Christian Music News: June 2013

As I Lay Dying Members Respond To Lead Singer's Murder Plot Allegations

As most fans of As I Lay Dying may know, lead vocalist Tim Lambesis was arrested in early May for allegedly hiring a third party in a plot to murder his wife.

Tim's fellow As I Lay Dying members had this to say:

“To our fans,

As we post this, the legal process is taking its course and we have no more information than you do. There are many unanswered questions, and the situation will become clearer in the coming days and weeks. We'll keep you informed as best we can.

Our thoughts right now are with Tim, his family, and with everyone else affected by this terrible situation - and with our fans, whom we love and draw strength from.

Thank you for understanding, and as always, for your support of As I Lay Dying.

- Jordan, Nick, Phil, and Josh”

Update: Tim Lambesis has been released on $2m bail.

The judge said Mr Lambesis, who denies the charge, must stay away from his wife and children, wear a GPS monitor and observe strict travel restrictions.

International Songwriting Competition (ISC) Announces 2012 Gospel/Christian Winners 

The International Songwriting Competition (ISC), widely recognized as the world's leading songwriting event, recently announced its 2012 winners. There were over 20,000 entries from 119 different countries!

For a complete list of 2012 ISC winners, hear the winning songs, and download low-res photos of all winners go to  http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners

2012 Gospel/Christian Winners Include:
First Place
"All Things New" - Alan Thomas - Little Rock, AR, USA

Second Place
"Cross Of Love" - Derek Henbest (The Waiting Kind), Phil Wickham - Boise, ID, USA / San Diego, CA, USA

Third Place
"Chasing Me" - Joseph Pfeifer, Jimmy Robeson - San Diego, CA, USA

Falling Up Launches Kickstarter To Print Two New Albums In Physical Form

Rock band Falling Up has been working on two new projects for the past year and now they're asking for fan support via Kickstarter to get CD copies of the albums Hours and Midnight On Earthship printed up. As opposed to most ambitious Kickstarter campaigns, Falling Up is only asking for the humble $2,000 needed to print the projects, and they're already halfway there. However, the band hopes to raise more in order to have new band photos taken, a new song added, and finally, a music video produced.

Skillet Released Another Track Off Their New Album Rise  

Skillet released the title track off their forthcoming album, Rise, which is available June 25th. The song "Rise" is part of the band's first ever concept album, as singer John Cooper explains, "The narrative idea happened after we had 10 or 11 of the songs chosen. As we recorded them, we started to realize that there was something going on - that the album was really telling a story. Realizing that, I knew we needed to make it as powerful as we could." The title track is available on iTunes now.

MercyMe Celebrates Billboard Music Award Nomination

This multi-platinum and award-winning band is once again celebrating several nominations for the upcoming Billboard Music Award show and K-LOVE Fan Awards.

After 10 years of waiting, Amy Grant’s New Album, 'How Mercy Looks From Here' has finally been released!

Shine Bright Baby Debuts CD Dreamers, Releasing July 23^rd

BEC Recordings is set to release the first recording from the band Shine Bright Baby. The debut album titled Dreamers, is set to release July 23. 

"For Today’s" Prevailer Digital Film Has Been Released  

Prevailer features a 90 minute film about the band from their humble beginnings to wordwide success. It includes live footage that was filmed from the band's full summer spent on the 2012 Van's Warped Tour as well as from their 2012 Fight the Silence headline tour. The movie also features many of the band's official music videos (six in total). The Prevailer film was directed by former Devil Wears Prada's keyboardist, James Baney.

Family Force 5 Announce New Electronic Album Releasing June 18 

Family Force 5 announced a brand new project via their newsletter that will boast remixes as well as a few new tunes. The announcement read: "We have some really cool news - we are making... AN AMAZING ELECTRONIC ALBUM!! COMING JUNE 18th!!”

Hillsong Live Set to Release Their 22^nd Album, Named Glorious Ruins, In Early July 

Hillsong LIVE will release their 22nd live-recorded album, Glorious Ruins, on the 2^nd of July. This album unlike others was recorded live in two locations - London, England and Sydney, Australia - Glorious Ruins is consistent with Hillsong's passion to resource the church around the globe. The live album offers the church a new era of worship anthems that will cross multiple denominational and cultural boundaries.

"Ruins can speak of crushing defeat or perhaps of something abandoned, but the good news today is that the ruins come to life," explains Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church Brian Houston. "Through Jesus Christ what we look at is ruins that become glorious."