Song Revolution with John Chisum

Latest Episodes:

JON THURLOW: Prophetic Songwriting and Worship 24/7 Mar 10, 2018

Show notes

Does God really "give" you songs? Is it possible to just "receive" your songs from God and not have to work on them anymore? What's it like to "sing in the Spirit" and write "prophetic" songs?

In this episode of The Song Revolution Podcast, John Chisum interviews International House of Prayer (Kansas City) worship leader and songwriter, Jon Thurlow, as part of The NCS Song Power Week 2018. Jon shares honestly how difficult leading worship 24/7 can be on him and his team and the mundane aspects of staying "in the Spirit."

This episode brings many great insights for your worship songwriting and helps you gain fresh understanding of how to refine the prophetic intimations God brings to you. John shares many great tools for you to use immediately in your songwriting to make them accessible for believers of any type and persuasion.

Jon Thurlow and his wife Kinsey live in Kansas City, Missouri, where they both serve on staff at the International House of Prayer Kansas City (IHOPKC). IHOPKC is an evangelical missions organization that is committed to praying for the release of the fullness of God's power and purpose in the earth. At the core of everything that goes on at the IHOPKC missions base is the Prayer Room, a place where we never cease worshiping the Lord and interceding for our world. In September of 1999, IHOPKC launched 24/7 worship and prayer which has continued to this day. Jon first came to IHOPKC in 2004 to attend Fire in the Night, a three-month nightwatch internship. After spending three months in the Prayer Room from midnight to 6am, he joined an IHOPKC "daytime" worship team. He now serves as a primary worship leader at IHOPKC, leading a team of singers and musicians in 6 two-hour sets per week.

For more information visit nashvillechristiansongwriters.com

ZACH WILLIAMS: Chain Breaker and Newly-Minted Grammy® Winner Mar 03, 2018

Show notes

Ex-mainstream rocker Zach Williams knows that Jesus is the real chain breaker, but Zach himself has burst onto the airwaves as a bonafide hitmaker with over 17m Youtube views of his debut single Chain Breaker and over 11m views of the totally singable follow-up Old Church Choir and the tally for each is growing by the minute.

Williams knows the power of Christ. His own chains of addiction were broken as he surrendered to the love of Jesus. Now he has taken the passion he once had for pleasing crowds to pleasing Jesus as a devoted husband, father, worship leader, songwriter and artist. In Zach's words, "I did the whole rock star thing for so long and I felt like I was always faking it, and now I really just want to be real with people. Please don't wait another minute, make the decision today to follow Christ."

Zach's straightforward and gutsy music has already garnered him two Grammy® nominations and one win, a Billboard Music Award nomination, two Dove Awards for New Artist of the Year (2017), Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year, and the K-LOVE Fan Award "Breakout Single of the Year" for Chain Breaker.

In this episode, John Chisum catches up with Zach to chat about his music and the motivations behind it. Confirming the authenticity of the man making the hits, Zach shared freely of the struggles and the victories of his life and ministry, proving that he's got a healthy perspective on the fleeting value of music business success versus the applause of man.

Zach Williams knows what he's about and he's unafraid to challenge anyone to surrender to Jesus in order to find the truest riches in life. While the accolades and awards accrue, Williams' heart-leveled lyrics and infectious melodies continue to hit home with millions of listeners worldwide and we're already anticipating what's next for someone breaking chains and making waves with hit after hit.

Be sure to check out all the great resources and services we offer at nashvillechristiansongwriters.com.

CODY CARNES: on Songwriting and Worship Leading as "Mr. Kari Jobe" Feb 24, 2018

Show notes

Cody Carnes is a lot more than "Mr. Kari Jobe." Although he is married to one of the most popular worship artists of the day, Cody is emerging in his own power as a communicator, songwriter, and worship leader.

His new album "The Darker the Night/The Brighter the Morning" was produced with indie-pop producer Jeremy Lutito and has influences from Bon Iver, Coldplay, One Republic, and others. "I feel like there are a lot of people in the world like me that love the creative experience of seeing some of their favorite bands live and also love the spiritual experience of a worship night," Carnes says. "I want to merge those two worlds together."

Allmusic.com's Stephen Thomas Erlwine writes, "Carnes first started playing music as a child, and headed his first worship service as a teenager. Throughout his teens and early adulthood he played with a number of bands, including Hit the Ground Running and Crimson Soul. He later became part of Gateway Church, which led him to a key role in the associated band Gateway Worship. There, he met his eventual wife, Kari Jobe. The pair frequently co-wrote songs together, including "Let the Heavens Open" on her acclaimed album Majestic. Carnes and Jobe released an EP called All He Says I Am in 2014. They married that year, relocated to Nashville, and had a son in 2016.

Carnes signed with Capitol CMG in February 2017, releasing "The Cross Has the Final Word" shortly afterward. By May, Newsboys reunited to record their own version of "The Cross Has the Final Word," and by the end of the summer Carnes also released the singles "Hold It All," "Til the End of Time," and "What Freedom Feels Like." His full-length solo debut, The Darker the Night/The Brighter the Morning, appeared in September 2017."

In this episode, John Chisum caught up with Cody while he was in Cincinnati on the multi-city WinterJam Tour with wife, Kari, Jobe, and many other great Christian artists. In this fun and often funny episode, Carnes reveals deep inspiration for songwriting and an even deeper commitment to Christ and His Kingdom. Listen in and gain songwriting inspiration and insights to put into your songwriting now.

For more information, visit us at nashvillechristiansongwriters.com.

JOHN MAYS: Making it in the Christian Music Industry/ Part 2 (Encore) Feb 17, 2018

Show notes

Music business executives have come and gone through the years, but no one has outlasted Centricity Music's John Mays, the longest-standing A&R Director in Christian music. John's career has spanned thirty years and he has been influential in the careers of artists such as Cindy Morgan, Point of Grace, Phillips, Craig & Dean, and many more. John is currently directing the musical development of successful artists such as Johnny Diaz, Jason Gray, and the award-winning Lauren Daigle. In this episode, John Chisum sits down with his long-time friend to discuss nicknames, Mexican food, work ethic, the state of the Christian music industry, and the amazing opportunities awaiting songwriters and artists in the future.

Check out more information and a full artist roster at www.centricitymusic.com and follow John on Twitter at @maysjp and on Instagram at @mayscast

JOHN MAYS: Making it in the Christian Music Industry/ Part 1 (Encore) Feb 10, 2018

Show notes

Check out more information and a full artist roster at www.centricitymusic.com and follow John on Twitter at @maysjp and on Instagram at @mayscast

JARED ANDERSON: Songwriting and Selling Sunsets Feb 03, 2018

Show notes

Jared Anderson is one of our favorite songwriters. An international worship leader for many years with New Life Fellowship (Colorado Springs) and the Desperation Band, Jared always brings a down-to-earth spiritual perspective on music, songwriting, ministry, and business.

This interview is from his day on NCS Song Power Week 2018, a week long Facebook Live event sponsored by Nashville Christian Songwriters that happened January 22-27, 2018, in which he and NCS Managing Partner, John Chisum, discussed a range of powerful songwriting topics touching on everything from song form to the ethics of "selling sunsets."

You can reach Jared Anderson through jaredanderson.com and find out more information about Nashville Christian Songwriters at nashvillechristiansongwriters.com.

BUDDY GREENE: Gaither Sideman & Co-Writer of "Mary, Did You Know?" Jan 27, 2018

Show notes

Buddy Greene: Virtuoso Harmonica, Gaither Sideman, and Co-Writer of "Mary, Did You Know"

Over the last 30 years, Buddy Greene has performed across America, made numerous trips abroad, and established himself as a predominantly independent recording artist. In 1991 he won the Gospel Music Association's Dove award for Best Country Album, and has received 9 other Dove award nominations. Through his long association with the Gaithers, he has become a favorite gospel performer, often appearing on the Gaither's popular Homecoming video series, and recently featured in a Best of Buddy Greene DVD retrospective.

Buddy has also made his mark as a songwriter. Besides the many self-penned songs of his own recordings, he co-wrote (along with Mark Lowry) the modern Christmas classic "Mary, Did You Know," recorded by a host of major artists, including Kathy Mattea, Kenny Rogers and Wynonna, Natalie Cole, Clay Aiken, CeeLo Green, Rascal Flatts, Mary J Blige, and Pentatonix. Other songs of Buddy's covered by major artists include "Recovering Pharisee" by Del McCoury, "Fall Down, Children" by The Whites, and "He Is", a number one for gospel artist Ashley Cleveland.

Throughout his career, Buddy has steadily advanced as a harmonica player. He has played on the recordings of many outstanding artists, including Jerry Reed, the Gaithers, Riders in the Sky, Charlie Peacock, Bela Fleck, The Ojays, Sara Groves, Keith and Kristyn Getty, Sandi Patty,

and Larnelle Harris, just to name a few. After hearing Buddy's 2002 release "RUFUS", legendary folk icon Doc Watson invited Buddy to join him onstage at the prestigious MerleFest roots music festival in 2003 and subsequent years. In 2009 he joined an auspicious lineup of Nashville

virtuosos to help jazz bass legend Charlie Haden celebrate his country roots in the Grammy nominated recording and video project Rambling Boy.

Other milestones in Buddy's career include performing at numerous Billy Graham crusades, especially the 1992 New York Crusade before a crowd of 250,000 in Central Park, and his performance of the "William Tell Overture" at Carnegie Hall, captured live on a Bill Gaither

Homecoming video and subsequently posted on YouTube, has been viewed by millions.

In this episode, John Chisum sits down with his long-time friend to reminisce, talk about songwriting as part of Buddy's amazing career, and to share some of the songs from Buddy's newest recording "Looking Back" available now at buddygreene.com and soon at all major music outlets.

For more information check out nashvillechristiansongwriters.com.

JOHN CHISUM: God Gave Me This Song... Now What? Jan 20, 2018

Show notes

So God has given you a song. You just sat down one day and it started flowing out, or, maybe you were driving in your car when suddenly this melody came to you, and, before you knew it, you had pulled out your cell phone and started recording a melody that you've never heard before and you are still trying to put lyrics to it.

Or perhaps you've been writing poetry since 5th grade and you have about 4,000 poems in seventeen notebooks and you wonder why God gave them to you. Is there a true call to write songs on my life or not, you ask. It's hard to believe God would give you so many songs and have no plans to expose them to anyone else on the planet. But does that mean that your songs are destined for contemporary Christian radio?

In this episode of The Song Revolution Podcast, veteran music industry professional John Chisum explores the truth behind the continuum of songwriting from devotional to commercial and helps listeners find where they might be on it. All points on the continuum are valid and good, but the function of songs vary from end to end.

Some important resource links Chisum shares in this episode are:

Three Ideas for Inspiring Creativity in Worship

Do Songs Really Matter That Much in the End?

ExperienceImmerse.com

Five Ways to Write Songs People Will Love - Worship Musician Magazine

The Myth of Inspiration - Gear Tech Recording Magazine

Be sure to check out all the great resources we offer at nashvillechristiansongwriters.com.

JON THURLOW: Prophetic Songwriting and Worship 24/7 Jan 13, 2018

Show notes

Jon Thurlow is the living example of Psalm 45:1, "My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer."

Jon and his wife Kinsey live in Kansas City, Missouri, where they both serve on staff at the International House of Prayer Kansas City (IHOPKC). IHOPKC is an evangelical missions organization that is committed to praying for the release of the fullness of God's power and purpose in the earth. At the core of everything that goes on at the IHOPKC missions base is the Prayer Room, a place where we never cease worshiping the Lord and interceding for our world.

Jon says, 'In late 2005 I had been at IHOPKC for over a year, but was still struggling to write songs. Music and melodic ideas would sometimes come together, but the lyrics would never come! One night the Lord spoke clearly to my heart and said, "I want you to let go of any music or movies that don't push your heart towards Me."

In September of 1999, IHOPKC launched 24/7 worship and prayer which has continued to this day. Jon first came to IHOPKC in 2004 to attend Fire in the Night, a three-month NightWatch internship. After spending three months in the Prayer Room from midnight to 6am, he joined an IHOPKC "daytime" worship team. He now serves as a primary worship leader at IHOPKC, leading a team of singers and musicians in 6 two-hour sets per week.

In this episode, John Chisum and Thurlow talk all things worship, songwriting, and his new recording Different Story, Thurlow's first Nashville-based recording produced by the legendary Brown Bannister (Amy Grant) and multi-talented Ben Shive (Laura Hackett Park, Brandon Heath, Bebo Norman, JJ Heller, Andrew Peterson.)

For all the latest information on Jon Thurlow, go to http://www.jonthurlow.com/, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or visit the official Different Story page at forerunnermusic.com/differentstory.

Don't miss our FREE video course called "Five Keys to Successful Christian Songwriting " available at https://nashvillechristiansongwriters.com/freecourse!

For more information, visit us at nashvillechristiansongwriters.com.

TREVOR GRAVES: Getting Heard in Nashville Jan 06, 2018

Show notes

Trevor Graves is an aspiring songwriter hoping to be heard in Nashville. His acoustic songs and sound are a blend of classic CCM with fresh influences a la John Mayer and Ed Sheeran. In this episode of The Song Revolution Podcast, John Chisum highlights Trevor's songs and sincere call to write for Jesus.

As a client of Nashville Christian Songwriters' coaching program, Mastering the Art & Craft of Christian Songwriting, Trevor shares about his journey into commercial songwriting and the development of three songs during the show, which he also performs. Listeners will immediately recognize his talent and the quality of his work.

Songwriters looking for inspiration and many nuggets about the craft of songwriting won't be disappointed in this episode as they follow the development of a very talented and developing songwriter, Trevor Graves.

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