|
|
|
Atlanta-based songwriter, worship leader Aaron Keyes releases his acclaimed debut album, Not Guilty Anymore, July 19 from Kingsway with EMI CMG Distribution. With the title track and the album’s “Forever Worthy” already being sung in local churches, Keyes has always been a worshipper who values connection with God and others over crowds or concerts.
Leading worship around campfires, which gave way to college dormitories, living rooms and later church halls and more, Keyes’ Not Guilty Anymore shares the hope of the gospel. “I think we cheapen Jesus’ blood when we live on in shame and guilt,” he says, “This album is about that place of realization of what the cross has done to set us free.”
“Honest, engaging and beautifully creative, Not Guilty Anymore is also intuitive and pastoral in a way that is as powerful as it is subtle,” says Steve Nicolle, Kingsway VP North America. “Aaron Keyes doesn’t just sing songs, he lives them, and this album invites all who hear it to share in the journey.”
Spending a week at Abbey Road writing with some of praise and worship’s finest songwriters, Not Guilty Anymore features collaborations with Stuart Townend, writer of “In Christ Alone” and “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us,” who joined Aaron to pen “My Soul Finds Rest (Psalm 62),” a song that worship leader and author Bob Kauflin (Worship Matters) puts in his “must use” file.
“Just when I start thinking all the best worship songs have already been written…I hear a new song that affects me profoundly,” says Kauflin. “…I have four categories for congregational worship songs: Must Use, Could Use, Personally Use and Don’t Use. This is one that I’d put in my Must Use file.”
Keyes also wrote “Blessing and Honor” with Steve Hindalong (“God of Wonders”), “I Am Yours” with Gary Sadler (“Ancient of Days”), “Be Like Jesus” with Paul Oakley (“Jesus, Lover of my Soul”) and “Help Me Lord” with Dutch worship leader Kees Kraayenord.
Here is what the critics have said about Not Guilty Anymore:
“The title track, ‘Not Guilty Anymore,’ is simply beautiful: a reminder that nothing is beyond God’s grace and cleansing. It’s one of many songs on the album that aim to draw worshippers beyond the dull, meaningless phrases of so many worship choruses, and into a deeper understanding of biblical praise and worship as a response to the scandalous, saving love of God.” – BBC
“Not Guilty Anymore is a brilliant, surprising and inspiring album, and Aaron Keyes is a name to look out for…” – CrossRhythms
“From the first intro this album is fresh and dynamic and comes across as such, however it is the depth of the lyrics which are really striking and still there is a heartfelt honesty about them.” – Soteria Magazine (9.7 out of 10 Review)
The full Not Guilty Anymore track listing follows:
“You Never Cease To Amaze Me”
“Glory And Honour (Forever Worthy)”
“My Soul Finds Rest (Psalm 62)”
“Elohim Creator God (Blessing And Honour)”
“Is There Anyone Here (I Am Yours)”
“Like Jesus”
“Not Guilty Anymore”
“Nothing Less Than Beautiful”
“Help Me Lord”
“Where Are You Now”
“Not What My Hands”
About Kingsway:
Tracing its music heritage to 1969, Kingsway today is known as a leader in Worship Music. As the creator of Thank You Music, and later in partnership with EMI, its catalogue includes songs such as “Here I Am to Worship,” “In Christ Alone,” “Everlasting God” and “Blessed Be Your Name” to name a few.
Kingsway’s songs are sung in more than 300,000 churches worldwide accounting for over 30% of CCLI’s (Church Copyright Licensing International) bestseller list. With writers and artists like Tim Hughes, Matt Redman, Delirious?, Graham Kendrick and Stuart Townend, Kingsway is dedicated to feeding the Church with songs that will change the world. As the music arm of David C Cook, a non-profit organization located in Colorado Springs, CO, a significant portion of the profits that Kingsway and David C Cook generate are used to provide discipleship and music materials free of charge to church leaders in developing parts of the world who wouldn’t be able to get them any other way.
About the Author
