Hey Everybody,
I'm writing from Chicago, where I'm taking a class at North Park Theological Seminary called History and Theology of the Evangelical Covenant Church. This class is the first of many over the next several years as I pursue ministerial credentialing in my denomination.
Theres a lot of news, so I'll try to keep this short and get to the good stuff.
Thanks to your support, "Always Entertaining Me (The La-La Song)" finished at #5 on the Indieheaven Radio chart December 31. For about 24 hours there, I was even at #1! This means that my song will go onto the Indieheaven compilation disc and distributed throughout the United States in approximately 1200 Christian bookstores! That is good news! You can look for the compilation disc to hit stores sometime April - June 2006.
I have submitted a second single to the Indieheaven Radio chart. It's called God of All Light, and I would love your support in voting for it. Remember, to vote, go to Indieheaven Radio, scroll down to my song and click it so that the song plays. Then scroll back up to the top and click on the stars. You can give me anywhere from 1/2 star to 5 stars. You can vote once every 24 hours.
I have been nominated for four Momentum Awards, including Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Contemporary Artist of the Year. The Momentum Awards will be handed out at the Christian Independent Artists Summit in Nashville on March 25. You can vote for me here: Momentum Awards. You can only vote once.
Rockin' Ron, a DJ from KBCU in North Newton, Kansas, has been playing my song every Saturday night on his program. "Always Entertaining Me" ended up #16 for the year, based on listener requests and feedback. Ron is now playing "God of All Light," and both songs continue to be in his program's Top 40. Thanks, Ron!
I'm excited to be getting my first reviews in national publications. First, you can check out the current issue of Worship Musician Magazine. Reviewer Shawn McLaughlin writes, Another example of the fine music being made recently without the benefit of conventional industry distribution or marketing techniques (i.e. indie), Still Standing presents Matt Nightingale, a California area pastor of Music and Creative Arts, as a purveyor of worshipful, if not conventionally worship music that is rich in literate imagery and emotional import. It helps, of course, that the man possesses a remarkably rugged and soulful voice (think Michael McDonald minus the cotton balls) and is backed up by the legendary 77s, whose leader, Mike Roe, provides empathetic production to this collection of solid pop/rock tunes. Nightingale's vision is neatly encapsulated in a strong trio of songs that form the capstone of Still Standing. "Always Entertaining Me (The La-La Song)" is a joyous little pop gem that speaks of the wonder of God's presence in even the mundane moments of everyday existence. "Oh My Child" is breezy folk/jazz/pop that relates the joys, fears and expectations of parenthood, eventually drawing a parallel to God's role as Abba Father, while "God of All Light," perhaps the most likely congregational worship number on the disc, is a humble invitation for God to take control of every area of the worshipper's life. Amazingly enough, Nightingale has created a disc that, for all its artistic accomplishments, is most notable for how relatable it is, both thematically and in a musical sense. There is no reason that, with a little providence, Still Standing couldnt be heard on ANY Triple A format radio station in the country... it is that good.
The Phantom Tollbooth is a website that I've read for the last ten years. Its a thrill to be reviewed in its hallowed pages. Check out The Phantom Tollbooth for that very positive review.
I am excited to be one of the contributing writers on a new blog by dads, for dads called Dadbloggers. I submit an article every month on the 7th, so please check it out and join the community! While you're there, check out my latest entry, "Belonging to the Brotherhood of Men." I have appreciated seeing the responses to it. One man, a writer named Kevin Klein from Australia, enjoyed my post so much he is quoting from it on a website he writes for: www.babyzone.com. Be watching for that article to appear in the next week or so.
Remember: Still Standing is available on iTunes and at the following online locations:
www.independentbands.com
www.indieheaven.com
www.cdbaby.com
www.towerrecords.com
www.bestbuy.com
www.covenantbookstore.com
www.mattnightingale.com
All of these sites accept customer reviews, so I'd appreciate your support in that way as well. Get on there and rave about the music!
I think that's it, my friends Thanks again for all your love and support, and I'll write again soon.
Matt
I'm writing from Chicago, where I'm taking a class at North Park Theological Seminary called History and Theology of the Evangelical Covenant Church. This class is the first of many over the next several years as I pursue ministerial credentialing in my denomination.
Theres a lot of news, so I'll try to keep this short and get to the good stuff.
Thanks to your support, "Always Entertaining Me (The La-La Song)" finished at #5 on the Indieheaven Radio chart December 31. For about 24 hours there, I was even at #1! This means that my song will go onto the Indieheaven compilation disc and distributed throughout the United States in approximately 1200 Christian bookstores! That is good news! You can look for the compilation disc to hit stores sometime April - June 2006.
I have submitted a second single to the Indieheaven Radio chart. It's called God of All Light, and I would love your support in voting for it. Remember, to vote, go to Indieheaven Radio, scroll down to my song and click it so that the song plays. Then scroll back up to the top and click on the stars. You can give me anywhere from 1/2 star to 5 stars. You can vote once every 24 hours.
I have been nominated for four Momentum Awards, including Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Contemporary Artist of the Year. The Momentum Awards will be handed out at the Christian Independent Artists Summit in Nashville on March 25. You can vote for me here: Momentum Awards. You can only vote once.
Rockin' Ron, a DJ from KBCU in North Newton, Kansas, has been playing my song every Saturday night on his program. "Always Entertaining Me" ended up #16 for the year, based on listener requests and feedback. Ron is now playing "God of All Light," and both songs continue to be in his program's Top 40. Thanks, Ron!
I'm excited to be getting my first reviews in national publications. First, you can check out the current issue of Worship Musician Magazine. Reviewer Shawn McLaughlin writes, Another example of the fine music being made recently without the benefit of conventional industry distribution or marketing techniques (i.e. indie), Still Standing presents Matt Nightingale, a California area pastor of Music and Creative Arts, as a purveyor of worshipful, if not conventionally worship music that is rich in literate imagery and emotional import. It helps, of course, that the man possesses a remarkably rugged and soulful voice (think Michael McDonald minus the cotton balls) and is backed up by the legendary 77s, whose leader, Mike Roe, provides empathetic production to this collection of solid pop/rock tunes. Nightingale's vision is neatly encapsulated in a strong trio of songs that form the capstone of Still Standing. "Always Entertaining Me (The La-La Song)" is a joyous little pop gem that speaks of the wonder of God's presence in even the mundane moments of everyday existence. "Oh My Child" is breezy folk/jazz/pop that relates the joys, fears and expectations of parenthood, eventually drawing a parallel to God's role as Abba Father, while "God of All Light," perhaps the most likely congregational worship number on the disc, is a humble invitation for God to take control of every area of the worshipper's life. Amazingly enough, Nightingale has created a disc that, for all its artistic accomplishments, is most notable for how relatable it is, both thematically and in a musical sense. There is no reason that, with a little providence, Still Standing couldnt be heard on ANY Triple A format radio station in the country... it is that good.
The Phantom Tollbooth is a website that I've read for the last ten years. Its a thrill to be reviewed in its hallowed pages. Check out The Phantom Tollbooth for that very positive review.
I am excited to be one of the contributing writers on a new blog by dads, for dads called Dadbloggers. I submit an article every month on the 7th, so please check it out and join the community! While you're there, check out my latest entry, "Belonging to the Brotherhood of Men." I have appreciated seeing the responses to it. One man, a writer named Kevin Klein from Australia, enjoyed my post so much he is quoting from it on a website he writes for: www.babyzone.com. Be watching for that article to appear in the next week or so.
Remember: Still Standing is available on iTunes and at the following online locations:
www.independentbands.com
www.indieheaven.com
www.cdbaby.com
www.towerrecords.com
www.bestbuy.com
www.covenantbookstore.com
www.mattnightingale.com
All of these sites accept customer reviews, so I'd appreciate your support in that way as well. Get on there and rave about the music!
I think that's it, my friends Thanks again for all your love and support, and I'll write again soon.
Matt
on January 26, 2006, 5:48 pm
Hey..thanks so mcuh for the cd.
See you in class tomorrow.
Reply to this comment