Artist-worshipper/songwriter/author and UK-native Matt Redman releases Facedown, his sixstepsrecords album debut this week amidst critical praise. Recorded live during the Facedown Songwriters’ Gathering, January 2004, at North Point Community Church, Alpharetta, GA, where Redman led 300 songwriters on a journey into songwriting, foundations and surrender, the enhanced CD also features the first chapter of its companion Facedown book, which will be in stores July 1.
Produced by Nathan Nockels (Watermark, Passion) and mixed by Tom Laune (Passion, Michael W. Smith, Nichole Nordeman), Facedown is a collection of 11 new songs, plus two spontaneous moment tracks, and features Redman’s signature guitar-driven worship. The lyrics take a creative and introspective look at why and how we worship on songs like “Gifted Response” and “Worthy, You Are Worthy,” which features additional vocals by Chris Tomlin. Also featured on the album are Christy Nockels on vocals, Nathan Nockels on keys and guitars, John Ellis (Tree 63) on guitar, and Terl (Iona) and David Raven (session drummer for The Swirling Eddies, etc.) on drums.
“Facedown is not only one of the best albums Matt Redman has done to date, it also heralds a whole new era of spiritually attuned and consummately crafted worship music,” says Julie Reid, Executive Editor of Worship Leader Magazine. “Redman’s ability to express enduring truth in an emotionally resonant musical setting has never been more deftly displayed and as a result Facedown sets a new standard for devotional artist and worship music.”
Bruce Adolph, publisher of Worship Musician Magazine, says, “Not only is Matt a gifted lead worshipper, he is also a genuine example of a man honestly trying to honor God.”
Garnering praise not only for the new CD, Facedown, Redman’s second book with Regal Books, is also receiving critical acclaim.
“Facedown is refreshing,” comments Carol Crenshaw, Publicity and Publications Director for Christian Music Planet, regarding Redman’s like-titled book due out in July. “Beautifully written, poignant and inspiring, Redman urges us to place our lives at God’s altar. Worship is a form of self-sacrifice, giving ourselves wholly to God without reservation and standing in His presence in awe.”
Following the success of Redman’s debut on Regal Books, The Unquenchable Worshipper, which has sold over 100,000 copies, Facedown is grounded on three biblical examples found in Ezekiel 1, Daniel 10 and Revelation 7. The July release reveals that the worship that takes place before the heavenly throne room of God is facedown.
Also recorded near Atlanta at North Point Community Church during the Facedown Songwriters’ gathering, the Facedown DVD, releasing August 24, features teachings from Louie Giglio and Matt Redman and thoughts from Chris Tomlin, Tim Hughes and Don Williams among others. This four-hour DVD captures the spirit of the event with live concert footage featuring new songs from the Facedown CD, all recorded in 5.1 surround sound, three full talks from Louie Giglio, teaching features (Worship Conversations and Notes On Songwriting), lyrics and more.
As one of today’s most respected worship songwriters, Matt Redman has written some of the most used songs in worship services around the world according to Copyright Licensing International (CCLI). Furthermore, Redman’s songs have been recorded by numerous other popular Christian artists including Michael W. Smith, Rebecca St. James, John Tesh, SONICFLOOd and Kutless, among others.
More information on Matt Redman can be found on the Internet at www.mattredman.com, www.sixstepsrecords.com, www.HeartOfWorship.com, and www.EMICMG.com.
Founded in 2000 by Louie Giglio, sixstepsrecords (www.sixstepsrecords.com) is a young worship label and is a division of Choice Resources, the parent ministry for Passion Conferences. In addition to Matt Redman, sixstepsrecords’ artist-worshippers include Chris Tomlin (Not To Us), David Crowder Band (Illuminate) and Charlie Hall (On The Road To Beautiful). The label partners with Sparrow Records for marketing, sales and distribution operations.
