A10 Christian Mission

Amid nearly 4.5 million career album sales, numerous awards and consistent chart-topping radio success in an unprecedented six-year span, Casting Crowns lead singer and songwriter Mark Hall has never strayed from the group’s main purpose: “Present discipleship through music.” The band’s message remains rooted in the youth ministry Hall has led on a weekly basis since 1999. The result with each new song collection is a fresh, relevant perspective on our journey with Christ.

“Our main purpose, above all else, is to know Him more,” shares Hall.

It’s this unwavering pursuit that has inspired Casting Crowns’ latest release, Until The Whole World Hears, an offering of encouragement, challenge, hope and truth to a world in need of Jesus. “As we travel through our journey as Christians, we come to a realization there are lots of people out there who need to hear about Jesus,” Hall says. “Through our maturity, we begin to see the world as God sees the world and work with purpose to show people Jesus, until the whole world hears.”

www.castingcrowns.com

BarlowGirl has always represented an interesting dichotomy; tender-hearted, beautiful young women who aren’t afraid to take an aggressive, almost warrior-like stance when it comes to spreading the gospel and serving God. That fiery obedience reverberates throughout their latest release, Love & War.

“There’s just an urgency to this album,” says Alyssa Barlow. “We’ve always wanted to raise the banner and to really let people know who God is, what He’s doing and how He’s moving. It’s always been something on our hearts, but with this album there was this underlying current of ‘the time is now!’ The time is now to rise up and to get what God has for us. The time is now to rise up and learn what it means to be loved by God, to learn what it means to be set apart, to learn what it means to embrace our destiny and embrace our calling to the extreme. That is the thread running through all of these songs.”

Love & War was releaded on September 8, 2009.

www.barlowgirl.com

BarlowGirl supports www.mercyministries.org

All Star United debuted in 1997 with a self-titled LP that was the subject of much acclaim - earning a Grammy nomination as the year's best Rock/Gospel album, it launched four CCM chart-topping hits, including the aptly titled "Smash Hit."

The band is known for clever and sometimes sarcastic lyrics, as they frequently use their songs as vehicles to lampoon perceived excesses in Western culture. Their musical style combines elements of alternative rock and Britpop[1], and is based around melodically powerful choruses.

Their sixth album, The Good Album is out now.

www.allstarunited.com

The duo—sisters Tal & Acacia—grew up in Portland, Maine, in a decidedly Christian household and attended an inner-city school their parents ran for underprivileged youth. Tal & Acacia first began songwriting and playing guitar as teenagers, while the family spent an insightful year in Russia volunteering with the Salvation Army social services. After returning from Russia, the sisters developed a stronger sense of the world during separate collegiate pursuits in opposite regions of North America.

Now, in their early twenties, Tal & Acacia aim to create songs that wake listeners and refresh the soul “like a cold splash of water for those who hear it.” Especially in desert times, the songwriting duo’s music ministers and inspires. Realizing that sometimes we slumber in our walk with God and take a hiatus from His presence, Tal & Acacia desire to stir listeners to become alive again.

Musically, Tal & Acacia bear resemblance to such acts as Feist, Norah Jones, Imogen Heap and Sixpence None The Richer, and credit songwriting inspiration from artists like Keith Green and Stevie Wonder. The quirky pop sound of Tal & Acacia’s debut album, titled Wake Me, is a breath of fresh air—defined by catchy choruses—and girded in joy. Distinctly rich and infectious, Wake Me intuitively embraces the clash between the principled, spiritual inner self and a confusing, glittery outer culture. Borrowing a line from “The Noah Song,” Wake Me is also an awakening for Tal & Acacia as the duo enters a new phase, unfolding as artists and subtle social commentators.

Release Date: January 26, 2010

www.talandacacia.com