February Music News

By DC Jeanes | Metro Voice Music Editor

 

Southern cross-over rock band NEEDTOBREATHE has announced the release of their newest album, slated for April 15. Rivers In the Wasteland is the band’s fifth full-length, and is following hot on the heels of their critically acclaimed The Reckoning.

The band had toured for two years promoting their last work, and also saw reviews in the New York Times, NPR, and Entertainment Weekly.

NEEDTOBREATHE closed out last year’s Dove Awards with their new single, “Difference Maker,” and has gotten a large amount of airplay for just that track, alone. Singer/guitarist Bo Rineheart was recently interviewed about the new album, and he is sounding optimistic.

“We’ve got a new sense of purpose and we believe in what we’re doing. We just fell back in love with the idea of what we get to do.”

If Rivers in the Wasteland is anything like their previous few albums, it will definitely be a great album to pick up! Visit needtobreathe.com for tour information, as well as to purchase merchandise and music.

In some heavy news (not musically “heavy”), former lead singer of Hillsong, Darlene Zschech, has announced that she has breast cancer and has asked for prayer. Zschech reported she already had surgery to address the cancer, and was released from SAN Hospital in Sydney on Christmas Eve. From her website, she has noted that since discovering the cancer, “it has been a whirlwind of appointments, scans and surgery. Even though the past days have been very tough at times, the Holy Spirit has brought me endless comfort and the Word of God is literally holding me moment by moment.”

She went on to thank her husband and children for their support and bravery, and has mentioned that she has already experienced miracles from this and believes there “will be many more to come.” She has asked that fans and her Christian family pray for quick healing.

Lastly, and just in case you haven’t been paying attention, Jamie Grace has released her sophomore album! The Grammy-nominated and Dove Award winner (Best New Artist), unleashed Ready To Fly at the end of January. The new album also brings back the producers she worked with on her first album, Christopher Stevens (TobyMac), David Garcia (Britt Nicole). New songs from the album were already available for view on Youtube.

“The entire concept of Ready To Fly is being ready even when you don’t know what the Lord has planned for your future,” said Grace in a recent interview. Saying she wrote the title track the night before her 18th birthday, “. I was crying out, wondering what God’s plan for me was. I started to doubt so many things but as I randomly began singing the lyrics to Ready to Fly, I realized I don’t have to have my whole life figured out to start my journey.”

For more information on her new release, tour dates, and televised dates, visit www.jamiegrace.com.