JFH News: Misty Edwards' "Little Bird" Solo Album Reaches No. 1 On iTunes

MISTY EDWARDS' LITTLE BIRD SOLO OFFERING REACHES NO. 1 ON ITUNES

NEWS SOURCE: Hoganson Media
January 9, 2015

Dove-nominated singer/songwriter Misty Edwards released her newest and 4th studio album, Little Bird, amidst critical acclaim, Dec. 29 from Forerunner Music, the official record label of the International House of Prayer of Kansas City (IHOPKC). With several songs from the album heard for the first time by 25,000-plus people attending IHOPKC's Annual Onething Conference Dec. 28-31, the recording also spent time at No. 1 as the bestselling Christian/Gospel album at iTunes® during release week. Furthermore, the album is currently the fourth bestseller on the UK's Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart as reported by the Official Charts Company.

"What an amazing opportunity for Misty to share such a personal, intimate collection of new songs with a captivated audience hungry to participate in a live setting," said Forerunner Music President Nick Syrett. "Listeners seemed to resonate not only with her musical creativity, but connected with the lyrical intimacy and worshipful expressions unique to Little Bird."

Being described as "bold and imaginative," as well as "breathtaking…heartfelt and introspective…," Little Bird is being lauded by critics far and wide:

"Misty pours her heart out in every single song which allows listeners to eavesdrop on her expressing her deep feelings, insecurities, and desires for holiness directly to God…If you like indie-pop style 'gourmet' singer-songwriters Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson, Regina Spektor and Audrey Assad, you need to check out Little Bird by Misty Edwards…This entire album is loaded with relatable lyrics, incredible singing and prayerful themes about what it means to be a child of God. Musically, the album features a great mix of laid-back indie-pop and singer-songwriter folk style music…I hang on every single word and the stirring vocals, prayerful lyrics and music arrangements are breathtaking. This is a great new collection of very heartfelt and introspective songs, in essence Misty's love letters to God." - NewReleaseTuesday.com (5/5 stars overall)

"Little Bird and Misty Edwards fly but not in a congregational direction, although a number of songs will serve with power and emotional effect as special music. This kind of honest, confessional, spiritual and emotional excavation is the bedrock of indie music, but rarer in worship, although David gave us a profound pattern, which Edwards emulates on songs such as 'Invisible One' and 'Sound of a Heart.' Edwards is hoping to encourage others in the worship movement to think beyond merely corporate expressions of worship." - Worship Leader Magazine (4.5 stars/5)

"Edwards' music are conversation pieces where she trade lines with the characters in her songs as they reflect upon the grace of God, the frailty of life, the eternity of promises and so forth. And never one to be domesticated by one genre of music, here you will find Edwards exploring various shades of musical styles from singer-songwriter folk to piano balladry to ethereal soft rock…Little Bird, on the whole, is an album that is not domesticated by the standard flares of today's worship music. It's creative, innovative, expansive (in its lyrical scope) and it's heartfelt delivered from a worshipper is acquainted with the pulsating heart of God." - Hallels.com

"Time fails me to tell you of each song. They are all creative and grab your attention. It is not a fast album, most songs are mid to low tempo, but each has a distinct musical touch that just shows the level of excellence Misty and her team are capable of producing. This is not an album you will be loading your Sunday set lists with, but it is an album you will keep readily available to just listen and enjoy. It's bold and imaginative whilst also being deeply personal." - AllAboutWorship.com

"Misty has stretched her musical boundaries and brought herself to new levels musically and lyrically…being more mature and organic in presentation. The musical direction Little Bird takes is one that reaches out to today's culture through a musical style that is popular on the market…, but holds a message that the culture needs to hear." - CMADDICT.com

The album features all-star production from the legendary, 14 Grammy Award-winning / 25 Dove Award-winning Brown Bannister, plus co-production from the Grammy-nominated Paul Moak (The Blind Boys of Alabama, Mat Kearney), who blend together Little Bird's earthy innovation with analogue experimentation, alongside a vast myriad of subject matter. Independently-minded, Little Bird has the ability to take flight towards the spiritually thirsty of varying backgrounds that converge at the crossroads of musical and lyrical authenticity.

Citing the song, "Center of the Universe," Misty notes, "I hope listeners will walk away knowing they're part of this epic story, and once again, that life as we know it is not the end. Your life, your heart and your individual journey matters massively. Psalm 2 is the mosaic, the storyline of God, and it's a call to find your strand in that tapestry."

About Misty Edwards
Misty Edwards has been a worship leader and songwriter at the International House of Prayer since its inception in September 1999, and oversees the leadership and music team. She has been actively writing songs since the age of sixteen, and continues to grow in this art, while encouraging others to do the same. Through worship-leading at conferences and her faithful time of leading in the prayer room, which is streamed LIVE 24/7 to over 175,000 people a month, Misty has impacted thousands with her music. For more information, visit www.MistyEdwards.com.

About Forerunner Music
Forerunner Music is the official record label of the International House of Prayer of Kansas City, MO, an evangelical missions organization centered on 24/7 worship and prayer. Having released more than 150 albums since its inception in 2001, the label has produced records for artists such as Misty Edwards, Laura Hackett, and Matt Gilman. Forerunner Music albums have reached as high as No. 9 on the Billboard charts and No. 1 on iTunes' Christian & Gospel charts. Visit forerunnermusic.com for more information.

About the International House of Prayer of Kansas City
The International House of Prayer of Kansas City (IHOPKC) is a 24/7 prayer ministry that has held worship-led prayer meetings non-stop for 15 years. Since 1999, bands of 10 or more singers and musicians have led an unending cycle of two-hour prayer-and-worship sets-all day and night-in the ministry's Global Prayer Room. The ministry streams this continual worship and prayer live on its website and is watched by tens of thousands of people each day from around the world.

IHOPKC includes a university (IHOPU) with ministry, music, media, and missions schools. The organization is committed to justice and compassion outreaches involving human trafficking, inner-city programs, and adoption. IHOPKC's vision is to work in relationship with the wider Body of Christ to serve the Great Commission, seeking to walk out the two great commandments: to love God and people. The International House of Prayer is an evangelical missions organization that has a growing community of about 4,000. Visit www.ihopkc.org for more information.

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