Debut Project from Acclaimed Singer Due February 12
Lead Single, “Heaven Waits For Me,” Impacts Radio in September

Nashville, TN, Aug. 1, 2012: Critically acclaimed singer and songwriter Jenny Simmons, who helmed the Dove Award-nominated band Addison Road, will unveil her debut solo album early next year. The project, The Becoming, will release on February 12, 2013, and will be preceded by the lead radio single, “Heaven Waits For Me,” which goes for adds at radio on Sept. 14th.

Partnering with her long-time record label, Fair Trade Services, and the masterful production skills of Paul Moak (Mat Kearney, Third Day) and Seth Mosley (Newsboys), Simmons penned The Becoming in the wake of Addison Road deciding to amicably disband. After years of touring and giving Christian music fans powerful songs such as “Hope Now,” “What Do I Know of Holy,” “All That Matters” and “This Little Light of Mine,” the decade-old band is stepping off the stage.

“As a band, we have collectively decided to put a definite end to Addison Road,” she states. Simmons, who started the band with her then-fiancee, Ryan (now husband of 10 years), at Baylor University in 2000 says its the best break-up she’s ever been a part of. “I hate break-ups, but this was as beautiful as a split can be! The guys were tired of living out of buses and leaving their families behind. In our case it was taking a toll on our marriage to raise our daughter on the road, work together, and then try and be married at the end of the day. After our 2010 tour with Tenth Avenue North and Matt Maher, it became clear to each of us that God was releasing us from Addison Road and ushering each of us as individuals into new seasons.”

The Texas-based band debuted with their self-titled record in 2008 that garnered the band their first Dove nomination for Best New Artist, was featured as an iTunes® Discovery Download and garnered a No. 1 single with “All That Matters.” They released their critically acclaimed sophomore album, Stories, in 2010, which featured the hit single “Fight Another Day.”

Since her emergence on the music scene, Simmons’ vocal abilities have impressed critics and fans alike, lending an honest and authentic voice to lyrics that hit listeners with disarming relevance. Media outlets have described her vocals as “vulnerable and sincere” (ChristianMusicReview.org), as well as “piercing and chameleon” (Phantom Tollbooth).

“I believe in every single word and note on the album,” Simmons explains in regard to The Becoming. “I believe this project is exactly what I am supposed to say to the world, and I’m so excited to share it with everyone.”

Simmons will mark her solo debut with a performance on August 12th at Live Oak Music Hall & Lounge in Fort Worth, Tex. For more information, please visit JennySimmons.com.

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About Jenny Simmons:

Acclaimed singer and songwriter Jenny Simmons burst onto the music scene as the lead singer of Dallas-based band Addison Road with their major-label, eponymous debut in 2008. Addison Road garnered the band their first Dove nomination for Best New Artist in 2009. One of the album’s tracks, “All That Matters,” was featured as an iTunes® Discovery Download, and the song later garnered the band a No. 1 hit. “All That Matters” and “Sticking With You” were the ninth and 15th most-played songs on Christian CHR chart for 2008. Addison Road released their critically acclaimed sophomore album, Stories, in 2010, which featured the hit single “Fight Another Day.” Heralded for her striking, powerful vocals by critics and fans, Simmons will release her debut memoir, Mangledy-Bangledy: The Road To Becoming, as well as her debut solo album, The Becoming, in February 2013.

[Get Connected with Jenny Simmons]:
www.jennysimmons.com
www.twitter.com/jennysimmons

Media Contact:

Jess Draper
the media collective
jess@themcollective.com
615.591.7989
www.themcollective.com

If you had the opportunity to ride on an upcoming shuttle to outer space would you take it?

I was talking with some friends this weekend about the idea of sky diving, and the same question came up among us. If given the chance would you go, or not? I’m sure it says a lot about me when I tell you that my answer was absolutely NOT. Jumping out of an airplane and free falling (cue some Tom Petty), with only the hope of a parachute and my ability to pull it open? Yea… I think I’ll pass. I like the idea of being in the sky and looking out at the world around. It’s just the falling part that I don’t like.

So what about a trip to outer space? I mean, there’s typically no “free falling” involved there if everything goes as planned, so I think I’d be much more inclined to take the risk. What about you?

Speaking of risking your life…

Jenny from Addison Road sat down to explain a little bit about the band’s new single “Don’t Wait” where she talks about living for today, and taking advantage of the time you have now. Throughout her travels she’s heard many stories from fans that have made her much more aware of how short life can be. So, if you’re thinking about going sky diving anytime soon, maybe you should hear what she has to say.

Addison Road makes it to space.

If you look closely at the photo above you might recognize the CD that’s floating there in outer space. Yes, it’s Addison Road’s “Stories” and apparently the album was flown to space on the final mission of the Space Shuttle Discovery where it traveled for 12 days, making 202 orbit around Earth with a total distance of 5,304,140 miles. Pretty cool huh? Be sure to visit AddisonRoad.com, Twitter.com/AddisonRoad or Facebook.com/AddisonRoad to connect with the band and keep up with their latest happenings!

So, my final question for you is: Would you go sky diving? If you’ve done it before, I’d love to hear your stories as well!

Laura

The members of Addison Road sent out a call to their fans a little while back to help them make a music video for their new single, “This Little Light of Mine.” They kicked off the process by posing the question, “Where or how do YOU hope your light of Christ shines through you?” and each fan was given one small candle to help them answer that in a video clip. Hundreds of submissions were sent in – check out what they had to say below.

Where or how do YOU shine the light of Christ in your life?
Post your answer in the comments section for a chance to win! We’ll randomly select 5 winners to receive a copy of Addison Road’s latest album “Stories” which features the new single “This Little Light Of Mine!”

Matthew 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

In the middle of winter, everything looks dark and dreary. The morning comes, your alarm ringing, and all you want to do is switch it off to stay nice and warm inside your bed, asleep all day. The days are shorter, the skies duller, and with these changes, we feel a change within ourselves. The signs outside tell us we don’t have much hope for a beautiful day. On the other hand, when we wake up on a warm summer morning, we feel energized. We can’t wait to go outside and play, to live and laugh and love. The difference between these two days is rather simple: it’s the light.

When we look at the world as a whole, we see a lot of darkness. Even watching the news at night shows us all the bad things happening around us. We have many reasons to fear and feel despair. Just as a lack of light drowns us in winter months, the darkness of the world discourages us. We are all searching for something to allow us to believe in a better tomorrow.

Fortunately, as Christians we do have something to believe in. Christ is the bearer of hope. He brings us a reason to live, an optimistic outlook. We are all given the light of Christ. He dwells within each of us, burning inside bright. “There’s a fire inside you burning with hope.”

It’s great to have the light within us, but just as Matthew 5:15 says, we don’t “light a lamp and put it under a bowl”. We are called to share our light with the rest of the world.  For when light comes into the room, it casts out all shadows and darkness. We can bring light into this dark world and be a shining example of God’s love. When we do this, we can make the bitter winter a beautiful summer. “Some shine bright, some shine small.” Which one do you want to be?

How can you be a light to the world? Post your comments below! Also,check out the album on iTunes here and scroll down to see Ryan’s inspiration behind the song and read the lyrics.

Addison Road needs your help making a music video for their song “This Little Light Of Mine!” They’re looking for you to share how you let your light shine & where you share your love for Christ. If you have a Flipcam, iPhone, or anything that can record video, then go take a look at the details of what they need you to do and get your cameras rolling.

Click here to read more about it, and submit your clips to the band!

Happy filming
Laura

P.S. If you haven’t gotten your copy of Stellar Kart’s latest album yet, then be sure to take advantage of our $5.00 album sale before it ends on Monday. You can also get the physical copy (and instant digital download) for $7.99. Visit FreeCCM.com/Deals to preview the album, learn about the songs, and get your copy!

If you just raised your hand at that question then that means you don’t like free music and you just might be in the wrong place…But, for everyone else out there, I’ve got the key to a treasure trove of songs and am getting ready to hand it over to you. I’ve been able to pull together 10 tracks from some great artists that we’re giving away to anyone who gives us their feedback about the site.

Here’s the deal: All you have to do is answer 12 easy questions, and they will lead you to the pot of gold.

[Survey Closed - Thanks To Everyone For Participating!]

WHY YOU ASK?
Well…we’ve been working away at a new and improved version of FreeCCM.com (yay!) with the intention of (hopefully) making it a better experience for you & a more enjoyable place to visit. (Not to mention, a little nicer to look at) In order to do that we want to get to know you better so we can have a clearer idea of what you guys like.

WHAT SONGS ARE ON IT?
These:

1)      Chasen – “Leave You Alone”
2)      MercyMe – “Sanctified”
3)      Addison Road – “Who I Am In You”
4)      Fee – “Beauty Of The Cross” from The Catalyst Music Project
5)      Building 429 – “Coming Home”
6)      Phillips, Craig & Dean – “Let God Be God”
7)      33Miles – “Something Different”
8)      Laura Story – “Make Something Beautiful”
9)      Jeremy Horn – “Embrace The Cross”
10)    Stellar Kart – “It’s Not Over”

It’s been fun reading through the responses we’ve gotten so far- maybe you’ll have just as much fun listening to the songs

Ready, Set… Break!

Laura

P.S. The Afters wanted to say hello -

For Addison Road To Answer Your Questions.

Hello fellow Addison Road fans! Thanks so much for all of your great questions, it was hard to choose just 5 for the band to answer!  Addison Road’s responses are here:

katiealley15 says: What is the story, if there is one, behind the band name?

We started the band in college and couldn’t agree on a good band name.  Jenny wanted all really girly names and the guys all wanted really awesome names  Just kidding, they weren’t THAT good in retrospect!  We were playing a concert at our college and offered $50 to whoever could submit the best band name . . . all those band names were horrible.  So at that concert the guy running sound said he just had a daughter and named her Addison and we should name our band after her.  So we did and added Road on the end just for kicks.  No spiritual meaning, no clever story, but that’s how it happened!

SunriseinHim says: What is the best and worst part of touring?

The best part is it’s so fun to go from city to city playing music with your friends . . . to show up in a town you’ve never been to and have people singing along to words you wrote at your house back home, there’s nothing like that.  You really have to make an effort to change things up though, I try and call family and friends a ton when we’re gone and to always be reading something new.  Oh, and you can always carve out time to fit in “Back to the Future” as often as you want!

Michelle says: with all the influences out there in the music business, what are some of the things you do as a group or as individuals to keep your faith strong among the group and your families?

For Jenny and me, it has been about keeping our relationships going with people back home and our home church.  These are the people that help keep us focused and keep our priorities straight.  Couldn’t do it without them. Also, the band itself has been together now for 9 years, so we are really like a family.  We go through the high and lows together and really love each other. –Ryan Simmons

I think for me a big part is just making time with God a priority.  That can get really hard when you’re traveling and there’s no consistent schedule but it makes all the difference in the world.  Not only in how you feel inside but how you treat people around you, your family, etc.  It’s when things are the busiest and you don’t see how you could make time to spend with God that you really need it the most-and benefit so much from taking time to pray, read, and talk to him. –Ryan Gregg

Sarah says: How do you devote focus, attention and energy into marriage, being a mother, and being a band at the same time? Does your baby come with you always on tour? I guess I just want some behind the scenes info do you and your hubby get some date nights once in a while? It’s cool seeing couples being in a band. Really inspiring!

Sarah, thanks so much for the questions! Having a baby has changed everything, that’s for sure. I love my job, I love my ministry, and I love my husband and my daughter but they all require so much of my time and energy! Sometimes it’s really hard to juggle so many hats and I’ll be the first to admit that I make a lot of mistakes along the way. But I feel like God has given me so many tools to be able to do what I do.  First of all, a very gracious and encouraging husband who both believes in my calling and believes in our family makes what I do possible. Without his support (and his occasional reminders that I’ve forgotten to bathe our baby), friendship, and passion for our music and ministry- there are many days I would totally give up because I’m a baby.  I have an uncanny ability to compartmentalize and was raised by a mom and dad who very rarely lived “stressed out” lives. We didn’t always have enough money to pay the bills but my sisters and I would have never known that. My parents showed me what it looks like to be relaxed, calm, content in the moment, and free of worry or stress. Because of their example, I grew up pretty carefree. So when I look at a schedule with 40 concerts over the short stretch of 50 short days, instead of getting ulcers, I get excited. Let tomorrow be tomorrow. Finally, through a lot of time in counseling, I’ve learned how to set healthy boundaries for myself. Like… I’m pretty late turning in the answers to these questions but… I’ve been out on the road for 14 days straight and was physically and emotionally exhausted so I made the best decision for myself, my marriage, and my daughter. And that decision meant I would have to put off these questions for a few days so I could catch my breath. Respecting boundaries and being able to prioritize in a way that takes care of my family before my fans is a huge part of making life on the road work. Sometimes that means handing Annie off and going on a date and sometimes it means skipping out on autograph sessions to put her to bed… not easy decisions to make, but you pick your priorities and trust that God will give you the wisdom and strength to honor those commitments. And yes- Annie comes with us almost every trip! In fact, she just had her 95th plane ride and she’s only 14 months old! 95 planes rides, five tour buses, lots of vans, and a boat! She is a trooper- a little road warrior- and she absolutely loves people. She brings so much joy to our little group. She has “3 uncles” and a dad with her almost all the time… and those boys love her well. So that’s how we make it work. With the love and support of friends, family and our home churches, some good boundaries, letting go of the worry for tomorrow, and the occasional cry session followed by a chocolate cupcake recovery… I’m learning how to make this crazy life and ministry work. -Jenny

Its an amazing journey to not only be in Addison Road, but to also do that as a family.  It is incredible hard, and we have really had to work hard at learning how to be parents and maintaining our relationship all while being on the road and with the guys.  Its unlike anything else, but we wouldnt change it for the world. –Ryan Simmons

I can’t answer this for Jenny but I can say it’s been really incredible to see her be such an amazing mom with Anniston the past fourteen months.  My wife and I just have a three-week old baby and I can’t imagine trying to travel with her and be on the road.  But Jenny just goes out of her way, even when we’re so packed busy and traveling to play with her daughter and constantly try to teach her new things.  That little girl brings so much happiness to us all on the road!  She’s so cute too!  I know it’s probably incredibly hard to be a mom and a wife on the road but Jenny and Ryan are just a great team. -Ryan Gregg

Marley says: Hey guys! I’m just wondering how you were able to see God amongst all your hardships – were there any verses in particular that you seemed to cling to?

Yeah, we’ve had a pretty crazy year filled with challenges but we’ve definitely seen God’s hand pull us through each and every one.  I guess if I was going to pinpoint some verses it would be Psalm 139, it’s kind of become the band Psalm this year.  It talks about how God knows everything, there’s nowhere we can hide from God, that even dark is as light to him.  He’s known us from the start and accepts us as we are.  I think with our year of thefts, fires, accidents, etc it’s become such a promise to hold onto. That no matter what we’re going through it’s not too big for God. God isn’t surprised we’re facing tough times.  He’s up to the challenge of pulling us through and he does it every single time.  Even though we’ve had a hard year I wouldn’t trade it for anything, we’ve gotten to see God pick us up and carry us in the most incredible ways.  When you look at it that way it’s been a really great year! Thanks for the questions!

As you all know, their amazing new cd “Stories” released on June 22.  Not only should you buy this ASAP and listen to it on repeat like I have, but we have another contest for ya’ll!

There’s no denying that the band has had their fair share of funny, difficult, and crazy stories happen over the past year, whether it’s getting their equipment stolen (twice) or how God has given them the strength to fight another day.  Now we want to hear yours!  Comment back on this post in a short paragraph of about 200 words or less with one of your favorite stories!  It can be funny, scary, crazy, or inspirational.

We will randomly choose 5 contestants to win their new album “Stories!”

Don’t forget to buy Addison Road’s new album!  Seriously, do it.

Mikaela

FreeCCM Summer Intern

Listen To The New Album For Free- Click play to start!

((album stream has expired))

Like what you here? Click here to go by the album or go pick up a copy at your favorite retailer!

P.S. Don’t miss out on our free Derek Webb download this week! Click here to go get it now.

Hey everyone,

We have some exciting new music for you this week from Addison Road’s upcoming release “Stories.” Their new album is only a couple weeks away, but they’ve decided to let you get a taste of it now by giving away a free track! The song is called “Change In The Making” and it’s an amazing song that speaks from the hopeful perspective of a life under construction, and how God can use a series of hard life events to make His children better.

This is redemption’s story, with every step that I’m taking
Every day, You’re chipping away what I don’t need
This is me under construction; This is my pride being broken
Every day, I’m closer to who I’m meant to be;  I’m a change in the making

The members of Addison Road have been on a roller coaster ride of changes over the last year for sure. You can check out the video below to see what all they have been up to, and hear some more music from the new album, but Jenny summed it up well here: “We’ve had to grow up. Life happened. But I don’t want to level off and end up in a life of complacency. I want God to be doing new things and healing old wounds and making me into this beautiful work of art.”

Now is your chance to ask Addison Road any question in the world, and win a copy of their new album before it hits stores!

Addison Road will be making an appearance on our blog in a few weeks just to answer your questions, so we want to hear from you!  Leave a comment on this post with yours, and we’ll randomly pick 5 for the band to answer, PLUS we’ll send the winners a special pre-release of the album before anyone else gets it!

Click here to go get your free download of Addison Road’s “Change In The Making” now.

For more from Addison Road…

Visit www.AddisonRoad.com

Follow Addison Road on Twitter

Check out Jenny’s Blog