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CHURCH AT

ABBEY ROAD
MATT REDMAN TURNS
LONDONS LEGENDARY STUDIO
UPSIDE DOWN TO RECORD
LATEST LIVE ALBUM

JUNE 1, 2015

Cover_June 1 2015.indd 1

KB

FIREFLIGHT
5/29/15 4:10 PM

features

contents June 1, 2015


Matt Redman
The story behind the title track for
his latest live album Unbroken Praise
and more in this Part 1 (of 2) of CCMs
interview

Publisher
Michael Miller
Associate Publisher |
Brand Manager &
Editor in Chief
Shaun Helton
Associate Publisher |
Mixed Media Production
Ross Cluver
Associate Publisher |
Circulation & Marketing
Smitty Wheeler

Fireflight
Displaying a strong sense of renewal,
Fireflight dawns a new day with their
latest release INNOVA

Managing Editor
Kevin Sparkman
Designers
Martina Ahlbrandt
Joshua Jamison
Contributors
Andy Argyrakis
Rebekah Bell
Dan Bremnes
Matt Conner
Caroline Lusk

KB
The newest Reach Records standout,
KB, chats with CCM about music,
ministry, golf, and community

Assistant Production Manager


Paula Rozelle Hanback
Fulfillment & Customer
Service Manager
Jennifer Evenson

depts

Customer Service Reps


Jessica Hirsch
Heather Smith

FROM THE EDITOR


photos

Out and About


Pics of your favorite Christian
artists on the road, off the road
and everywhere in between

Reviews

Hillsong United,
Point Of Grace,
Unspoken + more!

Executive Directors of
Advertising
DeDe Donatelli-Tarrant
805.987.5072
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Account Executive
Jason Lloyd, 615.312.4253
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Song Devotional

Web Ad Traffic Director


Tamara Phillips

Dan Bremnes Beautiful

CCMMagazine.com

from the editor

CONTRIBUTORS

Renewal | Maybe its more common to think about this subject


around New Years. I dont know. For me, my mind frames have
never been cyclical. I am more likely to begin working out again
on a Wednesday or Thursday as opposed to a Monday. For you
other Christmas-in-July or dessert-before-dinner types, then
maybe the thought of renewal isnt bound to the changing of a
season or a major notch on your timeline.
To add yet another clich, renewal is usually tied to notions
of greener grass always being on the other side. Of course.
Something new should be bright and shinybetter.
Inside this edition of CCM Magazine, we read several examples
of unplanned, yet timely renewal. For Kevin Burgess, known as
the rapper KB, life was pretty much a mess. But after a chance
meeting on an ordinary day, Christ used the medium of hip hop
to speak to and eventually restore Kevin (youll have to read the
interview and find out who KB met!).
It took an unfortunate and tragic event that led him to
his lowest point before Dan Bremnes finally surrendered
everything to God. The result? Revivaland finding true
freedom and joy. (Read the touching song devotional and
stream Beautiful on CCMMagazine.com.) Fireflight reached a
complicated crossroads in their career after successful of Now in
2012. Tons of prayer, resting on their spiritual foundation, and
stepping out on faith proved to be the recharge they needed to
live into Gods plans for them as a band.
Although things might have seemed random at the time,
they didnt just move from one field to anotherKB, Dan,
and Fireflight have experienced real and lasting renewals.
Green grass eventually turns and withers, only Christ offers an
everlasting life. Be rejuvenated and run to Him now, dont just
wait around for bigger and betterleap, trust, and experience
rebirth.
Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united
with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is
GONE; a new life burgeons! [2 Corinthians 5:17 (MSG)]

Andy Argyrakis
is a Chicago-based
entertainment writer/
photographer who appears
in the Chicago Tribune,
Illinois Entertainer,
Hear/Say Magazine,
Concert Livewire and more.
Rebekah Bell lives in
Southern California,
works as a writer,
and speaks on the side.
Find her online at
www.rebekahbellwrites.com

Matt Conner is a
music writer for the
Indianapolis Star,
Relevant and Metromix and
the founding editor of
www.StereoSubversion.com.

#CCMMag
facebook.com/CCMmagazine


Blessings,

twitter.com/CCMmagazine

Kevin Sparkman

Editor, CCM Magazine

instagram.com/ccmmag

KSparq@CCMMagazine.com
CCMMagazine.com

clusk@salempublishing.com

Available in NKJV and KJV

Available in NKJV and KJV

Available in KJV

The
Perfect
Gift
An ideal companion for todays
stylish Bible Reader. A fashionable
way to carry your Bible - to church,
to the office, or to your local
coffee shop.

out & about


Compiled by
Andy Argyrakis

1 Touring for the first time


since the release of 1993s
Squint, it was no surprise to
see Christian rock trailblazer,
cultural tastemaker and
occasional movie maker
Steve Taylor pack out
Chicagos Wilson Abbey,
especially considering he was
joined by all-star backers
The Perfect Foil to perform
tunes from both the past and
the presents Goliath (Splint
Entertainment).

Photo: Andy Argyrakis

Photo: Andy Argyrakis

2 Keeping beat for The Perfect Foil is none


other than Peter Furler, who besides being a
longtime songwriting collaborator with Steve
Taylor is of course the longtime Newsboys
drummer. After spending several albums
stepping up to the microphone, Peter bid adieu
to explore a solo ministry.

CCMMagazine.com

out & about


3 As if that wasnt enough of
Christian music history performing
together in the same place, guitarist
Jimmy Abegg boasts a resume as
diverse as rock band Vector, a few
solo albums, a slew of Charlie
Peacock collaborations, plus time as
a member of Rich Mullins esteemed
A Ragamuffin Band.

4 And last but not least in the


quartet of famous faces on this tour
of a lifetime is bassist John Mark
Painter, best known for performing
with his wife in the rock duo Fleming
and John, but also racking up a long
list of session credits (Sixpence
None The Richer, Jon Foreman),
alongside composing for films such
as the Taylor-directed/Michael W.
Smith starring The Second Chance.

Photo: Andy Argyrakis

Photo: Andy Argyrakis

CCMMagazine.com

out & about

Photo: Andy Argyrakis

5 & 6 Speaking of
Michael W. Smith, the
legendary singer/
songwriter joined former
President Bill Clinton and
former Governor Frank
Keating (amongst others)
during a memorial on the
20th anniversary of the
Oklahoma City bombing.
After 168 seconds of silence
to honor the 168 men,
women and children who
lost their lives in the
attack, Smith led those
gathered in the singing of
the National Anthem.

CCMMagazine.com

God is the Master Musician.


We are his instruments.
Rich Devotional Reading from John Michael Talbot

The Master Musician

The
M a s t e r
M u s i c i a n
Medi tati on s
on

J e s u s

John Michael Talbot

We are only his instruments.


We cannot make music without
his touch. Without the musician,
the instruments whole purpose
is pointless, futile and vain.
Without Gods touch, we are
incomplete and unfulfilled.
Furthermore, the more the
instrument is played by the
hand of God, the more we
are actually conformed to his
melody and style. We vibrate
to his rhythm and resonate
to his tone. We actually
mature and mold
according to his tone.
We are conformed to
his image.

Taken from
chapter two,
Our Response

A parable of God as Master Musician


and Gods people as his instruments,
this spiritual meditation from renowned
Christian musician John Michael Talbot
draws us into closer union with Jesus
and each other.

For a FREE MP3 download of John Michael Talbots


companion song, visit ivpress.com/mastermusician.

Unbroken
and In
Agreement
Matt Redman Binds The Bellows Of
Hundreds Poised To Praise Inside
London Landmark
by Ke vin Sparkman

CCMMagazine.com

CCMMagazine.com

fter a string of remarkable releases,


including several live albums and
DVDs, it seemed only logical that
Englands Matt Redman created
his next project entirely at Londons famed
Abbey Road Studios. Instantly recognized
for housing classic Beatles sessions of old
(including their 1969 album dubbed Abbey
Road), the humble faade has welcomed a
whos who of musical mainstays such as
Pink Floyd, John Mayer, Radiohead, and
even familiar Christian artists like Steven
Curtis Chapman, Israel Houghton, and
Point Of Grace.
Rather than merely adding his name to
an ever-increasing list of stellar musicians
to darken Abbey Roads door, Redman
approached this project differently. When
[sixsteps Records, Capitol CMG, and team]
landed on the idea of Abbey Road, there was
consensus from everyone. I had seen that
huge orchestral room they have, and always
thought it would be fun to have church there
sometime, said Redman.
And church is just what they had. My
favorite moments were when the crowd
took over the songs and led themtheres
something crazy-powerful about hearing
people singing out as one voice, all agreeing
on something important, answered Redman
regarding the worship service disguised as
a live recording. With over three hundred
and fifty fellow worship leaders, artists, and
friends on hand, Studio 1 on 3 Abbey Rd., St.
Johns Wood, Westminster was temporarily
transformed into Abbey Road Church
featuring Matt Redman as lead worshipper.
I think we were all feeling stunned by
the kindness of God. For a few members
of the team it was definitely a bucket list
moment to do a project there. When you
walk down the hallway and see album covers
representing all of the culture-shaping
records that have been made in that place
you definitely consider it a blessing to get
to record there, reflected Redman when

asked about the excitement surrounding the


unique opportunity.
The project itself, called Unbroken Praise,
could have easily been named something
else and the lasting moment for which the
song of the same title gave those in Studio 1
might not have happened if for a timely and
peculiar email (more on this later). All in all, it
was written and finished less-than 24-hours
before guests arrived and the red button was
pressed. When queried about the potential
significance of the venue, the memories

CCMMagazine.com

made there, and its resulting asset, Redman


responded, At the end of the day its all
about the songs.
My passion is to write songs that might
somehow be biblical, poetic, relevant and
congregationaland help people voice their
worship to God. Ive figured out that there
isnt any formula you can follow thats going
to unlock the deep places of peoples hearts
and have a massive impact on lives. But when
it does go right, its such a beautiful thing.
Ive heard some of the most startling stories

you can imagine from people, but theyve


taken one of our songs and used it to sing
their way through a storm. If any of the songs
on Unbroken Praise lead to more stories like
those, Ill be humbled and grateful.
Through technology to reach across the
pond, we asked Redman more about his
experiences from the recording of Unbroken
Praise in his native land, why the title track
almost didnt make it to the studio floor,
why it has taken so long for he and David
Crowder to officially collaborate, and much

CCMMagazine.com

Ive been writing songs


for a while now, and Ive
figured out that there
isnt any formula you can
follow thats going to
unlock the deep places
of peoples hearts and
have a massive impact on
lives. But when it does go
right, its such a beautiful
thing. Matt Redman
CCMMagazine.com

morecheck out the conversation below,


and stay tuned to CCMMagazine.com in
the coming months for a special in-person
interview with Matt Redman:
CCM Magazine: So tell us, what is the vibe
inside Abbey Road Studios?
Matt Redman: You cant really tell from the
outside what a huge building it is. The main
room we recorded in, Studio 1, is normally
used for orchestral stuff or movie scores
and can hold close to four hundred people.
But there are so many other rooms and
every hallway is full of retro equipment.
We shot some additional acoustic videos in
Studio 2 and used a one hundred year old
Steinway upright piano thats on several
Beatles recordings.
CCM: Had you worked there previously to
Unbroken Praise?
MR: We mixed Facedown (DVD, 2004) in
Studio 3, plus Id been involved with the
London Community Gospel choir for an event
there around a decade ago. I loved those
experiences and it made me realize that
Abbey Road is not just a place full of great
music history, but an amazing working studio
still to this day.
CCM: What attributed to the delay in
finishing the title track for Unbroken Praise?
MR: Jonas Myrin and I tried writing a couple
of things around that phrase unbroken
praise, but nothing quite settled. I had it in
mind to try and finish the song before the
recording, but it was already the day before
we were finishing rehearsals and figured I
ran out of time. Then an email came in from
Nathan Nockels, who was producing the
record. It was a quick note of encouragement
intended to convey that he and the team
had my back and mentioned that if I
wanted to do something crazy like bring in a
new song, that they would make it happen.
That was all the permission I needed to

have one more go at completing Unbroken


Praise. Jonas flew in from Los Angeles that
afternoon, so I had him come straight to
Abbey Road to finish the song, which we
accomplished around 11:30 p.m. that night!
CCM: Describe the atmosphere in Studio 1
during Unbroken Praise.
MR: It was the one song that those invited
to be a part of the recording hadnt learned
beforehand, and I was so encouraged how
quickly people took it to heart. I think it was
some of the loudest singing of the whole
night. One thing I love about the song is that
its relatively simplehopefully theres still
some depth to it, but I love that its not a
complicated song.
CCM: As youve stated, the theme
surrounding Unbroken Praise is choosing to
worship God for the long haul. What about
this is especially applicable today?
MR: My favorite lyric on the album is Let
my deeds outrun my words / And let my life
outweigh my songs. Thats an important aim
for all of us. Singing to Jesus is a beautiful
thing and can be such a powerful and
meaningful offering in the moment, but the
vital thing is that we complete the integrity
of what were singing about with a life of
worship and devotion.
Worship music is a particularly beautiful
way of praying to God. He has ordained that
song can be a special way of drawing near
to Him, and plays an important part in how
we voice our praise to Him. But we have to
always remember that our words and songs
are not enough on their own. St. Augustine
put it like this: Do not let your life give
evidence against your tongue. Sing with your
voices, sing also with your hearts; sing with
your mouths, sing also with your conduct.
CCM: As compared to the classic hymns of
the churchthose songs of faith still used
as integral elements of liturgical services

CCMMagazine.com

todaydo you consider the songs of the


modern worship movement as the next
great installment of hymns that will become
the standard?
MR: I get asked this question quite often,
and I can honestly say that I dont have a
clue! On one hand, culture moves along at
quite a different pace these days compared
earlier times. But on the other hand, the
word of God enduresso Id think that any
song that was special and biblical would
have a good chance of enduring over time.
Thats kind-of what has
happened with a lot
of the old hymnsthe
melodies have changed
over time, but the lyrical
content remains.
I also hope [the songs
of our generation] will be
a great way that people
can sing some truth into
their circumstances.
When we sing our
worship to Jesus, were
letting His name, His
cross, and His throne set
the tone for our lives.
That means we wont be defined by the week
weve had, by the struggles we face, or any
of our present challenges, but instead well
defined by His greatness and goodness over
our lives.
CCM: Three years after its release
and its massive commercial success
notwithstanding, what are your thoughts
on the impact of 10,000 Reasons (Bless
The Lord), and what comes to mind when
considering the global reach of this song?
MR: I love how some songs can go to the farthest corners of the globe, and also to the
deepest places in peoples hearts. I guess
out of all of the songs Ive been involved
with, 10,000 Reasons is the one that has
done that the most. Ive been sent so many

touching videos or stories of people singing


this songin orphanages, or on a hospital bed, or in a prison. Recently, there was
a news story of some men who had been
convicted of drug trafficking in Bali and sentenced to death. Since their conviction nine
years ago, they became Christians and their
lives had been dramatically changed, but
their sentence was still to be upheld. As they
faced the firing squad, they sang 10,000
Reasons to Jesus. There have been a few
awards along the way and its been very encouraging to experience
the momentum of this
song, but a story like
that brings everything
into perspective.
CCM: What took you
and Crowder so long to
officially collaborate on
a song or project?
MR: No idea, and we
werent even able to be
in the same room for this
one! Years ago he took
an up-tempo song of
mine called Undignified
and did an amazing job with it, so Ive been
a fan of his for a long time. And, of course,
weve journeyed together a good bit with
the Passion college movement. So it was fun
to finally end up writing [Abide With Me
on Unbroken Praise] together. Matt Maher
brought the very beginnings of a song idea
that he and Crowder had brewing, Jason
Ingram and I joined in, and it got written
really quickly. I think it was one of the most
powerful songs during the Abbey Road
recordings. I looked around and could see a
lot of people being visibly moved by singing
these words to God.
Stay tuned to CCMMagazine.com, as we
will feature an in-person interview
with Matt Redman this summer!

CCMMagazine.com

AT INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY,


YOU WILL GAIN THE TOOLS TO
TRANSFORM YOUR WORLD.
Indiana Wesleyan University is an energized
community committed to changing the world. We
guide students in discovering their individual purpose
and life calling and help them develop in character,
scholarship and leadership.
With nearly 3,000 residential undergraduate students
on campus in Marion, Indiana, and over 10,000
students in adult and online programs, IWU is the
largest member of the Council for Christian Colleges
and Universities and the largest private university in
Indiana.
Students live and learn in a visually striking
environment with well-appointed residence halls and
academic facilities, all on a campus that is only an
hour away from both Fort Wayne and Indianapolis.
IWU offers more than 80 undergraduate degrees, 38
graduate degrees and 5 doctorate degrees. Students
represent more than 80 Christian denominations and
10 foreign countries.

Scholarship at IWU builds on distinguished academics


through high-quality, collaborative work by students
and faculty members. Professors offer spiritual and
academic mentoring and discipleship, and students
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rich learning environment, academic commitment
and caring instruction develop in students the
knowledge, skills and disposition to change the world
for Jesus Christ.

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Innovating Without
Interference
Fireflight Dawns A New Day With
Release Of INNOVA
By Mat t Conner
CCMMagazine.com

CCMMagazine.com

ll things are new for Fireflight


these days.
After several years of chart-topping releases with backing from a label, the
members of Fireflight have found refreshing freedom as an independent band. The
rock and roll veterans are now making music
on their own terms and timeline, apart from
outside interference. Its a creative space
theyve longed to inhabit, and its clear the
bands spirit has been renewed.
There are some days it feels like it has
been a long, long time, and other days,
it feels brand new since weve become
independent, says lead vocalist Dawn
Michele. We feel like the oldest baby band
in the history of time. But everything is
brand new, and that has re-energized us and
reignited our passion.
Label life was clearly good for Fireflight.
There are the seven Dove nominations
and coast-to-coast headlining tours. Then
there are the over 400,000 albums sold and
numerous hit singles. While their future
might be bright with this newfound creative
energy, all of the evidence points to a band
built upon a very strong foundation.
We had a great relationship with our
label, says Michele. We were with them for
eight years, so Im thankful for that. We have
never had a professional release outside of a
label, our very first was May 5th of this year.
So, they did a lot for us and brought us to
where we are today.
One thing is clear, however. The band is
feeling fresh, even after fifteen years in the
business. At the onset of releasing their
new album, INNOVA, and a spring tour with
Seventh Day Slumber, Shonlock and Scarlet
White, Fireflight has a new musical lease
on life, a freedom rooted in the ability to
write and record without any boundaries or
influences other than their own.
At the end of the journey, we mutually
decided to part ways and see how things
would go on our own, says Michele. It feel

refreshing. There is a new freedom and


that breeds creativity. With a label, you
have timelines, thats just part of running
a business. But when youre trying to be
creative in a timeline, it can cramp your style
at times.
I think it was necessary and refreshing,
says guitarist Glenn Drennen. It seemed
like a long process to pray and talk through
it all, but it was necessary in order for us to
continue creatively.
In doing so, it is opening a lot of doors
for creative freedom, he continues. A lot
of people are coming alongside us in this
journey. Whether its the fans or our writers
and producers, everyone is excited about the
world of possibilities that it brings to a band

CCMMagazine.com

with a lot of history behind it. It has been


very rejuvenating, for sure.
We had to go back to the drawing board,
as artists and people, and envision what
we wanted to hear, adds bassist Wendy
Drennen. We didnt know what that was.
Once we got going, we found our groove.
INNOVA is Latin for renew, which certainly
makes sense given the bands current direction. It is a dynamic, energetic set of songs
that conjures comparisons to Imagine Dragons or Ellie Goulding, while remaining true
to the bands signature rock and roll sound.
One of the new experiences that we are
enjoyed are writing the songs and allowing
them to just be, says Glenn. We dont really
worry about where a song is going to land

within the landscape of style or timbre.


For example, Resuscitate is a dark song
thats about reaching out and calling for
someone. Then, on the other extreme, We
Are Alive, which could be a bit of a curveball
stylistically, is extremely upbeat and is about
the greatness of Jesus Christ.
One of INNOVAs new highlights is found on
the song, Safety, which features long-time
friend Stephen Christian of Anberlin.
We have known Anberlin for a long time,
and we used to play shows with them in
Florida, says Glenn. We have kept in touch all
this time, and Dawn had formed a friendship
with Stephen over the years as well. During
the making of the album we collectively had
the idea of co-writing on a song and actually

CCMMagazine.com

reached out to him about another matter,


which in turn led to his collaboratoin and was
totally excited about it.
Even more exciting than the in-studio
experimentation is the ability to translate
these songs to fans in the live setting. The
bands broad fan base is hungry
for a new album after waiting
three years since the release
of Now, Fireflights highestcharting album to date.
Im excited to have something refreshing, says Drennen. While its still true to our
Fireflight brand, I feel like its
more relevant. Im also excited
about how people will interpret that.
Michele says its not just about hearing
what the fans think of the new music, but
rather how the new songs impact the lives
of their listeners. Fireflights fans have often
found hope, comfort, joy and perspective
in hit singles like Unbreakable, Waiting,
Desperate and most recently, Stay Close.

INNOVA is filled with several more songs


intended to give fans a greater vocabulary for
their own faith journey.
Im excited to finally have these songs
in the hands of the listeners, says Michele.
We have always been a band thats closely
connected to our fans. We interact
with them on Facebook, and
theyre always telling us amazing
stories of how a song impacts their
lives. I love that.
Thats the most amazing part of
being a band, she continues. We
get to see the music reach peoples
lives to give them strength and
encouragement. Im thrilled to see
how that is going to work for these songs. God
has had His hand on everything, and thats
been evident more than ever before.

Read the review of INNOVA


in the May 15, 2015 edition
of CCM Magazine

CCMMagazine.com

THINK.

ACT.

What do I believe?

Its one thing to

What should I do?

BE.

Who am I becoming?

KNOW THE STORY OF THE BIBLE.


Its another thing to LIVE IT.

31-DAY
READING PLAN

WATCH VIDEO

Grounded in carefully selected Scripture,


Believe is a unique spiritual, growth experience
that takes you on a journey to think, act, and
be more like Jesus.
General editor and pastor Randy Frazee walks
you through the:
10 key Beliefs of the Christian faith
10 key Practices of a Jesus-follower
10 key Virtues that characterize someone
who is becoming more like Jesus

LEARN MORE

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KB
For His Glory Alone
B y K e v i n S p a r km a n

CCMMagazine.com

ou see a story about a rapper


entitled For His Glory Alone, and
immediately you think that youve
read it before. Second verse definitely not the
same as the first verse.
Its true, in his short, now two-and-a-half
album career with Atlantas Reach Records
Kevin Burgess, whom we all know by now
as KB, has already attained what most in
the genre have not in the lifespan of their
artistry. Modest record sales, growing clout
in the artist community in and out of hip hop
(Christian or mainstream), awards, and documented crossover chart successall items
that seem to pass by the tiny sliver of music
industry pie we know as Christian hip hop.
Like his employer Reach Records, however,
KB has made enough noise to garner the attention of those outside of the Christian hip hop
community. His 2014 EP titled 100 debuted on
Billboards Christian chart at #1 (#4 on Billboards Rap chart and #22 on their vaulted Top
200), all leading up to securing a Dove Award,
relationships with the GRAMMY organization,
and acclaim that has taken him far beyond the
streets of his Tampa, FL dwelling.
As he concluded in the documentary
Before TomorrowPart Two, featured on
his website WhoIsKB.com, All in all, my job
on this earthwhat Im doing hereis to
bring clarity to peoples vision of God. Like
the namesake of a humble Bible study that
began in a Tampa apartment that has now
turned into a community-wide movement
above all else, Kevin Burgess lives to glorify
Christfor His Glory Alone.
Shortly after the release of his second fulllength album Tomorrow We Live (already a
chart success story), we talked with KB about
how he got his start, working with Lecrae and
Bubba Watson (yes, that Bubba), the difficult
subject of suicide, and how his community
and family keeps him focused and grounded
while his career takes off.

CCM Magazine: Tell us more about your


conversion to Christianity through music.
KB: Like many, I saw and was influenced by
the movie 8 Mile. [Laughs] I think everyone
who ended up seeing 8 Mile thought they
were a rapper! I was no different than most,
except for the fact that despite performing
extremely well in academics from a young
age, I struggled mightily with depression
which then led to a dependence on drugs.
One day, in the midst of this difficult time in
life, I ran into someone I overheard rapping
and, just like the movies, I challenged that
gentleman to a rap battle. His response
struck me very funny, he said, I dont rap to
battleI do Christian rap.
What was so peculiar about his response
was how confidently and boldly it was stated.
I remember thinking that I would never catch
myself saying something like that. Although
I considered myself a Christian at the time,
my shallow views on Christianity always
leaned toward being soft and weak. I saw
him a few weeks later outside eating lunch,
when I approached his table I noticed he had
a CD and on the cover was a guy that did not
look very Christian as far as I was concerned
at the time. Again, in my mind, a Christian
wasnt supposed to be rocking dreadlocks,
bandanas, and chains and calling their rap
albums Bloody Street.
When I challenged my eventual friend
about that, he said No, this is Christian
music, and let me take the CD home. Of
the eight songs on the album, I loved every
single one. And the eighth song was actually
a gospel presentation introducing Jesus, why
He died, and what that meant for me. This
proved to be the missing link in my lifethe
content on that CD made sense of everything.
The light came on and the vision became
clear. That was eleven years ago, and through
this thing we do called Christian hip hop,
Christ changed me forever.

CCMMagazine.com

CCM: Amazing. Who was the artist and does


he know your story of transformation?
KB: Mynista. He was known as Synista, then
after experiencing a radical life-change
through Christ, he dropped the S, added
the M, and now does what he does for
God. We became friends right after my
conversion and he was very instrumental in
the beginning phases of my walk.
CCM: Have you heard testimonies of
others coming to Christ through your
music specifically?

KB: Many times. Ive had people come up to


me after shows to tell me that my music has
changed their lives. All of the glory goes to
God. It also seems like it happens at times
when I may be going through a season of
discouragement or resistance when it comes
to what Im doing professionally. Its like God
orchestrates those moments to reaffirm for
me what Hes able to do through my music.
There was a guy that I met once that confessed he was about to take his own life before
coming to one of my concerts. During the
show, God completely transformed his mind.

CCMMagazine.com

CCM: Speaking of suicide, walk us through the


painful real-life moments of Calling You.
KB: We had a friend in our community
ending up being very bitter toward a lot of
us upon his return from combat overseas.
Although I understand now that he was
genuinely hurt, at the time I admit that I felt
like he was being somewhat immature about
the situation. It was difficult to consistently
get him on the line and there were always
issues with Skype, etc., but in hindsight we
could have definitely tried harder while he
was there.
After he returned, he consistently
distanced himself from the community, and
seemingly, away from Christianitythis
should have been a red flag for all of us.
Then one night he took his own life. I went
to his house within the hour it happened
and experienced his family weeping and
mourning, I remember being speechless
and feeling hopeless. Calling You came out

of the burden I felt to retell the story in a


way to respect the family, but also to bring
to light the unfortunate common reality of
suicide in America.
Two things that I have taken away from
that story and consistently tell are, 1) Being
more compassionate to those who are sick
and hurting. A lot of factors can feed into
someone reaching a mental state of actually
going through with taking their own life,
but we have to be better at loving someone
through their hurt as if were responding
to someone with a physical illness, and
2) Encouraging anyone with a struggle to
please, at the very least, just talk to someone
about it. Allow yourself to become a little
vulnerable, theres a very good chance many
other people you know are going through
something similaryoure not alone.
CCM: Who were some of the Christian hip-hop
artists that influenced you?

CCMMagazine.com

KB: What began the shift of thinking


from rap as a hobby to more of a career
mindset were some of the artists from Cross
Movement Records. I was introduced to a
guy named FLAME, his first album is still one
of my favorites to this day. I immediately
identified with him through his slang and
accent, as he is from St. Louis, not far from
where I grew up. The Ambassador and Da
T.R.U.T.H., also from Cross Movement, and of
course Lecrae.
CCM: How has Lecrae been involved in
your artistry?
KB: Im a firm believer in the notion of you
know you have a career when it becomes a
career. So when people asked me to perform
and then began to pay me for it, its like,
Hey, I have a career! Before all of this,
rapping was definitely just an extension of an
overall ministry for me in Tampa. I am part
of a community-wide mini-movement called

HGA (His Glory Alone). We were everywhere


sounding the alarm that Jesus had saved
usand not that it has ever been our aim
however, the reality was it did not supporting
any of us financially. But it eventually became
one of the links that led me to meeting
Lecrae, and eventually he introduced an
opportunity for me to make a career out of
music. Taking what I naturally did here
then refining, perfecting, and turning it into
something thats a bit more constructed
and consumable. Lecrae had a lot to do with
me having a career in Christian musiche
initially gave me the platform and the means
to expand on what I felt God calling me to do.
CCM: What have you learned from Lecrae?
KB: A lot, but the main thing I can say is that
Ive learned from his example of keeping
strong accountabilitysteering away from
yes men and surrounding myself with those
that are not afraid to challenge me.

CCMMagazine.com

PGA golfer and two-time Masters


champion Bubba Watson shares the
mic with KB on the track Ima Just Do
It on the album Tomorrow We Live .

CCM: You recently became a father. Tell


us what this means to you and how has it
influenced your music?
KB: It means the world to me. Its a very
unique love that a man has for his child, its
hard to describeI would die for him any
day. In my music, its pushed me to work very
hard and to be more creative. I want to give it
all that I have to make sure he is covered and
taken care of, and that he has an example of
an industrious, Godly man to call father. That
has been my goal more recentlyto work
hard and live in such a way that my son would
be proud.
CCM: How has your wife influenced
your music?
KB: I admire her. I love how she sacrifices so
muchI love her diligence. She also serves
our family with a very humble spirit. I often
talk about transcendent realities in my
music. Few things are more transcendental

than character and a fear of God, and by


her example she encourages me to really
go after those in both my life and music.
When you become a husband, things are
instantly revealed that you didnt know about
yourselfsome bad, others goodbut in
everything she brings the best out in me and
I am so thankful for her.
CCM: You have to tell us about
Bubba Watson!
KB: [Laughs] Hes an incredible golfer and
lover of Christian hip hop. We were doing a
song on the album about taking risks and I
thought that it would be pretty risky to have
a golfer on a hip hop song, so it just kind-of
happened.

Read the Tomorrow We Live album


review in the May 15, 2015 edition
of CCM Magazine

CCMMagazine.com

Over 129,000 members sharing your medical bills


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No enrollment periodyou can join any time
Medi-Share is not health insurance. Medi-Share is not available in Montana.

Song Devotional
He answered. My repeated prayer was, God,
I want everything You areI want everything
You have for me, and I felt like Gods answer
was, I want everything from YOU, Dan. I had
to let go of it all. My broken past, my plans for
the futureI had to leave them in His hands.
I needed to surrender and let go.
The more I continued to let go, the more
I started to find true freedom and joy. I
realized that God was actually good and
that His plans were perfect. He started to
change my heart. I delighted myself in His
presence, and He started to open my eyes to
the amazing work of redemption that He was
doing in my life.
You changed me from what I used to be,
Opened my eyes now I can see,
Youre making this life so Beautiful

Beautiful
By Dan Bremnes

Whats your story? Can you remember the


time that God truly spoke right into your
heart? Can you recall how you started to
change from the inside out? The greatest
miracle we can experience is the miracle
of a changed life. The miracle when God
rewrites our story. And it often starts with us
surrendering everything to Him.
I remember being lukewarm about my faith
as I grew up in the church. I was back and
forth. I would follow God for a week and then
walk away. I would run to Him and then run
away. I was afraid that, to serve God, I was going to have to give up everything. I had plans
and dreams that I wasnt willing to let go.
My heart became broken, callused, and
scarred. Then, when I reached my lowest
point, I knew the only thing that would lift me
out of it was God. I reached out to Him and

I look back and see how much God has


changed my heart. I also wake up each day
and remind myself that Hes not finished with
me. The work of the crossthe work of redemptionis a process and with each season
God is making us into His image. We are all
walking miracles, proof
that there really is a
God that can change
our story and give us
new joy. He takes a
broken and scarred
life and He makes it
Beautiful.
Dan Bremnes debut full-length album Where
The Light Is (Capitol CMG) releases June 9, 2015.
CLICK HERE to stream Beautiful.

R e l at e d S c r ip t ur e s
Matt 16:25, Psalm 34:8, Jeremiah 29:11

CCMMagazine.com

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Reviews
Hillsong United
Empires (Capitol)
FOR FANS OF: Jesus Culture, Passion,
Matt Redman
QQQ
If Hillsong Uniteds stratospheric
success over the last few years has
changed the band at all, it has made
them bow lower and with even greater
humility. Their latest release Empires
could have easily been any other
fist-pumping, anthemic romp, rather
from the lyrical content to overall
production and performancethis
album was meticulously constructed
to usher listeners into holy dialogue.
From the seven-minute opener Here
Now, to the single Touch the Sky,
on through to the title tracktheir
spacious, celestial arrangements are
more than beautiful, they intentionally
allow a needed space for the listener
to engage.

In This Issue

Sonically, the projects heavy use of


synthesized elements is juxtaposed with
an unaffected vocal delivery, striking
a balance of intrigue and invitation.
Vacillating dynamics and tempo variance
create subtle, but powerful nuances that
are evocative and stirring. Deliberate,
but not boring; intense, but not frantic;
Empires is a stunning display of universally
relevant themes such as doubt, wonder,
fear, joy, triumph and the ultimate victory
of surrender.
Caroline Lusk
WE LIKE: Here Now

CCMMagazine.com

P o p / AC

AC

Dan Bremnes
Where The Light Is (Capitol)
FOR FANS OF: Colton Dixon, Coldplay
QQQQ
After a successful debut that introduced
audiences to a promising new male vocalist,
Dan Bremnes has followed suit with an even
stronger full-length filled with memorable
tunes with Where The Light Is.
The title track leads the album and serves as
its highlight, marked by Bremnes irresistible
falsetto. Other highlights include Heart On
Fire, reminiscent of Coldplays Viva La Vida,
In His Hands, and the 2014 hit Beautiful.
Bremnes has channeled his drive to win bread
by singing and performing through the tragic
experience of losing his mother several years
ago. Coming full-circle, now as a new father
himself, this release and promising future is
ever-so timely.
Matt Conner
WE LIKE: Where The Light Is

Point of Grace
Directions Home (Songs We Love,
Songs You Know) (Word Records)
FOR FANS OF: Avalon, Carrie Underwood,
Wilson Phillips
QQQ
After conquering the Christian charts
throughout the 90s and crossing over into
country throughout the 2000s, its only fitting
to find the Point of Grace ladies applying
their unmistakable harmonies to favorites
from each of those avenues. No matter if
theyre covering Wynonnas Only Love,
Avalons Friend of a Wounded Heart, Carrie
Underwoods Something in the Water or Matt
Mahers Lord, I Need You, the trio spins pure
vocal gold, all while maintaining instrumental
continuity throughout the otherwise diverse
origins. Much of that can be credited to the
groups co-production alongside Andy Leftwich
(of Kentucky Thunder fame), plus from
contributions from Ricky Skaggs and Vince
Gill, all of which further reinforce the instantly
appealingly, earthy nature of this faithnurturing collection.
Andy Argyrakis
WE LIKE: Something in the Water

CCMMagazine.com

pop

worship

Jimmy Needham
Vice & Virtue
(Platinum Pop Records)
FOR FANS OF: Justin Timberlake,
OneRepublic, Mat Kearney
QQQQ

Unspoken
Unplugged (Centricity)
FOR FANS OF:
Newworldson,
Jimmy Needham
QQQ

Planetshakers
Outback Worship Sessions
(Integrity Music)
FOR FANS OF: New Life Worship,
Gungor, Hillsong United
QQQQ

Armed with an ultra-smooth


voice and some seriously
contagious R&B grooves,
Jimmy Needham could just as
readily rule the dance floor as
stir the soul. Wrapped around
production from Will Hunt
(Crowder, Shane & Shane)
and some extra seasoning
from rapper KB, the singer/
songwriter turns in his most
confessional lyrics yet, making
this brave new batch not
only a career cornerstone,
but also a soundtrack for
anyone looking to recalibrate
their faith through a lens of
unvarnished authenticity.
Andy Argyrakis

Unspokens soulful pop


songs were already rich and
rewarding in their original
studio form. On the bands
latest release, Unplugged,
the songs reveal new layers
of depth and meaning. Chad
Mattsons vocal sounds silky
smooth on Broken Man
and demands repeat listens,
while the power of Call It
Grace has never been more
resonant than this tender,
sparse treatment. Its definitely
a release for the already
convinced, but Unspokens
many fans will be very pleased
with the addition.
Matt Conner

With more than twenty


successful albums to date,
Australias Planetshakers
are no strangers to crafting
powerful, meaningful
anthems. However, for
Outback Worship Sessions the
band chose to go in a soulful,
stripped down direction.
Producer and catalyst Ed Cash
infused a more intimate and
organic tone, eschewing a
commercial sound in favor of a
personal and heartfelt timbre.
Selections also boast the
same considerations lyrically.
Rebekah Bell

WE LIKE:
Momma Didnt Raise No Fool

WE LIKE: Call It Grace

CCMMagazine.com

WE LIKE:
My Soul Longs for Jesus

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