This week’s premieres feature a pair of buzz-worthy singer-songwriters.

A 2007 EP hinted at the sort of honest, quirky fare Lanae’ Hale, a 24 year-old Florida transplant, had to offer. Now, her first full-length Centricity album, Back & Forth, makes good on that promise as an engaging collection of highly crafted melodic and lyric expressions.

Eschewing standard pop cliches, Lanae’ carves out her own unique and personable creative space on the new project, allowing her songs to unfold unexpectedly and with a strong dose of self-revelation born of her own sense of struggle.

Tag-team produced by Mark Hammond (Nichole Nordeman, Ashley Tisdale) and Allen Salmon (Seabird, This Beautiful Republic) Back & Forth is constructed with an underlying sense of “before and after.” Some songs reflect the psalm-like intensity of a journey through the darker moments of life, while others celebrate the freedom, hope and redemption that ultimately follows.

Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Mat Kearney is set to release his new album, City Of Black & White. Following the success of his major label debut, Nothing Left To Lose, Kearney has returned with an evolved sound and a world of new experiences.

After spending five years traveling the country establishing himself as a new artist, Mat dug his roots into his new hometown of Nashville, TN, allowing the songs on City Of Black & White to evolve from various places and sources. He opened up the writing process to friends and to the community of musicians in Nashville, and crafted songs such as “Fire And Rain”, “Here We Go”, and the album’s lead single, “Closer To Love”.

Kearney sprung onto the music scene in October 2004 with Bullet, his first national release and label debut on Inpop Records. Bullet spawned the hit song “Undeniable”, which broke radio records on the Christian CHR chart. The record also won him a Dove Award for New Artist of the Year. His sophomore album, Nothing Left To Lose, featuring the hit singles “Breathe In, Breathe Out”, “Undeniable” and the title track, was released in April 2006 and has scanned nearly 400,000 copies to date. Songs from the album have received prominent licensing placements on popular shows including Grey’s Anatomy, Bones and Friday Night Lights.

Kearney has toured with John Mayer, Sheryl Crow, The Fray, Jason Mraz and is currently on tour with Keane. A Toronto show has been announced for May 23rd. Check the YMZ Concert listings for more details.

City Of Black & White will be specially priced at $12.99, while Back & Forth will feature a $2 off coupon for first 30 days of release AND will have the “Staff Pick: No Risk Music Guarantee” sticker. Both titles will be available on Tuesday, May 19th at your local Canadian Christian retailer. Keep track of all the new and upcoming releases via your own personal copy of the May New Music Tuesday poster. Head over to HearItFirst.ca to hear these new releases.

« Return to Previous Page