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After almost two decades in the studio, on the road and on stage, NewSong remains one of the most musically vibrant and evangelistically driven groups in Christian music today. Known for such classic songs as "Arise, My Love," "Miracles," and "Jesus To The World (Roaring Lambs)," the band has scored 16 #1 singles, five Gospel Music Association Dove Award nominations, numerous songwriting awards, and five of the Top 100 Christian radio singles of the past decade. One of the top touring bands in Christian music, NewSong is well known for their success with the multi-artist tour format. Their popular "Jam" tours give NewSong the opportunity to share the stage with other top artists in Christian music, while most importantly, reaching youth with a message of hope. In short, NewSong continues to be ripe with innovative ideas, creating new opportunities to share Jesus with the world.
Years of experience have taught NewSong that being passionate about their calling requires them to be open to change, ready for growth. Perhaps the most obvious change in NewSong has been in the band itself. In addition to the leadership of founding member and chief songwriter Eddie Carswell, the signature powerhouse vocals of founding member Billy Goodwin, and the accomplished guitar playing, songwriting and studio production ability of Leonard Ahlstrom, NewSong enters the 21st century with three new members. Michael O'Brien, already familiar to many in Christian music as one of the genre's most distinctive vocalists as well as a gifted songwriter, joined NewSong in 1999. In addition, Steve Reischl, a passionate vocalist and guitar player with a progressive bent, and Matt Butler, a multi-talented musician lending keyboard, cello, violin, accordion and B3 organ capabilities, both joined the band in 2000, adding unique new musical and vocal dimensions to the group.
"One of the great things about NewSong is our diverse backgrounds and musical perspectives," says O'Brien. "Each member brings an individual style or component to what we do, and when it all comes together on stage, it's a wall of sound that seems to energize audiences."
Diversity and unity-and communitybuilding-keeps NewSong reaching new heights, in music and ministry. "All these guys are such talented musicians. We're not really a band or a vocal group; we're a balance of both," Carswell says. "And it's exciting to see how God is still shaping and showing us what to do. Everything is working out according to God's time and His will."
With an eye toward musical growth, NewSong has taken more creative control over the music they make, fully concentrating on the message. The result is a distinctively diverse new album, Sheltering Tree, that combines not only the award-winning songwriting skills of Ahlstrom, Carswell and O'Brien, but also the band's considerable and varied vocal styles and musicianship. Six men, 11 songs and hundreds of ideas combine to deliver a powerful, encouraging message. Produced by Ahlstrom, Brian Tankersley (Shania Twain, Sawyer Brown) and Chris Harris (CeCe Winans,Kathy Troccoli), Sheltering Tree, in essence, encourages believers to spend time with the Lord," Carswell says. "But it is also about the strength and hope found under thesheltering tree of His grace and through the gifts of friendship and prayer. It's about how much we need Him, how much we need each other, and how much the world needs hope."
Spanning themes such as friendship ("Sheltering Trees"), servanthood ("Nothing Without Christ), grief and loss ("God and Time"), and the importance of walking daily with Christ ("Red Letter Day"), Sheltering Tree widens NewSong's artistic path, delivering the powerful pop melodies, strong vocals and lyrical punch, which have become this group's musical signature.
Written by Carswell and Ahlstrom, the album's title cut, "Sheltering Trees," was inspired by a chapter from Chuck Swindoll's book, David: A Man of Passion and Destiny. Challenging listeners that "we all need sheltering trees/friends in our lives that get down on their knees/and lift us up before the King of Kings," the song has a special meaning for NewSong because of the company of friends that joined them on the recording. "Mac Powell (Third Day), Rebecca St. James, Charlie Peacock, Carolyn Arends, Fred Hammond and Natalie Grant all contributed in a very passionate way," says Carswell, "and in a way that I hope will encourage people to work on their relationships with friends. These kinds of friendships are a gift from God."
In 2001, Howard Publishing plans to release a book, Sheltering Trees: The Power, Strength and Refuge of Friendship, inspired by the song. Co-authored by Carswell, the book features compelling stories of friendship from Bob Briner and Arthur Ashe, Stormie Omartian, Point of Grace, Chonda Pierce, Lucy Swindoll, and Rebecca St. James, among others.
Already firmly established as innovators in Christian music, NewSong wanted to broaden their sights and do something different with their touring ministry. The incredible growth of NewSong's "Jam" events is just one example of how the group has achieved that goal. What began five years ago as a couple of small multi-artist concerts has grown into one of the largest draws in Christian music. The "January Jam" and "Summer Jam" events are two of the industry's most exciting tours, having brought together a wide range of artists over the years, including Rebecca St. James, Clay Crosse, Big Tent Revival, Margaret Becker, Out of the Grey and LaRue, among others, for an evening of music and ministry that reaches youth groups and families for a reasonable ticket price. Over the course of 32 "Jam" dates in 2000, more than 3100 decisions for Christ were made.
"It is our mission to open the doors wide to the community and remove the barrier of expensive tickets," says Carswell. "It's a risky endeavor, but God has been faithful and continues to meet our needs. We know this approach isn't right for every artist, but it is what God has called us to do."
NewSong has also continued to experience incredible response to their annual Winter and Summer "Xtreme Youth Conferences." An intensive two-day summit for youth, the conferences feature some of Christian music's top artists, including the Newsboys, Point of Grace and Audio Adrenaline, as well as top youth speakers Josh McDowell and Dawson McAllister, among others. In 2001, 30,000 youth are expected at conferences in Houston; Columbus, Ohio; Panama City Beach, Florida; Gatlinburg, Tennessee; and Branson, Missouri.
But numbers don't tell the whole story. As rare as it may be, says Goodwin, the connection shared by the artists is a big factor in the success of these events. "Typically, in our line of work, everyone has his or her own ministry, and we tend to compare ourselves to others. But in working together at these 'Jam' events and 'Xtreme' Conferences, this Christian community becomes more connected. We have seen God do unbelievable things."
Another blessing accomplished through the ministry of NewSong is the sponsorship of thousands of children through their partnership with international relief organization World Vision. In 2000 alone, more than 4,000 children have been fed, clothed and given educational opportunities through NewSong's promotional efforts at each concert on behalf of World Vision. In addition, Carswell, Ahlstrom, and O'Brien penned "Hope Changes Everything," a song inspired by the band's partnership with the organization. The song is included on Sheltering Tree and is also the title cut of Integrity Music's multi-artist tribute album honoring World Vision's ongoing commitment to children. "Our relationship with World Vision is one of the most important and exciting aspects of what we do," says Ahlstrom. "I can't imagine not giving back in this way."
Without ministry, without reaching out to touch the lives of others in word, in melody and in deed, NewSong believes music is meaningless. And when the music carries the hope of the Gospel, there is no such thing as being too creative or too innovative in taking that message to the masses. After two decades, NewSong is reaching more people and making more of an impact than ever before.
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