Kye Kye: Fantasize

Band: Kye Kye

Record: Fantasize

Rating: 4/5

Similar Artists: Young Oceans, Lovelite, The Royal Royal

Genre: Indie/ Electronic/ Alternative Rock

Release date: January 2014

I don’t claim to be a master of music in any way. However, I can say I know a good band when I hear it. Based on this album I can tell you Kye Kye is a great band. The members in the band are clearly masters of their art. Kye kye have managed to successfully merge two seemingly different genres. This indie/ alternative/ electronic album is enjoyable from start to finish. From the very first song you know that what you are about to listen to will be unlike anything you’ve ever heard before. Well, from personal experience, I can say your ears are in for a real treat.

Kye kye are a band originally from Estonia (somewhere in Northern Europe). Currently they are based in Portland, Oregon. Since their debut album in 2011 they have taken on the world by storm. Their latest album “Fantasize” will not be a disappointment, whether you’re new to Kye kye or a long time fan. If you’d like to know more about the band you should check out the article on RELEVANT MAGAZINE.

Each song is a great melody, an impressive harmony of different sounds and instruments that get fused in an amazing way. Kye kye have a very unique sound, from the first song “I Already See It” which brings you straight into their distinct style, to the last “Celeste” which ends us off with a calmer version of the band, but one we still like to hear. In the middle you have the albums name sake, the song “Fantasize”, a short yet glorious symphony of music that rises and falls, with amazing lyrics that makes you want to listen to it more. My personal favourite is “People”, the third track on the album. This song is about trying to be happy with yourself, not looking to others for approval, and the struggle of doing so.

I think one of the best parts about this album is how readily available it is. The band has gone to the effort of making sure that their music can reach as wide an audience as possible. This album can be found on their website, as well as Soundcloud, Youtube, and multiple other websites, free and ready to be listened to by you. However, after listening to their album you’ll definitely want to buy it to support such an amazing band.

I highly recommend this album to anyone searching to add something new and exciting to their playlist.

Stay awesome everyone.

M

The Heart

Let's talk about music.  I want to pose a question to y'all. I'm not yet sure what the question is but hopefully I'll get there... I would really appreciate it if you would comment below so we can get a bit of insight on this topic.

I listen to a wide variety of secular and Christian music and I truly appreciate musical talent and skill.  I don't particularly enjoy music you'll hear on the radio (unless it's Matthew Mole - and he's on the radio a LOT).  I love to listen to music that brings in unconventional instruments, chord progressions, arrangements or unconventional and intentionally and thoughtfully-written lyrics.  In the past week I have found myself challenged with drawing a line. I have been listening to some great music but then hearing the lyrics and having to ignore what is being sung... Do I keep listening to the song or do I hit next? Do I continue listening to the album or stop listening to that band's music altogether?  Ahhhh what to do!? So much to think about! Let's just pretend I never heard the song and go back to ignorant bliss!

No ignorant bliss for you, suckers! ;) I feel that this is a heart issue and I think we have our first question.  How much does the heart of an artist/band affect the music and lyrics that are being produced? [1]

Jeremiah 17:10, I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.

Two bands who have got me thinking: Vampire Weekend and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. We know they are secular, so we are not going to expect their lyrics or intentions to uphold the name of Jesus. But when God, or Christianity is brought into their lyrics in a possibly blasphemous way, what do we do?

Another question could be, How much does the music you listen to affect you? Does it affect your behaviour, your mood? Do the lyrics inspire you to change or act upon something, negatively or positively? [2] This goes for secular and Christian music... Do lyrics, the actual music or a combination of the two resonate with you in a particular way?

Vampire Weekend's, Worship You (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wpvnEH0-78), and Edward Sharpe's, I Don't Wanna Pray (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qAZpQllC9w) really got me thinking... Now these are both bands that I LOVE and listening to their music puts me in a good mood, but I am left with such a foul taste in my mouth when my God is mocked.  It is a challenge, because listening to these songs requires some introspection and checking of my faith. They are musically and skilfully brilliant but I get the heeby jeebies when I realise what I'm listening to/singing along to.  My solution, if you will, is now to pray for these talented peeps to meet Jesus!:D

Matthew 12:36-37, I tell you, on the day of judgement people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. - My main man, Jesus.

So for me, it comes down to heart.  I am weary of what I proclaim and speak over my life.  If I want to listen to secular music, I need to make sure that my heart is secure in God and that the power of a sweet double-bass and banjo duo won't overwhelm my focus on Jesus. Because Jesus is so much sweeter and we are, of course, here on earth to proclaim His name and His good news!

I'm not sure if I asked the right questions, but feel free to comment anyway! :)

Love Sammy

Song of the Week: 25 April 2014

This week's Song of the Week..."Finally Free" off Rend Collective's latest album, The Art of Celebration. Enjoy!!

His Wounds Have Paid My Ransom

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3

Last week I was really touched, and to a degree, convicted while helping with the review of Matt Papa’s Easter EP. In the song entitled “This Changes Everything” he sings the amazing truth “HE IS ALIVE”, but in the same breath asks “so what?”.

Easter is so easily over-shadowed by the “holiday-ness” associated with it - the copious amounts of chocolate eggs and, of course, the Easter bunny…but have you taken some time to truly reflect on Jesus’ incredible sacrifice? I urge you to play the video below and really think about what Jesus did for you and me two thousand years ago.

The lyrics that hit home were “If this is true, this changes everything. If this is real, I’ve got to tell the world. If He is God, I’ve got a choice to make. If I believe, then I must follow Him.” How is this amazing truth changing my heart? How has His ultimate sacrifice altered who I am? Am I living as if I believe that God, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, sent His son for MY sins?

Brothers and sisters I want to encourage you to take some time and thank God for His incredible grace! How awesome it is that we serve such a loving Father! But at the same time I want you to think about how/if the amazing truth of Easter has changed your heart and mind.

I would like to end this post with one of my all-time favourite songs. I pray that the lyrics will stir your heart as they do mine.

“Behold a man upon the cross

My sin upon his shoulders

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers.

It was my sin that held him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breathe has brought me life

I know that it is finished.”

Peace and Love

A

Keep calm and know that Christ has risen

Easter Sunday… Resurrection Day… What does that mean? When Jesus came to this world, the Holy came amongst the unholy (you and me) so that the unholy could become holy (cleansed of our sins). Against any worldly possibility, Jesus rose from the grave, illustrating that death no longer has power over Christians.

John 11:25-26 says: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.’” The immense power of these words by Jesus can never be overstated. As a sinner, they are the words that give me hope and a heart full of joy.

Over the years, I have heard numerous colourful analogies for death… Death is just a change of address; Death is a door; Death is only the beginning of life. Thanks to what our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ did for us on that Cross, these statements are true of death for all Christians. We no longer need to fear death, because it does not hold any power over us.

That is what today means for us. Today is a celebration. Christ rose from the grave so that we could have eternal life. What an amazing God we serve!

Celebrate today. Tell the people in your life that you love them. Give thanks to the Lord for all His blessings… And keep calm, and know that Christ has risen!

Peace Amigos!

Jordz

Song of the Week: 18 April 2014

We could think of no better Easter song than Third Day's "Thief"...we pray that you all have a blessed Easter!

Matt Papa: The Easter EP

Artist: Matt Papa

Record: The Easter EP

Rating: 4/5

Similar artists: Third Day, Delirious

Genre: Alternative Rock, Worship
Release Date: April 2014
Length: 27:00

Matt Papa is a minister and recording artist based in North Carolina, U.S.A. He is currently an artist-in-residence and worship leader at The Summit Church, Durham. Matt has been writing and recording songs for over a decade and has released six albums. His music is characterised by deep and powerful lyrics with strong scriptural ties. He says that he treats each song as a sermon that people are to remember.

His latest release, The Easter EP, is appropriate in addressing important and often over-looked questions around Easter time.  The album deeply contemplates God's overwhelming act of love and the implications that this has on humans today.  To me, the album made be rethink the time of Easter and consider questions such as, how do we respond to the story of Christ? Has Easter been reduced to a time of chocolate bunnies and mundane, 'over-told' sermons about Jesus' death on the cross? Can this story ever be 'over-told'? Am I living as if Jesus is alive?

The third track on the EP, This Changes Everything is of a happy tone but when listening closely, I found a sense of urgency raised by the lyric, 'Did we miss something? Are we not supposed to cry when so many don't know that Jesus is alive?' Does the story of Jesus really change the way we view and respond to Grace in our daily lives?

While the album raises these important, introspective questions, it is also a joyous and celebratory expression of Jesus'overcoming! What happy, uplifting songs of worship! I thoroughly recommend that y'all go download this EP from Noisetrade (link) and play it while you're hunting for your eggs ;)

I pray that you have a happy and meaningful Easter!

Sammy

Run River North: Run River North

Artist: Run River North

Record: Run River North

Rating: 4/5

Similar Artists: Matthew Mole, Glen Hartmann, Sons of the East

Genre: Indie-folk rock

Release Date: 25 February 2014

Length: 43:48

Upon listening to this record for the first time, Run River North’s music bears a striking resemblance to that of, Of Monsters and Men, from the vocal harmonies to the subdued guitar lines and captivating choruses. When it comes to music, there are some albums that sound organic; they tap into a pure, unspoiled well of emotion that creates something spectacular. Albums such as these that sound abnormal are a rare treat.

Southern California indie folk group Run River North have dug deep and managed to produce a self-titled debut that taps into the roots of traditional folk blended with a grand, ensemble sound.

With the indie folk scene booming the way it has been lately, with so many good, new bands sprouting up every day, it is hard to stand out from the rest in terms of sound and musical quality. Run River North have not only been able to produce a professional and mature sounding album, they have also managed to provide listeners with heart felt lyrics, upbeat highs and thought-provoking lows, but as far as musicality goes, this is the kind of quality you would expect from a mature and long running band.

Run River North have managed to produce a debut record that is of the highest quality that is sure to act as a ‘spring board’ ready to catapult them into a very exciting and fruitful future in the music industry. I personally am really excited to see what is to come for them in the next couple of years.

Song of the Week has to be: ‘Excuses’

Stay fly guys

D

Song of the week 12 April 2014

Get the party started this weekend. Hillsong Young and Free with "Wake"

 

Travel steadily

 Psalm 37:34 says “Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act! Travel steadily along His path. He will honour you, giving you the land”. What a beautiful thought. How comforting it is to acknowledge that we can simply live our lives according to His plan knowing that everything will work out perfectly. How comforting it is to know that we can be blissfully patient, without fear, worry or concern. 

God, the Ruler of Universe, the Creator of Heaven and Earth is guiding our path and patiently setting up a great future for us. Literally, He created the entire universe, and He holds our whole life in His hands... How crazy is that?? There is no way we will ever comprehend that, but if we can just begin to understand how awesome it is, we can calm down and relax knowing “He’s got this”. I mean, I respect someone so much if they can create anything – whether it’s hand-made clothes, art… even creating a tasty meal out of a bunch of ingredients is something I admire! But creating the entire universe??? Wow, God has my eternal respect, admiration and trust!!! 

We do not need to rush His plans. We do not need to fear when we are in a rough patch that is seemingly lacking in direction, because that is only a short term scenario. We do not need to fear when we are in a job that does not satisfy us, or studying a course that feels irrelevant. Because a lifestyle in line with the path of Jesus, mixed with prayer and an openness to God’s voice will reveal His plan for our lives. “Travel steadily”, be open to God’s will, and it will come.

That is why I am currently content. I had lived a relatively directionless life since leaving school, but since the door closed on medicine, I feel a new sense of hope that God is working in a big way for my future. I have hope that His plans for me far exceed what would have been possible if I was confined to life as a medical student and eventually a doctor. That seems to be a bizarre statement… but I truly believe that even if we are in a great profession, and it is not where we are called to be, it will not satisfy us.

 I am still unsure of His plans, which is the difficult part because I do not have a fully logical answer when people ask me what career I am pursuing. But it is important that I present the same peace to others as I have within my heart; A comforting peace that says I am patient and trusting in the Lord, seeking wholeheartedly to follow His path, knowing that He will honour me because my life is dedicated to honouring Him.

I am now doing a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management, and I truly feel that this is the right place for me to be in. I’m not sure how God is going to use me in the business world, but I know that He will use me and I’m excited for the possibilities.

I know this is a journey that so many students are on. There are many reasons why we have decided to study the degree we are; sometimes it’s because that’s the only degree our matric marks allowed for us, sometimes it’s because of pure uncertainty post-matric, and sometimes we just think it’s a degree that sounds good (what sounds more prestigious than medicine??). But I’m a firm believer that it’s better to do something than to do nothing… along the journey God will reveal our true passions and talents to us, and we will be able to use past experiences to help us when we find our true calling.

So don’t fear if you feel uncertain of your path now… simply “travel steadily along His path”, and I am certain that He will honour you, so that you can honour Him.

 Peace amigos!

 Jordz

Unshakeable

My mom and dad both had different tactics to wake my siblings and I up in the morning for school. My mom would gently wake us up with a greeting. My dad would normally give us a gentle shake. On occasion one of my siblings, or me, would be tasked to wake the others up. If that was the case we’d get an earth rattling shake to ensure we woke up in time for school. It was not always a pleasant way to wake up, but it was effective.

I think every now and then God wants to shake us up. Once in a while I can tell that God is testing the foundations of my faith, just to make sure that they are strong. Like any good house, our faith should be built on something of substance, something hard and strong. If our faith is built on nothing, then when God tests us, our faith crumbles.

God uses these moments to reveal something about Himself to us. This something may be how loving He is, or it could be a reminder about His mercy and grace. Whatever the reason, I find it comforting to know that God is in control of the earthquake in my faith. The reason is normally something personal and relates to each of us based on where we are in our walk with God. We don’t go through life without God in control, without God there to comfort us in times of need. We experience a life knowing God is with us through every tremor in our faith and every calm moment.

Jesus never said that we would have an easy life as Christians. In fact, He said quite the opposite. However, we can take comfort in the fact that He understands what we are going through. Jesus experienced all kinds of sorrow and pain, as well as happiness and joy when He walked this earth two millennia ago.

Whenever I feel God shake me at my foundations it always takes me a while to restore my faith, to build it back up again, but it gets there. It may take weeks, or months, sometimes it takes years. I’ve learned over time to be patient with these things, not to rush to find an answer. God doesn’t see you any different because your faith has been shaken. He still loves you and wants you to know you aren’t going through this alone. Draw close to God; He doesn’t want you to run away, but run into His open arms and embrace Him.

“We often don’t always know why things happen to us and others in a given circumstance, but we know why we trust God who does know why.” – Dave Brown

Stay awesome everyone.

M

Song of the Week: 4 April 2014

So I just got back from LIV Village..that INCREDIBLE place I'm sure you've heard me speak about before. We ran the children's holiday club and we sang this at least twice a day...so here we go!

I couldn't find a version similar to the one we sang, but this is close enough!

The Remission Flow: Rhythms of Grace

Artist: The Remission Flow

Record: Rhythms of Grace

Rating: 4.5/5

Similar artists: Rend Collective

Genre: Alternative Rock
Release Date: 22 April 2014
Length: 42:42
Label: 7Core Music

“Take my life and do with it as you please”… This line from their song “Trust and Obey” encompasses who The Remission Flow is as God-following musicians. Their second studio album, Rhythms of Grace, is filled with a message of surrender, honour and love.

We had the incredible privilege of interviewing Darren Mulligan, the lead singer of the band. What started off as an interview focusing on their new album soon turned into a time of ministering and prayer.  We quickly realised that this band is unlike any we’ve encountered before.

Never before have we met a band that places so little emphasis on the music itself – it seems as if this is almost a by-product of their incredible desire to serve and honour our Loving Father. The humility with which Darren speaks, is the same humility that resonates through each and every song. Many of the lyrics communicate human weakness and the awe that is the Power of God.

Their goal for producing the album is to create a deep and intimate connection between the listeners and the heart of their songs. Darren’s voice has a distinguishably deep colour and quality which, when combined with the instrumentals, creates a unique sound made up of build-ups, breaks, open space and emotive choruses.

There could not be a more perfect song to end off this album than “It is Well”. Words cannot do justice to this... It is pure and it is true. Give it a listen.   

We strongly encourage you to buy this album and listen to it from start to finish….and then repeat!

Peace and Love

A