher along with Tomlin is found on his latest, full-length studio album And If Our God Is For Us… which was also recognized with a nod. This marks six career nominations for the internationally acclaimed worship artist. The 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place live from Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
"Our small family at sixstepsrecords continues to be humbled by the ways God is using Chris and these songs all around the world,” says Shelley Giglio, Chief Strategist for sixstepsrecords / Passion Conferences. “Simply being recognized with these nominations is a huge honor and something for which we are incredibly grateful."
The news of the GRAMMY ® nominations follows the release of How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection on sixstepsrecords. Having recently celebrated his most recent RIAA Gold Certification for his 2009 Christmas recording, Glory In the Highest, bringing his total to one platinum and three gold albums, Tomlin entered the Billboard Top 200 at No. 40 with his latest record. Tomlin's first single from the project, “How Great Is Our God [World Edition]," features the international languages and voices of worship leaders from all over the globe.
Performing in front of sold out crowds everywhere, Tomlin recently finished the fall leg of his “And If Our God Is For Us...” tour in Birmingham, AL. Also featuring Passion visionary and pastor, Louie Giglio, and labelmate, Christy Nockels, this was the follow-up to the very successful spring leg earlier this year.
"How Great Is Our God" continues to be the No. 1 song sung in churches around the world, and in turn, is the fastest rising modern day hymn in CCLI chart history. This week, Chris Tomlin, the voice behind the popular church anthem, released How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection in honor of the song's global impact. The album continues to prove how this acclaimed artist is leading future generations in a new direction of worship.
The 15-track album (track listing below) features seven No. 1 hits, all of which are in CCLI's Top 120 Chart. How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection also includes new renditions of “Forever,” “We Fall Down” and a new version of the title track and fan favorite, “How Great Is Our God [World Edition]" featuring the international languages and voices of worship leaders Tomlin has met all over the globe on Passion world tours. This track is also the project's first single, spinning on over 19 AC stations, currently at No. 28 on the AC Indicator chart.
“I’ve been thinking for a while if I ever did a ‘Best Of’ I’d want it to be called ‘How Great Is Our God’ just because of what that song has done and what that song has become globally,” explains the GRAMMY ® nominated artist. “It just seems to translate universally, as people have picked it up in their own countries and own languages. It’s the most special thing I’ve ever recorded. It gives you a sense that this is the whole world worshipping God.”
Critics are finding themselves amazed as they listen and witness the universal impact these songs have had:
“What can possibly be said about Chris Tomlin to emphasize the impact he’s had on modern worship music, let alone the contemporary church as a whole? Perhaps the most sung artist anywhere on the planet, the singer/songwriter/worship leader’s career crests are aptly summarized on this compilation alongside three equally momentous new cuts, all of which give listeners plenty of reasons to praise.”-CCM Magazine
“This is a nice collection of hits that showcase Tomlin’s acute ability to give voice to this generation of worshippers. For most though, it will be a benchmark reminder of the global influence of music and the unprecedented way God uses those willing to surrender even the simplest of worship songs to Him.”-Crosswalk.com
“How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection clearly illustrates Tomlin’s indelible impact on modern Christian music. Along with his co-writers and band, he has provided an entire generation of believers a platform to worship God.”-The Fish
“Tomlin is literally one of the best, and this essential album collects the best on one disc for our listening, and worshiping enjoyment.”-HollywoodJesus.com
The Billboard Music Award winner will also be featured on ChristianityToday.com next week, along with people from around the globe telling how these songs have impacted their lives. In addition, the December issue of CCM magazine will feature an exclusive interview with Louie Giglio speaking one-on-one with Tomlin, and an upcoming podcast with Relevant magazine will also delve deeper into Tomlin's thoughts about these songs and their undeniable influence on the worldwide church.
Performing in front of sold out crowds everywhere; Tomlin will draw the fall leg of his “And If Our God Is For Us...” tour to a close in Birmingham, AL this weekend. Also featuring Passion visionary and pastor, Louie Giglio, and labelmate, Christy Nockels, this was the follow-up to the very successful spring leg earlier this year.
For more information on Chris Tomlin, please go to www.christomlin.com.
How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection Track Listing:
How Great Is Our God [World Edition]
Our God
Forever (New Recording)
The Wonderful Cross
Famous One
We Fall Down (New Recording)
Indescribable
Holy Is The Lord
Enough
Made To Worship
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
Jesus Messiah
God Of This City
I Will Rise
How Great Is Our God (New Recording)
According to TIME magazine over 40 million people sing the songs of Chris Tomlin each week, suggesting he is “likely the most often sung artist anywhere.” As a result, church congregations worldwide feel a connection with the lyrics and music Tomlin writes. On November 15th, sixstepsrecords will release a collection featuring many of Tomlin's most defining songs to date on How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection.
How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection will feature 14 tracks; seven of which went to #1 at Christian AC Radio, 4 are currently in the Top 10 of most sung songs at Churches, and all 14 songs are in the top 120. Accolades aside, these are songs that not only have defined Tomlin, but have given a voice to the Church and millions of people around the world as they worship Jesus. Most notably, the record will also include new renditions of “Forever,” “We Fall Down” and a new version of the title track and current #1 CCLI song newly entitled “How Great Is Our God (The World Sings)" featuring the voices of influential worship leaders from around the world. For a full track listing see below.
Before the release of his new project, Tomlin will once again unite with friends Louie Giglio and Christy Nockels for the fall leg of his “And If Our God Is For Us…Tour.” Tomlin’s spring leg of the tour drew sold out crowds across the country. The event was in such high demand, second shows were added in Portland, Phoenix and Houston, and seats sold out shortly after they were announced. This season the tour will visit fans in Colorado Springs, Washington D.C., Indianapolis, St. Louis and more. See a full list of tour dates below. Tickets for all dates are currently on-sale now at www.christomlin.com.
Last night in Las Vegas, multi-platinum selling artist Chris Tomlin was named “Top Christian Artist” and his No. 1 hit “Our God” was honored for “Top Christian Song” at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards. The star-studded event was hosted by comedic actor Ken Jeong and broadcast LIVE on ABC.
“Our God,” written by label mate Matt Redman, Jonas Myrin, Chris Tomlin and Jesse Reeves, was first heard on Passion: Awakening and re-recorded for Tomlin’s latest album And If Our God Is For Us... Earlier this year, it was nominated for a GRAMMY ® for “Best Gospel Song” and took home the award for “Worship Song of the Year” and this year’s 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards.
Additionally, Chris Tomlin has partnered with iTunes® for an exclusive premiere of his brand new music video “I Lift My Hands,” the latest single from his seventh record, which is also being featured at a special discounted price of $7.99 for a limited time only.
For more information on Chris Tomlin please visit www.christomlin.com.
Recently nominated for “Christian Artist of the Year” and “Christian Song of the Year” for Billboard’s 2011 Music Awards, on top of his current six Dove Award nominations including Artist of the Year, Chris Tomlin’s And If Our God Is For Us... spring tour pulled in crowds by the thousands resulting in sold out shows all across the country. The tour was in such high demand, production added more show dates in Portland, Phoenix and Houston, and seats sold out shortly after they were announced.
Drawing the largest crowds were in Minneapolis, Houston, Chicago, Baltimore, and Los Angeles, where fans from miles away came to see Tomlin along with his close friends Louie Giglio, Christy Nockels and the critically acclaimed Irish-based band Rend Collective.
“Words can't describe what we saw happen each night of the Chris Tomlin And If Our God Is For Us Tour... with Louie Giglio,” says Dan Fife, concert promoter with Awakening Events. “This was not just another concert, it was a worshipful experience. We know that each night people in every city were ministered to and left transformed. It's an amazing honor for our team to be a part of it.”
After wrapping up a successful tour in Seattle, WA, this week Tomlin will release his second single “I Lift My Hands” from his latest best-selling album And If Our God Is For Us... The song goes for adds today and is the follow-up single to the megahit “I Will Follow.” Tomlin also recently filmed the stirring and hope-filled music video for "I Lift My Hands", which will premiere in May on iTunes ® and GMC.
“This song is a song of hope for people,” says the GRAMMY ® nominated artist. “One of the main phrases of the song is, ‘Let faith arise,’ and I think that is what the song is about - let faith arise in us as we lift our hands to God, as we stretch out our hands to God in hope, as we cry out to Him. I’m so thankful that God would allow us to carry such a powerful song to people.”
This year’s leading Dove nominee is also set to perform “Our God” at the 42nd Annual Dove Awards on Wednesday, April 20 at the Fox Theater in Atlanta. The ceremony will air on Easter Sunday at 7pm EST on GMC.
For more information on Chris Tomlin, please visit www.christomlin.com.
Artists and songwriters including The Beatles, David Bowie, as well as EMI CMG label group's own Chris Tomlin, David Crowder*Band, Audrey Assad and Josh Wilson have donated exclusive personal items and memorabilia to the EMI family’s charity auction to raise funds to help the Red Cross support people affected by last month’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The first phase of the charity auction is in progress and ends on April 15th, with the second phase ending on April 21st.
The latest round of the charity auction, which is one of the biggest in eBay’s history, includes sixstepsrecords' artists Chris Tomlin, who has donated handwritten and autographed lyrics, as well as the David Crowder * Band autographing a Keytar. There are still four days to go until the end of the first phase of the auction, which features a personalized video of Josh Wilson performing one of his songs, and handwritten lyrics on doilies from Audrey Assad. Fellow artists in the first phase and writers include Coldplay, Beastie Boys, Jane Birkin, Depeche Mode, 30 Seconds To Mars, Simple Minds, Alice In Chains, and The Chemical Brothers.
Other items added to the auction today include access to private concert rehearsal by Sting, a limited edition ‘Yellow Submarine’ bicycle issued to mark the re-release of The Beatles’ famous movie, three framed and signed prints of David Gilmour taken in Gdansk, and more than 30 albums individually signed by David Bowie.
Also included in the auction is the MacBook used by David Guetta to create the demos for his hit album ‘One Love’, the hand written lyrics to ‘God Only Knows’ from the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, and one of the four original handmade "Zero" shirts worn by the Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan for the release and tour of ‘Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness’.
All funds raised from the charity auction will be used towards the Japanese Red Cross disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Funds will be used for the on-going provision of immediate relief to support the affected population during their recovery. EMI Group has committed to match all funds raised from the auction up to a maximum of one million euros.
All the items can be viewed at ebay.com/EMIfamily4Japan.
Hailing from Bangor, Northern Ireland, Rend Collective Experiment released its international debut Organic Family Hymnal to widespread critical acclaim. A movement of 20-somethings that began in Ireland and spread across Europe before hitting the Americas has now officially added the U.S. to its groundswell as tens of thousands of worship music fans experience the infectious Rend Collective Experiment on its first U.S. national tour with Chris Tomlin that began Feb. 15 and has already logged 23 sold out events. Wrapping up April 16 in Seattle, WA, the 30-city major market “And If Our God Is For Us…” tour also features Louie Giglio with special guest Christy Nockels.
Charting a unique course, Rend Collective Experiment is a group of friends collectively wondering how to make sense of the conundrum of life, God and community. What Rend Collective Experiment’s members add to the conversation are melodies, harmonic progression and lyrics that are scriptural and contemporary, fresh and ancient. The resulting mix has sparked Rhapsody to name the band among the Top 5 Christian/Gospel artists to watch in 2011 as Gospel Music Channel named Organic Family Hymnal among the “Best Albums of 2010.” Here is what some of those attending the tour have said about the band on its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/rendcollectiveexperiment):
“I totally just saw you guys here in wichita falls, and let me tell you, you guys are one of the greatest christian bands I have ever heard, thanks so much for such an amazing night, you guys are awesome…” - Tyler
“Just saw you guys in Hershey, PA. Thank You so much for blessing us in Worship! Please let me know were I can get a recording of your rendition of ‘Be Thou My Vision.’ Words can not express how my heart was moved that night.” - Randy
“Saw you all for the very first time in Baltimore (3/17) and I must say you all rocked! I cannot wait to get my hands on your cd. Thank you all for a great night of worship!” - Ashley
“I saw you in Cincinnati. You are my new favorite band. Your CD is awesome.” - John
“Awesome job in West Palm Beach last night! That was first time I have ever heard you guys, and I was greatly impressed! I hope that rendition of ‘Be Thou My Vision’ releases soon because I want it!” - Adam
“Went to your concert in Lakeland this past Saturday night with my son and daughter. They really, really enjoyed you. We have been listening to your CD all weekend. God is using you in a mighty way.” - Sandra
“Saw you guys with Chris Tomlin last night in Sarasota/Bradenton. Wow! You guys are awesome. Keep up the great work. We bought your CD on itunes today :)” - Dan
“I heard you guys play for the first time yesterday in Jacksonville, FL and you guys blew me away! It was wonderful! You guys are one of my favorite bands now!” - Nathalie
“Burlington, NC witnessed some authentic, heartfelt 2011-style worship. Our kids are getting it. I just want to encourage you to keep on doing what you're doing - with creativity, power, and passion.” - Ed
“Loved the music tonight at HBC. Your messages about God through your music was incredible. Never heard of you guys till last week. Your one of my favorite bands now. God will use you and your music to touch so many lives.” - Joey
“Saw you at Willow Creek and all our son wanted from our weekend in Schaumburg was a Rend Collective CD. Thanks for making music a teen likes that his parents can like too.” - Steven
“I was blown away from the second you started playing! I was at the concert in Chicago with my family, and we bought your album. We haven't stopped playing it yet...” - Sarah
“TOTALLY telling ALL my friends about you guys....I want them all to hear your music and support your ministry... well, God's ministry :) I was SO blessed by you all, March 5th in Chattanooga.” - Melanie
“Thank you so much for coming to Jonesboro, AR yesterday. Loved the creative worship. It was so impactful.” – Ricki
“I saw you in Madison, WI last night…Such a worshipful experience! I brought several teens that I work with to the concert and some of them were (are) really struggling with personal and family issues. You were a blessing to them.” - Katie
“Your concert was awesome last night in Fort Wayne. Thank you for all do to worship God, and I love your CD, got it last night.” - Drake
“Worshiped with you in Springfield Illinois tonight!! Thanks so much, it was outstanding!!!” - Merriane
Amidst all of the Facebook acclaim, Rend Collective members also took note of the multiple requests for a recording of the song they played live on the tour, “You Are My Vision.” As a result, the band has announced its plans to record and release the song in September. NewReleaseTuesday.com called Rend Collective’s version of the hymn “an amazing performance” as a Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster Sunday News writer said the “group’s altered, powerfully-done version” of the song was one of many highlights during the band’s set. “I am so glad...I was hoping to get a hold of it after hearing you all do it last night in KC!” said Erica, as numerous other Facebook fans responded to the news of the forthcoming single.
Endorsed by Dr. Tony Campolo, Francis Chan and David Crowder, and acclaimed by Worship Leader, CCM, Worship Musician, Indie Vision Music, CBA Retailers + Resources, Crosswalk.com, JesusFreakHideout.com, HollywoodJesus and many more, Rend Collective Experiment is a nod to the places in Scripture where it says to “rend your hearts” and not your garments, a bold call to be genuine. “We’re a ‘collective’ that is not into the celebrity aspect of the worship scene - a bunch of guys and ladies, a body, an experiment in progress,” explains Rend Collective Experiment member Gareth Gilkeson, helping to underscore why the band’s press images do not feature individual faces.
In that ‘collective’ spirit, Rend Collective Experiment recently invited the first 50 people to respond to its newsletter/online invitation to join them for its next video shoot for the song “Come On,” which opens Organic Family Hymnal. Already known for its creative videos, the new addition has been released internationally and can be viewed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SswMKsFaHWE.
For more information on Rend Collective Experiment and Organic Family Hymnal, go to www.rendcollectiveexperiment.com.
Hailing from Bangor, Northern Ireland, Rend Collective Experiment released its international debut Organic Family Hymnal to widespread critical acclaim. The band’s success began at home as a movement of 20-somethings that has now begun to spread across Europe to the Americas and beyond. Rhapsody named the band among the Top 5 Christian/Gospel artists to watch in 2011 as Gospel Music Channel named Organic Family Hymnal among the “Best Albums of 2010.” Catching the attention of modern worship icon Chris Tomlin, the band was invited to join him on his 30-city major market “And If Our God Is For Us…” tour that begins Feb. 15 and features Louie Giglio with special guest Christy Nockels.
The invitation was sparked in part by Tomlin label-mate David Crowder, who added his unmistakable vocals and creativity on the sweeping modern rock textures of the song, “Faithful,” a featured track on Organic Family Hymnal, and especially by Rend Collective Experiment’s highly creative and unusual cover of Chris Tomlin’s “How Great Is Our God.” One of the first bands to record using iPhones solely for instrumentation, more than 292,000 people have viewed this recording at www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaJ4A7mXJH8.
Charting a unique course, Rend Collective Experiment is a group of friends collectively wondering how to make sense of the conundrum of life, God and community. What Rend Collective Experiment’s members add to the conversation are melodies, harmonic progression and lyrics that are scriptural and contemporary, fresh and ancient. The resulting mix has already gathered endorsements from Dr. Tony Campolo, Francis Chan and David Crowder, and acclaim from Worship Leader, CCM, Indie Vision Music, CBA Retailers + Resources, Crosswalk.com, JesusFreakHideout.com, HollywoodJesus and many more. As critics try to explain the fresh sound they are hearing on Rend Collective Experiment’s Organic Family Hymnal, they draw comparisons to a wide variety of musical icons ranging from Sufjan Stevens and Sigur Ros to Elbow and The Flaming Lips to Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Noah and the Whale, Fleet Foxes, Anathallo and The Glorious Unseen.
“Just when I thought worship was getting a little boring, this group comes along with one of the best efforts of the year,” says Gospel Music Channel. “Love the unorthodox songwriting, instrumentation, and their clever music videos are among some of our favorites this year.” (www.watchgmctv.com/news/2010-best-best)
“Words such as ‘poetic,’ ‘artistic creativity’ and ‘indie inclinations’ can send more traditional worshipers running for cover, but I beg of you—stay and hear about this one!” says Foursquare Leader. (www.foursquare.org)
Prior to the tour with Tomlin, Rend Collective Experiment took its modern worship sounds on the road, wrapping up a tour of the UK/Ireland with Francis Chan, and a stint in the US to lead worship with Rob Bell at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, MI Nov. 28. The band also played a Nashville showcase event for industry and media last fall at the Hard Rock Café.
Rend Collective Experiment is a nod to the places in Scripture where it says to “rend your hearts” and not your garments, a bold call to be genuine. “We’re a ‘collective’ that is not into the celebrity aspect of the worship scene - a bunch of guys and ladies, a body, an experiment in progress,” explains Rend Collective Experiment member Gareth Gilkeson, helping to underscore why the band’s images do not feature individual faces.
In that ‘collective’ spirit, Rend Collective Experiment recently invited the first 50 people to respond to its newsletter/online invitation to join them for its next video shoot for the song “Come On My Soul,” which opens Organic Family Hymnal. Already known for its creative videos, the new addition was shot Jan. 15 at Castlewellan Castle in Northern Ireland and will be released soon. Other live and concept videos from the band Include: “Faithful” (www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPmxI8XRTkI), “Movements” (www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCYgQWLO8vY), and “You Bled (Jesus Loves Me)” (www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N3h0BKV6gw).
For more information on Rend Collective Experiment and Organic Family Hymnal, go to www.rendcollectiveexperiment.com.
Nashville, TN…Nov.24, 2010…Multi-platinum selling artist Chris Tomlin’s latest album And If Our God Is For Us...the Grammy® nominees’ seventh studio album, has debuted on the Billboard Top 200 at No. 17, and No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian chart, selling over 45,000 units amidst glowing reviews. Simultaneously, Tomlin's Christmas CD, Glory In The Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship is in the Top 200 as well, at No. 20, giving Tomlin the incredibly rare opportunity to have two projects in the top 20 on the Billboard chart. Glory In The Highest also sits atop Billboard's Overall Catalog chart at No. 1 this week selling over 36,000 units.
Once again Tomlin has engaged critics, as proven by the following reviews:
“The album is permeated with Tomlin's belief that ‘If you really believe in God, you know that everything is possible.’ The track ‘I Will Follow’ reminds us why his songs are the gold standard in the worship world.”-Rhapsody.com
“…this could capture the public consciousness and find Tomlin jockeying for position alongside such million-sellers as Taylor Swift and Cee-Lo Green”-ChristianityToday.com
“There's something admirable about Chris Tomlin's ability to pen so many new songs to move congregations, and no doubt more than a few of these will find themselves rising to the ceilings of mega-churches before long.” -Jesusfreakhideout.com
“With each new album he puts out, Tomlin also unrolls a list of awesome songs of praise and worship, whose sincere lyrics will soon be projected on church walls everywhere. And If Our God is For Us…, his seventh major release is no different, and in fact, I believe even improves on his tried and true formula.” -HollywoodJesus.com
“And If Our God Is For Us...may be the most pop-centered album he’s ever recorded, but these songs reveal Tomlin at his best.”-GMCLife.com
“I Will Follow” pounds with a heavier beat, signifying the heavier, even darker instrumentation to come… Together, it’s completely Tomlin yet remarkably inventive.”-CCM Magazine
In addition to his hit street week sales and rave reviews, Tomlin can also be found in the latest issue of Billboard, on stands now, as well as on CNN.com http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/18/chris-tomlin-tries-to-avoid-status-quo-with-new-cd/, and can be found on the cover of the next issue of CCM’s Digital magazine, available Dec. 1.
Listeners were introduced to And If Our God Is For Us… earlier this fall when his debut single “I Will Follow” impacted radio. Like almost ever other single in his songwriting history, the song has been climbing the charts currently taking the No. 3 spot on AC Indicator, No. 8 AC Monitored and No.10 on the National Christian Audience.
This Christmas season, Tomlin will once again tour Glory In The Highest with Passion Movement and sixstepsrecords' founder Louie Giglio on several dates in December. Following the holiday tour Tomlin will lead thousands of college-aged men and women in worship for Passion’s 2011 conference Jan. 1-4 at the Philips Arena and George World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA. A few months later, Tomlin will then take off for his spring tour accompanied by Louie Giglio, Christy Nockels and others on the And If Our God Is For Us... Tour. For a full list of tour dates please see below.
For more information on Chris Tomlin and for an updated list of tour dates, please visit http://www.christomlin.com and for additional info on Passion 2011, visit http://www.268generation.com.
With nine No. 1 radio singles, three GRAMMY nominations, 16 Dove Awards, a platinum and two gold albums to his credit, Chris Tomlin is among the most well-known and influential artists in contemporary Christian music. On November 16th, on the heels of celebrating the RIAA Gold Status of 2008s HELLO LOVE, Tomlin will deliver his seventh recording for sixstepsrecords, "AND IF OUR GOD IS FOR US... ". The album's first single, "I Will Follow," is already Top 10 on Christian AC.
For the first time in his career, Tomlin recorded at his home base outside Atlanta, where he recently renovated a cabin into a studio next to his house. This made the recording process much more personal for Tomlin as he created eleven worshipful and powerful tracks, once again partnering with the legendary Ed Cash (Matthew West, Bebo Norman, David Crowder*Band) as well as exploring new musical avenues with Dan Muckala (Amy Grant, MercyMe, The Afters).
As many will realize, the title comes from Tomlin's #1 song from the PASSION: AWAKENING live CD, "Our God," and as Tomlin explains, the title is one that wasn't his first choice, but kept coming back to him. "For the longest time I had a different title for the album, but at the end of the day, I really came back to 'And if Our God is for Us.' I just love that statement. It's just so strong. Every night in concert when we get to the part of the song where we sing 'if our God is for us,' it's amazing to see what happens, to see so many people rise up in that statement. If you really believe in God, you know that everything is possible. Anything can happen. Miracles can happen. All things are available to you no matter what you're going through, no matter what you're facing, no matter what is coming against you. Life comes against all of us but you know God is for you. That's straight from the scripture. It's not just my thought. It's not just my idea or opinion. The scripture tell us 'if God is for you then who can be against you.' I love the hope that is in that statement. I think when people see that in the stores and they pick it up or they see it online, hopefully it just instantly takes them to that idea--'God is for me today!'"
sixstepsrecords, EMI Christian Music Group and EMI Christian Music Publishing recently honored Tomlin for HELLO LOVE's Gold certification at his studio in Atlanta and treated select radio, retail and media VIPs to a sneak preview of "AND IF OUR GOD IS FOR US...".
Touring throughout the country this fall, Tomlin will hit numerous U.S. cities with fellow sixstepsrecords' NEW artist Kristian Stanfill and will also play in Vancouver for the Passion World Tour. This Christmas season he will once again tour GLORY IN THE HIGHEST with Passion Movement and sixstepsrecords' founder Louie Giglio on several dates in December, and then in the spring will begin the nationwide "AND IF OUR GOD IS FOR US… Tour," featuring Louie Giglio, Christy Nockels and others. For tour dates and more, please visit http://www.christomlin.com
This summer fans will get to experience a tour line none other when award-winning and platinum-selling artists Chris Tomlin and TobyMac team up to hit arenas and amphitheaters in seven select cities for the HELLO TONIGHT tour. Tickets for many shows are on sale now and can be purchased at the links next to each city below.
With six records, seven No. 1 radio singles, three GRAMMY nominations, 16 Dove Awards, a platinum and gold album to his credit, Chris Tomlin is among the most well-known and influential artists in contemporary Christian music. Referred to by Time Magazine as “the most often sung artist anywhere,” Tomlin additionally has 14 Top 100 CCLI songs with 5 in the top 25. ASCAP’s 2007 Songwriter of the Year, Tomlin’s “How Great Is Our God” was his first No. 1 on the CCLI Top 25. The award-winning song moved to No. 1 after becoming one of the fasting rising modern day hymns in CCLI chart history. Along with his role as worship leader at Passion City Church in Atlanta, GA, Tomlin continues touring and leading at Passion Conference gatherings in the US and worldwide. Tomlin’s latest single, “Our God” from the PASSION: AWAKENING project, is climbing the AC Indicator and Monitored charts quickly, currently at No. 17 and 27 respectively.
"I am so amped up for this summer tour with Toby,” remarked Tomlin. “We have talked about doing something like this for a few years now. I have such great respect and admiration for Toby and what he does. He is completely unique. I can't wait to see how the mix of our music finds its way to people this summer."
With over 10 million in career sales, his first three solo projects receiving RIAA Gold status and GRAMMY® nominations, and TobyMac’s live CD/DVD taking home a GRAMMY® award, the much-celebrated and acclaimed artist recently celebrated his fifth consecutive GRAMMY® nomination with his single “City On Our Knees” receiving a nod for Best Gospel song. The track topped the sales and radio charts faster than any of his previous singles, spending 8 weeks at #1 on the Christian Audience Chart. The single was the first release from TobyMac’s latest, “TONIGHT," which also garnered him the highest sales debut of his solo career with over 78.000 units and a No. 6 Billboard Top 200 debut. Along with sold out tour dates, back-to-back radio hits and being named the GMA Dove Award’s 2008 Artist of the Year, TobyMac’s music has been featured in major motion pictures such as “hancock,” “TRANSPORTER 2,” on Fox sports, The NFL network, 2009 SUPERBOWL and more. TobyMac’s latest radio hit is his new single, “Get Back Up,” currently at No. 7 on CHR, No. 18 on the AC Monitored chart.
“My family plays Tomlin in our house, in our cars, in our music lessons, on our iPods, as we're cleaning the kitchen after meals, at our church, at our school, before we go to bed and backstage in my dressing room.....it's about time we toured together!,” commented TobyMac. “Authentically made to worship, Chris and his band are "the-bomb-dot com" and their vision matches their gifting, it's no wonder it works.”
For more information on the HELLO TONIGHT tour and each artist, please go to: http://www.ChrisTomlin.com and http://www.tobymac.com
Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Chris Tomlin will perform on Fox & Friends’ Primetime Christmas Special scheduled to air Christmas Eve at 8PM (EST) as well as on Christmas Day on The Fox News Channel. For airtimes please visit www.foxnews.com/foxfriends.
Tomlin was interviewed by host Steve Doocey and accompanied by special guests The Watoto Children’s Choir, who were also featured on Tomlin’s 2008 release Hello Love on the song “Love.” The Watoto Children’s Choir is an organization that rescues child soldiers, ministers to orphans, and provides a safe haven for abandoned infants (www.watoto.com).
About the special relationship he has developed with the choir, Tomlin says, “To sing with orphan children who have had the most challenging lives and to support the work of Watoto has been one of my greatest joys in recent years.”
Other celebrity guests appearing on the holiday special include Amy Grant, Andrea Bocelli, Kristin Chenoweth and more.
Tomlin was also recently seen on the 700 Club as he shared about Glory in the Highest and he will be making an additional appearance on their Christmas Eve Special, which will air at 10am (EST). Hosted by Pat Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen and Gordon Robertson with news anchor Lee Webb, The 700 Club is a live television program that airs weekdays before a live studio audience and can be seen in more than 200 countries. For a list of The 700 Club viewing times, please visit http://www.cbn.com/700club/ShowInfo/Schedule/program_air_times.pdf.
In other news, Tomlin’s first Christmas tour Glory In The Highest wrapped on Dec. 19 after a successful run this winter. Tomlin, Louie Giglio and Christy Nockels performed in front of sold out crowds across the U.S. in major markets such as Orlando, Birmingham, Tampa, Washington DC, Atlanta and Los Angeles.
For more information on Chris Tomlin, please visit www.christomlin.com.
October 6, 2009…Nashville, TN… With the release of his first Christmas album, Glory In The Highest, available nationwide today, GRAMMY ® nominee and Dove Award winner Chris Tomlin will embark on his first Christmas tour this December.
The Glory In The Highest Christmas tour will also feature Louie Giglio, Passion Conferences visionary, leader and Passion City Church pastor, along with the vocals of fellow sixstepsrecords’ artist Christy Nockels and new Sparrow Records recording artist Audrey Assad, who are both featured on the new album.
The Glory In The Highest Tour sets in motion on December 2nd in Orlando, FL making its way across the U.S through December 19th in Houston, TX. For more information on the tour please visit http://www.ChrisTomlin.com and for tour dates, please see listing below.
Tour Dates for Chris Tomlin’s “Glory In the Highest Tour”
(dates subject to change)
12/2 - Orlando, FL / Northland Church
12/4 - Birmingham, AL / Church of the Highlands
12/6 - Milwaukee, WI / Oak Creek Assembly
12/7 - Minneapolis, MN / Grace Church
12/8 - Chicago, IL / Life Changers International Church
12/10 - Washington DC / Hylton Memorial Church
12/11 - Virginia Beach, VA / Rock Church International
12/15 - Westlake Village, CA (Los Angeles) / Calvary Community Church
12/17 – Amarillo, TX/Hillside Christian Church
12/18 - Rogers (Bentonville), AR / Pinnacle Hills
12/19 - Houston, TX / Grace Church
September 1, 2009…Nashville, TN… GMA Dove award winning, GRAMMY® nominated and platinum selling artist and worship leader Chris Tomlin will release his first Christmas record, Glory In The Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship with sixstepsrecords on October 6.
Produced by Ed Cash, Glory In The Highest features familiar classics including "Angels We Have Heard On High," "O, Holy Night," "Joy to the World [Unspeakable Joy]," to which Tomlin wrote a new refrain, and four new songs that will be Christmas favorites for years to come. With special guests Matt Redman, Christy Nockels and singer/songwriter, Audrey Assad, the album succeeds in its purpose of transforming familiar carols into songs of worship. Recorded at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville, TN, Tomlin filled the small room, formerly a church, with some of his closest friends, worship leaders and industry leaders including radio programmers and retailers from across the country.
“Christmas is a time when people who may not have sung a song the whole year, or their entire life, begin to sing,” says Tomlin. “There is something about a Christmas song, whether it’s sung at church or heard by carolers on the street, that gets people to join in song. They sing these timeless songs proclaiming that God has come, has entered this world and made a way for us.”
To kick off the holidays, three songs from the album will be released to radio the day after Thanksgiving: “Emmanuel [Hallowed Manger Ground],” “Joy to the World [Unspeakable Joy]” and Audrey Assad’s “Winter Snow” which features Tomlin.
Taken from the singer/songwriter’s fifth album, See the Morning (2006) the title-track, Glory In The Highest reflects the angels’ proclamation to the shepherds, “Glory to God in the highest,” announcing the birth of Christ. Today, thousands of years later, Tomlin wants to join in the celebration as people around the globe continue to proclaim the good news.
Tomlin believes it is the power of God that makes Christmas the one holiday that seems to join the whole world together. “It is the greatest story that has ever existed: the grace of God coming. And no matter where people fall on their views, everybody can come around the idea that something special has happened here, and that is worth singing about.”
Multi-platinum Christian rock band P.O.D., currently on hiatus following a lengthy world tour, will make its 2009 concert debut as part of a 14-act lineup announced today for Disney’s Night of Joy Sept. 11-12 at Walt Disney World Resort. The musically diverse event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park also will feature MercyMe, newsboys, Skillet, Flyleaf, Chris Tomlin, Kutless, Jars of Clay, Grits, Leeland, NEEDTOBREATHE, Superchick, Mandisa and Family Force 5.
Seven acts will perform each evening between 7 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. at stage locations throughout the park. Night of Joy begins after regular park operating hours, with concerts and select park attractions available exclusively for the enjoyment of event ticket holders.
P.O.D. is among four acts new to Night of Joy (along with Grits, NEEDTOBREATHE and Family Force 5), joining a legacy of 134 Christian music acts that have played Night of Joy since 1983. While a Disney “newbie,” the southern California-based band that fuses hard rock with hip-hop, reggae and Latin music is well known in music circles. They’ve been a hit on MTV, won two GMA Dove Awards, been Grammy-nominated, had two platinum-certified albums – one triple platinum – and in past summers played some of the north’s biggest Christian festivals.
But in spring/summer 2009, P.O.D. is chillin’: Vocalist Sonny Sandoval and the rest of the band are home in SoCal enjoying family life following a seven-month world tour that wound up in South America in December, making their Sept. 11 date at Disney P.O.D.’s first gig of the year.
“In the past year we’ve been blessed to play all around the globe but performing at Disney World excites me most of all,” Sandoval said.
The complete Sept. 11 Night of Joy lineup: P.O.D., newsboys, Kutless, Tomlin, NEEDTOBREATHE, Leeland and Superchick.
On Sept. 12, the Studios’ stages will present: Skillet, MercyMe, Jars of Clay, Flyleaf, Family Force 5, Grits and Mandisa.
Eight of the acts are nominated for Gospel Music Association Dove Awards in 2009, topped by Tomlin with seven nominations including artist of the year. Other nominees are Kutless, Leeland, NEEDTOBREATHE, Skillet, MercyMe, Mandisa and Grits.
For Mandisa, Night of Joy will mark her second “guest appearance” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2009. On Feb. 12, she was among an unprecedented gathering of 27 “American Idol” finalists – including the winners from each of the show’s first seven seasons – who participated in a Hollywood gala-style event to premiere “The American Idol Experience.” The new attraction immerses guests in the excitement of the hit TV show “American Idol,” with some guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios auditioning to take the spotlight onstage, while fellow guests cheer them on from the audience and vote for their favorite singer with instant results.
With an innovative ticket – exclusively for groups of 10 or more – that combines a “day” visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios with Night of Joy admission that evening, guests will have a chance to participate in “The American Idol Experience.” And by booking on or before Aug. 12, the Studios day/Night of Joy group ticket costs just $44.95 plus tax (beginning Aug. 13, it costs $49.95).
There’s also a two-day ticket exclusively for groups of 10 or more that combines Night of Joy admission on both evenings (Sept. 11 and Sept. 12) with two “day visits” to the guest’s choice of Walt Disney World theme parks (one per day) on Night of Joy weekend (Sept. 11-13). Booked on/before Aug. 12, that ticket costs just $89.95 plus tax (beginning Aug. 13, it costs $99.95).
Night of Joy tickets for individuals also are available. One-night tickets purchased in advance (up to the day prior to the event) are $49.95 plus tax (on event day, if available, tickets are $54.95). Two-night tickets (providing admission to Night of Joy on both Sept. 11 and 12) are $84.95 plus tax.
All the details about tickets for groups and individuals are available online at www.nightofjoy.com.
One of Christian music’s most recognizable and prolific female voices, Christy Nockels is performing for national audiences on Chris Tomlin’s “Hello Love Tour” her first solo radio single, “Life Light Up.” The song will vie for adds at Christian radio beginning this month and appear on Nockels’ sixstepsrecords debut, Life Light Up, in stores June 2.
Former member of celebrated vocal duo Watermark and perennial Female Vocalist of the Year Dove Award nominee, Oklahoma native Nockels began writing and leading worship music with her husband, Nathan, in 1995. In 1996, Passion founder, Louie Giglio, got a hold of their independent release and invited them to attend the very first Passion Conference in Austin, Texas. They’ve continued leading worship with the Passion movement the past 12 years and recently moved to Atlanta, Ga. to be in the founding family of Passion City Church.
Also recently joining the sixstepsrecords family of artists, Nockels was invited to sing vocals with friend and labelmate Chris Tomlin on his spring 2009 headlining tour, which kicked off January 22nd. The tour has already performed in front of 100,000 people in markets including Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Seattle, Newark, N.J., Baltimore, Philadelphia, Grand Rapids, Mich., and San Antonio.
“Everybody has their favorite singer, and amazingly, I’ve been able to sing with my favorite, Christy Nockels, for more than ten years now,” says labelmate Chris Tomlin. “I’m honored that she’s currently out singing with us on the ‘Hello Love Tour.’ Christy has always been part of the Passion family, and I’m excited she’s making new music with sixsteps. I can’t wait for people to hear and start singing these new songs.”
In addition to accompanying Tomlin on vocals, Nockels is debuting her first radio single, “Life Light Up,” on the tour. The single, which went for ads at Christian radio March 6, is currently available to fans for free download at http://www.christynockels.com. The single will appear on the upcoming full-length release, Life Light Up, produced by husband Nathan Nockels, in stores June 2nd.
“Christy’s heart and voice have been a prominent part of the Passion Movement since our earliest days,” says Louie Giglio, sixstepsrecords founder and director. “Out of that friendship, we could not be more excited about this new chapter in Christy’s life and our opportunity to partner with her as a solo artist. We believe her contribution to the music landscape is unique and much needed.”
For more information on Christy Nockels and to hear songs from her upcoming release, visit http://www.christynockels.com/.
NASHVILLE, TN....2/4/09...Three-time GRAMMY® nominee Chris Tomlin recently kicked off his “HELLO LOVE TOUR” in a big way, performing to over 40,000 fans in just the first 10 dates alone. Also featuring Israel Houghton and New Breed, markets including Baltimore, Newark, Hershey, Grand Rapids and Philadelphia have all reported capacity and/or sold out crowds.
"The Hello Love tour is more than just a show,” remarked Mike Alley, Director of Live Events for WRBS, and the promoter of the sold out Baltimore show. “It is more than just a praise concert. It is a Worship Experience. To look out over almost 8,000 people of every age, color and race singing and sharing together...I believe I glimpsed a small part of what Heaven will look like."
On the heels of his seventh No. 1 single, a new one launching this week ("I Will Rise"), and releasing HELLO LOVE, which took the No. 9 spot on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart and was the highest charting iTunes® debut ever for Christian album, Tomlin launched the tour on January 22nd in Hershey, PA. The tour will hit over 36 cities across the U.S. through April 9th, including Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, AZ, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago and more.
The HELLO LOVE TOUR is also supporting onemillioncan.com, a cause Tomlin is very passionate about, and which says every single one of us really can make a difference. Proof has came from PASSION events where over one million dollars has been raised to dig wells for Kenyan villages, provide life-altering surgeries for children in Afghanistan, and build homes for former child soldiers in Uganda. Throughout the HELLO LOVE TOUR, stories are being be shared about how the organization is continuously impacting lives to help people realize that they can do a lot with just a little.
With the Grand Rapids Press giving the show a 3.5 out of 4 star rating, the audience’s response to Tomlin was recently compared with that of one of the biggest pop acts of the moment by The New York Times, while the Cedar Rapids Gazette remarked how “It’s so easy to see why worship leaders and congregations embrace Tomlin’s music — every song stirs the soul and compels you to sing along.”
The artist Time Magazine calls “the most often sung artist anywhere” is currently performing new songs and past favorites, and while featuring Israel Houghton and New Breed, has also brought Christy Nockels out to be a part of the tour to sing vocals with Tomlin and perform her new single, "Life Light Up" which goes for radio adds on March 6th. One of the most recognizable and noted female voices in Christian music, Nockels has been leading as part of the Passion movement more than ten years. The most recent artist to join the sixstepsrecords' family, her upcoming full-length label debut releases June 2, 2009.
With six records, seven No. 1 radio singles, three GRAMMY nominations, 14 Dove Awards, one platinum and one gold album to his credit, Chris Tomlin is among the most well-known and influential artists in contemporary Christian music. Referred to by Time Magazine as “the most often sung artist anywhere,” Tomlin additionally has 10 Top 100 CCLI songs with 6 in the top 25. ASCAP’s 2007 Songwriter of the Year, Tomlin’s “How Great Is Our God” was his first No. 1 on the CCLI Top 25. The award-winning song moved to No. 1 after becoming one of the fasting rising modern day hymns in CCLI chart history. Tomlin continues to tour many dates every year and plays regularly at Passion Conferences in the States and worldwide.
NASHVILLE, TN....10/1/08...On the heels of his
seventh No. 1 single, releasing his chart-breaking project HELLO LOVE,
which took the No. 9 spot on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart and was the
highest charting iTunes® debut ever for any album in the Christian industry,
Chris Tomlin has announced his ‘HELLO LOVE TOUR,’ featuring Israel Houghton and
New Breed.
“For me, it’s always
been about the relationship between music and the people,” explains Tomlin
about live shows. “What could be better than a tour where you get to
travel from city to city leading people to experience God? It is a
privilege and honor doing it with Israel Houghton. Israel and his band
are incredible musicians who have a passion for worship. In fact, when my
band heard they would tour with us, they said, ‘We need to practice!’ We hope
this tour unites the Church in worship like never before.”
The nationwide tour,
which kicks off on January 22 in Hershey, PA, will hit over 35 cities across
the U.S. through April 9th, including Baltimore, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, AZ,
Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Newark and more. Tickets for shows through
February 6th go on sale today, October 1st, with the remaining cities available
as of December 1st. To purchase tickets online, http://www.christomlin.com.
“On behalf of myself
and the New Breed team, we are beyond excited about being a part of this tour,”
says Houghton. “From the moment we heard about it we knew we wanted to serve
alongside such a gifted worship team as Chris Tomlin and his crew. He has
successfully impacted the Church and the world through his songs and worship,
and it's an honor to join him for the ‘HELLO LOVE TOUR’ in 2009.”
The artist Time
Magazine calls “the most often sung artist anywhere” is currently
performing new songs and past favorites on Passion’s first world tour, recently
returning from South Africa, and scheduled to hit Mexico City, Vancouver,
Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney this fall. For more PASSION World Tour
details please go to www.ChrisTomlin.com.
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) June 18, 2008 –Reigning three-time Gospel Music Association
Male Vocalist of the Year, best-selling worship leader Chris Tomlin releases
his fifth studio project, Hello Love, on Sept. 2. The album’s debut
single “Jesus Messiah,” released June 13, was the most added song on Christian
Adult Contemporary, Christian Hit Radio, and Christian Inspirational radio this
week, receiving 97 total adds, according to Radio & Records.
Following his 2006 RIAA
Gold-certified record, See the Morning, Tomlin’s latest project
communicates what he describes as the “need to introduce ourselves to love
again.” Produced by Ed Cash (Steven Curtis Chapman, Amy Grant, Bebo Norman), Hello
Love endeavors to give voice to the Church to worship their Creator. This
is evident throughout the album on songs like “Love,” “God of This City,”
“Sing, Sing, Sing,” and “I Will Rise” to name a few.
Tomlin explains, “With each
new record, I continue to strive to create songs that will help people voice
their worship to God. Worship is a massive word with a very broad scope, but in
the end, it is very simple. It is love! It’s our response in love to our great
God who loved us first.”
Among those new songs already
connecting with worshippers nationwide, and across the globe as Tomlin is
currently performing them on Passion’s first world tour, is debut radio single
“Jesus Messiah.” Released last Friday, “Jesus Messiah” garnered 97 adds across
three formats this week, marking the biggest ever add date for a single in
Christian Radio history. Early response from radio stations suggests the
song will be long-lived:
“Chris
Tomlin strikes gold again in his beautiful ballad ‘Jesus Messiah.’ Chris seems
unable to pen a bad or even mediocre song. It is simply always spectacular.” –Jon Rivers, music director KLOVE Radio Network
“Chris never disappoints. ‘Jesus Messiah’ is another example of
his deep songs that are easy to sing and still keep the focus on the One who
deserves the glory.” –Jim Beeler, music director, KSBJ-FM
“I knew Chris Tomlin’s new song, ‘Jesus Messiah’ was going to be an ‘add,’ but I’ve run out of
superlatives. It surpassed all our expectations; wow!” –Scott Valentine, program director,
KCMS-FM
“Tomlin
does it again! It’s honest. It’s sincere. It connects. It’s worship not
just for Sundays, but for life lived every day. It’s here, and will be for
years to come!” –Chris Lemke, GM/PD WCSG-FM
“I am
not sure how Chris keeps doing it, but once again we have a song that is going
to be huge! This one is easily on the short list for song of the year already.”
–Jeff Cruz, assistant program director, WPOZ-FM
Grant
Hubbard, vice president of national promotion for EMI CMG Label Group adds,
“Chris Tomlin has once again delivered a song that hits the bull’s eye of
radio’s target. 97 out-of-the-box adds shows the belief and trust that
radio has for Chris.”
President and CEO of EMI CMG,
Bill Hearn also comments, “Chris Tomlin’s songs continue to have a profound
effect on culture through the church worldwide and radio’s overwhelming
response to ‘Jesus Messiah’ is a powerful indication that this new song will
also have tremendous impact. All of us at EMI CMG and sixstepsrecords are
honored to play a role in this history making event and look forward to what we
believe will be one of the biggest albums of the year in all of music.”
Tomlin too is equally excited
about the song’s reception, commenting, “This is crazy! I can’t quite believe
these guys at EMI radio and the phenomenal job they have done to get ‘Jesus
Messiah’ to radio in such a strong and incredible way. I am grateful beyond
words and pray this song resonates with folks as they celebrate Jesus the
Messiah - the One who has come for us.”
The song is having an impact
online as well, ranking No. 1 today on the Christian Top Chart at iTunes. More
information on Chris Tomlin and Hello Love can be found at
christomlin.com and the Passion Conferences home site, 268generation.com.
With six records, six No. 1
radio singles, two GRAMMY nominations, 14 Dove Awards, and two gold albums to
his credit, Chris Tomlin is among the most well-known and influential artists
in contemporary Christian music. Referred to by Time Magazine as “the
most often sung artist anywhere,” Tomlin additionally has 10 Top 100 CCLI songs
with 4 in the top 25. ASCAP’s 2007 Songwriter of the Year, Tomlin’s “How Great
Is Our God” was his first No. 1 on the CCLI Top 25.
The award-winning song moved to No. 1 after becoming one of the fasting rising
modern day hymns in CCLI chart history. Tomlin continues to tour many
dates every year and plays regularly at Passion Conferences in the States and
worldwide.
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) Jan. 22, 2008 –ASCAP Songwriter of the Year and the Gospel Music Association’s reigning Artist of the Year, sixstepsrecords worship leader Chris Tomlin begins 2008 on top with his current project, See The Morning, certified Gold this month by the Recording Industry Association of America. His second consecutive Gold record, See the Morning’s third radio single “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone),” also became the album’s third consecutive No. 1 hit.
With career sales exceeding more than two million units, six No. 1 radio singles, 4 Top 25 CCLI songs, two GRAMMY nominations, 12 Dove Awards, and now two Gold albums to his credit, Chris Tomlin is among the most well-known artist/worship leaders in the world. This month he celebrates the success of his fastest-selling album to date, See the Morning, released Sept. 26, 2006. The record ended 2007 at No. 3 on SoundScan®’s Top Selling Christian/Gospel Albums at Christian Retail year-end chart and was the No. 8 Top Selling Christian/Gospel Album overall. Only weeks later, the CD was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
“It’s no small thing to see this kind of success in a shrinking market, further evidence of God’s favor on Chris’ life and the songs He is birthing through him,” says Louie Giglio, sixstepsrecords founder and director. “The strength of See The Morning, especially on the heels of what we continue to see with Arriving, is incredibly humbling and gratifying to everyone who has worked so hard to help connect Chris’ music with worshipers around the globe.”
“The sales success we have witnessed for See The Morning is something to be grateful for and celebrated,” says President of EMI CMG Label Group, Peter York. “This is yet another milestone in Chris’s ministry that proves his songs continue to impact the global Church. We are truly thankful for our continued role in supporting his music and ministry.”
The project has been widely praised by such noteworthy publications as Time, Billboard, CCM, All Music Guide, Worship Leader and more. The album garnered Tomlin his first and second GRAMMY nominations for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album and Best Gospel Performance for “Made to Worship.” The record also debuted at No. 1 on the SoundScan® compiled Christian retail charts, landed Tomlin his highest Billboard Top 200 position ever at No. 15 with 47,420 units sold in its first week, and was named iTunes’ 2006 “Best Christian Album” of the year. See the Morning additionally boasts accolades including a 2007 Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year, Praise and Worship Album of the Year and Tomlin’s first two GRAMMY nominations for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album and Best Gospel Performance. The record has also yielded the No. 1 Radio & Records Christian Adult Contemporary and Inspirational single “Made To Worship” as well as “How Can I Keep From Singing,” No. 1 on Radio & Records Adult Contemporary Indicator chart.
But the highest-selling single off See the Morning is its latest No. 1 radio song on both the Radio & Records Christian AC Monitored chart and the Mediabase Christian AC chart, “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone).” Tomlin’s version of the traditional hymn includes a new refrain that he wrote with Louie Giglio to be highlighted in last year’s movie Amazing Grace.
Tomlin explains, “When I started doing some research on the most famous hymn, ‘Amazing Grace,” I was surprised that the last verse, ‘When we’ve been there 10,000 years bright shining as the sun,’ was written about 100 years after the original poem. The original last verse by John Newton, ‘The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,’ was this incredible verse that I’d never seen in a hymn book. It made me start thinking about the author, John Newton and where he’d come from. He went from being the former Captain of slave ships to the author of a poem about the grace and salvation of God in his own life. What a great reminder, we’re all made slaves to sin in our life, but God has set us free and His grace is enough for all of us. He has ransomed us from our slavery.”
ASCAP Songwriter of the Year and the Gospel Music Association’s Artist of the Year, worship leader Chris Tomlin extends his highly successful “How Great Is Our God Tour” to include an additional 14 dates this fall. Speaker and author Louie Giglio again joins Tomlin, who will introduce a special tour edition of See The Morning with bonus material on Oct. 23.
Ranked among Pollstar’s Top 100 Worldwide Tours, according to a 2007 mid-year report, the “How Great Is Our God Tour” was one of the hottest tickets last spring, selling out 20 events. Back by popular demand, Tomlin and Giglio reconvened earlier this month for another 14 cities through November. Again, the tour will assemble thousands nationwide, inviting them to experience the greatness of God through its music and message.
Tomlin reflects on this opportunity, “What a joy to be able to tour again this fall with a great friend and gifted speaker, Louie Giglio. I feel like what God has given us the opportunity to do together is a pretty special thing, and we go with huge expectations and excitement. We long to see God do some unbelievable things in our lives and the people who attend this tour.”
As a special offering to fans of the “How Great Is Our God Tour” Tomlin will release a bonus tour edition of his 2006 project, See The Morning, Oct. 23. In addition to the original album, this new package will include a DVD featuring live music videos recorded on tour last spring of “Let God Arise,” “How Can I Keep From Singing,” “How Great Is Our God” as well as Tomlin’s current radio single “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone),” presently at No. 2 on Radio & Records Christian Adult Contemporary Monitored chart. It will also incorporate Giglio’s “How Great Is Our God” tour message, which reminds fellow worshipers that the same God who spoke the universe into existence created each of us and knows our circumstances. The talk reminds listeners that although their life’s journey may be complicated and painful, God promises to preserve and restore us.
With five records, five No. 1 radio singles, two GRAMMY nominations, 12 Dove Awards, and one gold album to his credit, Chris Tomlin is among the most well-known and influential artists in contemporary Christian music. Referred to by Time Magazine as “the most often sung artist anywhere,” Tomlin has 17 Top 500 CCLI songs with five in the top 25. ASCAP’s 2007 Songwriter of the Year, Tomlin’s “How Great Is Our God” was his first No. 1 on the CCLI Top 25. The award- winning song moved to No. 1 after becoming one of the fasting rising modern day hymns in CCLI chart history. Tomlin is also the reigning Gospel Music Association Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year two years running. In 2007 he received nine Dove Award nominations to lead the field of artist nominees for the second consecutive year and was the most honored recipient with six awards.
In addition to serving at Austin Stone Community Church (Austin, TX), the church he co-founded, Tomlin most recently released, See The Morning, in 2006. The project has been widely praised by such noteworthy publications as Billboard, CCM, All Music Guide, Worship Leader and more. The album garnered Tomlin his first and second GRAMMY nominations for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album and Best Gospel Performance for “Made to Worship.” The record also debuted at No. 1 on the SoundScan® compiled Christian retail charts, landed Tomlin his highest Billboard Top 200 position ever at No. 15 with 47,420 units sold in its first week, and was named iTunes’ 2006 “Best Christian Album” of the year. He continues to tour many dates every year and plays regularly at Passion Conferences in the States and worldwide. More information on Chris Tomlin can be found at christomlin.com and the Passion Conferences home site, 268generation.com.
About sixstepsrecords:
Founded in 2000 by Louie Giglio, sixstepsrecords (
www.sixstepsrecords.com) is a worship label and a division of Passion Conferences. sixstepsrecords’ artists include Chris Tomlin (See the Morning), David Crowder Band (Remedy), Charlie Hall (Flying Into Daybreak), Matt Redman (Beautiful News), and Passion (The Best of Passion). The label partners with Sparrow Records/EMI CMG Label Group for A&R, marketing, sales and distribution operations.
“How Great Is Our God Tour” Itinerary
10/06 Nashville, TN Lipscomb University, Allen Arena
10/30 Tucson, AZ University of Arizona, Centennial Hall
11/01 San Diego, CA The Rock Church San Diego
11/02 Santa Barbara, CA Arlington Theatre
11/03 Fresno, CA Warnors Theatre
11/04 Sacramento, CA Memorial Auditorium
11/05 Salt Lake City, UT Abravanel Hall
11/08 Highlands Ranch (Denver), CO Cherry Hills Community Church
11/09 Council Bluffs (Omaha), IA Mid America Center
11/10 Fayetteville, AR University of Arkansas
11/11 Evansville, IN The Centre
11/13 Charlotte, NC Cricket Arena
11/15 Johnson City, TN Freedom Hall Civic Center
Deluxe CD/DVD editions of two current top-selling Christian music releases—Chris Tomlin’s SEE THE MORNING and tobyMac’s PORTABLE SOUNDS—will hit stores nationwide beginning October 23 each with a remarkably low list price of just $14.99.
SEE THE MORNING follows Tomlin’s gold-certified ARRIVING project and features the hits “Made to Worship,” “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone),” and “How Can I Keep from Singing?” The deluxe edition adds a DVD featuring four live performances from the spring 2007 How Great Is Our God Tour (“How Great Is Our God,” “Let God Arise,” “Amazing Grace,” “How Can I Keep from Singing?”) plus an inspiring talk from Passion worship conference founder Louie Giglio.
Upon its original release in September of last year, Amazon.com wrote, “So how does Chris Tomlin follow up his 2006 Artist and Male Vocalist of the Year Dove Awards? Easy . . . he goes out and releases his best work to date with SEE THE MORNING, a superb collection of worship-flavored tracks.”
Tomlin resumes the How Great Is Our God Tour next month. See concert dates here.
PORTABLE SOUNDS follows tobyMac’s gold-certified albums MOMENTUM and WELCOME TO DIVERSE CITY and features the hits “Made to Love,” “Lose My Soul” (featuring Mandisa and Kirk Franklin), “I’m For You,” and “Boomin’.” The deluxe edition adds an hour-long DVD featuring the “Boomin’” music video, live studio performances, and much more.
Upon its original release in February of this year, Amazon.com called tobyMac’s PORTABLE SOUNDS “his most impressive solo effort to date. The musician-producer sounds more confident and comfortable than ever before, deftly mixing elements of rap, rock, pop, R&B, funk, and even a little reggae into a deliciously creative entrée.”
tobyMac kicks off his Portable Sounds Tour on September 20 with special guests BarlowGirl and Thousand Foot Krutch. See and share the concert e-card at
tobyMac.com.
Passion Conferences and sixstepsrecords will present a limited-run, 12-city extension of the How Great Is Our God Tour this fall with award-winning worship songwriter Chris Tomlin and noted author/speaker Louie Giglio. Pre-sale front section tickets are now available exclusively via
ChrisTomlin.com.
The original 32-city tour held in January through March of this year included numerous sellouts and great reviews and fueled a public desire for more events. The fall leg of the How Great Is Our God Tour opens October 6 in Nashville, Tennessee, and is currently scheduled to conclude November 15.
Last December, Tomlin said, “‘How Great Is Our God’ is not just a title of a song, or a name for a tour. Instead the simple phrase ‘sing with me and all will see’ is the heartbeat of the tour—every night, a room filled with people seeing and singing of the greatness of God.”
In March, PARADE called Chris Tomlin the most popular artist in religious music because “he wrote or co-wrote three of the 10 most popular songs sung in churches each week, including ‘How Great Is Our God’—which puts his reach beyond that of most rock stars.” In April, Tomlin won the Gospel Music Association’s Artist and Male Vocalist of the Year awards for the second consecutive year in addition to three other honors. However, his songs such as “Made to Worship” and “Famous One” make it clear that Tomlin’s songs put the spotlight and glory upon God.
Louie Giglio, whose spoken words will complement Tomlin’s music each night on the How Great Is Our God Tour, is the founder of the Passion worship movement. Learn more at
268generation.com.
Passion Conferences and sixstepsrecords will present a limited-run, 12-city extension of the How Great Is Our God Tour this fall with award-winning worship songwriter Chris Tomlin and noted author/speaker Louie Giglio. Pre-sale front section tickets are now available exclusively via ChrisTomlin.com.
The original 32-city tour held in January through March of this year included numerous sellouts and great reviews and fueled a public desire for more events. The fall leg of the How Great Is Our God Tour opens October 6 in Nashville, Tennessee, and is currently scheduled to conclude November 15.
Last December, Tomlin said, “‘How Great Is Our God’ is not just a title of a song, or a name for a tour. Instead the simple phrase ‘sing with me and all will see’ is the heartbeat of the tour—every night, a room filled with people seeing and singing of the greatness of God.”
In March, PARADE called Chris Tomlin the most popular artist in religious music because “he wrote or co-wrote three of the 10 most popular songs sung in churches each week, including ‘How Great Is Our God’—which puts his reach beyond that of most rock stars.” In April, Tomlin won the Gospel Music Association’s Artist and Male Vocalist of the Year awards for the second consecutive year in addition to three other honors. However, his songs such as “Made to Worship” and “Famous One” make it clear that Tomlin’s songs put the spotlight and glory upon God.
Louie Giglio, whose spoken words will complement Tomlin’s music each night on the How Great Is Our God Tour, is the founder of the Passion worship movement. Learn more at 268generation.com.
“Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” —Psalm 30:5
We tremble under the weight of news reports. We shudder as cultural pillars appear to be crumbling. Yet God’s commitment to all life remains unshakable. Rain washes dry roots. The sick experience healing. This is life’s resurrection by the hand of God: dawn always breaks into morning over humanity’s dark night of the soul.
Inspired by the psalmist who describes God’s ongoing work as provoking new beginnings, award-winning singer/songwriter Chris Tomlin releases 'See the Morning'. After 15 years of writing songs for the church, Tomlin’s new 11-track album shows joy remains possible even in the messiness of life. Praise to God is not just for life’s prosperous seasons—it’s a constant way of living with hope.
“See the morning expresses the idea that God’s as faithful as the rising sun,” explains Tomlin. “Though your life may be shifting all around you and it may be dark, there is hope.” Chris cites empowering biblical stories from psalms, exodus, lamentations, joshua, isaiah and some accounts of Jesus’ miracles in the gospels to draw a resolute conclusion. “From these stories I’m inspired to notice morning as an incredible symbol in scripture. Morning is brand new. It’s fresh. It’s new life. That while the darkness came and was for a while, light is breaking through into morning.”
“That’s the hope i want to help people grab with this album,” Tomlin says.
See the morning started to emerge following the far-reaching success of tomlin’s 2004 sixstepsrecords/ sparrow records release arriving. That record delivered a call to the christian church to pursue life-renewing worship, and it indelibly reinforced Tomlin’s distinction as the voice of today’s modern expression of christian worship. The songs breathed vitality into both corporate and devotional worship music, creating a ripple effect like nothing Tomlin had previously experienced.
'Arriving' gave Tomlin his first riaa-certified gold record and made radio history by producing three no. 1 singles and three songs in the r&r ac top 30 simultaneously (two of those in the top 10). Tomlin led all artists this spring with 10 gma music award nominations, capping off the christian music industry’s april ceremony with five statuettes, including standout awards for artist of the year, male vocalist of the year and song of the year. The recording also caused the church to sing, with “how great is our god” and “holy is the lord” landing in the top 15 of the most sung ccli songs, and bringing his total ccli charting songs to 17 being sung by tens of millions of worshipers around the world. This season also successfully perpetuated Tomlin’s celebrated participation in the popular, college-focused passion conferences.
Grateful for these opportunities, the accolades also bring Tomlin the added weight of responsibility and concern for the human condition.
“The more I live, the more I see that life is not fair,” the Austin, Texas-based musician says. “Around the world, I’ve been exposed to much poverty and sickness. I hear about what people are going through, and I realize that some are not as blessed as others. The world is full of discouragement. I think God wants to give us all great compassion for those...so I want to use my voice to write songs that serve as a reminder to people that Jesus’ life provides hope for us all. Not just in the good times, but in the bad times, as well.”
“Hebrews says, ‘therefore through Jesus let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that praise His name and do not forget to do good and serve others, for which such things god is pleased,’” Tomlin continues. “I hope this music serves others. With worship music there is a revival. The spirit of God grows in people’s hearts. To worship Him is not only to sing our hearts out to God but also to love and serve people and to meet people where they are. Hopefully I can give voice to some songs that help people do just that.”
Combining the artist’s strong signature hooks and accessible choruses with the production expertise of the award-winning Ed Cash, who also produced 'Arriving', 'See the Morning' is imbued with a community spirit, as evidenced by the number of contributing songwriters. Tomlin is joined by Cash and Matt Redman in the opening track that anchors the theme of hope, “how can i keep from singing,” a rendition of the 1860 hymn by Robert Lowry:
how can i keep from singing your praise/ how can i ever say enough/ how amazing is your love
how can i keep from shouting your name/ i know i am loved by the king/ and it makes my heart want to sing
Hope also resonates vigorously on “rejoice” (the track from which the album’s title is drawn), as well as on the beautiful first radio single “made to worship.” Producer Cash, who encouraged Tomlin to record what became his first no. 1 radio hit, “indescribable,” brought Tomlin the chorus that he and stephen sharp had written for “made to worship.” Tomlin finished writing the song and audiences nationwide are responding, as it has already become a national radio hit.
The album further features the high-energy “let god arise” as a rowdy, rambunctious track inspired by psalm 68:1 and affirming that death does not get the final word over humanity.
“You cannot play something titled ‘let god arise’ as a ballad at 75 beats a minute,” Tomlin laughs. “We, as a band [Jesse Reeves (bass), Daniel Carson (guitar) and Travis Nunn (drums)] love to play loud and get people going. This is our rock and roll song.” Often testing new songs like that one on the road and in churches before deciding to record them, “everlasting god,” written by Brenton Brown and inspired by isaiah 40, is already a staple chorus at Austin Stone Community Church, which Tomlin co-founded in 2002.
Closing the album is “amazing grace (my chains are gone),” a new rendition of the classic hymn. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to mess with the most recognized hymn ever,” Tomlin admits. But after researching the song, he discovered the famous John Newton hymn has withstood previous editors. Reviving an original verse that had lost popular favor over the years, combined with a new chorus co-written with passion founder/director Louie Giglio, Tomlin rekindles a church standard for a new generation of worshipers.
“my chains are gone/ i’ve been set free/my god, my savior has ransomed me
and like a flood his mercy reigns/ unending love, amazing grace!”
As millions of people around the world are already singing his songs every week at collegiate gatherings, worship services, concert settings and as they sing along with radio, perhaps like the famous hymn from Newton, the songs of Chris Tomlin will live on in the hearts and through the voices of worshipers for generations.
“I want to write songs that last more than a few weeks on the radio,” Tomlin reflects. “I feel like God’s given me a gift to write songs for the average person that help them communicate their feelings to God. And for 'See the Morning', and really all my songs, I hope they will be ones that bring people closer to God, so much so that they are sung long after I’m gone.”
Chris Tomlin, winner of five 2006 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards including Artist of the Year Song of the Year, and Male Vocalist, is back in the studio with his band working on a follow-up to the gold-selling 2004 album, ARRIVING. The set is due in stores this September.
Tomlin is asking fans to pray for him and the band throughout the process—that the music they make will be pleasing to God and encouraging to others. For updates, check out Tomlin’s in-studio blog.
In a recent post, Tomlin wrote, “As many of you know, I have been honored with several awards as of late. I am humbled beyond belief. I heard these words recently from one of Keith Green’s best loved songs. They seemed timely, so I though I would pass them on: ‘I want to take Your word and shine it all around/first help me just to live it Lord/and when I’m doing well help me to never seek a crown/for my reward is giving glory to You.’”
For complete Chris Tomlin information, including summer festival concert dates, ringtones, and more, visit www.ChrisTomlin.com.
The editors of ChristianMusicToday.com completed their extensive recap of 2005 this week, naming Switchfoot and Chris Tomlin as Best Band and Best Solo Artist respectively.
About Switchfoot, the site writes: "After continuing to ride the success of 2003's The Beautiful Letdown, the band released its follow-up, Nothing Is Sound (our choice for best Christian album of 2005), to strong sales and then took the new music out on tour. Based on the quality of their music, stage design, and live performance, Switchfoot had clearly graduated into a first-class rock act that can compete with other heavy hitters in the mainstream, and remain one of Christian music's strongest ambassadors to the world."
Switchfoot will soon launch the second leg of its Nothing Is Sound tour.
In the solo artist category, "It only seemed fair to finally give Chris Tomlin his due . . . as someone who understands how to match a praise-filled lyric with an unforgettable melody or hook. His 2004 release, Arriving, gained even more momentum in the past year, causing at least four new songs to catch on with contemporary worship services. It's his rare balance of worship and artistry that's ensured him as a valuable resource to the church for years to come."
Chris Tomlin begins a new season of the Indescribable Tour with Passion founder Louie Giglio and artist-worshiper Matt Redman this month.
Last year proved to be a breakthrough experience for artist-worshiper, sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records’ Chris Tomlin. Capping the year with his first RIAA Certified Gold sales award for his current, critically acclaimed studio album, Arriving, 2005 also brought Tomlin a series of firsts at radio, retail and on tour.
Released Sept. 21, 2004, Arriving immediately became a top-seller, debuting at No. 39 on the Billboard Top 200. The album hit its stride six months into its release when it re-entered the Billboard Top 200 and landed at No. 1 for the first time on SoundScan's Top Christian Albums retail chart in March 2005. As momentum continued to build for Tomlin, he received his first GMA Music Award for Praise & Worship Album of the Year in April for Arriving, which was also voted best album in the 2005 Christian Retailing Retailers Choice Awards’ Music category in July. Additionally, the album landed among the top five “Best Inspirational Albums of 2005” at iTunes, was named a “best of ‘05” on Napster’s home page and marks the first Gold release for sixstepsrecords.
“All of us at ‘sixsteps’ have been humbled by the favor that seems to be resting on Arriving,” says Louie Giglio, sixstepsrecords founder and popular speaker/author. “We feel like the songs are God's gift for this generation of worshipers, entrusted to us to build up His church. Chris has carried them exceptionally well and God has used both album sales and radio airplay to exponentially broaden their reach to people around the globe.”
“It has been an honor for EMI CMG to partner with sixstepsrecords in the artist development story of Chris Tomlin that has unfolded over the last three years,” says Peter York, EMI CMG Label Group president. “Chris is one of the most prolific and engaging songwriters of the modern church. His music has impacted, encouraged and inspired believers around the world. We look to the future with great anticipation.”
Finding success at retail, Tomlin also became R&R’s most played artist at AC Christian Radio in 2005, while simultaneously capturing No. 1 at Inspirational radio on the year-end charts. Once relegated to Sunday morning radio shows, Tomlin’s “Indescribable,” “Holy Is The Lord,” and “The Way I Was Made” have sparked unprecedented airplay. Tomlin’s fourth single from Arriving, "How Great Is Our God," released to radio Dec. 16 and has already garnered a Worship Leader Praise Award for “Best Praise and Worship Song.”
Wally Decker of Winston Salem's WBFJ-FM remarks on Tomlin's radio success and the depth of the songs on Arriving: “The chart figures speak for themselves, then you realize that perhaps the best song from Arriving is only now making its way to radio, ‘How Great Is Our God.’ The songs we played in 2005 will become the hymns of our generation and the next.”
Tomlin’s songs also translate well live. Leading worship on the All Things New Tour with Steven Curtis Chapman and Casting Crowns that wrapped up last spring, followed by leading music fans during the summer festivals, and recently finishing the fall leg of his Indescribable Tour that saw 17 sold out nights, Chris Tomlin’s touring in 2005 put him in front of well over 500,000 people. After leading 18,000 during the Passion 06 collegiate gathering in Nashville last week, Tomlin continues this month on the Indescribable Tour with Giglio and fellow artist-worshiper and label mate, Matt Redman.
“The Indescribable Tour was just that, indescribable...a powerful night of worship,” says promoter Cliff Reiser, Rush Concerts president. “From the beginning of the concert to the end, it was a truly audience participation event. Chris and Matt both invigorated the audience with all those songs we all sing on Sunday, led by the artists who wrote them. An absolutely mesmerizing presentation by Louie Giglio made the night even more special. Promoter's do not usually see shows...I took the time to see this one. It was a great example of what contemporary Christian concerts can be and the impact they can have.”
The live Chris Tomlin tour experience was captured for the first time this year before a packed Austin Music Hall. The already critically acclaimed recording, Live From Austin Music Hall, released Dec. 26. The album consists of such CCLI chart favorites as “Forever,” “Famous One,” and “Kindness,” as well as a brand new live version of “Indescribable” with Tomlin playing piano.
Tomlin is also featured on the best sellers, Music Inspired By: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, which released Sept. 27, and Passion: How Great Is Our God, which released April 12.
Featured this month for the first time on the cover of CCM magazine, Tomlin is known for writing anthems sung by millions of people each week in churches around the world and has 15 Top 500 CCLI charting songs. Rooted in Passion’s collegiate movement that the New York Times calls “Christian Music’s New Wave,” Tomlin released his first book in February, The Way I Was Made. Additional Chris Tomlin information, tour dates, etc., can be found at www.christomlin.com, as well as at www.sixstepsrecords.com and www.emicmg.com.
Chris Tomlin's new concert disc, Live From Austin Music Hall, has just released to excellent reviews. Media comments suggest the onstage setting brings out the very best in this award-winning artist-worshiper's exceptional song catalog.
CrimsonLight.com says Live From Austin Music Hall is "a wonderful collection representative of Tomlin's signature worship songs . . . he lead(s) us into worship with great talent and great humility . . . (serving) to inspire intimate moments of worship that virtually transport one to stand in awe before the throne of God."
ChristianMusicToday.com declares: "Tomlin caps off his biggest year yet on a high note with the diverse musical stylings of Live From Austin Music Hall . . . Showing a knack for reinvention, Tomlin gives the familiar strains of ‘Forever' a welcome makeover with a few electronic touches . . . And a live CD wouldn't be complete without a guest appearance . . . fellow Texan David Crowder makes a cameo on ‘This Is Our God,' a highlight with a chorus catchy enough to take residence in your cranium for days."
JesusFreakHideout.com notes "the crowd is eagerly into it, worshiping with a fervor that rivals even the band onstage . . . songs like ‘Indescribable' were really meant to be sung by people everywhere, and it's the added dimension of the audience's voices that truly enhances this worship experience."
Live From Austin Music Hall is a specially priced eight-song concert disc featuring the Chris Tomlin worship hits "Indescribable," "Forever," "Kindness," "Unchanging," "On Our Side," "This Is Our God," "How Great Is Our God," and "Famous One." For complete details, just click over to ChrisTomlin.com.
