Tori Kelly, recognized off stage as Victoria Loren Kelly, has been singing her own songs since she can remember. Kelly grew up in a music-driven home in Southern California with the dream of one day “making it” in the music industry. While her parents inspired her style, her career ultimately launched as a result of her self-driven efforts. Kelly is generally recognized for her many viral Vine and YouTube covers in which she gained recognition from artists like Justin Bieber. However, her independent EP Handmade Songs by Tori Kelly was an experiment that led to the onset of her music career.

Kelly’s most recent album, Hiding Place, was a collaborative piece in which she was afforded the opportunity to work alongside one of her very own music inspirations, Kirk Franklin. This album showcases Kelly’s gospel roots with a variety of songs centered around the Christian values that she continues to carry with her through the fame of today. In turn, this album has received two Grammy Awards for Best Gospel Album and Best Gospel Performance/Song.

We are so excited to host Tori Kelly in Vines on April 6^th! Join us then as we sing our hearts out to some of her greatest hits. You don’t want to miss it!

Sources

http://www.torikellymusic.com/

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/tori-kelly-mn0002717459/biography

https://www.capitolrecords.com/tori-kellys-new-project-hiding-place-set-for-september-14-release/ 

Josh Garrels is a multi-genre, self-produced musical artist who, through only seven albums and a few EPs, has developed a respectable and musically significant career. The Indiana native has scores of fans from all across the country and globe. With close to 850,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and a myriad of songs reaching the seven digit listen total (with “Born Again” from his album Home being his sole song that has reached the mark of eight digits in total listens on Spotify), Garrels’ passionate sound has developed him a faithful music-loving fanbase. The Small Voice Records founder has been seen across many genres as he has dabbled in not only indie music, but hip-hop, rap, folk, and Christian music as well. Appearing in songs by John Mark McMillan, Andy Mineo, Mason Jar Music, Beautiful Eulogy and more, Garrels has been a well-sought after featured voice for years.

Garrels has one of the most distinguishable and recognizable voices in not only the Christian music world, but even in the mainstream music world as well. The only artist that comes to mind as having a similar deep, raspy nature to their voice is George Ezra, but Garrels displays a wider range of vocals, with his soulful falsetto being the main weapon in his repertoire. Pairing his unique voice with his strong but peace-of-mind guitar playing makes listeners feel like their headphones have turned into Heaven’s outer radio frequencies.

Few artists have the ability to make you feel like you have just read a really good book like Garrels does; his music is not only a muse but a journey. In his song “Ulysses”, Garrels takes listeners into Homer’s The Odyssey and Herbert James Draper’s portrait “Ulysses and the Sirens” as he describes fighting pretty temptations that the world offers that will ultimately leave him hurting as he strives to return home to the one he loves. Adding to the variety of his music, Garrels took the lyrics of the 1911 Southern Gospel hit partially written by Reverent W. A. Fletcher “Farther Along” and modernized them, adding a whole new theatrical flair to the tune, which, thanks to the revitalization by Garrels, has become the anthem for many in a generation much different from the one found in the 1910s. “Farther Along” proves all the more that Garrels possesses a timeless sound that is sure to be appreciated for years and generations to come. Josh Garrels offers concert-goers an adventure through love, human struggle, faith and more with a variety of sounds that are pleasing to both the ear and the soul.

Don’t let anything, not Love or War or the Sea in Between or anything else keep you from getting to the School of Music’s Concert Hall on March 22. We’ll see you there!

We’re so excited for our first Student Concert of the spring semester! We interviewed the openers Oceanic and Rhineland to learn more about them. Each band has a distinct indie sound ranging from dreamy to alternative. Below, we asked each band some questions to help you get to know them better.

When did your band start out making music? 

Oceanic: Our band started when Jacob and I first met on our dorm in 2016. We recorded horrible demos and wrote songs together for quite a while! Our first show was a Liberty SA Open Mic.

Rhineland: We started making music at the beginning of 2018 when we all came together to play at a fundraiser show.

What does your band name signify?

Oceanic: “Oceanic” is a word we love, and we love the metaphoric significance of the ocean in general. We love our music to be expansive, deep, and full of surprises.

What has been the most exciting project for you?

Oceanic: The most exciting project we’ve completed is our song called Party Song. It was our first single, so spirits were high when we were in the studio recording it. The most exciting project we have NOT yet completed is our full length debut album that comes out later this year.

Rhineland: The most exciting project has been traveling to Nashville in October with the band to record our first single “We Go Down” with producer Kyle Cummings. We learned so much about the recording process and had the opportunity to get creative in the studio to make the song really special.

What are you looking forward to in the future when it comes to the direction of your band?

Oceanic: I’m most looking forward to improving as a band. We work hard at making better and better music, and performing more and more passionately at shows. It’s exciting to think about how that’ll play out in the future.

Rhineland: Right now, our goal is to go on tour as a supporting act for a bigger band and to release an EP in the near future. It’s hard to say for sure where Rhineland will go but we all dream of doing this full time someday.

When you’re not performing or writing, what are you doing?

Oceanic: For me personally, my pastime is songwriting. I’m constantly creating something new, or refining our existing projects. I love that so much more than Netflix so that’s my main muse. If I’m not writing, though, I’m spending time with people. I love people.

Rhineland: We like to hang out with our friends and grab food, as much as we can afford to!

What is the best show experience you’ve ever had?

Oceanic: The best show experience we’ve had is a toss up between a house show last year (that we actually played with Rhineland and ANX), and Lynchstock Music Festival 2018. Both were incredible shows for different reasons.

Rhineland: Our best show experience was definitely opening for The WLDLFE at Speakertree a few months ago. So many people came out to the show and it was really high-energy. We were also fans of The WLDLFE before the show so it was a cool opportunity to meet the band and play with them.

If your band could open for any artist/band, who would it be?

Oceanic: I would open for Coldplay, The 1975, or WALK THE MOON. I would die if I met them.

Rhineland: We all would like to open for a band like Hippocampus or COIN someday, but if we’re talking big dreams, then a band like The 1975 or Coldplay would be insane.

We can’t wait for you to experience the energy of Oceanic and Rhineland on February 5^th at 8pm in the LaHaye Event Space with ANX! This is a free show – see you there!

From Bethel Church in Redding, California, Bethel Music is an American worship group, record label, and publishing company that has been producing music since 2001. They are composed of a core 16 artist collective that feature popular Christian artists such as Brian Johnson, Jenn Johnson, Cory Asbury, and many more. With such a diversity of artists, Bethel Music has been able to reach millions of lives by spreading the Gospel and uniting people in worship.

We are excited to welcome Brian and Jenn Johnson, co-founders of Bethel Music, to Liberty for a night of worship. They have been an integral part to building not only Bethel Music but also a culture of worship that has globally united people in faith in Jesus Christ. Brian and Jenn have been creating solo music since 2006. Their latest album “After All These Years,” which released in January 2017, features a powerful symphony orchestra alongside Brian and Jenn. Brian has cultivated a worship atmosphere with songs like “Have It All” and “One Thing Remains.” Jenn’s powerful voice can be heard in songs she has written, such as “In Over My Head” and “God I Look To You.” Together, Brian and Jenn’s faith and remarkable talent have created beautiful songs of worship that glorify God.

Brian and Jenn’s genuine spirit, vulnerability, and passion for Christ are evident when they lead worship, whether in their home, community, or around the globe. On February 23, you will have the chance to experience the worship Brian and Jenn cultivate as vessels for others to see the glory of God.

Based out of East Nashville, duo Drew and Ellie Holcomb are two artists known for their solo music (Drew being the Americana half and Ellie focusing more on worship), but many people may not know how beautiful their music is together. The married couple creates roots-inspired music that will make you want to kick off your shoes and dance to the rhythmic sounds. Both Drew and Ellie have performed at Liberty University, but for the first time, we get to experience them together.

The duo released their You + Me album in 2018 and just released their Electricity album on January 11^th. Drew and Ellie were inspired to create new music after touring together last year, and you won’t be disappointed listening to their soulful new tunes. The album has three songs written about love, pain and living on the road. Each song was created with an intentional story that reflects an aspect of their lives. Love Anyway, the first song on the Electricity album, shares experiences about one of their friends that works in the war zones of Iraq and Syria.[1] Next on the album is Electricity, a smooth love song that describes the love Drew and Ellie share with each other. My personal favorite is Drew and Ellie’s rendition of On the Road Again by Willie Nelson.¹ This album will give you a glimpse into their life as two traveling musicians in love.

Drew and Ellie’s music will make you want to dance to their folk-inspired sound while also feeling like you are sitting in their living room. On February 8^th, you will have the chance to experience the duo in one of the most intimate music venues on campus. Also, make sure you check out Drew’s vinyl subscription called Magnolia Record Club where you get a hand-picked vinyl every month.

References

[1] https://www.drewholcomb.com/news/2019/1/11/electricity-new-music-from-drew-amp-ellie-holcomb

[2] https://www.magnoliarecord.club/ 

Written By: Kate Dolan

RED is an American rock band that originated in the one and only Music City, U.S.A, This band not only known for their hard rock bordering on metal style, but also their overt Christian influences. RED was founded in 2002 by brothers Anthony and Randy Armstrong and their friend and lead vocalist Michael Barnes. Over the years the band has seen other members come and go but this core trio has carried their music to the present. This group landed their first record deal in 2004 and has released six albums since, the most recent being released in 2017. RED has received countless recognition from both Christian and secular music circles. In addition to their six dove awards, RED was also Grammy Nominated in 2006 for their album “End of Silence”.

Though RED does not necessarily write songs meant for a worship service, the music nonetheless carries deep messages. One of those messages is even in the band’s name itself, RED, symbolizing the blood of Christ. With over 24 million Spotify listens to their most popular song “Breathe Into Me” it is obvious that they have a different kind of reach than many Christian artist. Much of their music speaks hope into a genre that can tend to be pretty dark in nature.

There are not many people that have been able to capture both a hard rock crowd while simultaneously appealing to Christian listeners, but RED has done just that. They took a genre basically untouched by Christians and made a name for themselves. They have been known to take musical inspiration from bands like Slipknot. RED’s guitarist Anthony Armstrong defended this saying “people ask us, ‘Why do you like these bands that that is kind of just outright evil?’ and we’re just like ‘What?’ It just all comes down to the music, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we agree with the content of what they are saying or whatever.” It is obvious this band is all about the music, labeled by many as a group that is “tirelessly touring” but it does not seem as if RED is going to let up any time soon. Even after over a decade making music and sharing it with the world this band continues to churn out amazing rock music with their own unique flair.

Do not miss out on your opportunity to rock out with RED on November 9^th at 7:30 in the Lahaye Event Space.

This semester we have an incredible lineup of Student Concerts. From the rock and roll feel of The Bergerons to the acoustic worship of Hope Cross to the edgy vocals of Julia Rothenberger, we’re so excited to provide these free shows to the student body. Below, we asked the students themselves some questions to help you get to know them better.

Joshua Sosin, lead singer of The Bergerons – 9/25

When did you get started in music?

I remember beatboxing in the car as a little kid and pretending a hockey stick was a guitar (typical Michigan kid). It wasn’t until I was in middle school that I started taking piano, my first instrument, seriously.

Are you a songwriter?

I’d say I’m a writer and sometimes songs spontaneously generate themselves out of that. I don’t really know where the songs come from, though.

Is there a musician that you look at and hope to model your career after?

Hmmmm. I’m definitely inspired by Paul Simon; he’s spanned genres and generations and is now basically a bard/sage figure for our time. I love him and I’d love to write until I leave the world.

When you’re not performing or writing, what are you doing?

Usually, I like to spend my free time reading, biking, having conversations with people dear to me, eating fruit and drinking espresso-based things. I also play Dungeons and Dragons and watch a lot of Vine Compilations.

What is the best show experience you’ve ever had?

When I was six, I saw Switchfoot at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit. It was the tour for the album Nothing is Sound, and I remember the song “We Are One Tonight” hit me so hard that I couldn’t stop crying. I was a sensitive kid. In regards to Bergerons shows, we played at Speakertree this summer with Oceanic and Caroline Guske and I loved that!

Hope Cross – 10/16

When did you get started in music? 

When I was six years old I discovered my voice, and when I was 11 years old I started writing songs.

Are you a songwriter? 

Yes!

Is there a musician that you look at and hope to model your career after? 

There are too many to choose! My writing is heavily influenced by Jon Foreman and Coldplay but my style is influenced by Maggie Rogers, Billie Eilish, Haim, and Ashe!

When you’re not performing or writing, what are you doing?

I am probably drinking coffee with friends or reading a book, cooking a new Pinterest recipe, traveling to a new place, or taking photos.

What is the best show experience you’ve ever had?

My favorite show I have been to this far in my life was a Hippo Campus show last year at the Jefferson in Charlottesville, VA!

Julia Rothenberger – 11/13

When did you get started in music? And are you a songwriter?

I got started with music pretty young just playing keys and singing for my youth group around age 12, and that was probably around the time I started to try writing my own songs. Just silly innocent love songs rhyming “eyes” with “skies”. I love looking back at those!

Is there a musician that you look at and hope to model your career after? 

Regarding artists I follow, I’ve always loved Justin Vernon (more famously known for his Bon Iver project). He’s a really modest guy with this hard-working creative discipline – I would love to model my career after that kind of example.

When you’re not performing or writing, what are you doing?

When I’m not doing music, you could probably find me outside. I’m a real introvert and so I love entertaining myself by being alone in the woods or on a walk somewhere. If I don’t get that every couple of days, I feel like a zombie!

What is the best show experience you’ve ever had?

The best show experience I’ve had so far was a student concert I was invited to perform at LaHaye last year in September with Oceanic – it was right at the start of a new and exciting year and I saw so much energy in the crowd and felt so supported and confident in that moment! Live music is really all about creating those special kinds of unspoken moments within a crowd. I love it!

For more information about the shows, visit our music page.

Written By: Erin Diaz

Hailing from San Diego, California, Contemporary Christian Musician Phil Wickham kicked off his music career by releasing his first album Give You My World in 2003. Within just a few years, Wickham was on tour with MercyMe and Audio Adrenaline, proving how quickly he became influential in the Christian music world. In 2007, he released the album Cannons, which is probably the one you know most songs from (such as “You’re Beautiful” and “Cannons”). The album was inspired by The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis, and it seems to continue to be a foundational album to the CCM industry today.

For me, it’s difficult to imagine my formative years as a Christian without Phil Wickham’s music. His music seemed to be omnipresent to me in high school, especially in the years of 2010-12. As an employee at a local Chick-Fil-A, I would package meals for people with Wickham’s “Divine Romance” playing over the speakers. I then would drive to my youth group, usually playing Christian radio, usually hearing something from Wickham on my quick drive. When at church, one of his songs were performed at least weekly. Wickham was a big part of my life back then, as he was for many. If we took a poll at Liberty asking how many people have cherished at least one of Wickham’s songs in their life, we’re sure that there would be no shortage of students and staff answering “yes”.

Something that can be said about Wickham is that his music is genuine, poignant, and sometimes overwhelming in the way that can trigger emotions and tug on heartstrings. In an interview with Christianity Today, it is stated that Wickham commented that Cannons is “about how the universe is exploding with the glory of God, and how we are compelled to join in with its song”. This is an example that Wickham’s music is not always the light, airy type that we often hear on Christian music radio. His music pushes deeper, begging the soul to tune in and be a part of worship to our Holy God.

We feel confident that September 21 is going to be an important evening at Liberty. Wickham will be performing in the Concert Hall, and has just released his album Living Hope, this is a show you won’t want to miss. And did we mention that LU Praise is opening up the show? For more info, visit our music page – we can’t wait to be a part of this with you.

Resources

*https://www.klove.com/music/artists/phil-wickham/

Written By: Erin Diaz

Hailing from Federal Way, Washington, 24-year-old rapper Isaac Peabody (PEABOD) is on the music scene and he has some things to say. Lucky for us, he’s coming to Liberty for a FREE show with local openers KHAM and Czar Josh – get excited!

PEABOD’s debut album “Healthy Snacks” was released earlier this summer, with hits like “Shoot From the Hip” and collaboration with CCM artist Hollyn called “Ok”, and the album “puts an innovative spin on rap, daring the genre to be fun”*. PEABOD is pretty innovative and fun himself, describing himself as an extrovert whose personality type is ESFP, also known as “The Performer”. “I guess I picked the right career!” PEABOD says in his question and answer article on Centricity Music.

PEABOD has two younger siblings and is based out of Seattle, Washington. He has a full-time job at his alma mater, where he studied Organizational Communication at Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington. He claims Chance the Rapper, Switchfoot and Coldplay as being some of his biggest inspirations musically. When you listen to his music, a mixture of pop and hip-hop can be heard. PEABOD combines these two genres as well as his Christian foundation, and the outcome of this combination is “Healthy Snacks”, which you can listen to here.

We are so excited to host PEABOD in the LaHaye Event Space on September 28^th. For more information about the show, check out our concerts page!

*https://centricitymusic.com/peabod-releases-debut-album-healthy-snacks/

Written By: Erin Diaz

This year’s Block Party is shaping up to have quite the lineup. From rock to EDM to folk and ending on hip-hop, we are pumped for the event! You may have not dabbled into each of these genres yet, so below we’ll give you a quick overview of our artists this year.

Jake Ziegler & the Locals

Jake Ziegler. If you’ve been a student at Liberty for a year or more, you probably know him from Coffeehouses past, student concerts and as a recent opener for Colony House when we hosted them in April. Jake, along with his sister and some friends, always promises a good time when he performs. The band released an EP in 2016 entitled “All Year Long”. Sharing the stage with artists like Noah Gundersen, Trapt, and Colony House, Jake Ziegler and The Locals have quickly made a name for themselves. Their rock ‘n roll sound is a crowd pleaser and his stage presence is sure to get the crowd ready for our other performers this year at Block Party. Check him out on Spotify here!

Instagram: jakeandthelocals

Apollo LTD

“Just as NASA’s Apollo program represented the fulfillment of boundless ideas, Apollo LTD blast past boundaries and into a new musical realm steeped in alternative spirit, cinematic production, rock energy, and pop palatability.” What better way to describe Apollo LTD than the way they describe themselves? Jordan Phillips and Adam Stark, the duo that makes up Apollo LTD, are based out of Nashville and arrived on the music scene in 2015. The sound of the duo is upbeat, edgy and reminiscent of Miike Snow, while their catchy beats seem to resemble bands like COIN and Bad Suns. Sharing the stage with artists like Panic at the Disco, DNCE, Kesha, Andy Grammer, and The All-American Rejects, Apollo LTD has quickly garnered a spot in the music world. Check them out on Spotify here, you won’t regret it!

Instagram: apollograms

1k Phew

Our first of two Reach Records artists at Block Party is 1k Phew, an artist you probably aren’t hearing about for the first time. Although he is only 23 years old, he is already being recognized. His song “Light Work” has 1.6 million streams as of July 2018, and he has already collaborated with Tedashii, GAWVI and more. You may wonder why “1k” is included in his name, and that’s because, as he mentions in his biography, “I’m not worried about being politically correct. I just want to give people the real. That’s where the 1K comes from, always keeping it 1,000 no matter what.” You can find his music on Spotify here.

Instagram: 1kphew

Jenny & Tyler

The indie art pop duo is about to bring a sense of calm beauty to this year’s Block Party. With other artists being more upbeat, Jenny & Tyler were exactly the duo we wanted for a well-rounded lineup. Originally from Delaware, the now Nashville-based duo cares deeply for their fans, as Tyler explains in their website biography: “When we first started out we would travel to any city where we had a couple of fans. We even drove out to play a show for one person in their living room. That’s how we learned to perform and to connect with people. When you’re regularly playing for three or four people, you can’t hide. You’re exposed. You have to learn to engage.” Jenny & Tyler have sold over 35,000 albums, seen 12 million streams on Apple Music & Spotify, and have played over 1,100 concert dates over the past 10 years of playing music together. Their songs have been featured on ABC’s Pretty Little Liars, NY Med, MTV’s Teen Mom, CBC’s Heartland, & YouTube’s Kid President. With so much experience interacting with and caring for guests, Jenny & Tyler are sure to bring a heartfelt, charming performance. You can listen to them on Spotify here.

Instagram: jennyandtyler

Tedashii

Our second Reach Records artist at this year’s Block Party is Tedashii! The Texas-born rapper has released albums over the past 12 years. With the ebb and flow of music’s never-ending trends, Tedashii has never ceased to remain relevant while also standing out. As his website biography states, “His most recent release, 2016’s This Time Around, was an emotional journey comprised of celebratory records juxtaposed with stories of pain, hope, and overcoming tragedy. But it’s a new day. And with that, comes new purpose.” In 2013, Tedashii suddenly lost his one year old son. This tragedy has influenced his music in a powerful way that offers peace and clarity during life’s many twists and turns. He uses his pain to create new music that encourages listeners to push through anything challenging that they’re facing. We are very excited to have Tedashii close our Block Party show this year – you can listen to his music on Spotify here.

Instagram: tedashii

Join us on September 8 in the LaHaye Parking Lot for everyone’s favorite way to come back to school – Block Party!