Living in Portland, a city where much of Christianity, like the music scene, is underground, Above The Golden State went back to the basics. Frontman Michael Watson explains, “I feel like we got a fresh, clean, unbiased start to following Christ and understanding God through his Word, and that’s why we draw from who we are and share that message musically.”

The band used “The Golden Rule” as the starting point for its new songs. “The Golden Rule, to love God and your neighbor as yourself, is a commandment we’ve all been given,” says Watson. “Through these songs, we want to encourage the Church to return to that fundamental truth. We are constantly pursuing God upward, serving God within our community and going into the world to share His message.”

The Golden Rule is driven by the band’s desire to love the world as Jesus did. The album aims to move listeners beyond mere words to actions that support faith and delivers the message through thought-provoking lyrics. The result is songs that are meant to inspire Christians to live out love to those around them in their own communities, neighboring cities, across the country and around the world.

The band addresses authentic Christianity in “The Real You” and couples that with a practical application in “Tragedy,” where the band investigates life’s darker realities that come with divorce, cancer, lost jobs or even loss of faith.

Following up the hit singles “Sound of Your Name” and “I’ll Love You So,” the band’s debut single from The Golden Rule, “I Am Loved,” is currently going for adds at Christian AC and CHR radio. The band will debut new music from The Golden Rule on tour with label mate Sanctus Real this spring.

For more information on Above The Golden State, visit http://www.facebook.com/abovethegoldenstate

About EMI CMG Label Group:
Brentwood, Tennessee-based EMI CMG Label Group is comprised of Sparrow Records, Forefront Records, and Credential Recordings, in addition to providing A&R and marketing support for sixstepsrecords via a joint venture and licensing partnership. Balancing freedom, discipline, creativity, profitability and ministry, EMI CMG Label Group strives for excellence in artist development. The Label Group is a division of EMI Christian Music Group. For further information, please visit www.emicmg.com.

For more info on Above The Golden State, visit the JFH Artists Database.