Ep 104: Rachel Wilhelm Singing the Story of Hosea

Rachel Wilhelm returns to PostConsumer reports for another "radio special" episode with an in-depth discussion of her new album Hosea. As an Old Testament prophet, Hosea offers us a frame story as a way to portray our betrayal of God through our sin, if only as a means of demonstrating God's love, judgement, faithfulness, and ultimate call for redemption. Building on her previous work of lament songs, a contemporary requiem, and a companion album about the prophet Jeremiah, Hosea shows us the words and story of an ancient prophet are still speaking to us powerfully today about what God is calling for his people. 

The album is available wherever you stream music, but can also be purchased in vinyl format (along with her other works) here. You can find out more about Rachel's music and ministry at her website and about United Adoration where she does worship and songwriting workshops.

You can listen or read Rachel's previous appearances on PostConsumer Reports (including writing a guest article) here:

Rachel on her album Requiem (radio special #1)

Rachel on her album Jeremiah (radio special #2)

A reflection on Moda Spira's album Divorce

Reflections on Rachel's Songs of Lament

Ep. 92: Rick Lee James on "As I Walk These Halls" and being a hospital chaplain

Songwriter Rick Lee James is on the podcast again to disucss his new single "As I Walk These Halls," a meditation on his experience of training to be a hospital chaplain. You can find out where to stream or download the song here. You can learn more about Rick and his music at his website and purchase his albums at his online store.

You can listen to Rick's Between the Songs Podcast interview here, and his previous PostConsumer interview here.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Ep 90: Brian Doerksen on his song "215"

Ep 85: Singer-songwriter Rick Lee James

Ep 88: Rachel Wilhelm on Composing a Modern Requiem

Ep 87: Harmony Smith—Vineyard Worship Leader, Songwriter, and Pastor

Ep 68: E. Byron Anderson on his book Common Worship

Ep 62: Stephen Backhouse on the Life of Kierkegaard

Ep 50: Stu G on the Beatitudes Project

Ep 26: Zac Hicks author of The Worship Pastor

Ep 47: Dr. Lest Ruth on the History of Contemporary Worship

Ep 81: Rain For Roots 

Ep 67: Singer-songwriter John Van Deusen

Ep 52: Fernando Ortega's The Crucifixion of Jesus

Ep 86: Singer-songwriter Adam Whipple on his Basement Apartment EP

Adam Whipple is a singer-songwriter from Knoxville, Tennessee who has just released his new EP Basement Apartment, which is available on all streaming platforms (Soundcloud, Apple, Spotify). You can discover more about Adam and his work at his website (https://www.adamwhipple.com/), which includes visual and video art, and read his prose and poetry and Foundling House, a writing community (https://www.foundlinghouse.com/). Our conversation covers the songs on the new EP, being a bi-vocational artist, and the tensions of creating art in this strange season we are all living in.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Ep 85: Rick Lee James

Ep 84: Jonathan Hodges of Bomethius

Ep 57: Dave Trout of UTR

Bonus: Stu G on the Beautitudes Project 
Ep 73: Phil Joel of Newsboys and Zealand
Ep 53: The Mosleys—Husband and Wife Duo
Ep 67: Singer-songwriter John Van Deusen
Ep 70: Glenn Kaiser

Ep 83: Blair Masters

Ep 77: Jimmy Abegg

Ep 74: Charlie Peacock

Ep 52: Fernando Ortega's The Crucifixion of Jesus

Ep 55: Singer-songwriter Nathan Peterson

Ep 59: Jeremy Casella's New Album and Kickstarter Campaign

Ep 56: Andrew Osenga

Bonus Ep: Stu G on The Beatitudes Film and Study Guide

Stu playing "Heaven Is Around Us" with John Mark McMillan.
Featured are The Beatitudes Project film and study guide.

Two years ago I got to interview Stu G, one of my musical heroes, and formerly of the band Delirious. At the time he had just released The Beatitudes Project and Words From the Hill, an ambitious album and book, both based on Jesus's "Sermon on the Mount." He said he was also finishing a film documenting the making of the album as well as interviews and discussions with the people who helped inspire the writing of his book. Tantalizingly, Stu didn't exactly know when the film would be complete. Now, two years later, the film has finally come out on both Blu-ray and available to stream, and he was written a study guide to go with it for small groups and churches. His Beatitudes project is finally complete. You can visit their website to find out more or to purchase it individually or in packages: 
https://www.thebeatitudesproject.com/ 

And you can listen to my full interview with Stu G from 2017 here: 
Ep 50: Stu G on The Beatitudes Project


Subscribe to the podcast on itunes 

Check out the podcast page to subscribe on Stitcher, 
Google Play, Tunein, and PocketCasts.

Here is one of the trailers for the film:

Music Related Podcast Episodes:

Ep 74: Charlie Peacock
Ep 73: Phil Joel of Newsboys and Zealand

Ep 52: Fernando Ortega's The Crucifixion of Jesus

Ep 55: Singer-songwriter Nathan Peterson

Ep 59: Jeremy Casella's New Album and Kickstarter Campaign

Ep 56: Andrew Osenga

Ep 53: The Mosleys—Husband and Wife Duo
Ep 67: Singer-songwriter John Van Deusen
Ep 70: Glenn Kaiser

Christmas Album Song Stories

Consider this my VH1 Storytellers episode for my new Christmas album The Hopes & Fears of All the Years, which you can purchase as a download here: 

The Hopes & Fears of All the Years (it's a cheap affordable price, I promise).

For the past couple of weeks I've sharing daily stories on my Facebook page about a few of the songs. I've compiled them all together here, in case you wanted to listen to them in one big gulp while you listen to the song. On top of that, if you haven't gotten your fill of Christmas music and my thoughts on the album, you can listen to my podcast episode with commentary on the album.

Here now are the stories:

PCR Podcast Ep35: Christmas Album Excerpts and Commentary

Last week I released my new Christmas album The Hopes and Fears of All the Years on my music page. You can download it for $1 throughout the Christmas season at: https://chrismarchand.bandcamp.com/album/the-hopes-fears-of-all-the-years-a-christmas-album 

This episode features excerpts and commentary on the songs and recording process. You can stream the episode here and stream the album below that.




Subscribe to the podcast on itunes 
Check out the podcast page to subscribe on Stitcher, Tunein, and PocketCasts.



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Other music I've released:
Holy Mercy EP
1 + 1 = 1 (an album for my wife)
Perseverance of the Saints EP

Past Podcast Episodes

Episode 15: Mike Foster Tolkien Scholar and Author

Episode 32: An Interview With Mitch McVicker
Episode 16: Dialogues With Brandon: How Big Is Your Soul?

New Music Release: "O Little Town of Bethlehem"—Christmas single

Off and on over the years I have committed myself to recording little bits of Christmas music. These began as Christmas presents to my then girlfriend (now wife). Instead of buying her a Christmas card (which I find loathsome) I would instead record her a Christmas card, featuring my take on a classic carol and maybe an original song or brief instrumental. Then I would record my Christmas greeting to her. Yes, it was very cute.

After being married a couple of years I fell out of the practice though. Life got crazy in multiple ways and there simply wasn't enough time to do the songs justice. 

Nonetheless, a couple of years ago I started slowly recording Christmas songs again and this year I will finally be ready to release them as an album. Therefore, I would like to present to you The Hopes & Fears of all the Years: A Christmas Album. (See below for the tracklisting). (Who knows, maybe I'll change the album title and tracklisting several times before I release it, just like Kanye.)

In the hopes of getting the word out for the album I am releasing a free single this week of the song "O Little Town of Bethlehem." Consider it your Thanksgiving Day present.

Before you listen, here's a description: I recorded "O Little Town of Bethlehem" as an intentional Pedro the Lion (David Bazan) ripoff. Or an intentional homage, if you want to spin it more positively. I literally take the kind of chord structures from Pedro's "Of Up and Coming Monarchs" and morph them into the Christmas carol. I try to sing like him as well, though you can also hear hints of Bing Crosby in my vocal delivery. Sufjan's influence makes an appearance from time to time in the music as well. I figure if one mediocre musician fuses together aspects of three geniuses you might get a decent song out of it.

Anyway, here's the song. I hope you enjoy it. Remember, it's a free download (so please download it!):

The Hopes & Fears of All the Years tracklisting (not final order)

1. Lo How a Rose (instrumental)

2. Of the Father's Love Begotten

3. Away in a Manger

4. Greensleeves (instrumental)

5. O Little Town of Bethlehem

6. O Come O Come (Instrumental)

7. The Great Creator of the Worlds

8. Wishing You a Merry Christmas (instrumental)

9. O Come Let Us Adore

(hidden song)
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Other music I've released:
Holy Mercy EP
1 + 1 + 1 (an album for my wife)
Perseverance of the Saints EP

PostConsumer Reports Podcast Episode 03: Nathan Peterson part 2

Podcast episode 03 is now up, featuring part two of my interview with Nathan Peterson from the band Hello Industry.

Summer To Do List Part 2: Release My Music

Today is the official last day of summer.

This means I really need to finish up my summer to do list.

I certainly have not read all the books on my summer reading list, but I have not done that bad on it either.

I also have not put up a blog entry since June.

Summer has been busy—the last month and a half especially so since I have been gearing up for the start of the school year (I am the headmaster and a teacher at a small private school).

This is a very important blog post for me—so much so I will cut right to the chase:
As of now I am officially releasing my music on the internet.