Tag: Reviews

“Wind and Waters” – Native Kingdom

“Wind and Waters”
Native Kingdom (2019)
www.nativekingdom.com

Wind and Waters cover artBy Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor

Native Kingdom’s “Wind and Waters” puts passion and prayer to song with resounding hope and joy.  The warm melodious instrumental and intimately personal lyrics rejuvenate your spirit like the refreshing waters of a brook on a hot summer day, offering an encouraging message for anyone currently in the midst of a fiery furnace or a tempestuous storm. 

The Native Kingdom Collective is based in the Pacific Northwest and was founded by Ryan and Haley Smith and Reuben Wai.  “Wind and Waters” is Native Kingdom’s first original single. 

Whether you are relaxing or exercising, put your earbuds in for a natural mood booster.  “Wind and Waters” will usher you into praise and worship of the One who will be with you to the end.


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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and life-long educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.

“I Am More Than A Conqueror” – Tonya Lewis Taylor

“I Am More Than A Conqueror”
Tonya Lewis Taylor
From the forthcoming EP, I Am More Than A Conqueror (Available 2019)
www.tonyalewistaylor.com

I am more than a conqueror artwork

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Scriptural affirmations frame the premise for Tonya Lewis Taylor’s self-written and produced single “I Am More Than A Conqueror.” 

The mid-tempo contemporary track features Taylor and her backing choir engaging in vocal interplay to proclaim, “I am more than a conqueror; through Christ, I can do all things!”

Taylor seamlessly melds ministry and uplift in her music, including her other singles “I’m A Winner” and “Delayed But Not Denied.” It stands to reason; the singer is also a minister and empowerment coach.  

If you’re itching to hear another good choir tune, Tonya Lewis Taylor’s current single “I Am More Than A Conqueror” is sure to be music to your ears.

“Hallelujah” – Doyin Johnson

“Hallelujah”
Doyin Johnson (2018)
For more information, email [email protected]

Hallelujah cover art

By Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor
 
Get ready to close your eyes, raise your hands and usher in the presence of the Holy Spirit through worship! Doyin Johnson’s “Hallelujah” is an energizing, powerful worship song with lyrics that will lure you closer to Jesus.

Worship is a powerful spiritual exercise in anyone’s life. As you listen, worship and rejoice, for God’s grace has been lavished on us. We have received a generous, over-abundance of God’s love, grace and favor! Doyin invites you to join her along with all that was created to bring God glory—the 24 elders, ocean, mountain, and trees—to give God the highest praise, “Hallelujah!”

Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and life-long educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.

“I Can” – Adaora ft. Papa San

“I Can”
Adaora feat. Papa San (2018)
Available at iTunes

By Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor
 
Encourage yourself with “I Can” from Adaora Nwokoye’, popularly called Adaora. Pop it into your ears when you head off to work, school, or play. When you listen to this song, you’ll not only want to find the lyrics so you can quickly learn and sing along, but you’ll want to share it to lift up somebody else.


“I Can,” with its Reggae style and Caribbean feel, reminds us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, according to the scriptures. We can start our day positively, and remain positive no matter what the enemy throws our way. Keep singing it: “I can do all things through Christ my Saviour / Nothing can hold me back or take my place!”


Adaora’s uptempo inspirational single features world renown Reggae maestro Papa San and is produced by US-based Nigerian music maker Lexisuger.

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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and life-long educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.

“Oh How I Love You” – Zacardi Cortez

“Oh How I Love You”
Zacardi Cortez (2018)
Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
www.zacardicortez.com

Zacardi Cortez cover artBy Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Some of the best songs I’ve heard sound new and old at the same time.  New and catchy, yet nostalgic.  Enter Zacardi Cortez with “Oh How I Love You,” written by Lucius B. Hoskins, Fred Sanders Jr., Izk Jenkins, and Nicholas
Humes.

“Oh How I Love You” is a ballad with music that’s an instant throwback to 70s R&B and
soul.  Add Zacardi’s passionately soulful vocals and you have an intimate vertical song of devotion for both old school and new school music heads.

“Hosanna” – Godlives Don

“Hosanna”
Godlives Don (2019)
www.facebook.com/pg/godlivesdon

Godlives Don Hosanna cover artBy Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor
 
“Hosanna,” the first single from Godlives Don’s recently released album, is a refreshing, inspiring and anointed spiritual song of praise and worship.  Godlives displays his unwavering passion to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through song: “With all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength. I will worship you….Hosanna be glorified…”


Godlives is the president and founder of Faith Land Praise Assembly International, also known as Rhema City, in his hometown of Ughelli in Delta State, Nigeria.

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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and life-long educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.

"Not Yet" – Donnie McClurkin

“Not Yet”
Donnie McClurkin (2019)
RCA Inspiration/Camdon Music
www.donniemcclurkin.com

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Donnie McClurkin‘s life could‘ve ended in the early morning hours of Wednesday, December 12, 2018. Many of us learned what happened hours later.  The miracle is that the survivor told us himself.

“Lost consciousness driving…but two human angels followed my swerving car with their emergency blinkers onto [sic] stop traffic ….drove behind me until my car crashed into the middle concrete island. I remember none of it except those two angels pulling me out of the passengers [sic] side of the crumbled TOTALED car..airbags deployed…crushed metal and Fiberglas [sic]!!”
 
“I AM ALIVE!!!!” (via Facebook @DonnieMcClurkin)
 
Not surprisingly, the Grammy-winning singer went on to pen the reflective single, “Not Yet.“
 
Thought it was the end this time
God said, “Not yet”
I thought that I would lose my mind
God said, “Not yet”
Thinkin’ ’bout my yesterday
Wondering how I got away
But death heard Jesus say
He said, “Not yet”

“Not Yet“ is a lyrical sentiment of God‘s grace and intent toward McClurkin. The beauty of the single from his forthcoming solo project is that like many a good song, the message is widely applicable to all who can testify of their own “not yet“ encounters with the Almighty. 

“Your Love” – Enin Perryman

“Your Love”
Enin Perryman (2018)
www.eninperryman.com

Enin Perryman Your Love art

By Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor

Listening to “Your Love” is like being in a movie theater with surround sound.  Just like surround sound, Enin Perryman’s single creates a sensation of empowering love coming from any horizontal direction–360° around the listener–and brings you along with him to have you tapping your toes and ready to tell the world of your victories too. Prepare yourself to allow his rich sound–which occasionally ascends into his falsetto register–and captivating lyrics to take you back to a moment when you felt the overwhelming presence of the Almighty‘s love.  Through “Your Love,” the Atlanta-based singer, songwriter, and pastor assures you that Jesus is with you through any challenge that you face.  

Perryman, whose talents have afforded him performances and collabs with Usher, Quincy Jones, Prince, and others, is preparing to release a full-length project in 2019.


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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and lifelong educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.

"Open Your Mouth and Say Something" – Brent Jones

“Open Your Mouth and Say Something” 
Brent Jones (2018)
JDI Records

Brent Jones Open Your Mouth and Say Something artBy Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor

All right now!  Get ready to tap those toes, clap those hands, get your body in motion, and definitely “Open Your Mouth and Say Something.”  

Grammy and Stellar Award winner Brent Jones should’ve added an advisory label to this uptempo traditional choir jam because if you are driving, you will positively need to pull over to get out of the car and take a praise break–like back in the day when you heard “your song” on the cassette and stopped the car and–

Oh yeah, I did go there. 

Driven by the vocal hype of Waco Community Choir and a brass-punctuated music line, “Open Your Mouth and Say Something” will not only make you do just that, but it may very well become “your song” of the day.  So turn up the volume, get your shout on, and holler, “Hallelujah!”

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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and lifelong educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.

"You Are" – Tomisena

“You Are”
Tomisena (2018)
Available at iTunes

"You Are" Tomisena artBy Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor

“You Are” is the current single from North Carolina-based singer, songwriter, and speaker, Tomisena Hatchett.

From beginning to end, Tomisena’s expressive voice and well-placed vibrato engage you to worship, sing along, rewind, and do it again while reminiscing about the times in your life that you knew without a shadow of a doubt that the Almighty was, lyrically speaking, “a mighty strong tower” who carried, kept, and guided you. 

Tomisena’s contemporary worship song is a must-listen.


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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and lifelong educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.