Check out AJ Michalka describing the heart and inspiration behind the song “All I’ve Ever Needed”, from the movie Grace Unplugged, releasing to cinemas this coming October.

Tenth Avenue North released their new album The Struggle in August 2012 via Reunion Records. Check out Mike sharing his heart and inspiration behind the song “Where Life Will Never Die”, written with his friends’ sexual temptations in mind.

Check out the official lyric video for Crowder’s “This I Know”, from his untitled 2013 new album.

CMZ have started up a new interview feature in 2013, called “5 Questions with…”, where we ask at least one of our favorite artists once a week, 5 simple questions about their music, videos, tours, and any other interesting facts. Here’s the next interview- with pop/rock artist Yancy. Yancy is probably famous for recording albums directed at children and young teenagers, however the new album Roots For The Journey is an acoustic album directed to adults as well as children. The album features Avalon’s hit “I Don’t Want To Go”, and several ‘scripture-in-song’ songs, not to mention a hymn that is cleverly recorded; so let’s see what Yancy has to say about the new album.

1. You’ve been an effective singer and communicator in the music industry for a while, and recording albums predominately aimed at children and children’s ministry, culminating in the most recent Jesus Music Box. What prompted this change in genre on the new album Roots For The Journey? How is the recording process different, and what has been your favourite song to record and sing?

I definitely don’t pigeonhole myself. I tend to follow what my heart is telling me and where it’s leading me. I started off making a lullaby album but realized that just about anybody would enjoy this unplugged, scripture filled, worship music so along the way I broadened my focus for who would potentially listen. Most all of my time is spent focused on family music these days but there’s always opportunities to do some other non-kid events through the year.

Because a lot of the music I make for families is used in churches for worship time, etc. the biggest difference in this was not worrying about standing up in front of a group and asking them to sing along. I make a lot of my music thinking about what it would be like to be leading those songs. This was different because it was just making it to listen to. So definitely a different approach.  “Safe” and “Healer” are definitely a couple of favorites of mine. “His Eye Is On the Sparrow” was definitely an emotional one to sing. I named my son “Sparrow” so there’s added emotion for me in that lyric.

2. For those who haven’t heard your music before, can you describe a bit about what you try to show listeners in your songs, as well as your influences growing up, and how you define a successful album musically and lyrically?

I am a girl that likes to have fun and rock out. Most important to me of all is my faith in Jesus. I make music that is very bold in it’s faith and am not afraid to make Jesus loud in my music. I lead worship a lot and a good part of my music has a worship side to it. Churches all around the world use my songs to lead kids worship. Music is a powerful thing. It impacts us and it sticks with us. That’s why I love this medium so much. I know there are many songs I learned as a kid I haven’t listened to in 20 years but at the drop of a hat I can start singing you the song. When we put faith and the Bible in our music the same thing happens. I am planting seeds that will return a harvest! I love being a part of shaping God stories in the hearts and lives of kids and their parents.

I listened to tons of CCM music. Amy Grant, Cindy Morgan and Margaret Becker are lifetime favorites. I’m a huge Sheryl Crow fan too. So they are all influences of mine.

Success for me as an independent artist is different than the success you would define Justin Bieber with. As long as I have people who are listening and enjoying it. As long as I can see impact and a connection made with the songs then it’s successful in my eyes.

3. Can you tell us a bit about VBS music, and your heart for writing songs for children? Is the new direction of lullabies, ballads and piano driven tracks something you would like to explore in the future? How about a live album or live DVD in the near future?

Psalm 8:1-2 in the (MSG) sums up why I love making music for kids. Kids’ worship is powerful stuff. It’s one of the most pure and sweet things I’ve ever experienced. I write and produce the music for Standard Publishing’s VBS Curriculum. I’m currently working on my third year of music for them. It’s just another way to make an impact and equip churches to connect with kids in a way that is relevant to where kids are at. I know the music sticks with these kids for years to come. If the music can remind them of God’s goodness and love and inspire them to live out their faith then I’m a very happy and blessed girl! I may never meet these kids face to face till Heaven but I get to be a part of their God stories here on earth. I am very thankful for that.

Yes, it was fun to make and I’d love to do it again. Hopefully “Roots for the Journey” will be successful enough I can explore this sound more in the future.

No plans at the moment […for a live album and live DVD]. It would be fun though

4. For the future, which artists are on your radar to collaborate with, and tour with? Are there any events happening in 2013/2014 that you are excited about? What are your goals musically and personally in the next year?

Hmmm. Just keep on keeping on. I want to connect with more families and moms and have some plans in the work to do just that. I’d take a collaboration with Amy Grant or dc Talk J any day. Ha ha.  My goals right now are just to support and get the message out about “Roots for the Journey” and “Jesus Music Box”. As that story gets told, then I can look towards the future which I hope includes a new Christmas album.

5. Is there anything else you’d like to share with us that will encourage and motivate us, and further our walk with God? Anything fun/interesting that we ought to know that you want to leave with us?

Brian can give you quite a few video links to support “Roots for the Journey’. That would be awesome to share!

“Love God, Hate Sin”. If you live your life focused on those two things it will be easier to be a Christian.  My Mom signed every card to me with those four words (from an old Mylon LeFevre song) and it made a lasting impact on my life.

Thanks so much Joshua. I appreciate you spreading the word about my music!

Yancy’s album Roots For The Journey releases on iTunes, Amazon mp3, and other digital media outlets on May 21st 2013 (today!). Make sure you pick this one up for some great pop/acoustic/contemporary tunes and worship anthems! Also, check out Yancy’s youtube channel here, with plenty of music videos, song stories and behind the scenes footage!

Released May 21, 2013

Reviewed by Anthony Peronto

It’s been 3 years since we’ve had a new album from D-MAUB and even then those two albums (Inside Out & Your Feature Presentation) were a collection of old, new, and songs only featuring Maub as a guest artist. So it’s refreshing to hear he’s back with The Missing Peace, which is all new material and is a play on words communicating that people have a missing piece/peace without Christ.

In all honesty this is a solid project through and through and has all the trademarks as such: A wide variety of solid tracks, a couple of out-right duds, and a feel highlights that deserve to be listened to right away. Those solid songs include “I’m Me” which acts as a rebuttal to listeners who think he’s just a Ludacris copycat, “Jungles” which has some nice retro samples alongside Amba’s decent new flow, and the always welcome “My Girl.” The worst of the offenders would have to be “Walk It Off” which is a passable song turned into letdown due to the production by Tone Jonez who overused an Ozzy Osbourne sample.

While the hook, “Take me out the socket” is quite frankly a little weak “Charged Up” is the first highlight due to Zoe4Life Productions beat (that mixes just a tiny bit of dubstep) and pairs up nicely with D-Maub’s rapid-fire flow. The unexpected standout would have to be “How Long” with a production by Tone Jonez that includes horns, flute, and xylophone mixed harmoniously with B.Reith’s smooth vocals. “Othello meets Knine” in the jazz/storytelling “Distractions” which can relate to anyone feeling distracted by life, responsibilities, and technology, and can’t seem to get time alone with God (which includes many people today, including myself). The final standout would be the closer “Who Is God” which is like a who’s who of underrated CHH rappers, with Braille somehow taking the cake with his insane verses.

While the majority of the production is a little too busy The Missing Peace rises above it’s small imperfections and is a solid effort by D-MAUB, a gifted and underrated emcee who’s been putting out quality hip hop for over a decade

Grade: 4

Tracklisting:

1. G Code ft. Canton Jones
2. N.Y.E.
3. I’m Me
4. Hip Hop Student
5. Walk It Off ft. ZG
6. Charged Up ft. Todd of Z4L
7. How Long ft. B.Reith
8. Jungles ft. Ambassador
9. Full Throttle
10. Distractions
11. All For Me ft. Willie Moore Jr.
12. Up A Notch
13. My Girl
14. Who Is God ft. Jin, Phanatik, Ruslan, K-Drama, Jahaziel, Theory Hazit, Eric Cross, & Braille

Facedown Records

Released May 14, 2012

Reviewed by Anthony Peronto

When asked why I like heavy music (metalcore, hardcore, death metal, ____core) I usually sum up my feelings for this misunderstood genre by saying I love “the intense emotion of the screaming and music mixed with the anger, conviction, and desire for political/social/religious change.” This year’s prime candidate for fulfilling all these descriptions would have to be Altar’s sophomore album Something More that is inspired and powerful with a breakneck pace of 35 minutes total.

After a solid EP (that needed more originality) and a good debut album (that was sadly hampered by instrumentals a-plenty) comes Album #2 on Facedown, which shows the band at their creative and inspiring peaks. From various levels of singing and screaming to choirs singing, “Something is terribly wrong” on “Sent To Destroy” there is less monotony in the vocals throughout the album. In what could’ve been a controversial track, “Westboro” has a certain repetition in the lyrics “I will choose to love” where the band has the same energy and conviction of Oh, Sleeper in it’s critique and grace toward a church as notorious and hateful as the Westboro Baptist Church. Other highlights include “Eternity” and the powerful closer “To Give” which starts off with wonderful crowd-chanting of “Tale a look at the world around you/Tell me is it beauty that you see?/Because everywhere I look I see suffering/And that pain has corrupted everything.”

If Oh, Sleeper and Beloved had a hardcore baby, Altars have proven themselves with one of the most solid albums in metalcore and hardcore this year so far. With nary a flaw to be seen (The Guy Fawkes mask on the cover is icing on the cake) and with enough originality the band has clearly shown that beyond the darkness of this fallen world there is Something More to believe in.

Grade: 4.5

Tracklisting:

1. Something More
2. Question Everything
3. Eternity
4. Sent To Destroy
5. Transparency
6. Revolutions
7. Caverns
8. Break Free
9. Westboro
10. To Give

@ryansmusic for those that follow us and Ryan Stevenson, here’s something from @therealtobymac to you youtu.be/GkAVNeBd6CE

— Gotee Records (@goteerecords) May 21, 2013

Ryan Stevenson just signed to Gotee Records, check out the lyric video below to “Holding Nothing Back”! What do you think of the song?

Check out the official music video for Yancy’s song “The Joy” off her album Roots For The Journey, which releases to stores tomorrow!

Check out the official music video for Yancy’s song “Safe” off her album Roots For The Journey, which releases to stores tomorrow!

Check out this 1 minute preview of Newsboys’ new single “Live With Abandon”, from the upcoming album Restart, releasing September 10th! The official lyric video for “Live With Abandon” releases July 2nd.