Publication date: 24 August 2007
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FLASHBACK
Stand up and take a bow, too ERROL LAWSON for the same
'award'. He started his project, the Birmingham-based,
annual STAR AWARDS in 2005.
It recognizes and supports grassroots gospel music talent,
putting on not just a one-night-only event, but also offering practical support by way of a bursary, basic training and media support.
What else can one say? We need more people and organisations like you...
Short and sweet here - SONS OF LIGHT - for working MySpace enough to secure their 2-album deal with AVISTA URBAN. Big!
TRYUMF - for his absolutely superb work with GHETTO GLORY.
Anyone who ever thought the fire of God has gone out of the UK's youth
needs to attend this and other events like it.
'award'. He started his project, the Birmingham-based,
annual STAR AWARDS in 2005.
It recognizes and supports grassroots gospel music talent,
putting on not just a one-night-only event, but also offering practical support by way of a bursary, basic training and media support.
What else can one say? We need more people and organisations like you...
Short and sweet here - SONS OF LIGHT - for working MySpace enough to secure their 2-album deal with AVISTA URBAN. Big!
TRYUMF - for his absolutely superb work with GHETTO GLORY.
Anyone who ever thought the fire of God has gone out of the UK's youth
needs to attend this and other events like it.
> 'WEBSITE? WHAT WEBSITE...?' (aka 'Great use of MySpace')
HIS MAJESTY'S SOUND SYSTEM (H.M.S.S)/MINISTRI OF DEFENCE (M.O.D)
- for THE GOD CORNER. A big gospel event for a big mainstream event
(London's Notting Hill Carnival). The whole thing was just so attractive you couldn't help but want to be a part of it. And - crucially - the heart of THE GOD CORNER rested on an essential gospel theme: evangelism...
KARL NOVA - for delivering the archetypal independent artist
development model - straight up grinding. KARL (one-sixth of
GK REAL) launched his solo bid - in addition to being part of the
award-winning group - well into the early months of 2006.
Despite the late start, over 10,000 profile views, 2900 MySpace
friends and loads of free downloads later, his frequent updates,
open thought, frank blogs (any Christian who can write a 'Sex Blog'
- read it before you judge) - is definitely OK in my book.
His work is already being referenced by many both on and offline.
One more point: many a complaining UK artist ('we don't have any support' - true, but hey, that's the real world) can do worse than borrow a leaf or two (or four) from his book...
Few that I can immediately think of, but it definitely
includes FRUITS PRODUCTIONS' 'FIRST FRUITS' DVD.
A laudible effort from the Birmingham duo saw them
translate their debut album launch into a theatrical drama
production, recorded for DVD.
Minor limitations aside, this gets full marks for it's sheer scope of vision. Watching the video left me inspired by its tenacity and honesty. The drive
of the current generation of UK artist - as well as the power of the gospel to genuinely transform lives still remains greatly inspiring...
PRODIGAL SON's PICTURE THIS Acoustic Version (promo): this will
be one of those songs that will almost certainly make its mark on
Few that I can immediately think of, but it definitely
includes FRUITS PRODUCTIONS' 'FIRST FRUITS' DVD.
A laudible effort from the Birmingham duo saw them
translate their debut album launch into a theatrical drama
production, recorded for DVD.
Minor limitations aside, this gets full marks for it's sheer scope of vision. Watching the video left me inspired by its tenacity and honesty. The drive
of the current generation of UK artist - as well as the power of the gospel to genuinely transform lives still remains greatly inspiring...
PRODIGAL SON's PICTURE THIS Acoustic Version (promo): this will
be one of those songs that will almost certainly make its mark on
> PROFOUND MOMENT...
you in 2007, if not in your entire life.
I've been playing (and replaying) this demo for months, as
PRODIGAL weaves an engaging and significant semi-
autobiographical allegory around the impact of absent fathers on
the children they leave behind. To be released sometime this
year...
This is an easy one: there were few CD/DVD projects like ROGER & SAM
GRANDISON's 'LIVE IN LONDON' in 2006.
Seven words for you: 'this is how it should be done...'
ISAIAH-RAYMOND DYER - for UK GOSPEL LIVE on R Music TV. I've seen him behind the scenes, and have only one thing to say: 'duck to water'.
I've been playing (and replaying) this demo for months, as
PRODIGAL weaves an engaging and significant semi-
autobiographical allegory around the impact of absent fathers on
the children they leave behind. To be released sometime this
year...
This is an easy one: there were few CD/DVD projects like ROGER & SAM
GRANDISON's 'LIVE IN LONDON' in 2006.
Seven words for you: 'this is how it should be done...'
ISAIAH-RAYMOND DYER - for UK GOSPEL LIVE on R Music TV. I've seen him behind the scenes, and have only one thing to say: 'duck to water'.
PRODIGAL SON
> 'LANDMARK PROJECT'...
> 'SO: THERE'S MORE TO YOU THAN JUST SINGING'...
> 'SO: THERE'S MORE TO YOU THAN JUST SINGING'...
> 'KEEPING IT REAL TV'
I'm a relatively recent arrival to Christian TV on Sky.
Broadly speaking I find it follows a fairly homogenous programming
format: preaching from luxurious megachurch platforms with high
production values, preaching from modest church platforms with modest
(sometimes even questionable) production values...
...Slick music videos and cheap music videos. Biblical analysis, studio discussions and a few American lifestyle programmes (that make a decent effort of avoiding cliché Christian TV) thrown in. Basically it's TV that's very useful but largely unrepresentative of where I was at, as I was continually bombarded with cookie-cutter music programming and pulpit TV.
It also seems to me like much of it isn't even tailored to the UK market. I don't know about you, but watching US programmes beamed straight into my living room, complete with US contact details on my screen just looks weird. It suggests the broadcaster didn't really have little old me here in the UK in mind when the programme was being packaged (or repackaged)...
Thank God for REVELATION TV's 'R MUSIC'. In it I saw my world exactly how I knew it: youthful, willing to experiment, zealous, largely unrestrained by the confining aspects of the traditional, and - joy of all joys - a proper platform with an undeniably generous amount of air time dedicated to UK talent.
It ain't perfect, but they don't claim to be. It's not slickly packaged, slightly aloof Christian
TV, but it's professional nonetheless. There's still the seemingly obligatory American fare - but hey, that's cool. I can live with that as long as I can find my steady UK diet.
R MUSIC TV keep it real - but not in the fake sense of the word, if that makes any sense...
ONE QUEST RECORDS, Birmingham: for my money,
ONE QUEST founder DARRYL 'VISION' JAMES got it
spot on: you CAN change the world on your own, but
it's so much more effective when you're bringing
other people through as well.
It ain't perfect, but they don't claim to be. It's not slickly packaged, slightly aloof Christian
TV, but it's professional nonetheless. There's still the seemingly obligatory American fare - but hey, that's cool. I can live with that as long as I can find my steady UK diet.
R MUSIC TV keep it real - but not in the fake sense of the word, if that makes any sense...
ONE QUEST RECORDS, Birmingham: for my money,
ONE QUEST founder DARRYL 'VISION' JAMES got it
spot on: you CAN change the world on your own, but
it's so much more effective when you're bringing
other people through as well.
> 'HAIL THE FUTURE SOUND OF UK GOSPEL...'
Many of the tracks by Brummie artists that did well
on radio in 2006 passed through the ONE QUEST
production/support machine...
SLICKHANDED PRODUCTIONS, Leeds. The guys from SONS OF LIGHT's prodution arm. They got signed by a major label's imprint. In the US. Need I say more...?
TRYUMF PRODUCTIONS, London - enough said.
ST ANNES STUDIOS, London - hopefully you'll be hearing more from London-based CLINTON JORDAN's production company. His work made RYAN CARTY one of London's hotly-anticipated new acts of 2006/2007.
WES'ER'NATE - hugely underrated in the gospel scene, this duo has
done sterling work with the likes of EKKLESIA and TEKIVA.
These guys do everything from Rock to Garage, with a signature
production sound that's full-bodied, rich and crisp.
on radio in 2006 passed through the ONE QUEST
production/support machine...
SLICKHANDED PRODUCTIONS, Leeds. The guys from SONS OF LIGHT's prodution arm. They got signed by a major label's imprint. In the US. Need I say more...?
TRYUMF PRODUCTIONS, London - enough said.
ST ANNES STUDIOS, London - hopefully you'll be hearing more from London-based CLINTON JORDAN's production company. His work made RYAN CARTY one of London's hotly-anticipated new acts of 2006/2007.
WES'ER'NATE - hugely underrated in the gospel scene, this duo has
done sterling work with the likes of EKKLESIA and TEKIVA.
These guys do everything from Rock to Garage, with a signature
production sound that's full-bodied, rich and crisp.
L'DUBZY - the UK gospel Garage/Grime scene would
not be anywhere near as prolific and vibrant without
the tireless work of this pioneer.
Almost impossible to overstate his importance and
impact...
SMOOFLOW exemplifies all that is inspirational and enterprising
about the UK industry.
One of the first to translate wishful thinking into consistent
reality on the video production side of things, many UK-
based Christian TV channels almost always have a SMOOFLOW
video on their playlist.
And as for the oft-maligned quality of UK videos...? They'll get much better when we have
more SMOOFLOWs coming in on the scene, investing time and effort into developing and
not be anywhere near as prolific and vibrant without
the tireless work of this pioneer.
Almost impossible to overstate his importance and
impact...
SMOOFLOW exemplifies all that is inspirational and enterprising
about the UK industry.
One of the first to translate wishful thinking into consistent
reality on the video production side of things, many UK-
based Christian TV channels almost always have a SMOOFLOW
video on their playlist.
And as for the oft-maligned quality of UK videos...? They'll get much better when we have
more SMOOFLOWs coming in on the scene, investing time and effort into developing and
> 'VIDEO VANGUARD...'
promoting this growing sector of the market...
ASAH SHABAZZ - the consumate visual perfectionist. All you need
do is check out the ZION NOIZ '& WHAT' and - as far as 2006 is
concerned - the JUDAH & SECRET 'DO WHAT YOU DO' videos to
realise you're looking at the work of one of UK Gospel's finest...
AUDIOPOT - superb service for professional Christian radio
GEORGE LUKE and MIKE RIMMER (L&R) - two
of few people I know in the media that actively
work on both sides of the race fence.
Everyone knows it really shouldn't, but
intergration DOES take a lot of effort.
And for sticking at it, I salute you, guys...
ASAH SHABAZZ - the consumate visual perfectionist. All you need
do is check out the ZION NOIZ '& WHAT' and - as far as 2006 is
concerned - the JUDAH & SECRET 'DO WHAT YOU DO' videos to
realise you're looking at the work of one of UK Gospel's finest...
AUDIOPOT - superb service for professional Christian radio
GEORGE LUKE and MIKE RIMMER (L&R) - two
of few people I know in the media that actively
work on both sides of the race fence.
Everyone knows it really shouldn't, but
intergration DOES take a lot of effort.
And for sticking at it, I salute you, guys...
> DEFINITELY WORTH A MENTION...
> CONSISTENTLY BRIDGING THE .... ... ....GAP
> CONSISTENTLY BRIDGING THE .... ... ....GAP
> ...'NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL GREAT RADIO'
> 'THERE'S A BUZZ, BUT I HAVEN'T HOOKED UP - YET'...
> 'THERE'S A BUZZ, BUT I HAVEN'T HOOKED UP - YET'...
MIXED FORMAT (music and talk): MIKE RIMMER for 'Rimmerama' on CROSSRHYTHMS: great range of music, live guests, excellent features, and those two rare elements in Christian radio: a sense of humour, and not taking yourself too seriously all the time...
THE SOUND OF THE UK STREET: DJ EL NINO (right) and PASS-DA-MIC
for UB1's 'NUMBER 10 SHOW' on UnitedbyOne.co.uk: topical and
engaging, with tongue firmly placed in cheek (and an ear very close to
the ground), EL NINO and PASS-DA-MIC show how street-level radio
should be done with this landmark Internet radio show
SOULCURE RADIO SHOW
Massive props to DJ PROCLAIMA: the marriage of street beats, ministry
and scripture sound so naturally compatible...
NEW DIRECTION CREW - with the right sort of management
team and creative direction these guys have a brilliant future
ahead of them...
THE SOUND OF THE UK STREET: DJ EL NINO (right) and PASS-DA-MIC
for UB1's 'NUMBER 10 SHOW' on UnitedbyOne.co.uk: topical and
engaging, with tongue firmly placed in cheek (and an ear very close to
the ground), EL NINO and PASS-DA-MIC show how street-level radio
should be done with this landmark Internet radio show
SOULCURE RADIO SHOW
Massive props to DJ PROCLAIMA: the marriage of street beats, ministry
and scripture sound so naturally compatible...
NEW DIRECTION CREW - with the right sort of management
team and creative direction these guys have a brilliant future
ahead of them...
> ROLL ON 2007...
> YOU STILL DON'T GET THE PROPS YOU DESERVE...
> WE MISSED YOU THIS YEAR...
> YOU STILL DON'T GET THE PROPS YOU DESERVE...
> WE MISSED YOU THIS YEAR...
RYAN CARTY, FOUND SOULS FAM, FOUR KORNERZ, JAZ ELLINGTON, TRIPLE O, RAYMOND & CO...
NOEL ROBINSON, ADRIAN 'KENZ' MACKENZIE, LINSLEE CAMPBELL, 5AM RECORDS,
CHRIS BROOKS, JUNIOR STEWART (to mention just a handful...)
GEM AWARDS...
NOEL ROBINSON, ADRIAN 'KENZ' MACKENZIE, LINSLEE CAMPBELL, 5AM RECORDS,
CHRIS BROOKS, JUNIOR STEWART (to mention just a handful...)
GEM AWARDS...
> NEXT
