Just once glance at the track list and you may start to think, ‘gee, some songs look familiar’.
Or if you aren’t really into the mainstream, then I guess Hills and Valleys would be reminiscent of other similar styled CCM artists, like Group 1 Crew, 1GN, TobyMac, Hollyn, or Royal Tailor themselves! Nevertheless, these 15 songs are packed full of hope and encouragement- from “Undefeated” featuring rap sensation KB, to the pop radio friendly track “Love is Action” and the emotive and uplifting single “Hills and Valleys”. In fact, mix those four artists together in a blender and add a faith element, and that is how Tauren’s new album sounds like. Building upon the successful releases of his Undefeated EP in September 2016 alongside his Hills and Valleys Single in January 2017, Tauren’s first official album is one to savour if you have thoroughly loved Royal Tailor and their music, or if you love the sound and music of similar styled mainstream artists, like Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, ONE Republic or Bruno Mars. Still, it is a bittersweet offering, and a reminder that any band formation can easily result in band splits in the future, be it amicably or not.
Just like how Audio Adrenaline 3.0 with Adam Agee on lead vocals sounds like a pop/rock version of Stellar Kart, or how Newsboys at times remind me of the good ol’ days of DC Talk Tauren’s new solo effort is everything I could’ve hoped the next Royal Tailor album to be.
Standing at 15 tracks on a digital-only deluxe edition (the physical copy of the 11 track standard edition will release in July), the sound of this new project that Tauren has embarked upon is…well, it’s like Royal Tailor never disbanded. Nevertheless, Tauren Wells, former lead singer of the band, is still making music, and his first solo full-length album Hills and Valleys released a few days ago. While I reckon Royal Tailor’s best album was still to come, we would never know. And while no official statement was made about the disbanding of the quartet until Tauren stepped out and released a new single, his first as a solo artist it was unfortunate to see the band travel their separate ways, even if it meant for them to explore the other avenues that God had in store for their lives. They sold out arenas and went on tours with artists like Capital Kings, TobyMac, and Building 429…yet without warning, the band stopped touring. Now let us backtrack a little bit… Royal Tailor, formed in 2011, was a moderately successful band that produced hit singles like “Hold Me Together”, “Make a Move”, “Ready Set Go” and “Making Me New”, to name a few. Now a solo artist signed to Provident Label Group. I feel like the music is the runway to taking people somewhere…’ Tauren Wells. I want them to leave inspired, but also asking questions: What do I do next? What does what I’m feeling mean, and what do I do with it? I feel like at that point, we can give them a vision: Here are ways you can express your gifts. At the same time, I feel provoked to do something. Everyone is listening to it…, we’re going to get down a little bit. But that’s what their parents are listening to at work and on the radio. Mainstream music is writing that music for high school/college students. Smash at radio, and Mandisa was awarded a Grammy for Best ContemporaryĬhristian Music Album.Tauren Wells– Hills & Valleys (Deluxe Edition) ( iTunes/ Amazon mp3) The tour will wrap on April 9 at Indianapolis' Bankersįive finalist.
Tour," alongside Matt Maher, Mac Powell from Third Day, Capital Kings, as part of fellow Grammy winner TobyMac's "HITS DEEP You // That you could overcome // I still believe it // But it ain't easy // Cause that world I painted // Where things just all work out // It started changing // And I started having doubts // And it got me so down."Īrenas across U.S. "Stronger." In the initial track, she sings, "Not scared to say it // Lands at radio today following Mandisa's No. Place, but where I am today is so much better and so much lighter!" She is emerging from the pit of despair with a willingness toīe totally transparent and vulnerable about her journey.īroadcast the exclusive first television interview and performance with Mandisa Passion for her music, after spending much of the past few years sufferingįrom depression.
All-new album marks first since 2013's Grammy-winning 'Overcomer'įirst single, 'Unfinished,' hits radio todayĪwaited fifth album, "Out Of The Dark" (Capitol CMG), will arrive on Mayġ9.