STYLE: Roots/Acoustic RATING Not Rated OUR PRODUCT CODE: 136616- LABEL: Integrity 000768519325 FORMAT: CD Album RELEASE DATE: 2013-05-20 RRP: £12.99
Product Description
From the up and coming singer/songwriter, Nathan Jess, comes his first solo album packed with new worship sounds. Inspiring to the likes of All Sons and Daughters and John Mark McMillan, Nathan has captured beauty in the stillness and life in the songs.
‘My approach doesn't sit within the established generic worship mould,’ explains Nathan Jess - correctly, as it turns out. For the twenty-something worship writer/leader from Northern Ireland, the ‘approach’ as he calls it is powerfully eclectic. To listen to a Nathan Jess song is to sit in the presence of a close friend you’ve never met before. His appeal is personal, universal and full of passion and truth.
The story so far is simple enough. Nathan studied music at his local university - Queens, Belfast. The strong emphasis on composition suited Nathan, and upon graduating in July 2010 he was ready to take up a full time role leading worship, writing songs and more.
The opportunity to support Casting Crowns when they played in Belfast in the following November turned out to be significant, as Kingsway staff heard Nathan play one of his most noticeable songs - I Am Redeemed. A month earlier the song had featured on an independent film project, but it was not until July 2011 that he finally signed to Kingsway. Nathan since has been involved with extensive touring and this year with support Ben Cantelon, Rend Collective Experiment and perform at the Big Church Day Out.
Nathan is clear of his roots: ‘I honed my craft starting off as a singer/songwriter who was also leading worship, then the light came on in my head and found that the fusion of the two was what I was really passionate about: writing congregational worship songs.’
And he is equally clear of his hopes: ‘I write songs with the hope that someone somewhere can really identify with and find comfort, restoration, encouragement, hope and joy within them. I try to find poetic language that makes a deeper connection with the listener/worshipper.’