MERCYME IS “COMING UP TO BREATHE�

APRIL 25, 2006

Multi-Platinum selling Band Unveils Project

“We’ve always wanted to make�

Nashville, TN…. February 23, 2006…..After four years of sell out shows, three top 10 mainstream AC hits, six No. 1 Christian radio hits, a Tonight Show appearance, being raved about in The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly and USA Today, and accolades from the Amercian Music Awards to the GMA Music Awards, the multi-platinum selling group MercyMe is “Coming Up To Breathe� on April 25, 2006.

MercyMe has become what some are calling ambassadors of sorts: bringing evangelistic, Christian music to the mainstream while staying true to their call to make Christ known. With “Coming Up to Breathe,� MercyMe says they have delivered the album they’ve always wanted to make.

The result is a powerful collection of songs that in some places rocks harder than MercyMe ever has during their dozen years together. "We just wanted to make the music we love and it definitely came across a little more rocking than any other album we've ever done," says lead singer Bart Millard, adding enthusiastically. "We love it. We really focused on up tempo songs. It's definitely way more energetic than anything we've ever done before. I don't think we are trying to reinvent the wheel, it's just trying to put a little more edge into what we are creating."

After an intense four years, personally and professionally, the title "Coming Up to Breathe" holds special significance for Millard and the band. "We just want to take a break and surface and take a gasp of air," he says. "We just wanted to stop for a second and kind of let our hair down."

What emerged is a veritable kaleidoscope of sounds and emotions from the exuberant celebration of the title track and the absolutely infectious song of surrender (and first single to Christian and mainstream radio) "So Long Self" to the sweeping epic "Hold Fast," which reminds us all of the strength to be found in God's presence. "There is no huge consistent theme," Millard says of the songs on the new album. "It's really just everything that was on our hearts at the time. There are some songs that reflect where we've been like 'Hold Fast.' It's just talking to people about when you feel like you are going to give up, just hang on because help is on the way. That's definitely based on what we've gone through and how we've made it."

Recorded at the infamous refuge of Allaire studios in upstate New York, (Norah Jones, Tim McGraw, David Bowie), the band spent a solid month with producer Brown Bannister eating, sleeping and making music in the 1920s mansion that was developed into a studio in 2001. With its huge rooms, fireplaces, mountaintop, serene, locale, it’s a place where while recording, Millard told Billboard magazine, “If you can’t be inspired here, you don’t have a pulse.�

###

www.mercyme.org

www.inorecords.com

Send This To A Friend