Critically-acclaimed songstress Christy Nockels recently celebrated her best street week to date with her new album Into the Glorious, which debuted at No. 2 on the Christian Soundscan and iTunes® Christian & Gospel charts last week. The album scanned nearly 7000 copies, a 75% increase over her last album, Life Light Up’s debut. The album’s lead single, “Ever Lifting,” is continuing to impact radio, currently No. 29 on the AC Monitored Chart.
In support of the new album’s release, Nockels performed to a crowd of over 2000 fans at KSBJ’s “Enter His Gates Brown Bag at Chick-Fil-A” in Houston on April 5, and the next day, Good Friday, joined her pastor, Louie Giglio and fellow sixstepsrecords artists and worship leaders Chris Tomlin, Kristian Stanfill and David Crowder at Passion City Church’s “Good Friday: A Contemplation and Celebration of the Cross.” The sold out event, presented by sixstepsrecords and Passion City Church, was held at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park. Christy also recently hosted a special night at Passion City Church, where she shared songs and stories from Into the Glorious. The event was broadcast live via stream to stations around the country, including Las Vegas, Indianapolis and others.
Critics praised Into the Glorious upon its release and continue to do so:
“It will be hard for the unobtrusive passerby to not be captivated by Christy Nockels’ voice. Once you hear her sing, you are a fan for life. Into the Glorious beautifully captures the purity of her gift.”- Crosswalk
“This is a great collection of 12 heartfelt stories and as Christy continues to amaze me with her songwriting, creating moments in songs full of awe and wonder, I cannot wait to hear her third album.”- Indie Vision Music
“…if you're looking for from-the-heart worship, no matter if you're male or female, young or old, then this new album from Christy is one of the most beautiful twelve track albums that you will find this year.”- Louder Than the Music
Celebrated songwriter and worship leader Christy Nockels is receiving incredible praise for her much anticipated sophomore solo project, Into the Glorious, available nationwide this week. Nockels doesn’t disappoint with Into the Glorious, which debuted at No. 2 on the iTunes ® Christian & Gospel Charts. The album’s lead single, “Ever Lifting,” is currently No. 25 on the AC Monitored Chart and No. 29 on the National Christian Audience Chart.
Here are just a few samplings of what critics are saying about Christy:
"Christy Nockels has long been one of the premier female vocalists in Christian music and this brilliant five star album Into The Glorious was well worth the almost three year wait. Every song is worshipful, catchy, moving and powerful… Without a doubt, Into The Glorious is my top worship album of the year."—Kevin Davis, New Release Tuesday
"Christy’s sophomore album ‘Into the Glorious’… not only equals the brilliance and the talent of her first album, but exceeds all my expectations with Christy musically and lyrically stretching the boundaries yet keeping her faith in Jesus the centre of her albums. This album is definitely a joy to listen to."—Christian Music Zine
"[Into the Glorious] tenderly explores human brokenness and spiritual healing in an intimate musical context that may best represent Nockels' personal faith on tape to date."—Christianity Today
"This album is full of scripture rich lyrics, incredible vocals and even a few little surprises. I enjoyed the differences in style that were offered and overall, this is a really great release with a good mix of performance and worship songs for both personal listening and in a congregational worship setting."—Worship Musician
"Christy Nockels returns with a fresh batch of low-key songs that is likely to delight long time fans. She continues to shine long after other artists' voices have faded into the background."—C. E'Jon Moore, The Christian Manifesto
On April 10, Passion City Church is hosting a special night with Christy where she will share songs and stories from Into the Glorious. The event will be broadcast live via internet stream to stations around the country, including Las Vegas, Indianapolis and others. She will also be performing songs from her new record Thursday, April 5 in Houston, Texas for "KSBJ's Enter His Gates Brown Bag at Chick-Fil-A."
Christy will be leading worship this Friday, April 6 in Atlanta with her pastor Louie Giglio and fellow sixstepsrecords artists and worship leaders Chris Tomlin, Kristian Stanfill and David Crowder at Passion City Church’s “Good Friday: A Contemplation and Celebration of the Cross.” The sold out event, presented by sixstepsrecords and Passion City Church, will be held at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park and will begin at 7:30PM.
Following the critical acclaim of her first solo album, Life Light Up, celebrated songstress and worship leader Christy Nockels is poised to release her second solo album, Into the Glorious with sixstepsrecords. Christy’s stunning vocals are the centerpiece and focus of this new album, which will be released on April 3, 2012.
Produced by husband, Nathan Nockels (Chris Tomlin, Passion, Laura Story), the album’s pristine, understated production places the focus on Christy’s engaging, passionate voice and intuitive songwriting. Well-respected in the industry as a “singer’s singer,” she has a gift for imbuing each lyric with an authenticity and emotional integrity that resonates with the listener.
“He really took me deeper during this writing and recording process, and I’m just so grateful how He does that,” Christy says of God’s faithfulness. “He doesn’t leave us to our own devices. He loves us enough to take us deeper. I feel like that’s what happened during this record and the end result is something more special to my heart than I can ever remember a record being to me.”
Finding God in the midst of every moment is a central theme throughout Into the Glorious and is best exemplified in the title track. The album’s lead single, “Ever Lifting,” combines Christy’s unique writing style with a bit of a country twist that speaks of how God’s love continues to bless our lives and bring us closer to Him. Other album highlights include Christy’s rendition of the Judds classic “Love Can Build a Bridge,” as well as beautiful worship songs such as “For Your Splendor” and “Wonderful.”
Whether she’s leading worship at a women’s conference, singing praises in front of over 42,000 people at Passion or writing a worship song in her mini-van with her children in the backseat, Christy Nockels uses her gifts as a singer and songwriter to create music that connects believers with their loving Father.
**Formerly known as the female half of the popular duo Watermark, Christy Nockels solo debut with sixstepsrecord’s Life Light Up has made a top ten debut on the CCM Christian SoundScan charts, top 5 debut on the SoundScan digital album chart, and sparked critical acclaim with media nationwide, as seen in the reviews below:
“Her solo debut favorably melds her veteran experience in leading worship and professional performance… It only takes one spin to hear why Nockels is quickly is becoming one of the more popular trademarks in recent CCM history”
-CHRISTIANMSUICTODAY.COM/CHRISTIANITYTODAY.COM
“Chris Tomlin has said that Christy Nockels is his favorite vocalist. Not difficult to imagine after listening to Nockels on “Life Light Up.” Her voice is as pure as it is powerful and matches the spirit of each song…. “Life Light Up” takes her work as a worship leader to a new level.
-CCMMAGAZINE.COM
“One of the greatest, purest voices in music finally makes her solo debut….There’s no better one to choose than Christy Nockels
and the collection served here is simply a very strong release.”
-SOULAUDIO.COM
**During street week, the sixstepsrecords worship artist was busy on a radio promo tour visiting Sacramento and Nockels hometown of Tulsa, where over 600 fans showed up on the riverfront to support her. In Sacramento, Nockels, along with labelmates Chris Tomlin and Kristian Stanfill, spent time on the air at KLOVE and Air1 supporting her debut.
Artist: Christy Nockels
Album: Life Light Up
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Reviewer: Mark Warren
You’ll always see the phrase “one of Christian music’s most recognizable and stellar female vocalists” when reading about Christy Nockels. It sounds trite, but we can officially pack this away now. Thanks, Captain Obvious. Now that’s taken care of, how will her first solo recording after years contributing to Passion and Watermark measure up?
There is so much to love about this project, hopefully the first of many for this powerhouse vocalist. Under the production of Nathan Nockels, Christy’s vocals soar yet whisper for just the right balance on the record.
Things get off to a rocking, four-on-the-floor start with “No Not One,” co-written with Brandon Heath. The listener will know right away that Mrs. Nockels wants her guitars up – way up in the mix. Next comes the title track, a perfect companion for the opener that features the visually and spiritually motivating chorus, “Let my life light up like the city lights/Let it burn for You in the darkest night.”
“Choose” and “Song of the Beautiful follow these upbeat tracks” with their lush piano-based arrangements bringing to mind Tim Hughes and Matt Redman. Peppered through the record are a few anthems, so well written you’d think they were classic hymns. “A Mighty Fortress,” complete with resounding choir, boasts a fervor matched only by the lyrics. So many songs today tack on choirs to give a gospel or inspirational flair. Rarely is one this smartly utilized in modern worship.
The record includes covers of “Hosanna” and longtime cohort Charlie Hall’s “Marvelous Light.” It would be good to have all originals, but it’s interesting to hear her take on these songs.
While it could’ve been tempting to make a mellow, moody Colbie or Brooke sound-alike, it’s refreshing to hear a well-produced, stylish but never slick Christy Nockels solo record. We’ve been waiting, and the wait was well worth it.
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/.
