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New Curb Records Artist MATTHEWS Debuts Soulful Offering
New Curb Records artist MATTHEWS debuts soulful offering “Don’t Stop ‘Til,” is out now listen here. MATTHEWS pairs clever lyrics with a retro hook across the funky, R&B-infused original. Acknowledging both sides of the coin life is hard, but God is good the South African-born artist implores listeners to not give up before the miracle happens as he introduces a feel-good song about perseverance and the grit it takes to realize a breakthrough. MATTHEWS penned and co-produced “Don’t Stop ‘Til” with GRAMMY Award-winning producer Tedd T. With his earliest connection to music deeply rooted in the church, the multi-instrumentalist co-wrote RIAA Platinum-certified hit “Here As In Heaven” and Gold-certified singles…
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Inside Lecrae’s Reconstruction: CCM Exclusive Interview
“I wanted it to be authentic. So how do you make it authentic? You go back to some of the roots… We were just hanging out with fans intentionally. We were at community centers and prisons and, we didn’t smell like green rooms in first class flights, you know what I mean? We smelled like sheep. And, and I just wanted to go get some more sheep dung on me.” That’s Lecrae. For his tenth record, Reconstruction, he isn’t about chasing trends. He’s pulling the walls down, and building something solid on a foundation that doesn’t move. Right away I wanted to know why he chose to frame this project with…
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All Star Worship Group Resurrects a Never Ceasing Anthem
When the opening chords of “Shout To The Lord” rang out in the mid-90s, the song instantly defined a new era of modern worship. Written by Darlene Zschech in 1994 and sung by millions across the world, it became the kind of anthem that shaped youth groups, stadium tours, and Sunday mornings for an entire generation. Now, more than thirty years later, that song is back in the spotlight, this time with Zschech joined by a Hall of Fame lineup including the powerhouse vocals of CeCe Winans, Michael W. Smith at the piano, and Stu G from Delirious? on guitar. Recorded in-the-round at World Wide Stages in Tennessee, the song…
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Forrest Frank, Cory Asbury, and Matthew West Turn Tension Into Testimony
This week, Forrest Frank made waves on social media for calling out fellow artists Cory Asbury & Matthew West on their satire videos based on his injury and recovery. Last month, Forrest Frank had a skateboarding accident, which resulted in him breaking his back. Miraculously, Forrest reported his back was fully healed in only two weeks. During his recovery, he shared videos of himself in recovery making songs. Two of these songs, “God’s Got My Back” and “Lemonade,” went viral, the latter one reaching the no. 1 spot on iTunes across all genres. Following this, both Cory Asbury and Matthew West released humorous videos of themselves in Forrest’s recovery position,…
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Kutless Guitarist Shares Health Update
In late July, Kutless announced that their guitarist, James Mead, suffered a stroke. Mead posted an update on Kutless’s Instagram page. “I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who has supported me and my family since my stroke on July 26th. Your generosity, kindness, and encouragement have meant the world to us we truly wouldn’t be where we are without you.” Mead continued “I’m grateful to share that I’m making steady progress during my recovery. I’m walking better, and I’ve been focusing on new exercises that challenge my coordination and balance. Every day is a step forward in rebuilding endurance and promoting neuroplasticity,…
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Surprise in the Studio: The Archers Reunite With CCM Original
There are moments in this new “job” that remind me why we fight so hard to preserve the legacy of CCM Magazine. This was one of those days. The Archers were in our studio; a group whose name carries weight amongst the original CCM Magazine readers. They first graced the cover back in August of 1979 and were involved in the magazine before it ever existed. I asked Steve Archer about their connection to CCM, and he didn’t hesitate. “Well, I go all the way back to one of my best friends who was a man by the name of John Styll, who told me that he was starting a…
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August Delivers some Can’t-Miss Albums!
There might be a little Dust on the Bible, but that’s only breathing new life into independent artists like Josiah Queen. Closing out August, Josiah Queen delivered one of the most anticipated releases of 2025 with his sophomore album, Mt. Zion. As an independent musician without a record deal, Queen stands as a testament to the new way of reaching audiences. With over 216 million global streams, his rise has been nothing short of remarkable. This October, Queen will take his headlining release shows to the world-famous Ryman Auditorium and to the Yuengling Center (yes, a headlining arena show) in his hometown of Tampa. Mt. Zion—featuring his beloved single “Dusty Bibles” and a…
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Red and Spoken Unable to Perform at Uprise Festival
Recently on social media, Uprise Festival posted that “due to circumstances beyond our control, Red and Spoken will no longer be able to be a part of this year’s festival. We invite you to join us in keeping both groups in your prayer.” As of this writing, it remains unclear the reasons for both bands being unable to perform at the festival, or why said circumstances might require the bands being kept in prayers. Held annually in Shippensburg, PA, Uprise Festival is one of the premier Christian rock festivals in Christian music. Their lineup regularly features some of the biggest names in Christian music, with Skillet being a headliner this…
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Pocket Full of Rocks Announces 30-Year Reunion
Pocket Full of Rocks returns to their hometown to celebrate 30 years with a night of stories and songs. Free tickets are available for the reunion hosted by First Baptist Church Texarkana on August 28. The evening will feature both founding and recent members of the band, sharing music and memories from their journey. Attendees can expect an inspiring night of storytelling as the band reflects on three decades of music. Formed in 1995, the band gained national recognition and signed with Myrrh Records Warner Music Group after 10 years of touring and releasing music independently. Their songs have been recorded by various artists, with “Let It Rain” continuing to…
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Joel Vaughn Releases New EP
Joel Vaughn released his new EP Feel It, on DREAM Records. Following the success of his recent singles, the self titled “Feel It” and “Testify” the album promises a collection of uplifting and introspective tracks that blend pop melodies with a powerful message of hope and faith. Joel Vaughn explains the album’s title as a call to action. “I want people to ‘Feel It’–to not just hear the music, but to feel the emotions and the hope behind every lyric,” he says. “This album is about engaging with our faith in a real, tangible way, and I hope it encourages everyone who listens.” The EP is available on all major…
