Beloved 'Wake the World' album

Since bursting onto the scene in 2003, BELOVED has developed a reputation of being unique. So much so that the Atlanta-based group has created their own genre - women's ministry music - which has been marketed with considerable success as "Real Music for Real Women." With the upcoming release of their third album (and first nationally distributed release) Wake the World on August 19th, the pop trio is ready to extend their reach to America's women... and beyond.

Defining BELOVED is not an easy task. An equal mix of Point of Grace, Anita Renfroe and Bette Midler, BELOVED writes songs that are life-applicable and relatable, connecting with an audience instantly through relational humor and infectious encouragement. The trio wrote 9 of the 11 tracks on Wake the World, including the first radio single, "Love God, Serve Others," which was produced by GRAMMY® Award winner Mac Powell of Third Day. The remainder of the album was produced in Atlanta by John Carrozza (Boyz II Men, Babbie Mason).

On August 19th, the day of the album's release, the group will appear on Daystar's popular series Celebration live from Dallas. Additional television appearances are scheduled for that week, including Live at 9 on Memphis' CBS affiliate (Aug. 20), TCT Network's Rejoice! (Aug. 21) and NRB Network's Atlanta Live (Aug. 22). Earlier this month, the trio appeared on FamilyNet's Mornings with Lorri and Larry and Every Day with Marcus and Lisa, and they are scheduled for upcoming appearances on The Good Life, Body Builders, CTN's The Coffee Club and LeSEA Broadcasting's The Harvest Show and Live From Studio B - a 30-minute live concert series taped before a studio audience. In addition to a busy concert schedule, BELOVED will be appearing at select LifeWay Christian Bookstore locations throughout the month of August, performing live and signing copies of Wake the World.

The group's members are at first glace as diverse as their influences. BELOVED is comprised of former Forefront Records staffer Amy Goins, new grandmother Denise Clark and former Miss Georgia Kim Gravel, who currently juggles her roles as a new mom and recording artist with hosting duties for the popular Christian TV talk show Friends & Neighbors.

The trio stepped into the writing and recording process during a season of change, that heavily influenced the lyrical and spiritual direction of the album. Prior to recording the album, Kim gave birth to her first child, Beau Michael, and was adapting to the newness of motherhood. While Kim was experiencing being a new mom, Denise had become a new grandmother. “I love being a young grandmother," says Denise. "I had my kids when I was young and back then I was so wrapped up in doing everything just right and making sure things were the way they ‘ought to be.’ Now I realize what really matters and I enjoy every little moment with my granddaughter.”

Amy was also experiencing a season of change, but hers was one of loss, with the passing of her mother in early 2008. “The death of my mother was particularly difficult," remembers Amy. "Since my dad has already passed as well, I no longer have any living parents. As a single woman, that was frightening for me. Although I have been living and supporting myself for many years, I suddenly felt very alone and abandoned, in a way.”

These major life changes no doubt supplied profound inspiration for the songs that were to become Wake the World. But Denise is quick to point out that one unifying theme hasn't changed. "The core and heartbeat of this project, and this group, is Jesus," explains Denise. “We never want to assume that the person listening to our music already knows and has a relationship with Jesus. The one constant message in all of our songs is that Jesus is the only way to have eternal salvation and a joyful abundant life here on this earth. Everything else can change, but that must stay the same.”

"Lyrically we wanted to challenge ourselves and our listeners to get out there and live the life God intended for us," states Kim. "It seems to be such a simple message but it’s one that a lot of people have a hard time grasping and actually living out, day to day.”

The first track “I Dare You” challenges listeners and drives the point home. "One of my greatest pleasures in life is encouraging people and helping them to accomplish their goals and dreams," explains Kim. "I was raised by parents that taught me from a very young age that through Christ, I could do anything I set my mind to. I have realized that not everyone was raised that way so anytime I can, I try to get that message out there. Without Christ, I am nothing, but with Him I am everything.”

The title song “Wake the World” was inspired by the missions program of Cross Pointe Church where Kim and Amy are members. “Missions is not only going across the world, it’s going across the street, or even just across the hall," says Amy. "It’s merely about opening our eyes, looking around to see a need and meeting that need.”

Cross Pointe Church also inspired the Mac Powell produced “Love God, Serve Others." “That is our church's mission statement, and I love it because it is so concise, direct and to the point," says Kim. "If we would just focus on those three things, love God, serve others and share your story, everything else would just fall in line."

Proverbs 13:12 and the story of Rachel in Genesis 30 was the inspiration for “Hope Deferred”. Amy explains, “I am by nature and environment a reserved person. It is difficult for me to ‘put it all out there.’ But I knew, I could feel God calling me to be more honest and transparent with what was deep inside me.”

“Jehovah-Jireh” was born out of a miraculous healing of Denise’s husband. “In 2005, my husband Brian was very ill in the hospital," she explains. "He was only 12 hours away from a major surgery to have his colon removed. The doctor came in to check on him and decided to run a test one last time before the surgery. Miraculously the test came back as if nothing was wrong so they did not do the surgery. That experience made God, and all the different qualities of Him, come alive to me.”

"BELOVED is a group that definitely doesn't take ourselves too seriously," says Goins. "We love to laugh and poke fun at ourselves. Even our CD cover is intentionally over the top, kind of 'tongue in cheek' in a way."

"If I can't look like that in real life, I am going to look like that in print!" adds Gravel. "We have found that by using a mix of humor and music, it creates an ideal atmosphere for people to relax and let their guard down. It softens hearts so that God can speak and work in lives."

Wake the World will be released on August 19, 2008 by Trato Records and Infinity Music Distribution, a division of Central South Distribution.

biography
Philosophers, poets and presidents have mused about change since the beginning of time. “Nothing endures but change.” (Heraclitus) “The times they are a changing.” (Bob Dylan) “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” (John F. Kennedy) Some people resist it and some thrive on it but few things are more exhilarating, or necessary, than change.

Early in 2007, as Beloved set out to work on their third studio project, they knew something new and different was about to happen. “We were growing and changing as people, as artists, so naturally that was reflected in the music and lyrics we were writing,” says Amy. Kim adds, “Going in a different direction for this project was a deliberate choice for us. Sonically we wanted to create music that was more in line with what we like to sing and listen to. And lyrically we wanted to challenge ourselves and our listeners to get out there and live the life God intended for us. It’s seems to be such a simple message but it’s one that a lot of people have a hard time grasping and actually living out, day to day.”

Change was not only a factor in their music but in their lives. In June Kim gave birth to her first child, Beau Michael, and was adapting to the newness of motherhood. “Being a mother is everything and nothing I expected. Beau is my absolute heart and joy. But I will admit the adjustment was difficult. I am a very driven person who lives for change so to have to do the same exact thing over and over every day, with virtually no interaction with other people…that was a challenge.” While Kim was experiencing being a new mom, Denise had become a new grandmother. “I love being a young grandmother. I had my kids when I was young and back then I was so wrapped up in doing everything just right and making sure things were the way they ‘ought to be’. Now I realize what really matters and I enjoy every little moment with my granddaughter,” Denise says. The life change for Amy was one of loss, with the passing of her mother in early 2008. “The death of my mother was particularly difficult because, since my dad has already passed as well, I no longer have any living parents. As a single woman, that was frightening for me. Although I have been living and supporting myself for many years, I suddenly felt very alone and abandoned, in a way.” These major life changes no doubt supplied profound inspiration for the songs that were to become Wake the World.

The first track “I Dare You” solidifies that “we aren’t in Kansas anymore”, so to speak. The driving guitar riffs and bratty pop BGVs are the perfect match for it’s “you can do it” lyrics. “One of my greatest pleasures in life is encouraging people and helping them to accomplish their goals and dreams. I was raised by parents that taught me from a very young age that through Christ, I could do anything I set my mind to. I have realized that not everyone was raised that way so anytime I can, I try to get that message out there. Without Christ, I am nothing, but with Him I am everything,” says Kim.

The title song “Wake the World” was inspired by the missions program of Cross Pointe Church where Kim and Amy are members. “Missions is not only going across the world, it’s going across the street, or even just across the hall. It’s merely about opening our eyes, looking around to see a need and meeting that need,” says Amy.

“Love God, Serve Others, Share Your Story”, which was produced by Mac Powell of Third Day, was inspired by the church’s mission statement. “I love this mission statement because it is so concise, direct and to the point. If we would just focus on those three things, love God, serve others and share your story, everything else would just fall in line,” Kim says.

Proverbs 13:12 and the story of Rachel in Genesis 30 was the inspiration for “Hope Deferred”. Amy explains, “I am by nature and environment a reserved person. It is difficult for me to ‘put it all out there’. But I knew, I could feel God calling me to be more honest and transparent with what was deep inside me. That’s where “Hope Deferred” came from…….deep inside.”

“Jehovah-Jireh” was born out of a miraculous healing of Denise’s husband. “In 2005, my husband Brian was very ill in the hospital. He was only 12 hours away from a major surgery to have his colon removed. The doctor came in to check on him and decided to run a test one last time before the surgery. Miraculously the test came back as if nothing was wrong so they did not do the surgery. That experience made God, and all the different qualities of Him, come alive to me,” says Denise.

“Favorite Thing” was inspired by Zephaniah 3:17, but almost didn’t get written. “We worked on ‘Favorite Thing’ over several weeks. It came together slowly and in pieces but we kept at it. I just knew this was going to be such an important message and we had to keep at it until it was complete. I am amazed how it turned out so intimate and personal. To even understand a tiny bit, that I, and each one of us, is God’s favorite thing. That is just overwhelming,” says Kim.

Another area of change was the actual recording of the project. Beloved’s first two projects, Beloved and Lovely Day, were recorded in Nashville but this time the girls decided to keep it close to home and record at a studio in metro Atlanta. “It was a hard decision to make because we love Nashville and we were comfortable with working there. But ultimately we decided it was best for us this time to record near our homes. We were already so busy with our bookings and with life in general, we didn’t want to add the pressure of going back and forth to Nashville, to the picture,” says Denise. The trio joined forces with Atlanta producer John Carrozza, whom Kim had worked with many years before. “John had programmed some tracks for me about 10 years ago. I always loved his work and loved working with him. The atmosphere is actually very important to me when I record. I have to feel connected and relaxed when I record or it just doesn’t click for me. I think we laughed just about as much time as we sang and worked in the studio. We had a blast!” Kim says.

With so much change abounding, it is clear that one thing hasn’t changed. The core and heartbeat of this project, and this group, is Jesus. Denise explains, “We never want to assume that the person listening to our music already knows and has a relationship with Jesus. The one constant message in all of our songs is that Jesus is the only way to have eternal salvation and a joyful abundant life here on this earth. Everything else can change, but that must stay the same.”

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Beloved - Wake the World