Categories
Female Lead Music Religion

The Top 5 Unheard

1.Oslo by De Joie
De Joie really captures the joy of thriving where you belong. Listening to this song put a smile on my face and I hope it will do the same for you.
written by Dallas Fluegel
2.Disclosure by The Silent Critics
When I first heard The Silent Critics I was hooked. The music and lyrics were interesting, but the vocals were breathtaking.

written by Dallas Fluegel
3.If Only You Knew by An Atlas To Follow
An Atlas To Follow is a magical song that you will not regret listening to. Get yourself into your best music environment and enjoy the music.
written by Dallas Fluegel
4.Alaye by JKS Sundar, JKA Shalini
Our only foreign language song (so far) is made for U.S. radio. If you like the current EDM trend you’re going to want to hear this.
written by Dallas Fluegel
5.You Are Mighty by Melonie Caudle
This song truly captures how amazing and mighty God is. His unfailing love are things that we all need to be reminded of on a daily basis. I hope you get as much from this song as I do.
written by Shaina Hawkins

You can go directly to our Top 5 playlist on Spotify or YouTube.

Categories
Religion Tennessee

Unheard Nashville, Tennessee Music

Breathe Again by Swingin Hammers

Nashville Tennessee’s Swingin Hammers is Benjamin Rupe, father, husband, and a shockingly authentic human being. Ben describes himself as a fighter by nature and his mission is to “challenge unto life.” What does that mean!? I’m sure we can find out. Swingin Hammers currently sits at 6,473 monthly Spotify listeners making him a prime candidate for our artists spotlight.

Swingin Hammers released his self titled album in 2017 and Quite, Vol 1 in 2020. The song that really got my attention was Breathe Again from the Album Swingin Hammers. It is a raw, heartfelt ballad expressing deep, emotional truths. The song is simple, but stunning. It can have me nearly in tears and smiling in the same 4 minutes. There is so much I can say about it, but Benjamin was kind enough to tell me about the song and I will share that with you after you give the song a listen. Lyrics, Meaning, & Commentary below.

LYRICS (Courtesy of jesusfreakhideout.com)

Stepping out into the light
Look around you say it’s alright
It hurts to peel the bandage off
But I see now just what it costs

It’s like I can breathe again
It’s like I’ve got a heart within
It’s like I can feel again
Just learning to breathe you in

When I was clear, oh so honest
About the doubts and confusions in my mind
You did not, no, cast me down to hell
You just looked at me and you kindly smiled

It’s like I can breathe again
It’s like I’ve got a heart within
It’s like I can feel again
Just learning to breathe you in

Oh cause I been runnin’
Away from confession
I been lookin’ for healing
Where it’s not mine to find
Without the pain of a strong love
That loves enough to wound

It’s like I can breathe again
It’s like I’ve got a heart within
It’s like I can feel again
Just learning to breathe you in

It’s like I can breathe again
It’s like I’ve got a heart within
It’s like I can feel again
Gotta learn to, gotta learn to breathe you in

Meaning (according the author)

“Breathe Again is a song about how excruciatingly painful and how unbelievably freeing confession is. It was written with my porn addiction in mind mostly, but also my previous life in alcoholism as well. At least those are the two most tangible ones that I think of. I remember having to confess that sin of porn over and over again and how every single time it felt like a bandage that just needed [to be] ripped off. It was exhausting and TERRIFYING every time, but it would free me of my sin. All of that’s based off of 1 John 1:7-8. Here: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. All that to say, Jesus is incredibly kind to us.”

Commentary

When the Church is done right it is a breathtakingly beautiful institution. I remember my first taste of confession. I remember being afraid to say what I was going through. I remember being scared of being kicked out of the group. And then I remember my friends responding with a smile and some of the most powerful words in the world, “Me too.”

You did not, no, cast me down to hell
You just looked at me and you kindly smiled

Wow. What a moment. To know that I wasn’t alone in my brokenness meant so much to me. Overtime I have become fully known and fully loved. Being fully known means my church group knows my past and they know my thought life, past and current. They have heard the darkest, most vile thoughts of mine and have welcomed me into their home. It’s crazy. It’s wonderful. It is powerful.

Benjamin says Swingin Hammer’s mission is to ‘challenge unto life.’ I think this means he wants encourage people to not live a life of mediocrity. The life he is imploring us to is one of authenticity and meaning where we can be fully known and fully loved, then fully know and fully love others.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.” ~ Jesus in John 10:10

If you want to hear Benjamin’s additional commentary on the song you can find it below.

You can find Swingin Hammers on their website or follow them on Facebook, Youtube, or Spotify. You can get a free copy of Swingin Hammers most recent album here. You can buy the self titled album, Swingin Hammers on iTunes or Amazon.

As always feel free to share the music, the website, or maybe even both with your fellow music lovers.

Categories
Religion Uncategorized

Why Worry? Where’s Your Faith?

Above the Golden State is a west coast surf rock band originating from Portland, Oregon. ATGS is the moniker for the artist Michael Hughes Watson. The music is far from your typical rock-pop, exercising the innovation one would expect from an independent, “Keep Portland weird”, stick it to the man/disenfranchised North West culture. With only 2,456 monthly listeners, three singles, and two albums (their last one Nations being released in 2018) it has me wondering why they do not have more listeners.

“Never Before” is the eighth song on his album Nations. This song reminds its listeners not to fear the unexpected, because God is near. He knows our future, our present, and our past. God gives us a sense of joy and peace letting us know that he knows what lies in front of us, even before we do. That in itself should give us hope.

“Never Before” – Above the Golden State

Oh my soul, come meet your end
Be caught up in his arms
Like embers in the wind
Oh my joy, sink deeper in
Give sound to my response
Carried in a song

And I won’t fear
‘Cause you are near
I finally feel
When I lower my eyes and kneel

I’m alive like never before
And I feel my worries no more
In my heart, in my soul
Your spirit draws me close to you
My life like never before

Oh my love, this perfect love
It strengthens me to face
The fears that hold my faith
And slow my death
Come be my rest
How sweet the cold room breeze
Wakes up in a dreams

Then I won’t fear
‘Cause you are here
I finally see
When I close my eyes to sleep

I’m alive like never before
And I feel my worries no more
In my heart and in my soul
Your spirit draws me close to you, oh lord
I’m alive like never before

I won’t fear
‘Cause you are here
Now I finally see
When I close my eyes to sleep

I’m alive like never before
And I feel my worries no more
In my heart and in my soul
Your spirit draws me close to you, oh lord
I’m alive like never before
And I feel my worries no more
In my heart and in my soul
Your spirit draws me close to you, oh lord
I’m alive like never before

DIVING DEEP

This song works to show that we are alive in the Lord, God Almighty. Even in our weakest moments, we are alive in him. There is no need for us to worry about the things that we have no control over. All that does is add to our daily stress and burdens. We should be giving our worries, fears, and burdens to Jesus Christ.

Above the Golden State does an interesting job of exploring the patience and mercy of God, showing listeners that our worries disappear in his presence, “And I feel my worries no more
In my heart and in my soul.”
We live in an uncertain word. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. The stresses and hardships from life get to us all at one point or another. “Oh, my love, this perfect love. It strengthens me to face the fears that hold my faith” if God is with us and for us, then why do we worry?

This song serves as a reminder that worrying, will not fix life. But when we let out a deep breath, breathe and let God take control, then we are allowing him to be in charge of our life. In charge of our worries, fears, doubts, insecurities, and everything in between. God will keep us safe and then we will feel alive “like never before”

How has God’s patience and mercy made an impact in your life?

Categories
Female Lead Religion

Everything Happens For a Reason

Melonie Owen Caudle is a wife and mother with a huge passion to see women connect with God on a deep and intimate level. She is a singer and songwriter, with currently only 3 monthly listeners on Spotify, but deserves far more. She is currently the Women’s Director at New Covenant Church in Longview, Texas and serves on the Ladies Council. God is the center of her universe. She transparently shares her own personal life experiences with the hope of helping other women overcome their struggles. She desires nothing more than to see women have daily, deep, rich, life-changing conversations with God.

“You Are Mighty” is the fourth song on her album Ready Now and it is my personal favorite. This song truly captures how amazing and mighty God is. His generosity, his mercy, his unfailing love are things that we all need to be aware of and reminded of on a daily basis. I hope you get as much from this song as I do.

You Are Mighty” – Melonie Owen Caudle

Who is there among the heavens who’s like you God,
There is none that compares
And upon the Earth, who contends your majesty
Lord, no mortal man would dare.

Cause you are mighty, you are holy
I praise you from the depths of my soul.
You are worthy, you are mercy,
I’m so deeply in love with you,
You are mighty. Yeah.

Who is there among the heavens who’s like you God,
There is none that compares
And upon the Earth, who contends your majesty
Lord, no mortal man would dare.

Cause you are mighty, you are holy
I praise you from the depths of my soul (depths of my soul).
You are worthy, you are mercy,
I’m so deeply in love with you (with you).
You are grandeur, you are splendor, beauty bows
down at your feet. You are mighty. Yeah.

Ooooh.

There is none like you, none like you Jesus,
None like you my God.
There is none like you, none like you Jesus,
none like you my God.
There is none.
There is none like you, none like you Jesus,
none like you my God.

Cause you are mighty, you are holy
I praise you from the depths of my soul (depths of my soul).
You are worthy, you are mercy,
I’m so deeply in love with you (with you).
You are grandeur, you are splendor, beauty bows
down at your feet (at your feet). You are mighty. Yeah. Oh.

You are mighty. Yeah.
Oh, you are mighty. Yeah.
You are mighty.

DIVING DEEP

There are times in our lives when we don’t know what step is next, we don’t understand why we are in the place that we are in or how long we are going to be there. We hear the phrase “everything happens for a reason” but not everyone takes that to heart.

Melonie Owen Caudle does a fabulous job of exploring the grace and mercy of God, showing her listeners that he is worthy of our praise,

“Cause you are mighty, you are holy I praise you from the depths of my soul”. Although we may not know the next step in our lives, God does. Sometimes he shows us or gives us a glimpse of things beforehand and other times, he requires us to trust in him. Have faith and take it one day at a time. “There is none like you, none like you Jesus, none like you my God” there is no superior or omniscient being like God. No one even compares.

This song reminds me that even when I’m at my lowest, God is always there. He’s all seeing, all powerful, forever gracious, and merciful, even when we don’t deserve it. And a majority of the time, we don’t. This song serves as a good reminder, showing listeners that there is something in this world bigger and greater than us.

How has God’s glory and mercy made an impact in your life?