What was I doing
instead of sending April’s playlist? Well, listening to it a lot. Travelling a bit…for work. Then there was our 5 year old’s birthday. More crying as my Dad’s recent death continues to sink in. Kids’ choir concert. And lots of coat and hat wearing, as the weather dipped back into some version of fall.
But you know what? I really, really love all these songs. We’ve been on a journey. So this month you get a two-fer. April and May, wrapped up in one needlessly long Substack. I hope you find someone here you absolutely love!
Speaking of soemone you absolutely love, could you send us some suggestions for June? We’d love to make a list comprised of Christian artists you have found refreshingly creative. Comment or email!
And, one more ask. We would love to put the playlist on your streaming app of choice, but we only have an Amazon Music account. If you have an account on another streaming app and would like to help, let us know! Thanks!
The May Playlist
The April Playlist
The Artists
Local Sound
Still getting to know this group. They’ve got this great potential, but I don’t always hear it come through. Check out the singles on the playlist, and let me know if you know of other stuff from them I should hear.
Sondae
He has become one of my top ten favorite artists ever. Check out his new singles and the album “By the Water.”
Madison Ryann Ward
Very cool story, you should look her up. I love her free spirited originality. Check out her album A New Thing.
Mike Teezy
Just heard him days ago, but had to put him on here. A gifted rapper, I’m excited to get to know him more.
Jonathan Ogden
I’ve slowly been getting to love his music. It took a little time, but now I’m hooked. His album Future Forever is probably one of the best Christian albums of all time. I don’t know, top 20?
Mark Barlow
What a voice, and I also love his freedom in creativty. His albums are a little hit and miss, but I’d recommend starting with Hymns and Soul. You’re allowed to skip around, but promise yourself you’ll come back and give it a couple more tries. And of course, from the February list, Matthew 6 with Tekoa. We eat that song for breakfast.
Allie Paige
We need lots more from Allie Paige. Originality, soulfulness, lyrics that are getting to that deeper side, but still have some poetry to them. I checked out her album “ap vol. I” thinking, “ok, let’s see what this is like. ho hum.” I was blown away. Please listen to it.
Jackie Hill Perry
What can I say? She’s basically a Christian superstar. But I gotta go back to 2018 to get her last release. *_* But I love it. I remember walking to school (as a teacher) listening to this when it first dropped. It was just as satisfying as the coffee I was drinking and the spring flowers I was smelling and the blue sky I was under. Love Jackie Hill, we need more.
Kings Kaleidoscope
Best Christian band of all time. I will fight you. Listen to every album.
Tyson Motsenbocker
I really, really love this album “Milk Teeth.” The drums are so nice, so smooth. And the lyricism is really unmatched in the Christian songwriters I’ve heard. You won’t get anything transparently Christian from it, but you will get his life in see-through. I am interested in reading his book “Where the Waves Turn Back,” written about a sort of pilgrimage he took upon his mothers’ passing. Have you read it?
Switchfoot
Is this cheating? They were first signed by Charlie Peacock to a Christian label, Re:Think. But after becoming mainstream, I don’t think anyone can argue they sold out their faith. Their frontman, Jon Foreman, was one of the strongest voices in creative Christian music in the early 2000’s. I love this album, “interrobang.”
John Mark McMillan
I really did not want to like John Mark McMillan. I avoided his songs for a while. But eventually I gave his album “Deep Magic” a third or fourth listen, and it finally hit. The production is not as sweet and spectacular as I usually prefer, but when you take time to hear his lyrics, they are refreshingly original, deep, and full-hearted. I respect him now, and highly recommend said album.
About Us
With New Eyes Media is a group of music-loving Jesus-believers. We’ve dreamed our whole lives of the day Christian music would be original, artistic and compelling. We believe we are in a time of Renaissance for Christian artists. But where to go to find all the great things that are happening? How to get all the music fans with the same longing in their souls to come together and enjoy this music together? Our first step to answer these questions is this newsletter.
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Gotta love Cali. View from said work trip.