NFN Review Zone – FOR KING & COUNTRY : What Are We Waiting For? (Curb/Word Entertainment)

For King & Country’s fourth studio project (What Are We Waiting For?) asks a pivotal question in a pandemic-riddled world.  Brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone provide the answer across 13 original tracks that confront relevant issues and confirm the duo’s commitment to community, diversity and family. The first song ‘Relate’ states the basic fact that we are all the children of God. Why, then, can we not live together in harmony? It’s a catchy little number, with a serious theme. There’s a touch of Maroon 5 meets Owl City in some of their music, while Dante Brown joins the duo for a rather tiresome song entitled ‘Unity.’ By the time I’d got to track 9 ‘Shy’ I found myself quite disappointed by an album who’s big press releases had been bombarding NFN Towers for the last couple of months. Thankfully, the collaboration with Kirk Franklin and Tori Kelly on ‘Together’ really lifted my spirits. It’s a cry for unity and togetherness, and has so much power than most of the other song. In fact, the closing four songs are the album’s ‘Purple Patch.’ With numbers like ‘Seasons’ and the encouraging ‘Cheering You On,’ it made me wonder why the earlier tracks didn’t make me feel the same?   I understand that this album is a little bit different from their previous stuff, so fans may be a little surprised when they hear it. 5/10.

New Stars Go Dim Album ; Release Date 29th April.

Curb | Word Entertainment’s STARS GO DIM is set to release Grace In The Wilderness April 29, 2022. Beginning today (2/11), fans can pre-order/pre-save the upcoming album https://starsgodim.lnk.to/GraceInTheWilderness

In addition, instant grat track “This Is Love” gives listeners another taste of what’s to come, following lead single, “Yes He Does.” Watch the poignant video for “This Is Love,” which includes an unexpected ending.

STARS GO DIM’s third studio project, Grace In The Wilderness, leads listeners on a pilgrimage toward hope that expands on the infectious pop sound that’s defined Chris Cleveland’s catalog since the impassioned singer debuted his first self-titled album under the Stars Go Dim moniker. Coupling meaningful lyrics with a voice that knows no bounds, Cleveland pulls out all the stops on the intrepid collection as his immaculate voice effortlessly glides across 13 tracks — all co-written by the ace songwriter. Produced by Jeff Sojka, Jeff Pardo and Anton Göransson, the new LP features the explosive “This Is Love,” the worshipful “Prepare The Way” and the affirming “Yes He Does.”   https://www.starsgodim.com

We Are Messengers Hits #1 on the Billboard Christian Airplay Chart with “Come What May”

Curb | Word Entertainment’s We Are Messengers hits #1 on the Billboard Christian Airplay Chart with “Come Way May,” which spent its 11^th week at #1 on the Mediabase Christian Audience Chart, marking the group’s first single to hit #1 on both Mediabase and Billboard charts and the longest running #1 song on the Mediabase Christian Audience Chart for the last 52 weeks.

“God’s kindness has always been obvious to me, but today is extra special and a sweet example of how fond He is of people like us,” shares We Are Messengers front man Darren Mulligan. “I am so very thankful for our management team, Curb | Word Entertainment, and our incredible promo team who have brought this song to radio. We cannot express our gratitude for the never-ending love, support and encouragement of every single radio station in the USA. I’m honored to be a part of this community, and We Are Messengers will continue to share the news of Jesus with a world that needs Him more than ever.”

for KIng & Country Announce New Album for 2022

Four-time GRAMMY® winning duo and Curb | Word Entertainment recording artist for KING & COUNTRY have announced the upcoming arrival of their brand-new album What Are We Waiting For?, out on Friday March 11th.What Are We Waiting For? is the platinum-selling duo’s first album of new music in three years and features 13 original tracks from Joel and Luke Smallbone. Fans can expect a return to the lush and evocative pop sounds the duo has perfected over the years, while Joel and Luke take pen to paper and confront relevant issues with poise, grace, and groove. Pre-order or pre-save the album below, and also hear the lead single, ‘Relate.’

KING & COUNTRY RELEASE LATEST SONG AND VIDEO “FOR GOD IS WITH US”

Four-time GRAMMY winning duo and Curb | Word Entertainment recording artist for KING & COUNTRY have released their latest track “For God Is With Us,” available today on all digital streaming platforms. The new track continues the sharpened pop sounds and production that for KING & COUNTRY unveiled with their current hit single “Relate,” with a message of glory and faith over slick beats and synthesizers. The video places Joel and Luke Smallbone in an array of locations, from valleys to cityscapes, driving home that God is with us no matter the time or place.

Joel and Luke Smallbone share in a statement: “This song speaks to all circumstances. No matter hardship or great delight, we can all take great comfort in God being with us.”

This morning’s announcement follows the news that for KING & COUNTRY are among the leaders of the 2021 Dove Award nominations as the duo has been nominated seven times – Artist of the Year, Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Pop / Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year, Christmas / Special Event Album, Recorded Music Packaging, and Long Form Video. The 52 Annual GMA Dove Awards will air exclusively on TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) on Friday, October 22.

Natalie Grant Releases New Song from Forthcoming Album

Curb | Word Entertainment recording artist Natalie Grant has debuted her new song, ‘No Stranger’ from her upcoming album, along with the lyric video for the song. ‘No Stranger’ serves as the title-cut of Grant’s tenth studio record, now slated for release Sept. 25, 2020.

Written by Grant, her husband Bernie Herms, and songwriter Paul Duncan, ‘No Stranger’ explores the intimacy of a God who identifies with the human experience. You are no stranger to the scar / So You can have my wounded heart / You weren’t protected from the pain / So You can hold me when I break Grant sings, backed by the lush strings that define her latest project.

“In the last few years, through deep valleys and victories, my awareness of God’s presence in my life has awakened like never before. It’s not like He became more available, I just became more aware, and that has changed everything,” Grant shares of the personal significance behind “No Stranger.” “The King of the world, the Author of time and space, makes Himself personally known to me. This everlasting God, the Alpha and the Omega, He is no stranger. He is a friend.”

With strings recorded live at London’s famed Air Studios, ‘No Stranger‘ also features previously released tracks previewing the album, including the stirring ‘Face To Face’ Grant’s powerful version of Casting Crowns’ classic hit ‘Praise You In This Storm’ her recent collaboration with Steven Malcolm ‘Even Louder’ and her new worship anthem, ‘My Weapon‘ which topped the UK Christian Chart back in April.

In addition to introducing new music, Grant recently debuted the “Dare To Be” podcast with her longtime friend, author and speaker Charlotte Gambill, bringing their popular “Dare To Be” women’s events to life in a fresh format. The podcast is in partnership with AccessMore, an all-new online network for faith-based podcasts from Christian leaders like Christine Caine, Levi Lusko and others that launched in May from K-LOVE/Air1 parent company Educational Media Foundation (EMF). The “Dare To Be” podcast’s premier episode became AccessMore’s most listened to episode of the platform’s launch. Fans can subscribe to the “Dare To Be” podcast at http://www.daretobe.com.

143 million on-demand streams for King & Country’s “God Only Knows.”

In a heartfelt surprise encounter recently, four-time GRAMMY® award winner and Curb | Word Entertainment recording artist for KING & COUNTRY discovered that the multi-week No. 1 hit “God Only Knows” has been certified platinum. The GRAMMY® award winning track has racked up over 143 million on-demand streams to date, and the official music video has accumulated over 40 million views.

“One million people have downloaded ‘God Only Knows,’ which is an astonishing fact to us,” Luke Smallbone says. “We are grateful and are humbled to know that this song means so much to other people.”

Upon arriving at the studio to record tracks for an upcoming Christmas album, Joel & Luke Smallbone of for KING & COUNTRY were astonished to find fans waiting for them via Zoom to present the news of the duo’s platinum certification. After holding up custom-made signs to the camera to spell out the message “CONGRATS ON PLATINUM,” the fans were able to chat with the Smallbones and express how much “God Only Knows” has meant for them since the song’s premiere. Last year, Dolly Parton joined for KING & COUNTRY to collaborate on a GRAMMY® winning rendition of “God Only Knows,” with the two performing at the 2019 CMA Awards.