05-19-2009
2 New CDs Released, and New Site Coming Soon!
So I know the site is a bit out of date these days. Things have been a bit crazy in my life
the last few years. I've had several close relatives go home to be with the Lord, I hooked up
with an amazingly gifted new producer/musician/engineer/friend and we have collaborated on three
new projects so far—two of which are now released, and last but not least God brought
me the perfect Proverbs 31:30 wife, so I've been a bit busy.
I just wanted to put this update on the site to let everyone know that I have not forgotten
about you and that we do have a brand new, updated site being worked on right now. It will
include lots of great back stories and tidbits to fill you in on what has been happening the
past two years as well as some new items like some music videos we've been shooting, and
downloads from the two newest CD projects. We also hope to get you some behind-the-scenes footage
as Nick and I continue working on our third collaboration later this Summer.
So if you have not been around when I've been sharing at various churches in Oregon, or
haven't been following news on Myspace of Facebook we released Coffee Shop Songs
back on January 11, 2008. It was an all acoustic project which we hoped would reflect my live "coffee shop" atmosphere style.
This was my first outing with Nick Garrett-Powell and I believe
we were both blown away with how well it turned out. This CD features some amazing mandolin, acoustic guitar, flute, violin and
soaring harmonies.
We then went back into the studio together in the Spring and Summer of 2008 to start work on a new
full-length Worship project (which will be called "Adoration") with some of my older un-recorded Worship songs as well as some newer material.
We actually finished laying down all of my acoustic guitar and vocal parts as well as some drums, violin, electric guitar, keyboards
and harmonies. Then when I proposed to Jessica in August we decided to put the Worship project on hold
and attempt to finish an entire new project in time for our wedding.
So was born the project which has now been released as of May 12, 2009, Looking Up At The Same Star.
This CD is a collection of the love & wedding songs that I have written over the years for friends and sang at their weddings as well as
quite a bit of new material that I have written in the past year for my own new wife. "Cord of Three Strands" is the song I wrote and sang as my proposal based
on one of our favorite scripture passages in Ecclesiastes. The album starts off with an upbeat rock tune about how we met through an online dating service
and features a humorous modem dial-up sequence as a solo break. The rock ballad, "Same Star", continues to further the story of our relationship and give
the title for the album through the lyric: "Now we go outside at night / Hand in hand we pass 'neath the streetlights / So we can look up into the sky /
Together look up at the same star." The highlight on the album is the hip-hop track "Mon étoile filante" which I wrote entirely in French and tells of how my wife is
"My shooting star, my jewel from heaven, my gift from God above." The album ends with a couple of bonus acoustic versions of some of the earlier songs to
highlight my signature pinch-slap, percussive picking technique. The final track is a short reprise of the song "Starting" featuring just my vocals and Nick's amazing
harmonies. All in all this is a great modern collection of love songs that provides many new choices to replace some of the more antiquated tracks normally heard at most weddings.
My wife and I are actually leaving in a few hours on our delayed honeymoon, so until we get back enjoy the new material and look for
an updated site and word of the new Worship project soon! Thanks to everyone for your continued support! Blessings and grace!
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