Andrew Peterson is a Christian, acoustic-guitar playing, singer/songwriter from Nashville who is releasing his new album “Counting Stars” today through Centricity Music. This album can best be described by the words: inspired, peaceful, poetic, pensive. Honestly, listening to this album I can feel the artists influences and surroundings: beautiful landscapes, love, God, relationships and the stories that come from these simple yet complicated aspects of life.

These songs, or stories as it seems, are put to beautiful melodies and  are complimented by Andrew’s peaceful voice. Each song gives us a look into the personal life, memories and soul of this experienced artist; and to me, it’s what puts this album above most other singer/songwriters releasing music these days. It’s not about selling records or trying to invoke emotions from the listener – it’s about the heart of the artist and his art.

Check out Andrew Peterson and his album “Counting Stars” to hear the music that soothed the soul of my fussy baby and brought a peaceful, beautiful atmosphere into my home.

So…

STEP 1: listen to a sample of “Missing You” original mix by clicking play below:

STEP 2: read my story. For those of you that don’t know, I work for a trade show management company. What’s that you say? Well, in the simplest terms, we manage trade shows at the Javits Center in NYC. So that means that 4 times/ year, when the shows I work on occur, I have to go to the city for a week of work. The company is very generous and puts us up in nice hotels in midtown and pays for our meals and all that but for a happily married couple, it’s a bit rough on us. I miss Chris like crazy and well, as this song proclaims in the title, he misses me too. This is a song that Chris wrote for me while I was away. It’s one of the sweetest things a guy can do. So as a result…my face is on the cover (and yes, it’s an old pic). I’d explain the reasoning behind the artwork but I find that it’s better to let people interpret it as they see fit. A lot of times art has an amazing way of expressing things that you don’t even see when you create the art piece. God is so cool that way.

STEP 3: Head over to iTunes or beatport or here and purchase the release. Not only are you supporting Chris/deeflash & the guys at MK837, you’re keeping good Christian electronic music alive. With so much crappy music out there, why not support the artists who are putting out quality music that won’t eat away at your soul?

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MK837′s goal is to bring quality releases from known and up and coming artists. What you can expect from MK837 is some of the best breaks and house music with a twist.

(If you missed my interview with them – click here!)

House of Heroes “God Save The Foolish Kings” lyrics video from Gotee Records on Vimeo.

Today’s video is a great find by my love who knows that I think monkeys make everything better.

So, happy Friday. Here’s to dancing monkeys. And if you just can’t get enough, check out the 2nd dancing monkeys remix video!

I’ve had the privilege to listen to this album before it’s official debut and I can honestly say that it’ll stay on my iPod for the following reasons:

1. Every song is different. No matter how much I like an artist, if you give me an album of 10 songs that all sound alike, I’ll only make it through 5 of them before switching to something else. This album is not like that. Each track is a musical journey in itself.
2. No song is over 6 and a half minutes. I love electronic music but getting me to listen to a 10 minute track is as impossible as getting me to like ghetto rap music. It just ain’t happenin.
3. When I hear tracks such as “Single Serving” and “Salt Symphony,” I can picture Brooks at Cornerstone dancing to his own music. There is something nice about an artist that loves his art.
4. There is an overwhelming innocence to some of the tracks. “Simple Taste” and “Sleep Child” bring me to a place of peace and simplicity. I don’t often find that in electronic music.
5. “Layover” is one of the coolest, most original tracks I’ve heard in a while.
6. The album is just plain good. You can tell how much Brother Brooks believes in his music and has fun creating it.

Think it’s worth a try? Head on over to MK837′s Release Page to preview the album and order it through your favorite download site.

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MK837′s goal is to bring quality releases from known and up and coming artists. What you can expect from MK837 is some of the best breaks and house music with a twist.

Bradley Hathaway, a writer,/poet/ singer/songwriter from Arkansas has a poem entitled “On Being Joyful and Content” that explains joy in such a great way that I’m doing my post today referencing it. You can watch/read it below. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

I’m ecstatic!

and my thoughts
are
uncontrollably
sporadic!

Yet centered around one center

Joy.

In plush ripe tones
joy is rushing through my bones!

If joy were a color
it would be purple
pastel
pretty

Like old women and young children
both wear on Easter

Smiling while having deviled eggs
and drinking kool-aid

Chasing blown bubbles
in the backyard

The young ones’ distracting hats
fly off…

And the old ones laugh
a contagious laughter
that is to be shared
by everyone there

The sun
shines down upon them
as all of their physical imperfections
gleam
beautifully

and inside
inside
I feel like this
and I look outside my window
and imagine the
future purple pastel pretty
moments of joy
that I will one day have with my wife.
My Children.
My friends.
My family.

I really look forward to those moments.
But I am thankful for the one
that I am having right now.
this morning.

Alone.
On my couch.

Overwhelmed by Joy.

Before I end this post, I’d like to pray for my readers. I know it’s not a common thing on my blog, but I feel led to…so I will. I hope that you will read it slowly and pray it in your heart as well.

“Dear Lord of all things – I pray for my readers. Each and everyone one of them. Whether they know you or not. I know that you know them. And I know that you believe in them. And I know that you want them to experience the type of joy that only comes from you and you alone. I pray that each one of their hearts starts to fill with this love and joy. That it builds and builds and lives within their soul. It reaches to points that they can’t touch and can’t understand. They just know that it’s there. From the first smile during a bad situation to a compassion for their enemies that they just don’t understand. I pray that we all have an increase of the joy that’s found in knowing, loving and worshiping you. Amen”

Still not convinced? Well you’re the only one! Explorer has earned it’s name by having such global support:

Dingle (Metadeko) – United Kingdom ( Baroque, Babylon, Workout, Jetlag Digital, Bellarine, Airport Route, Bonzai, Jika Jika, Inertia) 8/10

Deersky – Poland ( Insomnia FM ,Houseradio,MovementSound) 4/5

s007ii – subRoutine – Canada (RK2 Podcast / DI.FM (adhoc) / friskyRadio (FEELAbleton adhoc guest) / ProtonRadio / 1mixRadio (UK)) 3.5/5

DJ Mindaugelis – Lithuania (www.djradio.lt, DJMAG.LT, Club Exit, Club Global) 9/10

Placid – Germany – (Lightworks, Frisky Radio Staytuned & Cybrix Radio) 9/10

George G. – Greece – (Devilock Recordings, Free Radio 98.00, Freeze Magazine Greece) 8/10

Tom Flagman – Lithuania – (Power Hit Radio, InsomniaFM) 4/5

DJ Randy G – United States – (DJam Hassan – DJ FM – Playboi – Mike Jones – Cool Kids Ent) 4/5

Greg Desty – Canada – (Various Guest Spots Mtl.) 8/10