Mark Hansen Music - LDS Rock Music - Free Downloads

Mark Hansen Music - LDS Rock Music - Free Downloads
Get the new CD, "The Third Time" HERE




WARNING: Listening to this music doesn't require parental approval. It's a bit of clean rebellion. It keeps your outlook up and your hope alive. It's got strong drums and screaming guitars. It pumps you up and drives your life. It's a hunger for exploration. It chooses the right and returns with honor. It's music you don't have to confess to your bishop.

It's not your parents' "Saturday’s Warrior".

It's "A Joyful Noise"

Monday, November 02, 2009

LDS Music Connecting

A long time ago, I was convinced that I was gonna make a big splash in the world of LDS music.  I was gonna rock the house down, and turn it on its ear.  I was gonna do a whole lot of other cliches, too.

Over the years that I've been working at this, I've come to realize that any impact I've had has been one listener at a time.  Once in a while, I get an email or hear something from someone who's listened to a song I've done and they say a nice thing about how it touched their life.  it makes me feel good.

So, I've been working on a new song, I've mentioned it here before, called "Alleluia".  Jason was eager to drum this one as well, so I encouraged him to, and as he and I were emailing back and forth to get the tracks cut, we had this exchange:


First was this: 

"Hey bud... Sorry this has taken so long, but I finally got to it, and man... I gotta tell ya. Whatever album you put Martyrs and this song on is gonna be epic.

"Ya know... Sitting here, after listening to Alleluia 20 times over, I'm so filled with the spirit thanks to your song. My eyes are actually filling with tears due to the wonderfully powerful lyrics and music you've created. Every time the chorus comes, after the huge sound of the verses, and simply says "Alleluia" over and over, I can't help but think of exactly what this song's meaning is: Alleluia! Christ has overcome the world! Alleluia, Christ is our savior! Alleluia!

"Seriously, Mark. Thank you. This song is simply beautiful, and although some people have criticized your arrangement, dare I say it's the arrangement which brings such power to the chorus... Such simple beauty of one guitar, and one voice cutting through all the noise, proclaiming with child-like fervor, "Alleluia, Alleluia"

"Thank you for bringing the spirit so powerfully to one guy, sitting in a mixing booth, shedding tears of joy through Jesus Christ. Alleluia.

"Let me know what ya think, and if anything needs to change."

--Jason



That was amazing to me.  I responded back quickly:

"Now you're makin' me cry just reading your reaction! It's so nice, as an artist, when someone else gets what you're saying so exactly! I can't wait to hear what you did for it!"

--Mark

I played his drums and they're solid, just like he did for "Martyrs".  He replied:

"No worries, bro. I'm just sayin' it like it is. Very, very powerful arrangement. Hope ya like the drums. This was one of the easiest songs to play along with, simply because the emotion inside let me know what needed to be done. Here's the song, just in case it didn't come through the first time."

-Jason


...and then attached the link to the rough mix of the song with his drum tracks.

That means that there's not much else to do on this song.  I want to add in a touch of lead guitar.  I need to recut the lead vocals, of course, and some harmony vocals, and it's done!

I got to thinking, also, as I was IM'ing with Jason later, that this collection that I'm working on right now, "The Third Time", is probably the most religious of the three I've done so far.  I think the other two were about a 50-50 split between religious and non-religious songs.  I think there are only two tunes on this CD that don't reference scripture or some part of the Mormon experience in some direct way.

Interesting...



Come back often to hear about new songs and shows. Mark also has other sites and blogs, including his Dutch Oven blog: Mark's Black Pot and his LDS pop culture blog: MoBoy blog.



Mark's Other Blog Posts: Dutch Oven Apple French Toast Desert

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