digital home of jbroots
Your lyrics shouldn’t be between shopping lists—and your songs sure as hell aren’t voice memos. Get organized with Hum. It collects all your lyrics, melodies and riffs in one sortable place. It tags by key, tuning and mood. Project by Aaron Shekey.
Freakonomics Podcast – 100 Ways to Fight Obesity
Freakonomics is a show about explaining the things around us – sometimes controversial, sometimes opinionated but always entertaining and thought provoking.
In this episode (37 min) our Freakonomics friends Steve Levitt and Stephen Dubner dive into obesity and invited a bunch of folks with nutritional and behavioral expertise. Shock for me hear stuff about our kids especially babies in utero may start life predisposed to sugar related illness. Geoffrey Canada makes excellent points about our urban communities and the black hole of taxes. He goes on about how the fight against fat may be more challenging than the war against drugs. Another cool lesson from this council of thinkers was linkage — meaning tighter coupling of the behavior and pos/neg outcomes makes a big impact in the choices that we make. It’s hard enough for adults but its also up to us to help our kids through the same. Train’em up! Proverbs 22:6
@jbroots
“He is not here; He has risen!” – Luke 24:6a
Happy Easter! He has risen indeed and He will return. Until then, Jesus asks us to Love one another. (John 13:34) On this special day, I hope you know that He loves you. He wants nothing from you, but He has something for you. Please take time this morning to join together and praise Him with family and friends.
Independent Christian artists are very special, but they have the same struggles and passions as the rest of us. Here’s a pair of quick bio’s for artists we don’t typically hear on mainstream Christian radio and their unusual journey. Son of an Army Vet, Je’kob graduated from Grace Christian High in 1999. Over the past decade Je’kob Washington was part of ‘Souljahz’ (Warner Bros. Records) and ‘The Nappy Roots’ (Nappy Roots Entertainment Group). He’s now on Save the City Records label out of Seattle. He made the choice to leave the big label red tape and step out on faith. Here’s more on Je’kob’s Bio.
Aaron Gillespie was the former drummer for ‘Underoath’ and lead singer for ‘The Almost’. Saved by his Dad at Age 5 and started leading worship at age 15. His band tours with non-Christian bands to spread the message of Christ to the bands and his audience. A few years ago through EMI records, he released ‘We Were Made For You’ and now signed for his first solo project with ‘The Compound’ recording studio. Here’s Aaron’s transparent story on YouTube. (http://aarongillespie.com/)
These two don’t look or sound like the ‘Christian’ artists we typically think of but their message is honest and true. They are uniquely broken and seek forgiveness just like us. I’d bet there’s a lot more artists like them who don’t get visibility like Je’kob and Aaron. What about all the artists who sign with a small or local record label or even those who create their own label? There’s no guarantee of wealth, riches or fame. They lean on their talent given by God to praise him, step out on faith to share the good news and encourage us to a better place. It’s not about money because McDonald’s pays better. Here’s what it took in 2012 for a musician (not a full band – just one person) to make minimum wage in a month ($1,160 US)
(Source Digital Music News) When this infographic was first presented in 2010, it took 12,399 iTunes track downloads in a month. Two short years later that count already shifted up to 14,500! That’s just minimum wage… for a month. I assume iTunes is the biggest platform for discovery because it’s pre-loaded on millions of computers and devices. There’s plenty of independent artists looking to make a few dollars on aggregation websites as well like Voice of Truth Radio and Indie Heaven but these websites see nowhere near the traffic of an iTunes or Amazon Music. So why do it? Every artist has his or her own story. This week I spoke about musical artists but in a way, we are all artists. We all have talent.
Thanks for allowing me to indulge and explore this week. I’m deep into Seth Godin’s newest book the Icarus Deception and seeking out my way to being an artist. Maybe this is my calling, maybe not. I was first inspired by Seth’s interview on the Good Life Project, but in reading the book Seth eloquently explains how the industrial economy has given way to the connected economy. The notions of doing as we are told: conform to do well in school, college, work hard and be assured retirement are just falling away. Increasingly we will feel the need to choose our own way, create art and chart our own path. Nothing new here, Jesus spoke the same encouragement in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). This week I’ve made an effort to create more content than I consumed (Thanks Tim O’Reilly). It’s good to post a short comment in Facebook or click a button to show approval, but there’s also great value in taking time to make something from nothing, curating or collecting pieces to make something your own. Take a risk. It may be embarrassing. It may be amazing. Don’t do it for attention, thanks or clicks. Do it for you. Do it in praise of the talents He’s given you. If you’re a musician, play your song the same as if 2 or 2000 were listening. If you know it’ll work – there’s no risk and simply put, it requires no faith. This return to blogging is my first step in responding to an inner voice encouraging me to get up and do more. I want to use the talents He’s given me. Over time, I’ll continue to pray and listen for Him. The men and women I highlighted this week share their music and their talents. Some showered with an amazing lifestyle and others blessed for their faith alone. They all have the same in common: they made the same decision to step out on faith a long time ago. I encourage you to do the same. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. Take a step forward. Leave a comment here, Facebook, Twitter or wherever you choose – but please share what you’ll do with your unique talent.
I love the Lord and thank Him for all he’s done for me. My friends and family know I’ve got issues but only through His teaching, sacrifice, and grace do I have an eternal hope. Forgive one another. Love one another. Thank you Jesus!
Previous Artist – Kris Allen
Sort of an odd post today… We live in interesting times — discovery might happen on a game show, errrrr reality TV. Not quite the same as American Bandstand but don’t tell Seacrest. In any case, I referenced American Idol a few posts back with Moriah Peters where she explained how judges expressed concern over her not having enough ‘life experience.’ I know that there were a variety of Christian artists on the show so I dug around a bit and found a post on Christian Artists on Idol. It was fun learning where are they now and here’s an incomplete listing of links to their Wiki-bio and videos…
Season 11: Colton Dixon – Love Has Come for Me, Never Gone (Lyrics, Acoustic), Let Them See You, You Are (Lyrics, Acoustic on Air1)
Season 10: Jacob Lusk – A Song for You, I Smile
Season 9: Lacey Brown – Let It Go
Season 8: Danny Gokey – My Best Days are Ahead of Me
Season 8: Kris Allen – Live Like We’re Dying, Vision of Love
Season 8: Scott MacIntyre – Amazing Grace
Season 7: Jason Castro – You Are (Acoustic on KLOVE), Only a Mountain (Lyrics)
Season 6: Jordin Sparks – One Step at a Time
Season 6: Chris Sligh – Anatomy of the Broken, Empty Me, Running Back to You
Season 6: Phil Stacey – If You Didn’t Love Me, You’re Not Shaken, Some Kind of Love
Season 6: Melinda Doolittle – It’s Your Love
Season 5 – Mandisa: What Christmas Means to Me, My Deliverer, Stronger, Lose My Soul with TobyMac and Kirk Franklin
Season 5 – Chris Daughtry: Home, Songwriter ‘Rise’ sung by Colton Dixon, ‘Send Me All Your Angels’ sung by Kris Allen
Season 4 – Carrie Underwood: Jesus Take the Wheel, Don’t Forget to Remember Me
Season 3 – George Huff: A Brighter Day
Season 2 – Ruben Studdard: Flying Without Wings. Love Him Like I Do
Season 1 – RJ Helton: My Devotion
Bonus – Anthony Evans Jr The Voice Season 2 singing Adele, with Lecrae and Your Great Name
Odd to see a Christian post is what’s primarily a tech/geek blog? Well, Easter’s almost here and I think there’s a lot of positive, uplifting music ready for discovery. I decided to post a link spotlighting a newer Christian artist/group and hope you discover new music or perhaps even more. There’s plenty of praise music/concert/unplugged/lyric videos on this YouTube playlist I setup that goes through dub-step, R&B, electronic, rock, jam-bands, ska, acoustic, latin and gospel tracks. Any artists out there you recently discovered?
I hope to post new stuff each day as Easter approaches. I love the Lord and thank Him for all he’s done for me. My friends and family know I’ve got issues but only through His teaching, sacrifice, and grace do I have an eternal hope. Forgive one another. Love one another. Thank you Jesus!
Previous Artist – Worship Central
Yesterday I share Kickstarter as a source for new talent but today’s Good Friday. The Christian message is the central reason to raise our voice in praise, so why not highlight an entire school for worship leaders! Tim Hughes and Al Gordon share highlights about the Worship Central Course and the Academy to “Encounter God, Equip the Worshiper and Empower the Local Church” where they’ve enabled thousands of worship leaders with tools and training to spread the Gospel. Worship Central launched in 2006 from Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) church in the UK. This church also launched “Alpha” in 1977, a now global course that “gives everyone the opportunity to explore the meaning of life in a relaxed, friendly setting.” There’s plenty to be explored on the YouTube channels for both Worship Central and Alpha. While you’re in YouTube, be sure to check out buckets of videos on Soul Survivor and Elevation Worship.
Odd to see a Christian post is what’s primarily a tech/geek blog? Well, Easter’s almost here and I think there’s a lot of positive, uplifting music ready for discovery. I decided to post a link spotlighting a newer Christian artist/group and hope you discover new music or perhaps even more. There’s plenty of praise music/concert/unplugged/lyric videos on this YouTube playlist I setup that goes through dub-step, R&B, electronic, rock, jam-bands, ska, acoustic, latin and gospel tracks. Any artists out there you recently discovered?
I hope to post new stuff each day as Easter approaches. I love the Lord and thank Him for all he’s done for me. My friends and family know I’ve got issues but only through His teaching, sacrifice, and grace do I have an eternal hope. Forgive one another. Love one another. Thank you Jesus!
Previous Artist – Steve Duede
This has been a fun week starting conversations about artists who’ve seen success and now time to shift gears for a few days. Where will tomorrow’s stars rise? I’ll bet we’ll find more than a few stars from Kickstarter.com, a crowd-sourced haven of undiscovered talent in products, games, computers, art, movies and a whole lot of music! NOTE: This week’s Social Media Marketing Podcast does an excellent job of covering this new proving grounds and how to excel within it. For now — let’s talk about Steve and Christian Blues like Judgement Day!
Steve Duede’s one of our worship pastors at Eagle Brook Church in the burbs of the Twin Cities in Minnesota – one church in many locations. This month Steve held the CD release party for his first album of Christian Blues on Kickstarter: Bad Case of the Blues. By his own testimony ‘Blues does a great job of presenting the pain and frustration we all feel in life’ but he’s an amazing musician looking to do is balance it with a message of hope. Every once in a while the band will bust out rockin’ blues, soul and folk like Little Ray’s Night Out, Crossroads, What’d I Say, Desire, I’ll Fly Away or Higher Ground. In the spring Steve, Noah, Mark and the many talented musicians at Eagle Brook have host Ribs’-n-Blues nights as a fun night of outreach to help spread the Good News of Jesus Christ! As Easter approaches, I have no doubt they have big plans again. What an amazing church. It’s my pleasure to serve with you.
So back to you – have you funded a Kickstarter project? Which one? Do you have a worship leader who deserves some praise and promotion? Drop a comment below on either topic and let’s discuss the multitude of talents that God’s given to us and the people around us.
Odd to see a Christian post is what’s primarily a tech/geek blog? Well, Easter’s almost here and I think there’s a lot of positive, uplifting music ready for discovery. I decided to post a link spotlighting a newer Christian artist/group and hope you discover new music or perhaps even more. There’s plenty of praise music/concert/unplugged/lyric videos on this YouTube playlist I setup that goes through dub-step, R&B, electronic, rock, jam-bands, ska, acoustic, latin and gospel tracks. Any artists out there you recently discovered?
I hope to post new stuff each day as Easter approaches. I love the Lord and thank Him for all he’s done for me. My friends and family know I’ve got issues but only through His teaching, sacrifice, and grace do I have an eternal hope. Forgive one another. Love one another. Thank you Jesus!
Previous Artist – Jamie Grace
Ever heard of Tobymac? How bout having him in your first music video? Yup, Jamie Grace is gifted, blessed and loaded with talent. Born in 1991, raised in Atlanta, GA and diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome at age 11. Jamie is a singer, rapper, songwriter and Dove Award Winner for New Artist of the Year 2012. With a folk, hip-hop, acoustic Christian vibe, she’s a God Girl and she’s making it all happen with Tobymac at Gotee Records. She’s part of the Revolve Tour this year with Britt Nicole, Group 1 Crew and Hawk Nelson. What is it? “Designed for 6th through 12th grade girls, The Revolve Tour: this is Love is an unforgettable, high-energy event filled with cool speakers, authors and award-winning music artists that YOU relate to.” Jamie’s doing all the right things and already reaching out to teach those around her.
Odd to see a Christian post is what’s primarily a tech/geek blog? Well, Easter’s almost here and I think there’s a lot of positive, uplifting music ready for discovery. I decided to post a link spotlighting a newer Christian artist/group and hope you discover new music or perhaps even more. There’s plenty of praise music/concert/unplugged/lyric videos on this YouTube playlist I setup that goes through dub-step, R&B, electronic, rock, jam-bands, ska, acoustic, latin and gospel tracks. Any artists out there you recently discovered?
I hope to post new stuff each day as Easter approaches. I love the Lord and thank Him for all he’s done for me. My friends and family know I’ve got issues but only through His teaching, sacrifice, and grace do I have an eternal hope. Forgive one another. Love one another. Thank you Jesus!
Previous Artist – Francesca Battistelli
It wasn’t until I started writing this blog series of posts did I realize that Francesca only has three albums. BTW – the first shouldn’t count since it was an independent production. That would mean about four years ago her first real album resulted in a #1 Christian album. Second album another #1 Christian album. I draft this post finding the lead track to her now third album with Fervent Records, a Christian division of Warner Music Group. Raised in New York City, she’s got great company at Fervent with Group 1 Crew, Chris August and Big Daddy Weave. Seems like everything she touches turns to gold but I get ahead of myself…
She exploded on the Contemporary Christian Music scene with ‘Free to Be Me’ (Acoustic version lets you hear the rich timber in her voice) a few years ago and took that to a Grammy Nom. (Reminder – first album) She followed up by dancing in the rain to ‘Beautiful, Beautiful’ off the same album. Last year, she playfully danced across the airwaves again with ‘This is the Stuff’. Hard for me to think that Francesca’s a ‘new’ artist but based on achievements in a short time period, perhaps one of the very brightest.
Odd to see a Christian post is what’s primarily a tech/geek blog? Well, Easter’s almost here and I think there’s a lot of positive, uplifting music ready for discovery. I decided to post a link spotlighting a newer Christian artist/group and hope you discover new music or perhaps even more. There’s plenty of praise music/concert/unplugged/lyric videos on this YouTube playlist I setup that goes through dub-step, R&B, electronic, rock, jam-bands, ska, acoustic, latin and gospel tracks. Any artists out there you recently discovered?
I hope to post new stuff each day as Easter approaches. I love the Lord and thank Him for all he’s done for me. My friends and family know I’ve got issues but only through His teaching, sacrifice, and grace do I have an eternal hope. Forgive one another. Love one another. Thank you Jesus!
Previous Artist – Rend Collective Experiement
Their newest effort is a live album recorded in front of a campfire?! Yup, a bunch of people praising the Lord on a beach with a fire, some instruments and a whole lot of love! They released it in January with Integrity Music part of Kingsway Records, a British Christian label. Looks like they will be part of the Struggle Tour in April. Starting 2007 they formed as a community and grew to ~100 ‘musicians, artists, bank workers, teachers’, not really a band and started with praise lyrics to a folk-rock Christian experimental vibe. They have a few albums but here’s a better telling of their story but I first heard about the group on the Relevant Podcast hosted by Cameron Strang and watched them in the Relevant Studio. WOW! (BTW – Relevant Media Group is AMAZING!! …but that’s a post for another day.)
Why is Roots into this?! We’re seeing a bit of a throwback to natural music highlighted by the praise showered on Mumford & Sons at the Grammy Awards this year. My Minnesota peeps may not know but I was raised in what used to be a rural community in Virginia. It was swallowed up by the sprawl of Washington DC’s reach of track housing and cookie cutter subdivisions of Northern Virginia but I can claim to growing up on well water until my grand dad led a team to get water/sewer lines to our community. And under no conditions can you touch my Grandma’s radio, which produced a 24/7 stream of 98.7 WMZQ DC’s country music station since 1977.
Odd to see a Christian post is what’s primarily a tech/geek blog? Well, Easter’s almost here and I think there’s a lot of positive, uplifting music ready for discovery. I decided to post a link spotlighting a newer Christian artist/group and hope you discover new music or perhaps even more. There’s plenty of praise music/concert/unplugged/lyric videos on this YouTube playlist I setup that goes through dub-step, R&B, electronic, rock, jam-bands, ska, acoustic, latin and gospel tracks. Any artists out there you recently discovered?
I hope to post new stuff each day as Easter approaches. I love the Lord and thank Him for all he’s done for me. My friends and family know I’ve got issues but only through His teaching, sacrifice, and grace do I have an eternal hope. Forgive one another. Love one another. Thank you Jesus!
Previous Artist – Moriah Peters
Moriah Peters is infections in a good way. She’s got a great, natural singer/songwriter appeal that matches up with her life story being raised in Chino, CA. She released her first album, “I Choose Jesus” on Reunion Records (a Christian Sony Music subsidiary), last year. I heard she was discovered by Tenth Avenue North and will be part of the Struggle Tour in April. On her YouTube channel you can subscribe to see videos like her duet with US. Don’t miss her ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ duo with Jamie Grace but one of my favorite videos is when she spoke on her 5 months on her American Idol tryouts on Sprit 105.3.
Odd to see a Christian post is what’s primarily a tech/geek blog? Well, Easter’s almost here and I think there’s a lot of positive, uplifting music ready for discovery. I decided to post a link spotlighting a newer Christian artist/group and hope you discover new music or perhaps even more. There’s plenty of praise music/concert/unplugged/lyric videos on this YouTube playlist I setup that goes through dub-step, R&B, electronic, rock, jam-bands, ska, acoustic, latin and gospel tracks. Any artists out there you recently discovered?
I hope to post new stuff each day as Easter approaches. I love the Lord and thank Him for all he’s done for me. My friends and family know I’ve got issues but only through His teaching, sacrifice, and grace do I have an eternal hope. Forgive one another. Love one another. Thank you Jesus!
Previous Artist – Capital Kings
MinneSeries 