NRT's Kevin Davis and Jake Frederick discuss the 7th Annual We Love Christian Music Award nominees for Group of the Year and New Artist/Group of the Year.
In our special 7TH ANNUAL WE LOVE CHRISTIAN MUSIC AWARDS editorial series, members of the NRT staff have a back-and-forth discussion about this year's nominees. In Part 5 of our series, NRT contributors Kevin Davis and Jake Frederick discuss the nominees for Group of the Year and New Artist/Group of the Year.
Kevin - 2018 was another great year for Christian music. This year's nominees for Group of the Year is our most competitive yet, ranging from CCM fixtures Hillsong Worship and Casting Crowns to the newly independent Elevation Worship and radio hitmakers Rend Collective and for KING & COUNTRY. Tough category for sure. What are your thoughts about the nominees, Jake?
Jake - This is a tough category to pick a best from. The worship albums from Elevation Worship and Hillsong have been powerful and no doubt impacted many people not only on the radio, but in churches as well. I'm pleasantly surprised to see Rend Collective on this list. Casting Crowns never ceases to amaze me how they can come out with chart-topping albums again and again. The storytelling in for KING & COUNTRY's Burn the Ships is great, and hearing the stories behind their songs make them that much stronger. Each one of the nominees is deserving of the award in their own right.
Jake - That's a tough call. I've had unique experiences with each of these groups. I've spent many mornings worshipping with Elevation Worship and Hillsong on my commute. I've watched Casting Crowns pray over the seats in an auditorium asking God to move for the person seated there. I had the chance to have a conversation with Luke with for KING & COUNTRY and surprised my daughter with a trip to see them (they are her favorite band). At the end of it, though, I'm a sucker for the unique and the underdog, so my pick is Rend Collective. I think they're doing something unique and I would love to see them take home an award.
Kevin - Great pick! I also love the underdog! That's a good transition to new artists. Regarding the nominees for Best New Artist/Group, this was another stellar year for new artists, and I ranked Alisa Turner in my top 10 worship albums and Riley Clemmons in my top 10 albums, so they are the top contenders for me. I also really enjoyed the debut albums by LEDGER, Austin French and The Young Escape. Bright futures ahead for all of the nominees, in my opinion. What do you think, Jake?
Jake - I think this is a great new group of artists. By listening to their work, I wouldn't believe that they are new artists. We've been seeing LEDGER slowly start to come into her own in the later Skillet releases, it's absolutely great to see her come out and pursue her own sound. It's incredible to see what The Young Escape is doing before they've even graduated high school. I remember romanticizing about starting a group with my siblings, but they have actually accomplished it. I honestly had not heard of Alisa Turner until she was nominated for the award. After hearing her music, though, I'm disappointed that I hadn't heard about her before. By volunteering for the Air1 street team here in Dallas/Ft Worth, I've heard a lot of Riley Clemmons as background music. It's been a favorite for me while working at events, but for whatever re,ason I didn't realize she was a new artist. I think it's great that we have this group of artists that are coming out swinging.
Kevin - I've spoken to Skillet and LEDGER more than 10 times for my behind the song devotional series, and I can't get enough of their music. It was totally exciting to finally hear Jen Ledger come out from behind the drums and become a solo artist. I can't wait to see her set on Winter Jam in 2019! Once again, for me it comes down to who moved me the most emotionally in selecting my top New Artist for 2018. Alisa Turner's personal testimony of battling Lyme Disease and her songs, "Only My Jesus," "Safe" and "My Prayer For You" are all among my favorite worship songs this year, and due to how those songs minister to me, Alisa is my selection for Best New Artist of 2018. Riley Clemmons is a very close second for me and I think this may be our strongest list of new artists yet! How about you?
Jake - I intentionally left Austin French out from the last question since he is my pick for this category. Born Again has been one of my most listened to albums this fall, and I connect every time I hear "Why God." I got the chance to talk with him a month or so before the album dropped, and hearing about his journey to this release seals the deal for me.
Kevin - Austin is a great choice! I spoke with him about "Born Again" and I love his heart! This has been great to chat with you about these amazing artists, Jake, and I'm looking forward to seeing how these awards turn out. Either way, these are all deserving artists to be nominated and the beauty of Christian music is that it can minister to different people in different ways based on musical preference, the biblical messages behind these songs, and how the songs move people. These artists all provide multiple ways to connect withlisteners, and draw them to Jesus. That's what it is all about, and is why "we love" Christian music! Any closing thoughts?
Jake - I think you said it right there, each one of the artists that were nominated have their own unique sound and message that speak to everyone differently. I'm blown away by the creativity of each nominee and how the Church as a whole is continually exploring creativity in order to encourage and spread the gospel. While you and I talk about our favorites and picks, others have just as many reasons for their picks. The voters have a tough job ahead of them. I'll be anxiously waiting to see who walks home with the awards.
NOTE: Voting is now open through Friday, January 25, 2019 at WeLoveAwards.com. Winners will be announced during our Facebook Live broadcast from Visible Music College's Memphis campus on Tuesday, February 26, 2019.
Assembled from the four corners of North America and many other corners in between, the NRTeam is comprised of staffers whose energy is equally dispersed towards loving music and writing about the music they love.
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