Artist Spotlight: Steve Zuwala

If you like down-home, clear-as-crystal, award-winning country music with a Gospel message, then I highly recommend you check out the CDs of Steve Zuwala.  Being a country music songwriter and performer and spending time in Hawaii to both film and relax, Steve is not your typical cowboy.  With #1 hits like “So Help Me God, and “Heaven Knows”, Steve displays sensitivity in songwriting and meaningful performances.

While the new stevezuwala.com site is under construction Steve’s Myspace music page, shows his passion for the typical country music motifs with affection for the things of God.  His music video entitled, “So Help Me God”, and a photo gallery of himself with celebrities, including Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, demonstrates his versatility.  It is easy to understand why his tone is appreciated.  A younger-sounding, less-intonated version of Randy Travis in some regards, Steve Zuwala lets the clear Christian lyrics he writes speak for themselves.

The new release, “Forgiveness”, and the upcoming album, “Wing and a Prayer”, are sure to be crowd-pleasers.  It is his unique blend of old-time country style and a clear gospel message that allows his music to send the hearer back in time to a simpler place where back porch swings and summer afternoons made a time of reflection that much sweeter.  

To learn more about this artist, visit http://www.myspace.com/stevezuwalagospel

Feature Artist: Tenth Avenue North

Feature Artist: Tenth Avenue North
Reviewed by Claire Walden
The Christian music market is filled with talented artists, yet it is often saturated with songs that are almost carbon copies of each other. It is hard to be original in an industry full of talent and artists wanting to reach the same audience and get their voices heard about the truth of the Gospel. Not that it takes away from the truth, however, it is always refreshing to come across a song that speaks to you from a perspective that is unfamiliar to the sound waves, but it articulates exactly what you feel in your heart. This is where Tenth Avenue North comes in.
The band is comprised of four guys who met in West Palm Beach. Mike Donehey leads the band with Jason Jamison on the drums, Jeff Owen on lead guitar and Scott Sanders on keys and bass. Their name originated from a street that Jason and Mike lived on while attending Palm Beach Atlantic College. The guys all were brought up in the church and have the same ambition: to be a light in a dark world. They want to reflect God’s truth and love in a new way within an industry that makes it so accessible to get caught up in the recognition and wealth that often results.
Their debut album, “Over and Underneath” gives an intimate experience of devotion. The songs range from themes of human weakness, freedom, love, spiritual need and truth. One of my favorite songs is “Hold My Heart.” The band’s originality shows through in their unique lyrics about the struggle between truth and one’s emotions. “If you’re everything you say you are won’t you come close and hold my heart…I’m done asking why cuz I’m on my knees, begging you to turn to me.” I absolutely love this perspective and the way the song is uniquely crafted. As flawed human beings, we will always struggle to grasp the concept of God and his grace, and this song captures that reality.
I highly recommend this album and that you check this band out to see for yourself how they are using their talents to further the Kingdom. To find out more about Tenth Avenue North check them out at their website.

Artist Spotlight: Casting Crowns

By Laura Greenwood

All of the members of Casting Crowns have backgrounds in student ministry. Lead singer, Mark Hall, states “Our songs have always come from our ministry in the church,” and their new album Until the Whole World Hears is no different. On the band’s Web site, Hall talks about how many of the songs came about and how we can see God in all of them.
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Artist Spotlight: Steven Curtis Chapman

By Laura Greenwood

Steven Curtis Chapman is no stranger to the Christian music industry. His career started over twenty years ago, and since then he has been given Grammies and GMAs. He has provided many inspirational and well-known songs such as, “Dive” and “Magnificent Obsession.” Chapman is also well known as a family man, with a lovely wife and many children. However, in May of 2008 Chapman’s world was rocked to its core. His youngest daughter, Maria, was killed in a tragic accident. At only five years old, Maria was laid to rest in a ceremony filled with love, hope, and inspiration.

Following her death, Chapman released “Beauty Will Rise,” in 2009. This album is filled with songs of hope, sorrow, and remembrance. He states in the liner notes that each songs on the album had a personal influence on him and his family during their grieving process. From the title track Chapman sings, “Out of these ashes, beauty will rise.” One receives such hope out of these lyrics. “Jesus Will Meet You There” is another track, which only furthers our hope that Jesus will be there in difficult times.

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Artist Spotlight: Tim Hughes

By Claire Walden

Numerous artists and hits have emerged out of England, including worship leader Tim Hughes. He is best known for his hit “Here I Am To Worship,” which is arguably one of the most popular, modern worship songs of our time. The hit resulted in two Dove awards, all before the age of 30.

His most recent album, “Holding Nothing Back” is comprised of timeless worship songs. One of the stand out tracks off the album is “God of Justice.” The lyrics outline a call to action; he sings that we must continue “stepping forward, keep us from just singing, move us into action, we must go.” The song continues to summarize what all justice entails, which is one of the major themes in the Bible. Hughes sings about God’s heart for the poor and broken and how it is up to the believers to go out and “live to feed the hungry, stand beside the broken.” Throughout the album, Hughes’ lyrics are inventive and not your average church songs.

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