Nashville, TN – October 15, 2009 – They’re on a successful tour, their new project’s debut radio single, “Arise” is already at #3, they are obtaining steady record sales, and are garnering amazing project reviews. Yes, it’s Avalon, one of Christian music’s premier and award-winning vocal groups, who continue to feel Reborn with their latest project, just released September 15th on E1 Entertainment. Avalon, along with tour mates Selah, are halfway through their extremely successful tour, “An Evening with Selah & Avalon,” with most nights being performed in front of a sell-out crowd! Then, turn on the radio and you’re bound to hear “Arise,” the quartet’s first single off of Reborn. “Arise” is already at #3 on Billboard’s Soft AC/INSP Chart and continues to climb the charts every week.
Since its mid-September release to much acclaim, stellar reviews continue to roll in about Reborn:
“With pulsing keyboards, wall-to-wall guitars, palpitating bass lines, and authoritative vocal arrangements, each track cleanly advances from one to the next, casting the aggressive vision from the title track’s first downbeat to the final mega-worship strains of ‘Holy.’…You’d be hard pressed to find four finer vocals channeled in such a cutting edge musical atmosphere in Christian music today…Avalon’s first thirteen years in the biz will forever be in the CCM history books. Reborn is a good beginning to the next thirteen-plus years of Avalon history making.” - ChristianMusicToday.com
“The new album is a refreshing new rendition of a time-honored vocal group. It’s like the group has recharged their musical batteries. Reborn is more progressive than their usual style with a much bigger sound, but still with their familiar uplifting lyrics and spectacular harmonies. I imagine that when Avalon takes this on the road it’s going to be impressive…The group has certainly stepped outside of their comfort zone..” - AlphaOmegaNews.org
“Avalon has delivered a new project that gives its audience much more by way of the lush harmonies that we were first introduced to coupled with a lot of musical chances for an Avalon album…True to form, the Avalon harmonies are ever present, but a nice surprise is the use of overlapping the harmonies in the songs “Free”, “California” and “Alive”. Just take a listen to the song “Angels” and try to remember that you are listening to Avalon…Reborn re-introduces its audience to the re-invigorated, re-imagining of this quartet, and it is simply REFRESHING!” - TitleTrakk.com
Comments2 responsesWant to see your face in Avalon’s upcoming music video? Fill out this form and upload a photo of you at an Avalon concert or dressed up as an Avalon member or even just rocking out to Avalon’s new album “Reborn ” and your photo could be chosen to be edited into the music video! After you upload your photo, check out our brand new videos on HearItFirst.com/Avalon!
Who Is Avalon?
Listen to one track from the new Avalon album and get ready to throw any preconceived notions out the window! For a group with 21 chart topping singles, 6 Dove Awards, 3 Grammy nominations and even an American Music Award, it would be easy for Avalon to rest on their laurels and continue cranking out their slick brand of vocal pop. While the critically acclaimed foursome is certainly proud of the past, their first proper studio CD in over three years, Reborn, truly lives up to its title in both spiritual outlook and overall stylistic composition. Sure, you’ll still be listening to Christian music’s premiere vocal group, but the similarity between any previous Avalon albums and their most recent release ends right there thanks to this completely new, cutting edge, enthralling and unequivocally original record.
KEY:
JL> Janna Long
GL> Greg Long
AR> Amy Richardson
JR> Jeremi Richardson
C> Chris
C> So, this is very much a new season for you – all of you. Lots of different things happening. So, let’s talk about the new record, and then we go from there about everything else that has been happening with the group.
JL> I think this is our 13th studio record – at least that’s what they tell us. It’s called Reborn, and it released in August. I think it’s a little bit of a departure for those that are familiar with Avalon. Not so much of a departure that I think it is unrecognizable. But, we teamed up with a new producer and we dabbled in some new sounds. I think the lyrics on this record are some of the most in depth that we’ve ever heard – or at least certainly had in a long while – and I think that’s just a reflection of four people that have lived life a little bit, gotten married and started families, weathered some hardships, and seen over and over again God’s faithfulness in our life. Hopefully, our music reflects that.
You know, it’s an exciting time, we have two couples touring as the group now. Greg and I are married, and Jeremi and Amy are married, and we all have kids that travel with us. There are a lot of similarities right now, not that there hasn’t been in the past, but there is so much understanding between us because we’re in such similar places in our lives. I think it’s going to end up being, I think one of my favorite records, and from what we’ve already heard from our fans, one of theirs as well. I think our fans were ready for something new from us as it had been a couple of years since we had a full-length studio record. The lyrics are very powerful and have reflected some of what we have weathered over the last couple of years.
C> Well obviously it is a departure – but the one thing I noticed when I listened to the record was that, yes, while this is a bit of a different sound for you guys, there are still those key Avalon elements that people have grown to love from you guys in the record as well. You used a new producer, Ian Eskelin, who has a much heavier background in rock music than the flavor of Avalon’s pop music. How did he approach the record, and how did he help shape the way things progressed?
GL> Well I think those first initial meetings were very difficult. Jeremi was in Orlando and was a part of the meetings on speaker phone…
JR> And I kept hanging up…
GL> Right, it was just a very difficult time and we were trying to get a reading on him [Ian] through all of it. We had discussed about getting together with Ian – but we didn’t really know what to think at first.
JL> There was definitely a feeling of “let’s proceed with caution” – from both sides. He didn’t quite know what to do with us, and we didn’t quite know what to do with him. But, ultimately when we discussed where we wanted to go and some of the creative process of the album with Ian, he was in a sense relieved that we weren’t trying to make the same record that we have made over the last several years – that we wanted something new and fresh. I think the great about being an artist that stays around this long. It’s a great blessing and we’re fortunate – but at the same time it’s a big challenge to constantly reinvent yourself and make yourself current and not abandon the people who grew to love you in the beginning. But after those first few meetings, he caught the vision.
GL> And I think as far as the new production feel and the songs on the album, he and Barry [Weeks], another producer on the record, brought that to the table. They wrote most of the songs and took ownership of the project. They spent endless hours on this project. We have to really give them credit for it.
As far as how did we keep those key Avalon elements in the record – well – that’s easy. It’s Avalon. We’re going to hear things a certain way. Thankfully, we feel that that hybrid work. Unfortunately, not everyone is going to agree with that. I’ve already read somewhere where someone said that if you’re a staunch Avalon fan – you’re not going to like this record. I can kind of see that – but if I go back to some of these older records like A Maze of Grace – there was a lot of weird and cool stuff happening musically. So, I’m thinking if you’re just talking about stuff like the big Janna ballad – it’s not going to be found on this record. So, if that’s what they mean – then yes I’d agree with them.
But, you know, we experimented in the studio a lot with this record. Ian and Barry would just be like “Jeremi, why don’t you try a pass on this spot” or “Amy, you want to try out something here?” – which was fun. We just had fun making this record.
AR> I just thought it was so much fun – because you really had these two different worlds coming together. They were both very great, and very mindful of keeping it Avalon – but giving it some edge and some flair. It was great working with them.
C> Well, if the fan was like me, who started listening to the group in 1997 when A Maze of Grace released, then their tastes have probably evolved over time. So, when this record hit, it should be able to hit where they are now musically. If the fans are like me and their tastes have changed over the years – then this record should be a breath of fresh air for Avalon fans.
GL> I think that too.
AR> Christian music is changing and evolving. Now you’re got Casting Crowns, and bands and worship music. And that is one thing that I’m so proud of when making this record is that we were allowed to kind of incorporate that sound – especially on the last track on the record “Holy.” It’s very worshipful and comes straight out of the Bible. It’s a very very strong message and very easy on the ears. Crowds at the shows can be very involved.
C> I’m so glad that you guys brought up Barry Weeks, because I didn’t exactly know how involved he was in this record. I am a huge Weeks fan – and I think he is a vocal arranging genius. He’s an amazing songwriter too, and I’m glad you guys got to work with him.
GL> Yes, he is all those things. And you know, that was all Ian’s doing. He’s known Barry for a long time, so he brought him into the picture, and I daresay that we are all thrilled that he got to be a part of this record. He was a huge blessing to it.
JL> Well, and I think too, he kind of helped bridge the two worlds together (between Ian and us) and made it a beautiful fit. It helped stretch Ian in some ways, and definitely stretched us.
GL> I think as an artist at some point – you need to creatively feel happy and proud and excited with the record – artistically. We’re excited about doing these new songs on this tour. That’s a good sign for us and this record. If you make something that is just purely commercial and you aren’t excited about the music then that doesn’t bode well for you as an artist.
We were given complete creative freedom on this record. Hats off to the label for that. Jim Sturgeon over at E1 just kind of told us to go do what we do. He would come in every couple of weeks just to see how things were going, but otherwise he really gave Ian and Avalon free reign.
C> Which is cool – cause that helps me bring up another part of the new season – which is the new label – E1. What has it been like leaving your longtime label home (Sparrow/EMI Christian Music Group) and coming to this new label?
JL> You know, it’s been great. I’m coming more and more to believe that life is made up of chapters and seasons – and we had an incredible run at EMI. We are very grateful for that time in Avalon’s life. But, it came to a point when we both felt like our journey together had come to an end. God opened this door, and we picked up where we left off to continue this journey that Avalon is on. You know – they have both served us well – and that’s really the best way that I can put it. The 12 years we had there were great – and we’re excited about this new relationship. E1 has been great – and it’s very much the way that Greg described it – they gave us the reigns and let us make the record that we wanted to make! We gave us total creative freedom with this record, and it was another great time.
We feel very blessed at this point. How many artists get to make this many records and tour as long as Avalon has? We just feel extremely blessed and fortunate that God would allow us some more time out here. We had a show last night – a lot of people showed up – and for me it’s just very humbling that people still come and still by the records after all the time. It’s just such a blessing.
JR> There’s been such a huge shift in Christian music since the time that Avalon debuted to where we are now. It was very performance driven, and I’m not negating that any artist now aren’t performers because they are, but it was just a different time. Then it was very much a time of “let’s entertain the body of Christ with positive music”. Then, praise and worship became popular and was much more an engaging and platform driven music about God. And, I think it’s very difficult to venture outside of being a performer to being a worshipper. I think that’s what we did to the best of our ability with this record. I mean, we are still performers, and there are times when we just want to go out and sing. It’s about the music. But bigger than that, it’s about God and the things he’s brought us through. Christian music has changed – and we’re trying to go with that. That’s one of the big things I noticed about the label – they were so willing and wanted us to venture into and tap into “what’s God done in you” and put that into music.
C> Yeah, and I think that is even reflected in who you are on the tour with now – Selah. That is a group that has managed to walk the line between being a performance driven artist and worshipper very well. They are amazing vocalists and amazing singers and have tapped into this audience that loves and appreciates the hymns and worship style that they do. I think it’s great that you’ve partnered with them for this tour. Now you can show a little bit of yourselves in that as well.
GL> Yeah, and we are so excited about this tour. Selah has had some extremely big success over the last couple of years and we’re excited about teaming up with them. They recently joined the same management company as us so that’s how that all came together.
By the way, hats off to Proper Management. Throughout this transition, everyone at Proper has been the constant. From moving from EMI to E1 they have been great to us and helped us through these moments. And, now they manage Selah – so we’re excited about hitting the road with them. The night is going to be pretty back-and-forth – we’ll all be out on the stage together the whole time and perform some together. It’s going to be a lot of fun.
C> Why don’t we talk to Amy a little bit about joining this group who’s been around a long time and becoming a part of such a brand like Avalon. You’re the new blood here – share you views.
AR> It’s a very exciting time in my life – in our family and our marriage – that we get to travel together and take our girls. I’ve been an Avalon fan since the very beginning – and I’ve always felt a connection to the group and to the music. The style of things that I listen to – I grew up listening to all the albums. This is definitely a new season in my life.
Going back to the album – it couldn’t have been a better time for me to go in and sing the lyrics that are in these songs. They’re very appropriate for where my life is at this moment. There’s a line in the new single, “Arise” – grace will reach your lowest low and never let you go.” And then there’s the very last line in the song says “In Jesus Name” – and to me that just seals it. It’s really very appropriate – very great for the season I’m in right now.
C> That’s awesome. And Jeremi, what’s it been like traveling with your wife and having her a part of your ministry?
JR> We were talking about it the other day – I didn’t realize how much stress I was under leaving my family at home until she joined the group. First of all, it was a year and a half before she joined that I traveled with Avalon. I’ve always been amazed at the level of grace that Amy has. You know, there are some people who love you and some who hate you – but Amy has always had such grace even under the most extreme circumstances. When I would have to leave for the weekend – it was never “ugh – you have to leave again”. I don’t know if it was the Holy Spirit preparing her or if it was just the way Amy is made. The minute she joined the group – the transformation in our homelife and with our children just changed. When God does something – He does it right. That was just another example of it in our lives.
AR> I’ll say something else as well. I’ve always known that God had a calling on my life ever since I was a child – and I knew that it was in music ministry somehow. And it was last summer that I was really even doing anything in the ministry – but I felt like in my spirit that I was ready. I began to fill in for Melissa as she was working on her solo album and while she was pregnant and I became her sub. It just felt right – so when everything transpired this past May – it was this automatic thing of “they’re going to ask me” – because I never felt like that. But when they finally did ask me to be a part of the group – I had that feeling all over again of “this is it.” And, I’ve never shared that with the rest of the group before now. I felt like God had been preparing for me – even though I didn’t know what it was.
C> That’s really cool. Well I thank you guys for spending some time with me! It was great to finally interview you guys!
JL> Thanks so much!
GL> We enjoyed it!
Commentsno responsesAvalon has been Reborn. It’s in the press, the song title, the album cover and the conversation Soul-Audio recently had with longtime band member Greg Long. It’s also in the personnel as Greg and Janna are not the only married couple involved with the group anymore, with Jeremi Richardson’s wife, Amy, joining the group as the latest vocalist of the four.
But perhaps no aspect of this Reborn Avalon surprises as much as the recent producer collaboration – Ian Eskelin. Because of time constraints, Avalon had to abandon their usual routine of working with Brown Bannister. In the process, a newer, edgier vibe inhabits the radio pop of Avalon and gives the four-piece a youthful feel. It’s exciting for Long and the rest of Avalon, even if some fans don’t enjoy it. But for the most part, all is still well in the world of the vocal legends.
Soul-Audio: Tell me about the genesis of this entire Reborn concept. What’s behind the changes?
Greg Long: The funny part is that I’m always very cautious on the “God inspired this” thing or “God said this.” I’m not a hyper-spiritual guy at all. So with that said, I do believe that if we’re believers, then God will ordain our steps. So the timing of everything and the way it worked out was interesting. I could go on for years about this, but I’ll try not to. [Laughs] We’ve worked with one producer for most of the last decade. There’s one other producer we’ve worked with on two records, but overall we have a comfort level with these guys. We know them. We love them. They’re amazing. One of them is always nominated for Producer of the Year it seems like. So they’re great.
Well, once this tour came in place with Selah, they wanted the record done in time for that tour. We knew right away that Brown Bannister can’t do it. We were sure of it. This would be needed within about a month or 40 days and sure enough, Brown said he was backed up to six months to a year. We needed to plan ahead. [Laughs] So it became, ‘What are we going to do because we’ve worked with him for so long?’ Ian’s name came up and there was a slight laugh. I mean, Ian is someone I’ve known for forever. I’ve written songs with him and all of that, but that’s not what you picture – Ian Eskelin with Avalon. But we had a couple meetings with him and label people and management and Avalon. The first meeting was like, ‘Hmm, I don’t know.’ But in the second meeting, the light came on. It was like, ‘Let’s do this. Away we go.’
SA: What about the idea of Reborn?
Greg: Well, the story behind Reborn is this: our manager, Norman Miller – who also does Selah, Leeland, Casting Crowns – said the title should be Reborn. Earlier that day, Amy, the newest member of the group, was talking to her sister and her sister said, ‘This is like a whole new period for you guys. It’s like Avalon has been reborn. There’s this two couple thing going on and a lot of different nuances that makes it the first time like this.’ Now she didn’t know all of this, but we are working with this new guy, you have two couples and all of this. Within three hours was the meeting with Norman where he came in and said the word ‘reborn’ and that was the same word Amy’s sister had used and it’s not a word you use a lot.
So Norman says this in that meeting and we thought, ‘Weird.’ We weren’t all catching it to be honest with you, but then Ian comes in and says they’re writing a song at the eleventh hour called “Reborn.” We fell in love with it and the graphic design guy who we love came up with this concept cover of sunflowers in the middle of a desert. It’s all one of those things where Janna said yesterday in an interview that she’d never been a part of a record where things happened so quickly and you actually liked it. Normally you think it’s terrible, but you have to get them done. [Laughs]
But things kept jumping into place and so what do you do? There it is. It’s odd but we all love it. And it seems a lot of our fans are. Then again, some of them aren’t. If you read the e-mail that people send you, you kind of go through some of those and find people saying, ‘This is not the Avalon I know’ or stuff like that.
SA: Really?
Greg: Oh, my goodness. I mean, you have to laugh in some way. I’m a big believer in not reading the press about yourself. You’re not as good as the good press says and you’re not as bad as the worst ones. If they’re saying you’re great, then you’re not that great. And if they say you stink, then you probably don’t stink that bad. You can ride a roller coaster ride if you let it. But I will say this, it’s 10-1 or 20 to 1 good that they like it. But you definitely have those fans who hate it. I read some last night where you wonder why there’s so much anger. You think, ‘Wow, you’re spending your time to tell me how much you dislike me.’
But I guess that’s what it means to be a public personality and you put out a piece of product. You open yourself up for people to tell you how they don’t like you. I believe as an artist, you need to feel good about what you’re doing. And as a Christian artist, you want to feel good about what you’re saying. You want to take pride in the way you’re saying it. We take pride in what we’re doing. We feel good about it. So at night, you can rest your head on your pillow and feel good about how hard we’ve worked and about what it says and we’re anxious to take it on the road, which we’ll do with Selah this fall.
SA: So whose specific idea was it to work with Ian?
Greg: I think I would give that first nod to Norman Miller. I may be wrong about that, but I believe he’s the one that brought it up first. But again, that might not be right. [Laughs]
SA: What’s the very first thought in your head when you hear that idea?
Greg: Well, I liked it, but again I’m the most rock guy in the group. I’m definitely a rock guy. If Avalon was the Spice Girls, I would be Rock Spice. Janna is Posh. Or Janna is Shoe Spice. [Laughs] So for me, I’m thinking it’s cool. But overall, even being the rock guy, I’m careful because Avalon is a pop group. And you don’t want to do anything that’s too weird. But then we listened to some of his stuff and he’s able to say, ‘Hey, I’m not an alien to pop.’ Even in his earlier days, his solo stuff was kind of this techno-pop thing. He said, ‘Hey guys, I can do pop and I love vocals. I do all of these bands, but I love to work with singers.’ There’s not that many singers out now. It’s mostly bands, so he thought he could do it.
So at first, you’re thinking, ‘Really?’ And both sides are thinking that. But as we talked more and more, it all went well and we had a really good time. I would say hats off to Jim Sturgeon and the guys at Koch E1 because he really just said to go make a record and he let us have creative control to a huge extent. You can hang yourself there, but at the same time, you enjoy it and you’re having a good time making the record and you like the songs. So that makes for a good album. It was a fun time that ended up being, what I think, is a really fun record.
SA: Was it the most fun you’ve had making an Avalon record?
Greg: [Pause] That’s hard to say. I need to say this: we love Brown Bannister. Brown is one of the nicest guys in the world and he’s so incredibly talented, so I don’t know what I would say. We’ve had a lot of fun with him. But we did have a lot of fun here and we had a lot of fun having the creative control that we did.
SA: Was there ever a point, even in the studio, where you wondered if it would work or not?
Greg: The first track he sent us, we heard them and we were like, ‘Yes.’ He got it. It was that instant. I think for a while we were talking about ideas and I brought up this techno-pop, up-tempo number. We really wanted to have a lot of up-feeling things. He thought my idea was kind of cheesy, so I thought, ‘Okay, well, he doesn’t like mine.’ But once we heard his track, we knew it was good. One thing I like about him as well, for example with the song “Alive,” the opening line says, ‘I don’t want to be broke anymore/Living life in a million pieces.’ Well, a lot of songs that have depth are almost depressing. [Whiny voice] ‘Oh, I’m so broken. I’m a mess.’ And that’s the truth that we’re all broken and miserable and we’re all a mess.
But the message of the gospel is not Debbie Downer. God came to save us. If you look at the album cover, it’s a desert. That’s us. Then God comes into our desert and makes some fantastic growth and creates something beautiful out of it. Being in Christian music, that’s what we get to sing about. So even though these songs are up-tempo and all that, the messages are authentic and I feel like they have some depth, but it’s not depressing. It’s messages that say, ‘Look at what God can do. They can take our brokenness and make something a whole lot better.’
SA: So the feeling by the end of your studio sessions?
Greg: By the end, we were all anxious to take this stuff on the road. That’s a good sign. I like making records, but I love being in front of people and delivering the songs that you’re supposed to bring. So you hope the radio likes it and the media likes it. But what I look forward to is being in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on a Friday night delivering the songs to your fans, or wherever you are. We just finished a couple of warm-up dates. We’ve done “Reborn” and “Destined” and just doing these songs a couple times, the audience is already responded to them. I love singing these live and that’s what it’s about to me. The albums are the means to the end.
Commentsone responseAvalon
“Reborn”
E1 Entertainment
Grade – A
The title “Reborn” can mean many things in this instance it’s the rebirth of our faith or the rebirth of a passion. For Avalon, it could also be the groups passion for great music. The new Avalon album is a refreshing new rendition of a time-honored vocal group. It’s like the group has recharged their musical batteries.
“Reborn” is more progressive than their usual style with a much bigger sound, but still with their familiar uplifting lyrics and spectacular harmonies. I also noticed that the sound is more authentic and band orientated. A lot less strings that soften up a song (to the point of weakening it) and make it harder to reproduce in a concert venue. I imagine that when Avalon takes this on the road it’s going to be impressive.
Having more of a leaning towards the rock genre, I was truly impressed with the reborn Avalon. The group has certainly stepped outside of their comfort zone and you can read about it all on their official web site http://avalonlive.com. While you’re there take in a few samples of the new music.
- Ken W.
Commentsone responseIt took emancipation from the very machine that put them together, EMI, for Avalon finally to take the reins and start anew with Reborn, their first independent project. It appears the liberty afforded the quartet an opportunity to upend the entire Avalon record-making paradigm: there is no big-budget producer on deck, not a single power ballad to bet all the chips on…the group’s mug isn’t even on the front album cover, a first for one of the band’s regular studio albums. All of the above are anomalies signaling that this is not your mother’s Avalon, but an entirely refashioned outfit, one that favors take-no-prisoners pop/rock over inspirational sentiment, aggressiveness over adult contemporary sameness. At the core, Avalon are still a vocal pop foursome, so knob-turner Ian Eskelin (Stellar Kart, Everyday Sunday) makes sure to keep his ear to the ground in terms of melodic value and immediacy, while adding an edge and rock sensibility that are very much his. Avalon have never sounded this liberated, this unconcerned with pandering to a formula — they’re almost oblivious to the positive-hits mentality that was once their bread and butter. In this band that must be considered in relation to the sum of its parts, Janna Long, the sole original member left, isn’t the only one carrying the vocal weight, but everyone is, even the newer initiates — solo, in duos, in trios, and sometimes the four of them at once. There’s nary a dull moment here — things move so briskly and fluidly that this is perhaps the most fun Avalon have had in the studio since 1997’s A Maze of Grace. Hands down, Reborn is the best album Avalon have released this decade.
-Andree Farias for AllMusic.com
Commentsone responseA V A L O N
i s
R e b o r n
Vocal Group’s 14th Project Is Now Available;
Reborn Obtains Stellar Reviews, Claiming “Avalon’s latest endeavor is arguably their most ambitious to date”
And
“Hands down, Reborn is the best album Avalon has released this decade;”
Top 3 On iTunes And First Single “Arise” Climbs The Radio Charts
Nashville, TN – September 17, 2009 – Avalon, one of Christian music’s premier and award-winning vocal groups, released their 14th project, Reborn, on Sept. 15th (E1 Music). With numerous accolades achieved over the years, Avalon is now feeling truly reborn thanks to their new songs and the support of their brand new production team comprised of Ian Eskelin and Barry Weeks. Offering aggressive melodies and harmonies tied to unique guitar-driven moments, Reborn is already making new fans while it’s also giving long-time Avalon fans a new twist on the group’s well-known formula. There is no question that these ambitious songs prove that any similarity between previous Avalon records and Reborn can certainly end now. With stellar feedback reviews pouring in, one stating that this is the group’s “most ambitious to date,” other key reviews are touting Avalon and Reborn as:
“…At their finest. It’s clear that Avalon is still one of the best in their game.”
- JesusFreakHideout.com
“Avalon’s latest endeavor is arguably their most ambitious to date…the sound is catchy pop that is very accessible.” – ChristianMusicReview.org
“Avalon will always be known for its polished pop sound and dynamic vocalists (some of the best in the industry) – but they should be commended for stretching here. A great, fresh effort from one of Christian music’s mainstays.” -GospelMusicChannel.com
“While this is a new Avalon in many ways, the core sound and components are still very much in place. Big vocals? Check. Stellar harmonies? You bet. Radio-friendly hits? Without a doubt. It’s all here and more…a refreshing take on the group’s signature sound.” - Soul-Audio.com
“Hands down, Reborn is the best album Avalon has released this decade.” -All Music Guide
So then, what are the fans actually saying? Read on:
“Avalon is back! I am happy to report that I have already worn out every track on this CD! I must say this is one of the most strongest…efforts by a long-running Christian artist I have ever heard. An excellent album – easily the best they’ve ever produced!”
“I would have to say it’s the best Avalon CD to date!”
“This has got to be one of the best releases I’ve heard in a long time. Great lyrics and sound, but most of all it’s a new sound. This group has a great testimony and great hearts for their ministry. If you want an album that will uplift your spirit, this is the one to buy.”
“This new sound is incredible! I love how they have been ‘Reborn’ and they all sound fantastic together!”
To promote their new release, Avalon appeared this week on CBN News Channel’s “New Release Tuesday” and are confirmed for upcoming interviews with HearItFirst.com, Don Moen & Friends Radio Show, Gospel Music Channel, Breathecast.com, United News & Information, Soul-Audio.com, and much more. Reborn is currently Top 3 on the iTunes’ Christian chart, and the project’s first single, “Arise,” is climbing the radio charts, most currently charting at #10 in just five weeks on Billboard’s Soft AC-Inspo Chart, jumping up ten spots from last week. The single is also the #1 most-added song at Soft AC-Inspo again this week. More charting will be announced shortly.
ABOUT AVALON: Reborn is Avalon’s 14th recording in a career that has spanned nearly 15 years of music and ministry. The group has an astounding 21 #1 hits, six Dove Awards, an American Music Award, and three Grammy nomination nods to their name. Comprising the quartet is Janna Long, the group’s founding member, Greg Long (Janna’s husband and group member since ‘03), Jeremi Richardson, and its newest member, Amy Richardson, making her Avalon debut on Reborn, who is also Jeremi’s wife. Avalon will be touring with Selah this fall on the “An Evening with Selah & Avalon” tour.
For tour dates and more Avalon information, please visit: www.Avalonlive.com
Comments3 responsesBy Andrew Greer
Avalon has been through the wringer over the past couple of years. After watching album sales and concert crowds shrink, releasing a handful of specialty records to mixed reviews and suffering the resignation of one of the group’s remaining founding fathers, Jody McBrayer, the vocal outfit’s future looked a bit grim.
But taking into account millions of records sold, and even more millions of lives reached, the legendary group decided not to call it quits. Instead, treating their famously tight pop chops to an aggressive, full-throttle facelift, the foursome is renewing their vows, casting a new musical vision for their message on their tenth studio recording, aptly titled Reborn (E1).
In an exclusive interview with Christian Music Planet, married members Greg and Janna Long speak out about the group’s refining process and how change has brought them even close together.
CMP: Historically, Avalon records have toyed with all sorts of genres—R&B, gospel, pop—you name it. Reborn, however, is very focused and aggressive musically. Was that intentional?
Janna Long: We knew going into this our sound needed to evolve. What messages were speaking to us? What sounds were we being drawn to? There was definitely a concentrated effort to put those things in motion and come up with something that is relevant and still true to what we do. Trying to stay current and not lose who you are is always a challenge for an artist. Even amidst some big changes, we’re still making music, we’re still alive and well, and we don’t think this chapter of our life is over yet.
CMP: With so many member changes, did you ever consider hanging up the towel?
Greg: We considered shutting it down when Jody left. People come, people go, and a ministry that has been, and continues to be Avalon, just keeps going on. My picture may be on the cover of an album or two but it’s not about me. It’s about what these songs bring to people and the message inside of those songs.
Janna: It was really difficult for me when Jody left. I thought, You’re kidding, God. Not one more change. For 13 years of my life, every time I stepped onstage he was there. Many times we’ve said, “This is so much bigger than us, God. You have a plan, maybe an unconventional plan, but a plan nonetheless.”
I’ve definitely had feelings in my life when I knew God was ending one season and beginning another. He’s continued to make a way for [Avalon]. And as long as He does, I’ll be open to keep going.
CMP: What specific messages are you guys wanting to convey on this record?
Greg: This record is honest, but it also lifts us up. In an attempt to become honest, we often become negative. [Reborn] doesn’t dwell on how messed up we are. It says, “God is going to help us. We are going to make it.” If we don’t have hope, then what are we as Christians all about? We know we can become dark. But my goal is to lift up Christ and what He’s done in my life.
By Debra Akins, contributing writer, GospelMusicChannel.com
When your 15-year recording career has successfully produced a whopping 21 chart-topping singles, earned a collection of Dove Awards, GRAMMY nominations and an American Music Award, it can be risky to step ever-so-slightly out of your comfort zone to try something new.
But that’s exactly what Avalon has done on Reborn, the group’s aptly-titled 14th recording. Avalon’s rebirth comes in many forms including a new label home with E1 Entertainment and new group member Amy Richardson, whose husband Jeremi joined the group in 2007. The powerhouse quartet is now comprised of two husband-and-wife teams, with the Richardsons joining founding member Janna Long (the only original Avalonian remaining) and her husband Greg to create that signature wall of vocal sound for which this group is known.
But perhaps the most important element to Avalon’s metamorphosis is the group’s union with modern rock producer Ian Eskelin (All Star United, Krystal Meyers, Stellar Kart, Francesca Battistelli), who along with Barry Weeks steered Reborn into bits of uncharted territory for Avalon.
Incorporating a more aggressive guitar-driven sound than we’ve heard on earlier Avalon efforts, Eskelin creates fresh moments with driving pop-rock melodies and new, creative treatments to the group’s stacked harmonies. Each song also seems to draw equally upon the strength of Janna, Greg, Jeremi and Amy as soloists – an easy task since any of these four can (and do) vocally knock it out of the park whenever they want.
Album highlights include the first single, the melodic “Arise,” which builds to a crescendo of harmonies. The driving “Fragile,” worshipful “You Are Holy (Isaiah 6)” and “Angels,” along with the catchy pop of “California” are standouts. For me, one of the album’s strongest tracks is the beautifully-written “Stay,” with flawless, soaring vocals by Greg and Jeremi.
Avalon will always be known for its polished pop sound and dynamic vocalists (some of the best in the industry) – but they should be commended for stretching here. Whether an oft-too-cynical industry can listen with an objective ear remains to be seen, but dedicated Avalon fans will find much to like on Reborn. And it should attract a group of new fans as well. A great, fresh effort from one of Christian music’s mainstays.
During Avalon’s illustrious career, the modern pop quartet has sold over three million records and garnered 21 chart-topping singles, six Dove Awards, three Grammy nominations and an American Music Award. In addition to founding member Janna Long, the group is comprised of Greg Long, Janna’s husband and group member since ’03, Jeremi Richardson, and its newest member, Amy Richardson, making her Avalon debut on Reborn, and who also happens to be Jeremi’s wife. With Reborn, Avalon took a daring move and tapped modern rock producer Ian Eseklin (All Star United, Krystal Meyers, Stellar Kart), joined by Barry Weeks, to produce the group’s 13th project. Along with a new label partnership with E1 Music, formerly known as Koch Records, Avalon’s latest endeavor is arguably their most ambitious to date.
I happen to have every previous album recorded by Avalon, and it took me awhile to start writing my review as I wanted to really compare whether Avalon’s sound had made any significant changes. 2004’s The Creed has a similar sound in my opinion, minus Jody McBrayer and Melissa Greene. I have also listened to Melissa’s solo album Next Step several times and if you are a long-time Avalon enthusiast, you probably want to pick up both projects. The album starts with title track “Reborn”, all 10 tracks are one word titles by the way, which introduces the ‘new’ sound and yes, there are a few more guitars and Avalon’s signature sound of men and women harmonizing together. I saw the In A Different Light lineup of Avalon at my church in 2000 and I will agree that the pop sound of Reborn is more refined and more modern sounding. The best comparison I have is Melissa Greene’s solo album Next Step and perhaps Selah’s You Deliver Me. In fact if you like those albums, you’ll love Avalon’s Reborn as it has more energy and is more melodic in my opinion. Next track “Alive” is also catchy and harmonic, and stays in your head. The messages of the songs are very much about faithfulness and being “alive” in God.
First single “Arise” is next and is my favorite song on the album. I like how each of the band members take a line of the song, first the two guys and then the two women each join the song and bring the song to a higher level with the catchy chorus “grace will reach your lowest low and never let you go…arise…arise…” The next few songs “Feel”, “Fragile” and “Destined” all flow nicely and keep the same melodic sound going. Janna’s vocals are very distinct on “Destined” and reminded me the most of classic Avalon in the style of “All”, which is not a bad thing. “Stay” and “Angels” are also nice songs and the album closes with two more memorable songs “California” and “Holy”, which is based on Isaiah 6.
Closing Thoughts:
If you’ve always liked Avalon, then you’ll like Reborn. Although the lineup is new, the sound is catchy pop that is very accessible and instantly recognizable. For me the standout songs are “Reborn”, “Alive” “Arise”, “Destined” and “Holy”. If you like Melissa Greene, Selah and well, Avalon, you’ll like Reborn.
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