Deitrick Haddon Interview 'R.E.D.: Restoring Everything Damaged'

I did this interview for the Christian Post on Wednesday. This version is extended more than the one online. http://www.christianpost.com/news/deitrick-haddon-pastors-projecting-perfection-is-a-problem-for-the-church-98364/

Gospel singer/pastor Deitrick Haddon chatted with the Christian Post about the release of his 12th studio album, R.E.D.: Restoring Everything Damaged, and its first single is "Have Your Way."

Haddon also spoke on his message for the new album along with leaving a legacy of faith and his new show, "Preachers of LA," where his goal is to stop people from "preaching perfection" when it comes to being a minister.

Your newest single is "Have Your Way." Can you tell the readers about the meaning of the song?

"Have Your Way," is a real song. [It's] birthed from a real place because I was in a place when I wrote the song that I needed direction from the Lord because I was lost. I'm a guy who is very sure of himself. I know the Lord. I've been preaching since I'm 11 years old, and singing and ministering music in my church since I'm 16. I've dedicated my entire life to winning souls and winning the lost and singing gospel music and preaching gospel my whole life. 

Real life happened to me. I don't care how great you are, and how many scriptures you can quote, and how anointed you feel like you are, life will happen to us all, and that's how you get that song. Life happened to me and I needed direction from the Lord because I really needed help. At the time a producer by the name of Tub Young sent me the song because I really needed the track. And the track was so organic, it was very soulful. The drums at the beginning sounded like a heartbeat, and when I heard it, the lyrics just began to flow – I didn't have an iPad to write my lyrics down, I didn't have a computer or an ink pen or a pad. The lyrics just flowed. 

"Can I be transparent for a minute/Some of those rumors that you heard I probably did it/I'm not a perfect man I admit it/But is covered by the blood I've been forgiven/When I think of things I've done, I shake my head if it wasn't for your mercy I'd be dead/God you sure know how to break a brother down/In my humility I'm saying now Lord just have your way"

The lyrics are in your face and real. I wasn't trying to make lyrics to be clever it just flowed out. That's how you got that song. I believe that believers go through real life situations where they don't even know where God is and they even question God on why he even allows them to go through those things. I believe this song is going to be able to help people through those moments because it definitely helped me through just confessing before the Lord and repenting before the Lord and putting the situation before his hands.  

How do you feel music is a great communicator or evangelism tool?

I think music is one of God's greatest creations. It has no limits, it has no boundaries. It can reach people no matter where they go whether they are in the street doing drugs, whether they are in the strip club on the pole, whether they are at home or in the church. Music can reach all places and can speak to all people. If you have the right melody, if you have the right lyric, it can speak to people right where they are. I think it's one of the greatest evangelism tools that can possibly be used. 

I've seen first hand the power of music and how music can save people's lives. People that wanted to give up, people that wanted to do things they shouldn't do. God used the music to intervene because it captures the ear and the attention of the individual. 

I got a testimony of a young lady in Los Angeles who came up to me in tears. She said, 'Deitrick, I have to tell you this. I decided I was going to take my life because I went through something so devastating I didn't want to live. I couldn't face the day it was so devastating.' She said, 'I decided I was going to take my life. I was going to go to work, leave my letter there on the desk and just go home a slit my wrists and just check out of here because I don't feel like I can go any further.' She said, she did everything and she was on her way to do it, and all of a sudden she said she turned to a secular mainstream radio station and she said my song came on. She knew it had to be God because it was on a mainstream secular radio station, and they normally wouldn't play a gospel song. She said God began to speak to her and break that spirit of suicide off of her and she began to cry and had to pull over and repent. She said, 'I'm here to tell you that story.' 

What would you say to people who experience tragedy?

Life happens to us all. Nobody is exempt from things whether it be a tornado or earthquake. When it rains it pours. It rains on everybody's house. If you don't have shelter you are going to get soaked. I can say that there are situations that happen to us because your faith has to exceed your understanding because some things won't make sense. One thing I'm confident in, is there are some things that happen to us that first don't have to pass through God's hands. There's nothing that takes place in our lives that has caught God by surprise. So if God is allowing us to go through this, he already has made a way out. So I would encourage the individuals to go to God and ask, 'how do I make it out of this? What do I do?' He will show you, he will reveal it to you, and he will send you an answer and you will look back and say, 'I can't believe this happened to me.' God can restore everything that is damaged. 

What came to my mind is this story in the Bible where David was doing great, doing everything well. He built this city called Ziklag and he was moving forward as a young leader. He went off to do a work for the Lord and expand the kingdom and he took his men to fight. And while he was gone everything he owned got taken away. The wives, the children, the cattle, the houses were burned down, everything he had built was gone. But David didn't let the situation stop him. He got down on his knees and went before God and said 'God what shall I do?' And when he surrendered to God, God gave him instructions and I tell you God restored everything damaged in David's life. The Bible said he got double for the trouble. I want to motivate those people out there to know the God that allows you to go through it, is the God that has the solution to get out of it. Take this opportunity to talk to them and get instruction.

September 3rd is the release date. What are the immediate plans after that?

We are going on an eight city tour called the R.E.D. tour, and we are just going to touch all the people who support me. It'll give me the opportunity to look into the eyes of the all the people who have been supporting my music down through the years So I'm excited about that. 

"Preachers of LA" is a new show you are working on. Can you tell the readers about it?

Well I'm one of the producers of the show and I thought it was necessary for people to get an inside look on what it takes to be a man of the cloth. And it's not easy being a man of the cloth when you're wrapped in flesh and blood. I think the problem we have here and the problem we have in the church is we have been projecting perfection on platforms and allowing other people to put us on a pedal-stool when at the end of the day we are human just like them. I think this is definitely going to define what it is like to be a pastor and I think people will go to church on Sunday and appreciate their pastor more because it's not easy to walk in such a high calling as a human being.

At the end of it all, when the music is done, if you could have left one lasting legacy in the music world, what would you want that legacy to be?

I would want people to say in their hearts that the gospel music world, the Christian music world, was different because Deitrick existed. He made a difference, he showed us a way, that it could be done aggressively. He was not afraid to go where other gospel singers won't go before. He was not afraid to explore the unknown. 

I'm an explorer by nature, I'm a trailblazer. It's in my nature to go left when everyone goes right and to explore. I want people to say through his work he showed us another way we can get it done. We don't have a one dimensional God because God is not one dimensional. He's a creator, we're talking about a creative God who created the human brain, the nervous system, the God who created the Sun, the perfect distance between the Earth and the Sun. He's a God that calculates everything. If we are going to attempt to represent him in any form or fashion we have to explorer, we have to be trailblazers, creative. We have to think of new ideas and be innovative.

Do you have anything else to add?

Follow me right now on Twitter @DeitrickHaddon, on Facebook, or on Instagram you can't miss me I'm all over the place. Follow me so you can know me, and know my heart. There's nobody Tweeting for me. I think people will enjoy following me.

Kari Jobe Interview with 'Female Vocalist of the Year'

Here's an interview I did for my job at the Christian Post, enjoy!

Christian worship singer-songwriter Kari Jobe recently won "Female Vocalist of the Year" in the first annual K-LOVE fan awards and says she would strive leave a legacy "that impacts and touches lives" in her interview with The Christian Post.

The singer was overwhelmingly excited when speaking about the K-LOVE music awards and her time there.

"It was so exciting to share in a category with some of my beautiful friends and peers. It was a big honor," she said happily. "It was also exciting for all of my fans as well. I had fun with tweets playing little games and interacting with followers."

Overall she said the first K-LOVE Fan Awards was "well done and an excellent show," and promised it is an event she will look forward to every year. "It was perfect."

On speaking about some of the other winners of the night, Jobe was asked if she could share some of her thoughts about her fellow artists.

"He's so genuine and real and I feel his music just wants to bring you closer to the Lord," she said about Male Vocalist of the Year Chris Tomlin.

The 32-year-old had a funny thought about Artist of the Year TobyMac.

"He's just super cool, and boy can he rock a beanie. I wish I could wear a beanie like that, maybe in the future I can wear a cool headband or something like that," she laughed.

Big Daddy Weave left tears in her eyes when they sang their Song of the Year "Redeemed." "They are just so genuine when they take the stage and minister to you when they sing."

Group/Duo of the Year winners Casting Crowns are one of Jobe's favorites: "I love them. They are so kind and happy, and they are involved with the church and music like myself," she said.

Changing topics, the singer was asked about the constant mostly negative media attention Hollywood and music's young artists and actors are receiving. CP asked her what advice she would give to a young girl looking for a role model who only had negative portrayals of women in media and on television.

"Be inspired by Godly fruit. You are going to be surrounded by this stuff [the world] all the time," she said. "Value and leadership has to come from the Lord. Don't base everything in your life around other people, find value and intimacy in God as inspiration."

With that being said, Jobe was asked about the power of music as a communicator and evangelistic tool to which she replied: "Everyone loves music. It's an emotional thing. I use music as prayers and conversations with God to exalt him."

"At the mere mention of his name, every knee shall bow," she continued.

As far as being a good tool to express the gospel, she thinks pastors, church, leaders, etc are very important to the foundation of saving souls. "It's the meat to the potatoes," she said. However, she views music as an important tool to guide others to where they need to be.

"Music is absolutely powerful," Jobe said. "You hear a song with the peace and power of the Lord and it speaks to you."

Playing on that theme of music helping others, the next topic touched upon the victims of the Oklahoma tornadoes. A tragedy that felt close to home since she is from Dallas, Texas, approximately three hours away, according to her.

Jobe had recently toured with the duo All Sons and Daughters, who released an EP called Songs for Oklahoma. Jobe thought the idea was great and was happy to tweet and spread the word about the project.

"Their EP is awesome, and I just want to show support," she commented.

The worship leader's last album, Is Where I Find You, released in 2012, was a very successful album for her. "[It's] helping a lot of people, and that's what it's about," straying away from its success. "I was happy to hear it ministering to heart broken people and others in hospitals."

As for her immediate future, Jobe just finished a tour with Chris Tomlin and has a few festivals lined up toward the end of the summer. She is also preparing to record a live worship album in November.

When asked about the kind of legacy she would like to leave on this Earth, Jobe contemplated for a moment before answering.

"I want to be remembered as a godly woman and a worship leader who's music left an impact that touched lives and hearts," she said. "I would also like to be a wife and a mom when the time is right."

Staten Island alternative rock band Four Nights Gone are trying to take themselves to the next level. Successfully completing a tour and stacking up on their social networks, these guys entered the studio for their second EP, Resilience, which is being released on June 11th.

The EP opens up with "J. Buck," which is definitely the radio single of this record. It just might be the best and most catchy FNG song to date. Damian's vocals shine through on this track and the instrumentals are very solid too. Lots of great layering and little intricacies if you listen closely. The screaming is a good touch as well, and a change of pace.

"Broken Wings," starts off with heavy guitars, yet has a mello feel until the chorus, where it picks up. The chorus has a big feel to it, and fits perfectly within the song. There's a nice little build in the bridge that leads into a solo part before rounding out into a final chorus. That's probably the heaviest FNG gets instrument-wise, well done.

The next track is "The Scars Remain." It starts off slowly with heavily effected guitars before going crunchy at the chorus. The dueling guitar work adds a nice feel to the track, and the softer background vocals add depth to the verses. They released this track as their first single, I feel this more of a secondary single than a lead, but nonetheless, a great track.

"Monster" starts off slow with light instrumentals and very subtle electronic sounds mixed in, giving it a Linkin Park type feel musically before it changes up at the chorus. The standout in this song is the drum work by Lobes. The patterns are tight and consistent and he does a good job keeping rhythm on the toms. The choir hums at the end of the song is a great touch as well.

The last track is "The One Who Knocks." Do I see a "Breaking Bad" reference in this song...which as I type this sentence I hear Damian sing, "Breaking Bad, going mad with all this power he has." Touche FNG, touche. Listen to the words and basically hear the plot of the show. You should send it to AMC before the show ends!

TV references aside, the song is quite good and introduces some more screaming it. There's a major key change at the end that flows seamlessly, and the lyrics are among the best penned for the band.

All in all, Resilience is a major upgrade on their last EP in my opinion. Gone are all the little mistakes, the rookie recording experiments and such, this EP is for real. The sound is better, the quality and music is better, and the lyrics are more mature. Although not much time has passed since the last recording, the results are much better. Vocally, there is a major improvement as well. Everything is on point, and done well. I'm impressed guys. This EP has a much stronger commercial feel to it and is good for anyone who enjoys 3 Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, and good alternative.

Go fourth and make music!

Paramore 'Pressure' and 'Emergency' (Throwback Thursday)

Hey guys, missed the last two week's, sorry! I have a bigger work load now...here we go!

I feel like these songs are twins that can't be played without the other. 

Paramore's first album, All We Know is Falling, came out in 2005 and I believe Haley Williams was only 16 at the time. The album is so mature and well done for such a young band.

I remember the buzz Paramore had when this album came out. Hayley was like the savior for chicks who liked to rock out, and I guess she still kind of is. Now the group is a little more crowded. I think just about every guy had a crush on her too...me included. 

It wasn't until their next album, 2007's, RIOT!, that they really exploded and became mainstream. However, good on Paramore for never fully going mainstream in the "sell out" way, their music still has an edge to it, and still feels distinctly them. Maybe quite simply it's their aging in the last eight years. Wow, eight years...

Anyway, without further adieu, "Emergency" and "Pressure," my favorite two Paramore songs.

Freestyle Fam Music Video, Omnia Makes a Statement, and Four Nights Gone

FREESTYLE FAM
First up we have Freestyle Fam, two dudes who just so happen to be good friend's of mine. These two guys, Quest the Wordsmith and Redeemed are just straight up beasts on the microphone. They got together with a few of their buddies and dropped a hot music video for their song "Bar Fights." Watch the video below.



Download the single FREE here: https://soundcloud.com/freestylefam/b...

Freestyle Fam on the web: http://FreestyleFam.com

OMNIA
Had the privilege of playing with this artist a few years ago. She's very impressive live and even better is the message she portrays in her music. As a Muslim woman, she is standing against some of the more  pressing issues portrayed and some times pushed on the women of that culture. In fact she was interviewed by Fox News about it - http://t.co/fNJFLA0gLq  . Read about it at the link to the left. Fair warning, Omnia said on Facebook some of her wording is wrong, and may have portrayed her view negatively. She said the following in a comment on Facebook -

"It's a slight wording issue, but it says that I'm speaking about inequities in my religion - but the problem is much more with the people than with the religion. The people have perverted the religion - and the last thing I'm trying to do is fuel Islamophobia, which we already have enough of."

Anyway, check out the video for "Grace" below!



http://omniamusic.bandcamp.com/

FOUR NIGHTS GONE
The boys in FNG just released their lyric video for their new single "J. Buck." You can pre-order the Resilience EP at http://fournightsgone.bandcamp.com/

Check out the video!

Backslashes & Bad Ideas with Fred Mascherino (Ex: Taking Back Sunday)

Shout out to the homies in Backslashes & Bad Ideas. They were just featured on Alternative Press for the release of their new song, "Defend Josh's Life Choices." (I know Josh, it's tough do do so... ;)

Not only is AP picking up the story and featuring the song awesome, but having Fred Mascherino on the track is huge! If you don't know who Fred is, he is the former guitarist/back-up singer of Taking Back Sunday, and now is solo in his project, The Color Fred. If you still don't know, he's the one that goes, "I got a bad feeling about this," 100x and makes you think, "Wow this sounds like John Nolan but isn't." I digress....

Go check the song out, listen to the song, and support these dudes from Staten Island.

Keep it coming guys, link below.

http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/single_premiere_backslashes_and_bad_ideas_defend_joshs_life_choices_ft._fre

To Write Love on Her Arms: Non-Profit Spreads Message of Hope (INTERVIEW)

"Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest to your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29).

To Write Love on Her Arms is a organization pushing a message of hope for the downtrodden, a pick me up that goes out offering encouragement to all those suffering with depression, self-abuse, and other issues.

"To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery," read their website.

Chad Moses, a representative of To Write Love on Her Arms, answered a few questions via email about the powerful impact this organization is leaving on the world.

TWLOHA will be at Skate and Surf Music Festival, how does the organization plan to reach people?
Moses: Skate and Surf is perfect because people are going to be there. All of our programs and efforts, since the very beginning, have been geared towards fostering honest conversation and that is only possible when people feel comfortable. Music is a place where a lot of people feel most valued and welcomed. The other attendees and fans may feel like family, and the venue in a way can feel like home.

We don't force hope or a message onto people- we simply show up and hang out and get to know people to whatever level they feel like sharing. Our approach is invitational rather than aggressive. We know that the people walking in through the gates each represent stories in progress, and we just hope to be an audience to those stories.

Since the organization's inception, how many people could you say have been directly affected in a positive way by TWLOHA?
It is impossible to answer. Since 2006, we have been able to read and responded to over 170,000 messages over email and social media platforms and we have been able to give over a million dollars directly to avenues for treatment and recovery. We have 1.3 million followers on Facebook and 257,000 folks keeping track with us on Twitter.

But the most significant number in our minds is One. The One conversation that we may never know happens between someone who is struggling and their trusted friend or counselor. … The One phone call placed to a suicide crisis line that allowed One more person to wake up the next morning.

How did TWLOHA get as big as it did, and why did the music scene gravitate so heavily to you guys?
People are flying our banner in wildly unexpected places. We have high school students supporting us in countries we've never been to before like South Africa. A couple of years ago we received a message from Dubai from some folks who wanted us to speak out there. … It seems like word of mouth has been the greatest tool in spreading this movement.

Music is … just a creative form of word of mouth. Artists from all over the world have surprised us by wearing shirts on stage or speaking honestly about the issues. … Our favorite songs, or albums, or artists likely hold that spot in our hearts because they remind us of something that is true or makes us feel less alone.

What is the group's main goal for 2013 and the future?
Our goal has always been the hope that we can change the numbers. For most attendees of festivals of this market, suicide represents the third highest cause of death, and we know that untreated depression is the leading cause of suicide. But the most alarming statistic that we've encountered is that 2 out of 3 people who struggle with depression never seek help for it. These numbers represent names and faces of people close to us, or they may even represent our own stories.

How widespread is self-abuse and the issues surrounding it?
We have found over the past several years that the principle battle we fight is not against behavior (be it self-injury, or addiction, or thoughts of suicide, or anything else) but more so against the sense of isolation that allows issues like self-injury to thrive. The fight is against stigma and that fear silences conversation.

Self-injury is nothing new in the spectrum of humanity. It affects individuals all over the world regardless of age, status, geography, faith, gender, or ethnicity. … Organizations like The Self-Injury Foundation have reported that between 14-24 percent of adolescents and young adults have self-injured at some point. Additionally, there [are] an estimated 4 percent of adults who occasionally self-injure.

The numbers suggest that males and females report similar rates. … How people perceive self-injury and how self-injury actually presents itself is rather different. As more conversation arises from those who do struggle or have struggled, we will learn more about who does it and what is effective in treating it.

What kind of services does TWLOHA offer and is there anything the organization shies away from?
To Write Love on Her Arms is not a helpline or counseling agency. We often say that we hope to be a bridge to connect people who are looking for help to that help. … The individual and their safety as well as their sense of dignity and belonging take precedence.

Treatment is always, and most effectively, a choice. Because of that, we make it our goal to lay out options and various avenues for people to seek help. If one method doesn't mesh, then we are here to encourage you to try another route. You can find a list of such resources at our FIND HELP page at twloha.com.

Anything else to add?
We want to say that if you are reading this and it hits close to home, know that you are in good company. Know that your story is one of immense beauty and we are glad that you are here. Don't give up! We want to remind you that hope is real and that help is real. There are people out there who have been where you are and their story is continuing. In the same spirit, there are other people who have dedicated their lives to making sure that you feel safe and valued and heard. You are worth the time it takes to tell your story. If you feel like you have run out of options, please visit us at twloha.com and take a look at our FIND HELP page.

Process of Fusion and Vinny Jett Release Music Videos, InDisguise News

Process of Fusion
My band Process of Fusion released our first music video on Friday. The song, "Connections," is a long time fan favorite of ours and not for nothing the video looks amazing. The concept and cinematography was done by Dead Dove Creative and Four Walls Productions. If you enjoy horror movies, suspense, and girls being chased my monsters, then this video is for you! Check it out below.



Vinny Jett
From Vinny Jett in his own words, "A video and song that document the events of Hurricane Sandy. The video was shot in the New Dorp Beach area of Staten Island, New York where many homes were leveled and made uninhabitable after the storm. This same area was visited by President Barack Obama in November 2012."

DONATE HERE: http://fundrazr.com/campaigns/5Q6rc

DOWNLOAD SONG: VinnyJett.BandCamp.com

Check out the video below and read my interview with him:

InDisguise

Check out InDisguise and their latest show https://www.facebook.com/events/539027719473341/

They will be opening up for 3 Years Hollow and Another Lost Year, so this is definitely a big opportunity! 

Phil Keaggy Honored with ASCAP Golden Note Award

Wrote an article at my job today that couldn't be published so I decided I would share it with you on here.

Legendary guitarist and singer/songwriter Phil Keaggy was honored for his contributions to music and lifetime achievements by receiving the ASCAP Golden Note Award at the 35th Annual Christian Music Awards on May 6th.

Held at the Franklin Theater in Franklin, Tenn., the musician was praised for his 40 plus years in music, and had a video montage showing pictures of him throughout the years playing in the background.

"The reception at the ASCAP Awards was heartwarming; I am so humbled and honored to be recognized," said Keaggy at the awards show. "My thanks to the many who have shown so much love and support."

Keaggy then took to the stage to perform his classic song, "Salvation Army Band," where he showcased his skills using a number of effects pedals and electric loop machines to create sounds and layers while being a one man band.

The crowd was so impressed ASCAP's Chairman, Paul Williams, had this to say, "From now on my nickname for you will be 'soul catcher,' because you catch our souls. Phil is one of the most admired guitarists in modern history and I am honored to salute him in this honor tonight."

Keaggy has over 50 solo albums under his belt as well as albums with his band glass harp. Alternating between instrumental and vocal albums, he has seven Dove Awards and is widely considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time having been named by Guitar Player Magazine as the best several times through reader polls.

"Phil Keaggy's influence on both the contemporary Christian and mainstream music markets is immeasurable," says ASCAP's Michael Martin through a press release. "We are very proud to honor him with the ASCAP Golden Note Award in recognition of his incredible career."

Other recipients of of the Golden Note Award are: Michael W. Smith, Garth Brooks, and Reba McEntire to name a few.

The Almost 'Fear Outside Our Bones' Album Review (Gerard Ucelli)

The Almost is back after four years with their third release, Fear Outside Our Bones, which will be out June 11th.

The Almost recorded this album in five days in a small room better known as Nashville's Omni Studios were they were going to approach this album in a completely different fashion. 

After listening to this album, I was pleasantly surprised. A lot of the songs off this release are very slow. It may take a little getting used to for fans that were very big into their previous albums, Monster, Monster (2009) and Southern Weather (2007), which have a generally more upbeat vibe. One of my favorite aspects about this release is that they generally went for something different. In my personal opinion, it’s very commendable when musicians challenge themselves and don’t end up being a one trick pony.
 

For those who pick up this album in June, you will instantly be able to tell after listening to the first few songs that some of the inspirations come from blues and southern rock. Being that I’m more attracted to upbeat tempos and intricate drum patterns, “I Won’t Let Go” is my favorite song off this release. Aaron Gillespie sings with so much soul and passion on that particular track. It was actually the only song that I played more than three times while going through the album.  The title track “Fear Inside Our Bones” also stands out to me. It possesses such a vintage vibe especially in the intro leading up in the chorus. I love how it picks up in the chorus. The patterns throughout the song flow exceptionally. I feel the point of any song is to be able to sing along and the chorus combine with the message is very strong.

 
My final thoughts to the fans of The Almost, it’s worth listening to Fear Outside Our Bones from beginning to end. You’ll be able to appreciate how the album starts off very bluesy and becomes more progressive. The element of southern rock is contained in every song, but it’s expressed in so many varieties that it’s enjoyable.