NewSong

In the three years since Reunion Records recording artist NewSong released their last pop album, life has been one explosive surprise after another, something they could never have predicted.

Those surprises came in the form of an unprecedented, nation-wide reaction to the 2000 release of NewSong's poignant Christmas song, "The Christmas Shoes," originally recorded on the group's Sheltering Tree album. Co-written by Carswell, the song tied the record for garnering the No. 1 spot on Billboard's AC chart in just three weeks. The song continued to build momentum in 2001 when NewSong released a beautifully-crafted holiday album titled The Christmas Shoes. A novella based on the song was written by Nashville author Donna VanLiere, and appeared on the New York Times bestsellers list two years in a row. That was followed by a nationally-televised made-for-TV movie, "The Christmas Shoes," produced by CBS and starring actors Rob Lowe ("The West Wing") and Kimberley Williams (Father of the Bride). The television special surpassed its other network competitors and brought in 17 million viewers. In early 2003, the album's success was capped by a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album" and garnered a 2003 Dove Award.

With success on such a large scale, it would have been easy to get caught up in the momentum and bask a little in the glow of the spotlight. "But it really wasn't about us," says NewSong's Eddie Carswell. "It was pretty amazing to see how God orchestrated it all, and it took us completely by surprise. I've always been a big fan of Bob Briner (famed sports agent, television executive and author of Roaring Lambs, a book focusing on the element of excellence for the Christian in the secular business world) and the idea behind Roaring Lambs, so it was nice to see something like this happen, and to feel like we were somehow able to make an impact."

Coming off a whirlwind year of phenomenal success, NewSong—comprised of Carswell, Billy Goodwin, Michael O'Brien, Matt Butler and returning member Scotty Wilbanks—have garnered a total of 17 No. 1 songs and received a 2003 Dove Award. The next phase begins with the release of More Life, a stunning collection of 12 energetic, pop-flavored melodies and powerful ballads that showcase the group's signature vocal harmonies and lyrical prowess. This career-defining album captures the sound and the passion that has made NewSong a Christian music favorite for more than 20 years.

Produced by Brian Tankersley (Sawyer Brown, Carman), Bill Baumgart (4Him, Al Denson), Bryan Lenox (Michael W. Smith, The Katinas) and NewSong's own O'Brien, More Life is NewSong's 15th album, and promises to be another master achievement that will resonate with both listeners and radio stations across the country. Songwriters Carswell and O'Brien collaborated on each of the album's 10 original tracks, something O'Brien was eager to do. "When you write with Eddie Carswell, it totally changes everything," O'Brien explains. "He is a genius at coming up with hooks and ideas. He's such a talented guy who has a great heart for God and for the music. I would just look over at him and say, 'Man, thank you for letting me be a part of this.'"

The fast-paced, contagious title cut, "Life in My Day," thematically represents the album's heartbeat: "We're always on the go, telling God how we need more time and more days in our life," says O'Brien. "But what we really need more than anything is more life in our days, more Christ in our days." That pursuit of passionate life in Christ is what NewSong is all about.

Other album standouts include "When God Made You," an inspirational love song Carswell wrote for his daughter's wedding—destined to be a perennial wedding classic—and "For the Glory of Christ," a powerful song that celebrates life as it was meant to be. "That's one of those songs," Carswell shares, "that when you hear it, it makes you take a deep breath and say, 'Okay, this is what it's all about.'"

At the suggestion of a close friend, St. Louis-based radio personality DC Chymes, NewSong also chose to record a soulful rendition of the Keith Green classic, "Your Love Broke Through." Chymes, who played a big role in the mainstream radio success of "The Christmas Shoes," played the Keith Green song to several pop radio programmers and received an overwhelming response. He knew that NewSong would be the perfect vocal band to reawaken this incredible standard of faith.