This week, we have one Christmas title and the ful-length debut release from a new Gotee Records artist.

Mandisa’s debut album, True Beauty, gave inspiration and hope to women everywhere and challenged us to rethink our definition of beauty. With widespread media coverage including The Today Show, and LIVE! With Regis and Kelly, this American Idol alum proved she had more than just talent – but something important to say. Along the way, True Beauty scanned over 130,000 units, making it one of the best selling new artist releases in 2007.

This holiday season, Mandisa returns with her first full-length Christmas album, It’s Christmas. Produced by Brown Bannister (Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, Jeremy Camp), It’s Christmas strikes a balance between traditional Christmas carols and newer songs, and features special appearances by Michael W. Smith and Matthew West.

CD only $12.99.

Stephanie Smith refuses to compartmentalize her life. She can’t separate her performance from the song, or her life from the message.

The daughter of a single mom with unquenchable faith, and father who comes and goes through her life, her music is born out of a life that she is making her own in faith, family, experience and truth. Her journey has taken her from her hometown of St. College, PA through Greenville College (the legendary launchpad for many Christian artists including Jars Of Clay), and to Africa where she lived on one dollar a day as part of a study of poverty and development. All of those experiences are built into an artist with a vision for hope to the apathetic and strength to the fearful.

It’s Christmas is now available at your local Canadian Christian retailer while Stephanie Smith’s self-titled debut will be available December 23rd. Keep track of all the new and upcoming releases via your own personal copy of the December New Music Tuesday and New Christmas Music poster. Head over to HearItFirst.ca to hear these new holiday releases.