Cross Movement Records announces the upcoming debut release of On the Move from newly signed group Shachah. The innovative southern California band serves up a mesmerizing mix of soulful funk-rock and hip-hop, its gospel-centred lyrics continuing Cross Movement Records’ rock steady mission to impact the culture for Christ. The 15-track self-produced disc, slated for an early fall release, showcases the brawny, up-front talents of lead singer Brenden “Proclaim” McPeek, guitarist Josh Wagner, bassist Earl Mergelsberg, and drummer Stephen Anderson.

Photo by Jenn McMahon

The four Shachah members came together initially through the Calvary Chapel music machine, hitting their own unique sonic stride while leading worship for a Costa Mesa college ministry. Opportunities only increased as their highly stylized sound and message-driven songs began to impact the southern California area, and Shachah began traveling the globe as “musicianaries,” performing everywhere from open-air concerts in Russia in 15 degree weather, to outreach shows at 105 degrees in Palm Desert. What enables Shachah to engage effectively with such diverse settings is their fresh blend of sonic genres, muscularly displayed on On The Move from the reggae soul of “Arise”, and the rapid-fire spits of “Hero”, to the edgy energy of “Won’t Stop.” Equally prominent in On The Move is the band’s lyrical drive. Shachah and Cross Movement Records have the same sharply honed sense of mission in common, and their pairing promises to increase their focused strengths exponentially.

“Our coming together with Cross Movement Records has been a process that started a while back through much prayer and a building of relationships. It is clear to us all that this is what the Lord has for us,” says bassist Earl Mergelsberg.

Label president John Wells affirms this sense of destiny, commenting also on the timeliness of the union. “After 11 years of focusing on mostly Christian hip-hop, we found great appeal not only in Shachah’s music, which blew us away, but it also seemed the right time to get behind a west coast band, and one who incorporates elements of rock, funk and reggae in their sound. Diversity is what is happening in the culture right now, and a Christian label committed to reaching the world for Christ will offer the best music representative of that culture. It’s just different faces representing the same mission, at the end of the day,” he adds, “to impact the culture for the Lord.”

Cross Movement Records has plans for a new Shachah project in ‘09, but until then audiences will find compelling reasons to embrace the band’s fresh sound, immediately apparent in the wide-ranging diversity and stunning sonic chops of On The Move. Shachah is gearing up for extensive touring this summer, impacting audiences from coast to coast.

On the Move comprises the following 15 tracks:

1. On the Move
2. Are You Ready?
3. Stand Up Intro
4. Stand Up
5. Won’t Stop
6. Choose Life
7. Found My Place (feat. Benito P)
8. Hero
9. Interlude
10. Arise
11. Go Forth
12. Overcome
13. Lion of Judah
14. You Said
15. Diligence (feat. Chris Jenkins)

Shachah’s On the Move will be available at Canadian Christian retailers on September 2nd.

To find out more about Shachah, visit their YMZ artist page.

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