An Interview With Adam Cotton of Sacred

Who all makes up the band and how did it form?

Adam Cotton (me) on vocals. Hanna Cotton on guitar and harmony. Jessika Hickman on bass and her husband, John, on drums. Wayne Pinkerton on guitar.

I placed an ad on Craigslist looking for people who wanted to play some music I had written. Jessika replied and was on board immediately. Upon hearing the music his wife was involved with, John joined the band. Who better to trust with the task of rhythm guitar and harmonies than someone I had been playing music with for a long time, my sister. We replaced another guitarist with Wayne, a musician from John and Jessika’s church.

Is there any special meaning behind the name of the band and the album?

Part of the definition of the word “Sacred” is “set apart.” We felt like we were set apart from most of the music being put out today. We also wanted a name that wouldn’t confuse people with what we sound like. A lot of time we hear band names and immediately picture a sound, we know people aren’t going to hear our name and picture music similar to ours, but they won’t picture country or pop either.

The album title actually came about while trying to come up with the band name. It fit perfectly with what the album means and is trying to accomplish. Starting with the first song “Ashes”, it goes through adversities, struggles, and changes in life until it ends with the “Antidote” (Ascension).

So I’ve been jamming Ashes to Ascension like crazy. At this point, it has by vote for Alternative Metal album of the year. How long did it take you guys to write it?

Thank you so much! I am very happy to hear that you enjoy it. It would be amazing just to be nominated (laughs).

I spent about 4 years total writing it. However, it was 7 years from the first rift to the physical album.

Does one person do most of the writing or is it mostly collaboration between all artists?

For Ashes to Ascension, I wrote all of the lyrics and music. However, for the next album, there will definitely be some collaboration.

 Adam Cotton (pictured above)

It seems like sometimes bands put out a debut album but then on the next one their sound changes. Do you see your sound evolving into something different on the next album?

A lot of bands’ second album actually defines their sound. I’m hoping our first album defines our sound and we have to try and top it with the second. I spent so long honing a style and sound that we should be able to stay within that for the foreseeable future. We actually began working on the next album this year.

Weakness is an amazing song. Can you explain what inspired you to write that song?

I witnessed some friends of mine going through struggles in life that could have been remedied quickly, and they chose the easy way and ended up suffering longer for it. To me it seemed like a decision made out of “weakness.”

The guitars and bass are a really dominant feature in your music. What sort of effects do you use to make your guitars sound that way?

I could sound all tech-savvy and talk about the pick-ups I used and throw out some brand names, but that’s boring! I love a little flanger; and some chorus and delay go a long way. I used a grungier Marshall type sound for one guitar, and a much heavier, deeper metal sound for the other. For the bass, I scooped mids and added some overdrive. I used pretty much the same effects for all three guitars. We don’t really have a lead guitar; the lead position actually switches between all three guitars, that’s what gives it that full sound. Since recording, we have accumulated more gear, and refined our sound more. I think our live mix is now better than the recording. I am so happy with it!

Another song that’s really intriguing is Ibogaine. What’s that one about?

Cory, we’ll have to save that question for another interview.

I saw that your band played at Potential Church in Florida. Is that your home church?

Yes! I love it there, check us out at potentialchurch.com

It seems like Florida is putting out a lot of great bands. What is your local scene like?

Not trying to step on any toes, but it is very hard trying to be a Christian rock band in Pensacola. It’s hard to find balance with other bands, considering what’s trending here is Screamo and Country.

Are you planning on doing any touring in the near future?

We are trying to plan a tour, but we are having trouble finding shows. We are not currently in touch with any bands that we can tour with.

How have you seen your music impact people so far?

Oddly enough, I haven’t. My bandmates and friends have seen our music have a positive effect on people though. For instance, after listening to our album a woman felt compelled to work on her relationship with God.

Sacred has been compared to bands such as Chevelle and Tool. What would you say makes you different than those bands?

Chevelle and Tool have vastly different styles, and sounds, and we feel we are a mesh of the two. This makes us sound somewhat like both but completely like neither. Besides the musical difference, our lyrics are what really set us apart.

What do you want to accomplish as a band?

We want to help bring a positive change in mainstream music and bring people closer to God.

Any plans for a music video in the future?

We all really want to make a video but we are waiting on the right equipment and opportunity to do so.

How important is faith in Jesus to your band?

My band feels the same way I do, faith is the only reason I started this and have continued to pursue it. Faith would also be the only reason to leave it all behind if I felt the nudge from God to do so.

Closing thoughts

Thank you for taking the time to interview me. I am inspired and moved by the work you are doing in the Christian community.

Interview Date:  November 2013

Interviewers:  Cory Enderby/ Milo Miller

Sacred Facebook Page

Sacred Twitter

A Look into the Heart and Mind of Talya Solan of Yamma Ensemble

Can you tell us about your personal background and that of the band?

I am an independent musician, songwriter and producer based in Israel. I was born in Rehovot, known as the city of science, but my heart was deep in music. In my work, I'm attracted mostly to ancient times, tribal singing, sacred and secular Jewish chants, natural singing, and warm Middle Eastern sound with exotic flavors. I'm fascinated by the Hebrew language which is my mother tongue, but I have a special place in my heart to Ladino, the language of my grandmother and all the Sephardi Jews that were exiled from Spain in 1492. I established Yamma Ensemble in 2010, together with the greatest of musicians. We are all based in Israel. And Judaism is the main theme and guideline of Yamma Ensemble music work. We perform music of various Jewish diaspora - Hasidic, Babylonian, Sephardi, Yemenite alongside our own original music that we create under the influence of Jewish resources.

Was being a singer always your heart's desire? Were you particularly inspired by a song or band when you were younger?

I was passionate about being a singer since I was five years old, and dreamt and imagined being a singer every day of my life. I'm happy that I didn't know it would take so long to fulfill my dream. If I knew how demanding and long the process is, I would probably have quit my dream. Ofra Haza (an Israeli famous singer) was my model to whom I looked up to, as I loved her voice and delicate musical personality. Later on when I was a teenager, I discovered the greatest international vocalists all over the world and was influenced by other colors and styles of music.

How did you assemble this group and what is your main objective in this band? Are you trying to give people a deeper revelation of God? of Israeli culture? Who is your primary target audience for your music?

As mentioned above, I established Yamma Ensemble six years ago with my musician friends. None of us manage a religious Jewish way of life, but of all us are connected in a way to our spiritual sources and traditions. We are fortunate to be living in a place that is rooted back in old times and carries such a tremendous history. I guess it affects us all in the spiritual aspect.

We are trying to work as a team, to create and share our huge love—to pass it on to everyone who might like it and enjoy it. We don’t direct to a specific audience, but music lovers. We try to stay true to the character of Middle East region in which we were born and raised, and we try to present our native landscape with Israeli character, and to perform mostly in Hebrew, our mother tongue.

I discovered on your website, that Yamma Ensemble likes to “explore the territory of free improvisation”. Does this approach to music require any specific schooling or training in Middle Eastern style, or is this something all the members of the band were raised up in and learned on their own?

Both. Yamma work reflects the variety and richness of cultures that exist in Israel; we mix east and west. A few members of Yamma are self-educated, and others are graduates of music schools.

What does Yamma mean?

The word Yamma has a few meanings:
Hebrew - toward the sea
Sanskrit (Hinduism) - “restraint” and "self-control", whether on the bodily or psychic level
Arabic - a fest
Yemenite - mother
And it also has meaning in Spanish (flame), Japanese (mountain) and other languages, but we didn’t choose this name knowing all that :-)

I noticed that there have been different players in Yamma Ensemble over the years. Is the core group Aviv Bahar, Ben Dagovitch, Yonnie Dror, and Avri Borochov, or do you alternate players as needed?

The core musicians are: Aviv Bahar, Yonnie Dror, and Avri Borochov. Unfortunately, sometimes musicians are not available so we have others that replace them.

What is your favorite song that you have ever written? And why?

I don't have a specific favorite song, but I do have a song running on my mind from time to time. And, it actually changes, so each period I have a different song in my head. As for the current period, “the swallows” is the one that runs through my mind. This song is from our new album that will be released in upcoming August.

What was your inspiration for writing "King David"? Do you typically write songs that are straight from scripture?

"King David” is a famous Israeli old song, especially well known to old people. And actually, we didn't plan to record it. We performed the song as a gesture to a very good friend named David Fraher who helped us a lot with spreading our music in America. Avri Borochov, our double bass player, rearranged it beautifully (put it in a special new rhythm of 9/8), and we recorded it as a special gift to David specifically. We even didn’t plan to upload it to YouTube. David did so, and surprisingly, it received so many views. That’s funny.

  

Name one person that you have encountered over the years that has impacted your life in a major way. Tell us about it.

My vocal coach, Mrs. Rachel Hochman. I feel myself privileged that Mrs. Rachel Hochman, Israel's greatest voice production teacher, accepted me and became my voice coach, as I have been working with her for more than fifteen years now. She is the best teacher, because she teaches not only voice and breathing techniques, but she coaches me on a journey—on my inner Tao. She taught me, among other things, that sincerity is the most important one in an artist’s life, and that I need to understand myself.

I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to sing, but I did not know what. I was at that time raw material. It is a false myth that one can become an instant star. And she helped me with this process. With her guidance, I realized that as a teenager, I was more screaming than singing. She taught me to be controlled, civilized, and how to build up a performance. She has had the greatest influence on my musical personality.

Thanks to her, I have experienced various music styles like pop, musicals, jazz, blues, even classic. She directed me toward this beautiful musical heritage, and also emphasized that the oud is very suitable to my voice. Oud is my favorite instrument, as its sound goes straight to the heart. It is emotional; one feels the desert, the earth—everything. The oud is considered the piano of the Middle-East, because it best reflects the musical traditions of this region.

Your voice stands out as being almost sultry but without the sensuality, clean but alluring. What kind of background do you have as a singer? And how did you get started?

 Until 10 years ago, I worked full time as a researcher for TV and media productions. The music had a smaller place in my day, as I had not performed professionally. Since then, I am mainly focusing on music, however I still work from time to time in researching, when an interesting suggestion appears.

 I studied at the Tel Aviv University, but I did not take any operatic studies there—though I studied the theory of music. In parallel, I took private classes with Mrs. Rachel Hochman.

 I am the only musician in the family. When I was a teenager I wished to become a pop singer. Now it is totally different. I am very happy with the choice I have made, as the music I am singing now is true to my real self.

 Is your music mostly a traditional sound or is there some contemporary mixed in?

Yamma music is a mix of traditional music and original contemporary music. Our new album, “basket full of stars”, mostly reflects this tendency about us. I was quite sure our second album would be our original creation, however we couldn’t miss a few great songs from Jewish traditions, because we had so many requests to include those songs in our new album. We have eight songs in total:  five are our own contemporary creation and three from Jewish traditions (Jews of Yemen, Sephardi Jews and Hasidic Jews).

I like very much to sing in Hebrew, original and traditional music. And I write poetry in Hebrew.

The ancient biblical text of the Psalms or the Song of Songs inspires me a lot. I have read the Song of Songs more than thousand times, but its metaphorical nature still does not fail to fascinate and inspire me. The reason I choose those biblical texts is the beauty of the language. I am not religious and my music is not targeted to a specific audience, but to all music lovers.

Some of your songs have subtitles (and apparently) others do not. Your song “The Secret”, sounds like it has depth to it, and comes across as being serious. May I ask what you are singing about in this song?

This song I wrote to a composition of Aviv Bahar (our strings player who composes a lot of our music). He actually brought me the composition with the first phrase of text. It’s a text from the poetry of Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, the Persian poet. I loved this direction and kept on with the spirit of the two first lines, and wrote my own text with the inspiration of Rumi. This song (which I find difficult to translate) is about the divine spark of living that each one of us carries. Here is the translation of the first phrase:

It is hidden in my heart and my heart is hidden in it
Is hidden in my soul, and my soul is hidden in it
I know from ancient times the greatness and the magic of it
From the beginning of life and even before, the pulse of life is inside of me.

  

Considering historical Judaism may be seen as a patriarchal religious system, is there any criticism of you being a female lead singer? Or are you wholly received and accepted as such?

 My lifestyle is secular, however I am attracted to tradition and Jewish resources. I’ve never performed my music in front of orthodox Jews. I don’t think it’s possible according to the strict restricted rules of Orthodox life.

  

What is the spiritual climate like in Israel? Is it growing closer to God? And how would you measure this?

 Israeli is relatively a young country (only 68 years old). It’s a country of immigrants. There are so many colors and lifestyles, varieties of religions and religious movements. Holy places attract not only religious people, but tourists and secular people, because of their special spirit.

Out of all the places that you have played, do you have a favorite memory of one particular location?

I enjoy all places, and each one of them has its special character. I get connected to a place much more when I have the opportunity to stay in for a week and learn the atmosphere, and the people. I had a wonderful, unforgettable week at Hill City (near Mt. Rushmore), in the Black Hills of South Dakota. I also had a fascinating week in Haapavesi, Finland. Link to photo in Hill City - my FB page

I discovered that you recently performed at the National Philharmonic in Kiev, Ukraine. This was a special concert for the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Israel. Clearly, music is a powerful medium. What do you feel that this concert did to improve relations?

It was indeed a moving experience, full of magic and fascinating moments. At Kiev concert, we were lucky to collaborate with a local orchestra named Ridni Naspivy, which is actually a folk instruments ensemble. So we were able to enjoy new musical instruments that we've never heard and seen before. The cliché that music is a bridge, was completely experienced by both sides. It was a huge pleasure and we deeply wish to repeat this pleasant experience.

I noticed that your band does workshops and interactive concerts. What has been your experience with this?

It’s always a pleasure sharing.

What type of workshops do you offer?

Typical Middle Eastern instruments & rhythms, Jewish music of Diasporas, early Hebrew national style (the birth of Israeli music style), and Jewish Sephardic music.

What are your long term goals, hopes or aspirations with this band?

To have a successful release of our new and upcoming second album “basket full of stars”, as well as to keep on performing, reaching new audiences and new places—to expand our abilities, develop each one of us as a musician and person, as well as together as a group and collaborators. To keep involved in the creation process, record new music, and spread the good vibration that music creates inside of us to others.

You've been at it awhile. Have any advice for those that are just starting out in music?

Believe that everything is possible—and be highly targeted, dedicated and consistent. Never spend a day without doing something (even tiny and little) for your dream. Sometimes we tend to be critical and hard on ourselves. It is essential to let it be free—art must be released and free. The whole path and way must be enjoyable and just as fun as the achievements.

 What is your favorite characteristic of God?

For me, the idea of God is philosophical. I don’t think God belongs to the religious only. God is inside of us, and outside of us. God for me, can be a spiritual guiding entity; it can come from inside of me—the guiding, or from the external world. God is music, God is everything. The spirit of creation, of life, of being.

If you could tell an American who reads, believes and desires to follow God's Word one thing from a Hebrew perspective what would it be?

Let’s keep on the “Tikkun Olam”. Tikkun Olam literally means "repair of the world”. It’s an old Hebrew term from old times (Mishnaic period)—medieval times.

We should be responsible not only for our own moral, spiritual, and material welfare, but also for the welfare of society at large.

FB page - https://www.facebook.com/YammaEnsemble    Be nice and give us a “Like” :-)

Website - www.talyaga.com


UCB Contributors:  Katy Collins, Jamie Naughton, Bill Shryock, and Cory Enderby

My Testimony of Seeing Jesus Twice and my Dad Coming up From Hell...

Changes...

Hello everyone. I hope you have benefited in some way from Christian Bands You Should Know About and Underground Christian Bands. I have really worked hard to try to find—what I think—are some of the best Christian artists out there. But you may have noticed that there hasn't been a whole lot of new content for several months now. The reason is that I have gone into a new season in my life. God has opened up a great opportunity for me to go to college, and that has ultimately taken up any remaining space that I have available. Also, I am working on an album with my band Underground Railroad. So as you can imagine, I am very busy. Eventually, if God leads me in this direction again, I will put as much effort into it as I have in the past. Don't get me wrong. I am still doing it—only on an extremely part-time basis now. I just didn't want you to wonder, and think maybe these sites were going into the graveyard, as so many others have. In the meantime, keep the faith and love the Lord with your everything!

Cory

...a friend's testimony

I wanted to share an excellent Christian testimony of a friend who came out of drugs, fighting, gangs and had a near-death encounter.

The Testimony of Justin Padilla (Final)

Decyfer Down - Nothing More

I just got a sneak peek of the latest single from Decyfer Down's upcoming release, "The Other Side of Darkness" and I need to tell you, it begins with some heavy riffage. For me, I really liked the direction they took with Scarecrow and I feel like they are not only moving in the right direction, but are a solid band that should be on your radar. Look for the new track on a radio station near you.

www.decyferdown.com

Samuel Lane

I am loving me some Samuel Lane right now. Really reminds me of secular artist Ray Lamontagne, but better obviously. His lyrics are really loving towards the Lord.

Website

Four Star Revival - Knights Of The Revival

Four Star Revival is a Hard Rock / Metal band based out of the Dayton, Ohio area. The singer has Layne Staley (Alice In Chains) similarities at times, but also has a real Power Metal aspect to him. The guitar playing is very decent. You have to have good guitar stuff going on in metal. That's just a prerequisite. Drumming and bass are also very, very good. I am impressed that these guys are making this kind of solid Christian music. 


Their overall sound has Hard Rock and Metal elements to it that definitely remind me of 80's/90's with some Black Sabbath nuances. After a little investigation, I found out that the singer was in a band with former members of metal giant Armored Saint. I think I may have even had something by them on cassette back in the day. Too long ago... Anyway, the guitarist was also in an 80's band called Warminister, which I never heard of, but I checked them out online and they were the real deal. They had the whole 80's getup going in their pictures, and if you had that, you were serious. You can also hear the 80's solo thing in Benny Bodine's (guitarist) playing. He rips through some flying guitar solos on their debut album called Knights Of The Revival. Knights Of The Revival is one of the better albums I have heard all year in 2014. As a Christian, I seriously recommend getting their album if you're looking for solid Hard Rock and Metal. 

Facebook Page

Loud Bird - New Album "Live Quietly"

Jared Shotwell, the man behind Loud Bird, has just released a new record called Live Quietly. To be honest, I rarely look forward to an artist's new release much more than his material. Why? It's different. It doesn't lend the same predictability that I hear too often lately. This album in particular draws the listener in to a very contemplative state of mind, which is good if you would like to ponder your life or just chill out. 

Listen to the Album

Cory Enderby - Oh Lord

My son Colson does music video production, is available for hire and if you need his services, contact me at christianartistreview@gmail.com. Here is an example of a music video that he did for me. This is not my original song. It was written by Jeremiah Foley.

Urgent Prayer Need

I got this email from Christian Surfers the other day.

It is with tears in my eyes that I type this email.  I received word this morning from missionary friends that ISIS has moved into new towns.  They are going house to house and asking the children to denounce Christ - not a single child has, as of yet.  They are then killing the children in front of their parents and leaving the parents alive. My heart breaks but remains filled with hope in Christ.  As I "pray for those that persecute you" I am reminded that we are each engaged in this battle.  It is not a battle for land but souls. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood..."  ISIS and the people doing these horrendous acts are not the enemy.  They are blinded by Satan.  We need to pray for their freedom in Christ.  But, we also need to pray for our brothers and sisters that are standing in the strength of our LORD.  We must remember that though the battle is far more subtle here at home, it is the same battle - there, the weapon is fear and persecution.  Here the weapon is the lullaby.  We must awaken that we are here to make disciple-makers by proclaiming the only Good News for this world - JESUS! Please pray and forward this to others to pray.  Below I've attached actual email communications that came in this morning. A Text Message from today: "We lost the city of Queragosh (Qaraqosh). It fell to ISIS and they are beheading children systematically. This is the city we have been smuggling food to. ISIS has pushed back Peshmerga (Kurdish forces) and is within 10 minutes of where our CRI team is working. Thousands more fled into the city of Erbil last night. The UN evacuated its staff in Erbil. Our team is unmoved and will stay. Prayer cover needed!" Please pray sincerely for the deliverance of the people of Northern Iraq from the terrible advancement of ISIS and its extreme Islamic goals for mass conversion or death for Christians across this region. May I plead with you not to ignore this email. Do not forward it before you have prayed through it. Then send it to as many people as possible. Send it to friends and Christians you may know. Send it to your prayer group. Send it to your pastor and phone him/her to pray on Sunday during the service - making a special time of prayer for this. We need to stand in the gap for our fellow Christians. Thank you for all your prayers !!!!" An email from the field Missionaries who are in the areas that are being attacked by ISIS are asking to be showered in prayer. ISIS has taken over the town they are in today. He said ISIS is systematically going house to house to all the Christians and asking the children to denounce Jesus. He said so far not one child has. And so far all have consequently been killed. But not the parents. The UN has withdrawn and the missionaries are on their own. They are determined to stick it out for the sake of the families - even if it means their own deaths. They are very afraid, have no idea how to even begin ministering to these families who have had seen their children martyred. Yet he says he knows God has called them for some reason to be His voice and hands at this place at this time. Even so, they are begging for prayers for courage to live out their vocation in such dire circumstances. And like the children, accept martyrdom if they are called to do so. These brave parents instilled such a fervent faith in their children that they chose martyrdom. Please surround them in their loss with your prayers for hope and perseverance.

Satan, Father of Isis

This morning as I was reading through the new Voice of the Martyrs magazine, I noticed this story. Really impacted me as to how truly evil these people are. I can see satan's fingerprints written all over it. What I am seeing here would go nicely with a Slayer soundtrack. Truly, these thoughts and actions are coming from their real father, Satan.

Revelation - This is written to the church.

If you name the name of Christ, then pay attention to these words. These verses let you peek in and see the mind and heart of God with regard to his church and holiness. 

Revelation 3
3And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die:  for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white:  for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my father, and before his angels. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Quiet Waters - Comfort

Ok, so I have already written about this album and artist, but I wanted to call more attention to this side project, by former Separatist member Sam Dishington, called Quiet Waters. The EP is titled Comfort and if you donate, the proceeds go directly to the A21 Campaign.

What makes this project really intriguing is that Sam is a big-time metal guy and this is a straight up Alternative Rock album. So you have some serious skill behind the album. It's like toned down energy that's explosive. I will admit... When I first heard the album, I thought it was ok, but the more I have played it, the more I realize how refreshing it is, in a scene that is too predictable.

One of my favorite decades in music is the 90's, and the sound he has captured on this one, incorporates a lot of those elements. But beyond the sound, it is total one on one worship to Almighty God. I read somewhere that Sam said that he got sort of complacent singing other peoples worship music. He wanted to do something on a personal level between him and God. And let me tell you, it is powerful. Sometimes, I get seriously taken aback by the raw emotion on this record.

I just had to share it again....

Promise Land - Harmony In Ruins

I came across this album by Promise Land a while back and finally just got around to listening to it. It's really decent if you're into Theocracy-type bands. The genre is basically symphonic metal that reminds me of a movie score at times. My favorite song on it is The Piper Illusion. Check em out.

Website

Hello Industry - Matter

Where have I been? I had no idea that Hello Industry had released another album. If you're not familiar with them, definitely check them out.  I sort of think of them as a classy, intellectual band with a vibrantly, melancholy vibe. This might be the best band you've never heard of and their albums just keep getting better and better. Wow, I can't believe I just stumbled on this tonight. This record is great!

War Of Ages - Chaos Theory

Wow, Facedown just left a monster at my doorstep. War Of Ages' Chaos Theory is a super gnarly new track that will leave you feeling very satisfied. Watching these guys evolve over the years and explode into this sound is nice. They have literally gotten so much better at writing, exploring new avenues in music and at their instruments. Really digging this.

Band Facebook

Homeless man - David Allen Welsh plays piano like nobody's business

This brother taught me something today.

Hymns For Selena

I want to share something special that I have recently come across called Hymns For Selena. This is one of the most Christlike stories that I have learned about this year and it has really touched my heart. The story in a nutshell is Josh and Angela Walker were on a mission trip in Guatemala where they fell in love with an orphan named Selena who has cerebral palsy. Their heart was overwhelmed with love for her and they wanted to adopt her and bring her back to the states. But due to changes taking place with international adoption laws they were unable to do that and still haven't been able to after 6 years.

However, the story doesn't end there. They love her, they pray for her and want the best for her so they put together a project comprised of 12 different artists doing 10 hymns in modern fashion. When I listened to the album I discovered a beautiful taste and selection of instruments where the arrangements were obviously well thought out. I was also very surprised at the talent displayed and the high level of production value. The important question for me when looking at an album made by Christians is whether or not the Holy Spirit is involved, and on this one, I definitely felt God present. Overall, the album left me feeling very satisfied and uplifted, and is one of the best I have heard all year.

Please watch the video and go to their website to get involved. The album is available for free on NoiseTrade and I encourage you to go there, download it and leave a tip. 100% of the proceeds go to her foster family in Guatemala to meet her needs.

Download The Album HERE

For More Information, Visit Their Website HERE

 

Josh, Angela and Selena

Future of Forestry - All I Want

I just continue to get blown away by Future of Forestry and what God is doing through this band. They are serious professionals behind their instruments and are not putting anything cheesy out these days that I have seen at all. This is their latest video.

My Epic - Arise Instrumental

My Epic is releasing an instrumental version of Behold. The album will drop this Tuesday May 27 digitally.

And quoting from Facedown Records,

"Arise is the first track on Behold and is the first of a trilogy of songs depicting the return of Jesus. This is a look at the magnitude & brevity of the world He holds together. "

I have listened to Arise and it's gnarly good. Check out this video for it.

Christian Aid Mission

I know that a lot of people that I've talked to about supporting ministries are unsure of who is really legit. I am here to tell you that I believe Christian Aid Mission is totally legit. What I suggest doing is reading a book called Finishing The Task that covers a lot about this ministry. Then decide. The book itself talks a lot about indigenous missionaries (mostly to other countries) and the persecuted church. Here in America, we really have no idea. I know you hear that a lot, but it's true. In other countries, people are literally risking their lives and freedom to follow Jesus. The book talks a lot about that as well as what Christian Aid Mission has done and continues to do all over the world.


FREE BOOK  -  Finishing The Task

Christian Aid Mission Website

Atrocities - Set Free

Atrocities has some gnarly new tunes out for FREE right now. Of course, I recommend giving these dudes a donation. They're brand of punk rock is just too rad not to.

Quiet Waters

I came across a really nice artist by the name of Sam Dishington today. He is possibly more well known as being in the death metal band Separatist. On his worship project called Quiet Waters, he basically wanted to write and record some worship music coming from his heart. This is a most intense disc. It is psychedelic, ambient and at times very solemn, but very intimately worshipful. Definitely a record that you should know about.

Theocracy Debut Album Reissue

I just wanted to bring to your attention that Theocracy has re-recorded and re-released their debut album with drummer Shawn Benson. On the first run, it was singer Matt Smith doing all the arrangements, which if you listen to it, will likely be blown away. Now they have redone it with real drums.  Check it out!


Buy Here

Derek Close - The Beta Sessions

Just want to give a quick update for my friend Derek Close. He has a new release out right now called The Beta Sessions. Derek Close was formerly the bassist in the Washington-based Grunge band My Cat Puddinhead. He has physical copies of his new album available or you can get it as a digital download.

Derek's Music

A Proclamation...

"Let us not glide through this world and then slip quietly out of it
without having blown the trumpet loud and long for our Blessed
Redeemer. At the very least, let us see to it that when the Devil
gets news of our departure from the battlefield, he throws a
thanksgiving party in hell."
-C.T. Studd

Great Testimony About Abortion

Several years ago I shared my testimony with a friend, and she commented that it sounded like a "Chick Tract". At the time, I was unfamiliar with your publications, but I have recently acquired a lot of the "This Was Your Life" tracts for distribution around my hometown.

Before I was a Christian, my husband pressured me to have an abortion that I didn't want. I knew it was taking the life of my baby, but my husband's threats to leave me if I went through with the pregnancy, scared me into a decision I immediately came to regret. As I lay in the recovery room following the abortion, I tried to will myself to die. The guilt was so overwhelming, I felt that the only way to pay the price for my baby's life was to die myself.
I spent the next three years constantly thinking about suicide. The only thing that kept me from actually going through with it, was the strong conviction that I would go to Hell for what I had done, and that thought terrified me. My life was a nightmare. I worked at a medical lab that received the "products of conception" from abortions performed at several local hospitals. I couldn't escape the reality of what I had done. I daily saw the mutilated bodies of babies, victims of their mother's choice. It was horrifying!

I searched in the New Age Movement for answers to my grief. They promised peace, joy, and contentment, but they didn't offer the one thing I needed: relief from the guilt I carried so heavily. But I knew that I had crossed a boundary and put myself at odds with the God of the universe, and His wrath was going to descend upon me at my death.

Then one night I had a dream that changed my life. In my dream, I died and found myself standing in a long line of people outside the gates of Heaven. There was a man sitting at a high desk with a book open in front of him. He began to read an alphabetical list of various sins and told everyone who had committed each of these sins, to step out of the line. Since abortion begins with "A", it was the first sin he read. NO! I said. "There's been a mistake! The abortion wasn't my fault....My husband made me do it. It's his fault, not mine! I was in a panic as I pleaded with the attendant nearest me. He calmly looked at me and said, "The abortion was your sin. Your husband had his own role in that event, and he will be held accountable, but the abortion, itself, was yours." I prepared to argue, again, when suddenly I realized that no one had put a gun to my head, bound and gagged me, and literally forced the abortion on me. Although it was under protest, I was the one who ultimately consented to the procedure. I could have said no, and faced the consequences, but I didn't, so the abortion was truly my sin, and not directly my husband's fault. As I acknowledged my guilt, I stepped out of line. I asked the attendant where I needed to go, and he pointed away to the left, and then I noticed for the first time, in the distance, a lake of fire.

I woke up screaming, in a cold sweat. As I lay in bed, shaking from the realization that I truly deserved to spend eternity in the lake of fire, a new resolve came over me. I was no longer afraid to die and face Hell, because I knew for the first time that it was the only place I deserved, so I made up my mind to take my life and willingly accept the punishment I had been shown. But God had other plans.

A few days after the dream, I ended up at a Christian concert(of all things!), and there someone shared with me that I didn't need to take my own life to atone for my baby's death. That two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ bore the punishment I deserved as He died a painful, horrifying death on the cross to pay for my sin. The price had already been paid, would I accept His death on my behalf? I said, "yes" to Jesus at that moment, and was flooded with God's grace and forgiveness. I cried for joy as I received the relief I had been searching for, and discovered the wonder of salvation. I was instantly released from the guilt and pain I had carried for so long. What a Savior!

Anyway, that was over ten years ago, and I am still amazed at that amazing grace that saved a wretch like me. Those who are forgiven much, love much, and all I have to do to renew my love for Christ, is to remember how great a love He has for me, that He gave Himself up willingly for my sin. I would love to reach other women burdened by the guilt of abortion, with the forgiveness they can find at the cross.

The Great Commission - Free Tracts

If any of my readers are ready to actually go out and start more proactively fulfilling The Great Commission, then I have a great resource for you. There is an organization called Fellowship Tract League that has several tracts available for FREE. This is so nice because all you have to do is go online, pick them out and they'll come right to your door. Jesus said,

    

     I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.
~Matthew  28:16-20


Tracts can provide a good way of planting a seed in someone's life. If you can, don't just stick it on a door or under a windshield wiper. People may respond better if you actually make a connection first. 

LINK to Fellowship Tract League

God bless!

Mouth of the South - Transparency Album

I just wanted to give everyone a heads up and let you know that Mouth of the South is giving their album Transparency away free right now. If you've never heard this band before, they are solid. You can either go to their Facebook page or follow this Link.

Acoustic Treatment For Home Recording Studio

As a student of audio recording, I subscribe to a site called Audio Masterclass. I read an article today that I thought would be helpful to my readers. It covers the basics of how to achieve better acoustics in your studio. Read on...

A brief introduction to acoustic treatment for the home recording studio

When you have achieved good soundproofing in your room, you will need acoustic treatment to make it sound good both for recording and monitoring.

By David Mellor, Course Director of Audio Masterclass

Acoustic treatment and soundproofing are two totally separate concepts. To start thinking about acoustic treatment, imagine a room constructed from thick concrete - walls, floor and ceiling. It's soundproof, but it sounds terrible because of the strong reflections from the hard, parallel surfaces. So let us consider how we would apply basic acoustic treatment to this room...

Acoustic treatment should achieve one of two things. Either it should make the room sound pleasant, or it should make it as dead as possible. Sounding pleasant is best, but it is difficult to achieve in small rooms. In a small room, such as the smallest bedroom of your apartment or house that you want to convert to a studio, it is often more practical just to deaden it as much as possible. The reason for this has to do with the frequencies of the standing waves that are created in small rooms, but that's a more advanced topic for another occasion.

Suppose though that you have a fairly large room, around twenty square meters or more. It's still made of concrete remember. What you want to do is get rid of the ugly reflections and replace them with a pleasant acoustic ambience in which to make music.

What the bare room has is a small number of very strong reflections. Small number - very strong. This is important. So firstly you would need to consider absorbing some of the reflected sound. This can be achieved in two principle ways...

Porous absorbers

It's easier to give examples of porous absorbers than to embark on a long-winded scientific description. Carpets, curtains and cushions are all great porous absorbers. The "Three C's" of acoustic treatment perhaps. But there's a cheaper material that makes an excellent porous absorber - mineral wool. You will find this at a builders' merchant in the form of loft insulation. It's intended for thermal insulation, but it works extremely well for absorbing sound too. Fiber glass loft insulation can work too, but mineral wool is more commonly used professionally. The only downside of mineral wool is that it sheds fibers and must be contained behind a fabric barrier. But you would want to do this to make it look good anyway.

Porous absorption is great, but it has one limitation - it only works well at medium and high frequencies. To work well at low frequencies it has to be VERY thick, or spaced away from the wall. A room that is treated only with porous absorption will be dead at high frequencies but still reverberant at low frequencies. Subjectively the room can sound rather oppressive, to the point of not being a pleasant place in which to work. Having said that, a room that has only porous absorption will be better than a room that has no absorption at all. Those bare concrete walls, remember?

Panel and membrane absorbers

Panel and membrane absorbers are basically the same thing, but the way in which the terms are commonly used changes according to the nature of the material used.

What we would normally call a panel absorber is a wooden panel mounted on a frame that spaces it away from a wall. The space behind the panel is completely enclosed. Sound energy is absorbed in the meshing of the wood fibers as the panel vibrates in response to sound. The panel absorber can be tuned to a specific range of frequencies, according to a formula that includes the mass of the panel and the spacing distance. It is perfectly practical to tune panel absorbers to work well at low frequencies, where porous absorbers struggle.

What we would normally call a membrane absorber uses a flexible surface, such as a material with a rubbery consistency. Where a hard panel will reflect some sound energy and mid and high frequencies, the flexible membrane will provide absorption in itself, regardless of the air-space behind. It too can be tuned, but the panel absorber is more precisely tunable to specific problem frequencies.

Diffusion

Absorption isn't the whole of the story in acoustic treatment. Going back to the bare concrete room with just a few strong reflections. These will occur at certain frequencies dependent on the dimensions of the room. Having just a few strong reflections, creating resonances at certain frequencies, is subjectively unpleasant to the ear. It is much better to have many weak reflections, which will create a diffused sound field within the room.

This can be done with hard, irregular surfaces. You can buy diffusers, or make them yourself. A bookshelf filled with books of different sizes actually works quite well and provides a combination of diffusion and absorption.

In summary, good acoustic treatment consists of a combination of porous absorption, panel/membrane absorption, and diffusion. Although the very best results will be achieved through scientific methods and calculations, surprisingly good results can be achieved through educated guesswork and experimentation.

One more point...

Although professional recording studios have separate recording rooms and control rooms, at Audio Masterclass we recognize that most home recording studios have just a single room. Ideally the requirements in terms of acoustic treatment are different for recording and for monitoring, but there are methods and techniques that can be used to get the best results according to individual circumstances.

David MellorCourse Director, Audio Masterclass Wednesday, January 1, 2014

P.S. I have personally been dedicated to Audio Education since 1986. Audio Masterclass has been online since 2001. We have helped literally thousands of our enrolled students make better recordings.

(end of article)

If you would like more information about Audio Masterclass follow this link:

www.audiomasterclass.com