On this ground-breaking episode of the True Tunes Podcast, we explore fascinating corners of the current - and quite compelling - world of indie music being made by artists determined to use their work for spiritual purposes. Many are crafting tunes specifically for worship, while others are using their voices to shine a light on issues related to justice, theology, or life in general. Adam Lamah (Beach Chapel,) Stephen Lufkin, (aka Lovkn,) and Troy Culbreth (Cross Worship,) act as tour guides into this growing scene. We hear about their unique stories – and the emerging community of young artists blazing these trails without the support of traditional music business infrastructure. And when we roll out the True Tunes Jukebox, we let our guests load her up with records by Young Oceans, Lovelight, Taylor Armstrong, Them Parents, Antoine Bradford, Worship Mob, Paul Zach & Liz Vice, Andy Squyers, Wade Walker, John Mark Pantana, and then JJT tops it off with a classic track by The Violet Burning.
Beach Chapel came to our attention a few weeks ago when we got a message through the contact form at TrueTunes.com. Adam Lamah heard about True Tunes via an Instagram post by our previous guest, Natalie Bergman. He and his friends have been cultivating a vibrant indie community, both online and in-person, and the resulting music is often spectacular. After he attended the True Tunes Live events in both San Diego (where he shared a couple of songs) and Newport Beach, CA (where he interfaced with second-wave artists Mike Stand of The Altar Boys, Chris Brigandi of The Lifters and Wild Blue Yonder, and others,) we decided that we needed to get Adam on the show to tell us about his impressions of today's sacred indie underground. He quickly asked if he could bring a "plus one." Stephen Lufkin, aka Lovkn, has been a lynchpin in this scene for years. We talked with both, as well as Troy Culbreth, a visionary pastor, artist, community leader and songwriter from Cincinnati who is using his indie Gospel/Worship collective Cross Worship to bring people together across all kinds of divides. Together we created a 100-song corresponding playlist as well!
Young, fresh, exciting, idealistic, creatively uninhibited, and passionate, this generation of artists - many of whom are working way under the radar of today's music industry, might be changing the way people think about art, community, and worship. One of the main jobs True Tunes had 'back in the day' was to introduce our friends to excellent new sounds. We are wearing that hat once again - and it still fits!
See the SHOW NOTES page for a complete list of all of the music used on this episode, and remember to check out the amazing work being done by VisionTrust as they come alongside local heroes around the world to lift children out of poverty and give them a bright future. Click HERE to support the True Tunes Podcast with a secure donation of any size.
Michael Bloodgood: A Long Obedience in a LOUD Direction
@45RPM The Prayer Chain: Backstage in ’18
Chagall Guevara: Revolutionary Art, Halcyon Days, & Long-Play Redemption (+ a Squint Jukebox Meltdown)
The Cornerstone Festival: 10 Years Gone (and counting...)
Walking St. Paul’s Blvd with Michael McDermott (+ Peter Himmelman on the Jukebox)
Michael Roe Did It For Love (Pt.2) [The Lost Dogs, 77s, Kerosene Halo]
@45RPM - Character Witnesses for Michael Roe (Terry S. Taylor, Jimmy A, Randy Layton, A-Train, & Jan Eric Volz)
Michael Roe Did It For Love (Pt. 1) [77s, Lost Dogs, Kerosene Halo, Etc,]
@45RPM - Listening Carefully w Buddy Miller & Ian Fitchuk
Coffee w Propaganda: World Building, Critical Thinking, & History Healing (+ Midnight Oil on the Jukebox!)
@45RPM - Steve Scott & The Gospel of John as Creative Cultural Critique (pt 2)
Eric Earley (Blitzen Trapper) + Sacred Psychedelia on the Jukebox (w David Bunker)
Keyboard Warriors: Ronnie Martin (+ Steve Fairnie / The Technos on the Jukebox)
Steve Scott on the Missional Purpose of Art (pt 1)
Meet Doe! (+ Aaron ”A-Train” Smith on Stevie Wonder in the 70s on the Jukebox)
@45RPM - ROEMER on Knowing Our Role (Pt. 2)
Royce Lovett’s Unlikely Journey (+ The Roots of Gospel Rap w Soup The Chemist & Chris Williamson on the Jukebox)
@45RPM - ROEMER on Bonhoeffer, Marx, and Missiology (Pt. 1)
Andy Zipf, Achtung Baby, and the Power of Place
@45RPM - Andy Zipf Knows He’s A Ghost! (Special Live Performance)
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