Jesusfreakhideout.com Music News, June 2011: MATT MAHER DELIVERS NEW RECORD THE LOVE IN BETWEEN SEPT. 20

MATT MAHER DELIVERS NEW RECORD THE LOVE IN BETWEEN SEPT. 20

First Single ‘Turn Around’ Added Three Weeks Early by Powerhouse KLOVE Song Sees No. 28 Spot on National Audience Chart A Full Week Before June 24 Add Date

Acclaimed Singer/Songwriter/Worship Leader Embarks on Headlining Tour This Fall

NEWS SOURCE: Provident Music Group
June 22, 2011

(Nashville, Tenn.) June 22, 2011 – Matt Maher has earned a reputation as one of Christian music’s most sought-after singer/songwriters and worship leaders in the music community today, but he’s also known as a man with striking conviction and the ability to relate that passion and conviction to listeners ranging from the studied theologian to the layperson.

On September 20 Maher will deliver The Love In Between, an album that takes church from within the four walls to the handshake between two people. Matt’s third national release on Essential Records is a watershed album defining his artistic direction and setting apart his signature vocals and compelling writing style. The Love In Between is encouraging, hopeful and authentic; the articulation of who Matt is as a man, husband, soon-to-be-father, brother and follower.

While holding strong to his calling as a musical missionary, The Love In Between unveils a side that delves more deeply into the ideas of suffering, grace, redemption and hope. These concepts are neatly swaddled in a folk-Americana sound. Introduced by Matt's 2010 hit "Hold Us Together" - featured on Alive Again (9/21/08), it fuses the best elements of this accomplished musician pulling from years on the road as a touring artist and worship leader. One can listen through the entire track listing and find a very personal energy only found in the observations of one going through some serious life changes.

And it’s that very personal side of a relationship with Christ that consistently informs Maher’s music. “If you look back over history, specifically around the time Jesus was physically here in the flesh, humanity has struggled with pride, resulting in a subculture that, while having the best of intentions, ends up marginalizing the people who are most in need of God, ” Maher says about The Love In Between’s first single “Turn Around.” “However, Jesus came offering a message of repentance for all who would be willing to receive it. Those on the outside and on the inside of the Church.”

At the same time, Maher finds a way to hone in on what he calls “blue collar gospel,” a fusion of rootsy, hook-laden tracks with compelling stories and undeniable truths, creating instantly memorable tunes. Maher found that niche via “Hold Us Together” on his previous project Alive Again, and expands on it on The Love In Between with songs like “Turn Around,” “Write Your Love On My Heart” and “On My Way.”

“Turn Around” goes for adds at AC and CHR Radio formats on June 24 with an add, three weeks early, on the powerhouse KLOVE Radio Network.

And then there’s the Maher unafraid to be quiet, to draw the listener in with more personal lyrics and instrumentation, revealing a man in love with both his Creator and the people placed in his life. Songs like “New State of Mind” and “My Only Love” are watersheds for Maher the artist, taking his comfort level as worship leader and bringing it into what are very personal, very intimate musical moments.

Suffering and hope, grace and redemption, and above them all, love – all elements find their way into the vivid picture Matt Maher paints on The Love In Between.

Alongside the 12-song LP, Maher will launch the first in a series of ongoing headlining touring efforts hosted by his newly formed non-profit called Comm+Unity, which will support multiple non-profit efforts locally, nationally and internationally. The first of these efforts will feature Maher as the headlining act with support acts One Sonic Society (Jason Ingram, Stu G., Paul Mabury) and Integrity artists Sons & Daughters (David Leonard, Leslie Jordan).

The tour will launch in Texas in early September and route to the west coast through the beginning of October with a hometown CD release event on 9/20 in Gilbert, AZ. Maher will then partner with Compassion International & Christian radio in a newly launched effort called “Rock for Radio” throughout the rest of October with support acts Laura Story and Essential Records newcomer, Andy Cherry.

Matt Kees, Director of the Christian Musician Summit, concurs. “Matt Maher is a great fit for us at the Christian Musician Summit - he has the ability to reach people on a variety of levels at our conferences, and we're excited to see how he's made the steady climb into a strong headlining artist. Not only is Matt a well-trained and accomplished keyboardist and guitarist, he is a top-notch songwriter, and a well respected lead worshiper with years and years of ministry experience. Matt can teach, perform and relate to Christian musicians and fans of all shapes and sizes.”

For a list of tour dates and cities please visit www.mattmahermusic.com and http://www.twitter.com/mattmahermusic.

About Matt Maher:
Matt Maher – worship leader, songwriter, singer and recording artist – has taken his calling as a “musical missionary” to create a substantial impact on a national and global stage. The Love In Between, Maher’s third national release on Essential Records, demonstrates the evolution of an inspired artist. A CCLI mainstay, Maher is well known for writing moving worship anthems including “Your Grace Is Enough,” “As It Is In Heaven,” “I Will Rise,” “All To Us,” “Here For You,” “Hold Us Together” and “Christ Is Risen.”

Highly sought after for his poignant yet poetic writing style, Maher has recently had songs recorded by such artists as Chris Tomlin; Audrey Assad, Matt Redman, the Passion movement, and others. In addition, Maher’s songs have appeared in the top 10 ranked songs on the CCLI chart, marking their popularity in church worship services around the world.

While holding strong to his calling as a musical missionary, The Love In Between unveils a side of this new husband and father that delves more deeply into the ideas of suffering, grace, redemption and hope. These concepts are neatly swaddled in a new folk-Americana; a “blue collar gospel’ sound, introduced by his 2010 hit “Hold Us Together” - featured on Alive Again (9/21/09) - which fuses the best elements of this accomplished musician drawing from years on the road as a touring artist and worship leader.

Matt, a man with striking conviction and the ability to relate that passion and conviction to listeners ranging from the studied theologian to the lay person, has delivered an album that takes church from within the four walls to the handshake between two people. The Love In Between defines Matt as a singer, songwriter and worship leader. It is encouraging, hopeful, authentic; the articulation of who Matt is as a man, husband, father, brother and follower.

Matt Maher is from St. John’s Newfoundland, Canada and currently resides in Mesa, Arizona with his wife, Kristin, and soon-to-be son Conor, due in early August. Maher sits on the board of directors for the Catholic youth organization, Life Teen, and is a staple writer with EMI CMG Publishing, garnering six Top 500 CCLI songs in the past six years, with “Christ Is Risen” being the top downloaded song for worshiptogether.com than any other song during the Easter season. Maher’s collective career sales are more than 350,000. “Alive Again” was selected by iTunes as the best Christian & Gospel song of 2009.

Amid busy touring and writing schedules, serves as a regular host for WorshipTogether’s “New Song Café.” Maher has been featured on the covers of Breakaway and Christian Single, performed live on “FOX & Friends,” written for Billboard magazine and is an active, bylined contributor to OnFaith.com (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith), an interactive conversation on religion.

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For more info on Matt Maher, visit the JFH Artists Database.