7Cubed eZine
Hi everyone! This month's E-Zine is jam packed! It features an interview with the singer for Awaken, North Wind!, links to some great new music, and your own interactive section. Keep an eye out for links to free music downloads too!
We absolutely know the HUGE significance that music plays in our lives, and we know from our experience that the right music -no matter what the style- can bring us closer to God. So we want to share this passion with you through our
Don't miss a minute!
If you love the music or events we let you know about, we'd really appreciate you letting them know you heard about them from 7Cubed.org (especially if you buy something from them because we want them to know they are supported!) They work hard with the talents God has given them and we want everyone to keep on working for God and be blessed.
So are you ready to hear about some great artists and events? We have found some awesome ones for ya'.
And, hey, don't miss our Christian Music Blog - there is even MORE great links, photos, and interactive stuff.
~ Heather, Em, and Ev
7Cubed founders
Find the eZine below...
THANKS readers for joining us for this issue!
The 7Cubed Team
Do you know any music fans that would like to hear about new bands, events, and all the other cool stuff in the eZine?
Let them know they can sign up here.
interviews
reviews & Mp3s
These guys grew up together in Australia and after opening for the band Third Day (we all love them!) in their homeland they met the lead singer Mac Powell. They stayed in touch with him and eventually through his encouragement they decided to move to the U.S. That was 2 years ago and they have been touring ever since.
They have that great rock sound with rich sounding vocals claiming influences such as Third Day, Switchfoot, Jeff Buckley and Steven Curtis Chapman. Revive appeals to the masses for sure.
You can hear their music and see where they will be playing at their main site or their My Space Page.
Check out the video of the prank Revive played on singer Brandon Heath on our Christian Music Blog!
Don't miss this month's Artist Interview with Brian Morgante, the lead singer of Awaken, North Wind! in the Artist Corner here.
The members of Awaken, North Wind! say that they know they are not perfect, and that they want to write honest music. Their music shows the grace, forgiveness, and love of God, something that this world so desperately needs all while presenting the life situations in a real life way - unpretentious, meaningful, and no fluff. We think this band has a great message and way of getting it out there! Their ambient rock sound brings a heavy ethereal touch to a music world saturated with the "same old" sound. (They are prime example of why we make these newsletters...to give all you listeners and lovers of music something new and exciting.)
has a free download available of their song "Grace" on their Pure Volume site page - ready for you!
The interview with Brian in our Artist Corner is quite telling as it reveals how deep these young guys think - and how they have figured out that as Christians we don't need labels... nor do we need to stay within our "circle" - but instead go to where the need is today.
If you like the styles of Toby Mac and Jason Mraz then you will love B. Reith
( we know.... a funny combo but it really works! ). And he's hilarious giving us reasons to laugh and smile in his songs!
His MySpace page clears up how to say his name with this quote:
" b.reeth, b.right, naw B.REITH!"
The jazzy soul sound mixes with a hip hop sound that makes you want to move your hips! "Rain Down" changes the beat so much you don't realize it but you find yourself movin' and singing along with the very first listen.
Toby Mac has been quoted as saying, “It’s amazing when God truly gives someone a gift. Brian is just naturally gifted from God vocally and his lyrics, when they hit tape, they sort of just ease into your heart.”
His lyrics are appropriate for the growing Christian (do we ever really stop growing??) and yet they remind us that we are not alone in this journey we call life.
Check out his site where you can order his songs via Amazon, iTunes, or his store.
Since winning a local New Jersey Battle of the Bands contest in 2001, Kronicles has opened up for well known bands and artists including Newsboys, Superchick, 12 Stones, and Kutless.
Somewhat reminiscent of Skillet and Red this hard rock band has their own unique ability to put a ton of different tempos and beats into their music not even giving you a chance to get bored.
The lyrics to their song "Reason" really make you think:
Father please forgive me for everything I've done
And I will build you a sanctuary
God please, take away from me all that kills me,
And I will never be the same again I know.
If you like your rock a little harder and appreciate smart musical changes, lyrics that tell a story & make you think, and great guitar then you are going to love Kronicles.
Check out our video interview with Kronicles.
FREE MUSIC DOWNLOADS
You might hurry...these may not be free for long!
Find 3 great free songs on this site. One of the songs, "Bring Me to Life" by
Thousand Foot Krutch, we featured as a free download link last
month, so in case you missed it....
Esterlyn has a link on their site for 2 albums at a PICK YOUR PRICE
rate. They also have a free download of their song "Sweet Love"
at Indie Vision Music. Listen to it here.
Go here to right click on the link to save it.
Abandon's "Providence" (who we featured last month) can be
found here for a free download through their page on
Tangle.com. Also find one of their videos there too!
7Cubed:
When it comes to wanting to touch lives and convey your vision through making songs,what is the most important thing have you learned?
ANW:
"With growing up going to shows every week, and then touring for so long, I've definitely seen that kids aren't going to shows to get their lives radically changed every day. I don't care if its spirituality, straight edge, veganism, politics, whatever. Bands that are too forceful with their message just come off as bullheaded and it turns everyone off to the positive message that they may be trying to convey. I have definitely found that I want to get on the same level no matter what, and make it about conversation, relation, and constructive argument in order to challenge one another. A lot of bands out there seem to be more than willing to teach what they think they know so much about, and not have any sort of attitude to learn and be challenged by what others have to offer. I definitely feel every person you come in contact with has a story, has a vision, and has beautiful things that make them who they are, and if you aren't open to hear what they have to say as well, you're going to miss out on a spectacular opportunity to learn something you might not have learned otherwise. The more that we have tried to stay in tune with a mindset such as this, the more we have been able to share what we are passionate about, and see a positive response to that, as people want to know more, and ask more questions about why we do what we do, and stand for the things we stand for."
7Cubed:
Where does the inspiration for the lyric and song sounds usually come from?
ANW:
"All of the lyrics for the album "Doubt" are part of a concept that is actually going to carry over into the next album. It's all one, big connected story about the title...doubt. The story starts with a man that is so sure of everything around himself. Optimistic about life, love, God, people, etc. As he walks through life, just like any one of us, he is challenged with everything around him, and everything that is thrown at him.
All of these good and bad things cause him to really change his thinking, and he basically becomes the opposite of what he once was, losing all faith in life, love, God, people, etc. This cd then ends with the man dying, the realization of death, and then the realization of judgement from a God he denied, and the consequence for such a belief, as in Christianity. He realizes his own consequence, and the cd ends with the man sending himself to hell. The next album is going to pick up right where this one left off, but in a mythological sense. Following the formula of Dante's Inferno, the man is going to find himself in the deepest circle of hell, reserved for the betrayers, and then walk through the different circles, and listen to other peoples stories of why they think they are there.
The story isn't some cheesy, Lord of the Rings-esque plot, where you have to follow every detail. Each individual song can be taken out of the story, and not even seen as part of one. If you follow closely though, you can see how they are connected. The next album will be similar to this, a bunch of small stories connected to make one larger one, but every song a story in
itself!
"The sound just stems from the idea behind the lyrics, and what we are all influenced by. We all like a lot of epic music, and want to see it done bigger and better than what we even listen to, so we try to go as big as possible. The next album will be even bigger, we promise, haha."
7Cubed:
What is the most amazing thing you all have experienced together as a band?
ANW:
"Honestly, we haven't experienced a lot of 'amazing' things, but I think what we could all agree on, is just how this whole band has come to be, and the process to record the album, and everything up to this point. We never expected things to be going as well as they are, and we're definitely excited about the future. We knew there was a way we could do it ourselves, and up to this point have done everything for this album and this band ourselves, so we're proud and amazed at how far its come, and where its going to go. I think that is amazing within itself, haha."
7Cubed:
If you were to describe yourselves in one word, what would that word be?
ANW:
"For myself, I would just want to say real. I try to be as real and transparent with every single person I meet. No one gets special treatment, no one gets more, no one gets less. I will not demand respect from anyone, and don't give it out unless respected. So I would say real."
7Cubed:
Share with our readers a story of how your music has impacted someone's life personally?
ANW:
"We have had a lot of people talk to us about all sorts of
unique ways the music has impacted them. Its nice because we get a little bit of everything, all types of people, and a million
questions, because of the way a lot of our lyrics are written. I'm just glad our songs are written in an open format where everyone is welcome to come and share their ideas and stories as we share ours.
Some bands that are just too straight forward Christian, or too straight forward anything for that matter, just turn people off,
because you're giving yourself a tunnel. We get everyone from all ends of the spectrum, and its awesome to see how the littlest things effect someone in a totally different way then someone else!
There's a million stories I would love to share, but I almost feel in a way out of respect to those people that have shared the stories, I would like to keep them anonymous. I think the bigger point we would love to try to make is that these songs and the relationships we build through this music is based on a community of intimacy and friendship.
Because of that, it makes every story just as powerful, unique, and important to each and every one of us. Just as you wouldn't want to broadcast your secrets to the world, I dare not broadcast others, haha."
We're all about impact, and being impacted. Just come to a show and share your story, and we promise we'll share ours!"
7Cubed:
And one of our fav questions to ask (!).... how did you come up with the band name?
ANW:
"It actually is nothing too extravagant, haha. My friend Megan
Lloyd in Maryland texted me one day, because she knew we had going back and forth for weeks and weeks on what the band name should be,and she said she came across the phrase one day, and thought of us. As soon as I read it, I knew it had a solid ring to it, so I presented it to the other guys, and they were all about it!
For those who know where the name derives from, it actually comes from a Bible verse in Song of Solomon, but the meaning of the phrase Biblically has nothing to do with how we wish to use it, haha. We have had a lot of questions about that.
What we try to say, is the north winds of the world, those that blow from the arctic, Northern Canada, Siberia, etc. - those harsh winds are what push the jet streams and really effect a lot of our climate, and without those winds, we would not have a solid balance for a lot of things, ultimately to sustain all life. Those winds though, are what bring the cold, the winter, the death, and we need that dormant and destructive period to bring the revitalization of spring.
With the message behind our music and a lot of the things I have shared earlier in this, it goes hand in hand with exactly what we're trying to say. We welcome the thoughts that no one is perfect, no one really has it right, and we all are flawed, and that is what makes us beautiful and puts us all on the same page. we need those winds to blow in our life to bring growth to us as individuals, and strengthen us as a whole, as a community. So we say that in life, we need those north winds to blow things our way that might not seem good, but in the long run, will shape us into the world changers we are all capable of becoming."
7Cubed:
Other than music, what other things do you love to do?
ANW:
"I love to sew, and be creative, do arts and crafts type
things, haha. My girlfriend and i actually run a business of handmade goods that we sell at shows, craft fairs, etc. We also have an online store you can check out over at www.thingswemakewithourhands.bigcartel.com! It's all really fun stuff.
I also love to bike, I don't even have a driver's license, haha. I always have my face in a book, I'm a huge nerd in that sense, and I love to travel and meet people. People, if you haven't been able to tell, are a huge passion of mine, and it doesn't matter how opposite a person may be from myself, I am so interested to know why they do what they do, and what makes them tick! I'm a huge coffee drinker, and a fan of sitting in diners for way too long having irrelevant arguments about philosophy and other silly things, haha. I think more than anything, I just love being at shows, surrounding myself with counterculture, and really just basking in the fact that another world and life is possible, and I am smack dab in the middle of that with a
million amazing people around this country!"
7Cubed:
"Thanks for the fantastic interview, Brian! It has been great to get to know you!"
Interviews and Reviews of Christian bands and
singers; new song releases; events,
concerts; photos of artists; and other cool interactive stuff.
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