music monday: shadowfeet

I hope you had a great weekend! We were able to lead music at our church on Sunday, and being with our church family is always such a blessing. Jordan and I are increasingly thankful to have found a church family whose one goal and focus at every gathering is to simply lift high the name of Jesus and make Him famous. This gospel-living oriented focus has deeply impacted our lives on every level, and I'm so encouraged to go into my week with the confidence that Christ truly gives us the power to abide in Him! You're probably familiar with the lovely and talented Brooke Fraser in some facet, be it her work with Hillsong or her stunning solo projects, and I'm sharing a favorite video after the jump!

music monday: citizens

As part of the Christian music industry, I am always encouraged to discover artists who are putting out Christ-centric music that is both full of theological truth and encouragement, and also has a musical style that draws my attention and inspires me to think creatively. One of our pastors alerted my husband Jordan to the band Citizens out of Mars Hill Seattle, and we've been hooked on their four song EP "Already / Not Yet". I'm a huge fan of their indie-rock style and original songs, as well as their take on some old favorites.

music monday: pop perfection

Maybe it's a result of growing up in the era of boy bands, or attending all those junior high dances (before I switched to a private Christian school where dancing was not school sanctioned and generally frowned upon), but to this day there is something about great pop music that instantly gets my attention and makes me happy. Now, the definition of great is probably an ambiguous one, but simple, catchy, fun pop songs tend to get in your head whether you initially welcome them or not! It all started for me when TRL was in it's glory days, prompting teens around the nation to rush home from school in time to watch the music video countdown. The names and faces of pop stars were as familiar as those of friends and classmates. Behold: *NSYNC (with bonus Britney)...

music monday: beginner tip #5

When you're getting started as a musician, there are endless options on how to get started and what the best path to take is. There's no surefire way to guarantee success, and even those already making a living in the industry are constantly refining what they do and trying to learn  from their experiences. Jordan and I were recently invited to speak on a panel at GMA's Immerse in Nashville and the topic was "Building a Touring Business". Other panel guests were artists at varying points in their careers, a manager, and a booking agent. It was enlightening to think through our own answers, but also to hear everyone else's advice about touring and business. One thing stuck out as a pretty strong consensus, and that little snippet is today's beginner tip #5.

music monday: beginner tip #4

Well hello! Last week was a bit sparse on the posting, so I'm excited to be back with this week's music monday. We spent most of the week helping with our sweet new niece and with Jordan's sister, who was having some unexpected complications. Thankfully God has been gracious and she's back home and on the mend. I'd love for you to pray for her as she continues to recover and enjoys life with her new little girl! Keep on reading for beginner tip #4...

music monday: beginner tip #3

I can't believe we're already half way through July! This summer has been flying by—it will be Fall before we know it...This weekend Jordan and I were the worship leaders at Coaches Time Out Great Lakes, and it was such a blessing. It was so great to see the way CTO pours into coaches and their spouses over the course of the weekend, and I'd strongly encourage you to find a CTO in your area if you're a coach of any sport, for any age group! I think I've said it before, but one of my favorite parts of what I do is getting the chance to partner with such a wide variety of churches and ministries, and to see what God is doing in so many people's lives. Today's music monday post features beginner tip # 3: take every opportunity!

music monday: beginner tip #2

How was everybody's weekend? Ours was great, except for the very long drive home from Tampa yesterday! We hit two major traffic jams, Lorelei threw up, and we ended with a severe rain storm. We finally rolled in just before midnight, and I have to say, we haven't been so happy to be home in a long time! Thankfully we got home safe and healthy, so we can't complain too much! Today's music monday post is the second in a series of quick tips for "beginner" musicians. Hopefully you'll find them helpful, especially if you're just getting started.

music monday: beginner tip #1

Hey all! How was your weekend? We were at a church in Miami on Sunday (the farthest south we've ever driven!) and though it was a small church, the people there were such a big blessing. I had a chance to talk with a woman whose ability to walk is severely impaired by MS, and her perspective on life and her attitude were such an encouragement to me. We were connected by our faith in Christ and the knowledge that this world is not truly our home, and I will never tire of the way my job allows me to get such a beautiful glimpse of the body at work! Today's music monday post is the first in a mini-series of quick tips for anyone looking to get started as a musician.

music monday: artists + fans = :)

It's Monday! The weekend went by so quickly for me...we got up so early (4:30, ack!) on Saturday and drove to the Alive Festival to perform. It was a gorgeous day and the festival was a lot of fun; Alive has an amazing staff and volunteers. We played Sunday morning at Akron Baptist Temple where our friend Sean McNeill is the worship leader and then drove back up to MI to pick up miss Lorelei from grandma and grandpa's house. Today we're headed back to Nashville and I'm beyond excited to meet our new niece! Today's music monday post is about the relationship between artists and fans. Read more after the jump...

music monday: working hard

How was your weekend? Mine went by so fast! We took advantage of some time to relax, and had a chance to visit with more friends and family before we left. Today we're on our way back to Nashville, and my fingers are crossed that my sweet baby niece will be born this week while we're there. I can't wait to become an aunt! Today's music monday is based on some follow up thoughts to the post about why we do what we do. Once you get past the initial inspiration, passion, and definition of why you're getting started, the next step is just plain old hard work!

music monday: needtobreathe

Hello friends! After a little break for Memorial Day, music monday is back! I hope your weekend was fantastic. We did a lot of driving and a lot of performing, and this week we're starting a special project that I'm looking forward to sharing with you all. More details on that soon, but today we're talking about an Anderson family all-time favorite: NEEDTOBREATHE.

music monday: Jump

How was everybody's weekend? Ours was busy, and so much fun. We played an 11:45 pm concert at a youth lock-in on Friday, and I totally had to take a nap before hand. As I slowly approach 30 (I'll be 27 this year) I'm not feeling quite as young as I once was! We also got to visit with some dear friends we made when we first moved to Nashville, and do a concert at their church in Indiana. One major benefit to being on the road so much is the many friends and family members we get to see along the way!

I'm the kind of person who buys an album, listens to it religiously until I could probably sing it in my sleep, then pulls it out every so often to relive the greatness. Sometimes I am so enamored I can't help but purchase everything that artist has put out; other times I simply continue to enjoy the music that spoke to me so much in the first place. As an artist, I do wholeheartedly recommend you support the musicians you love by purchasing all the music they put out and spreading the word.

music monday: why we do what we do

Happy Monday! I hope your weekend was restful and that you were able to celebrate the mothers in your life that have made an impact on you. Our weekend was full of life's most blessed joys. We had plenty of reason to celebrate as Jordan turned 27 on Friday, and on Sunday we celebrated Mothers Day and Lorelei's dedication. To have both sets of her grandparents in town, as well as some of her aunts and uncles, made us cherish such a special moment even more. My heart is so full of love and gratitude! My sweet husband and Lorelei gave me a spa day, which will be such a treat, and makes me feel so appreciated. It's hard to believe the weekend is gone, but I'm excited about the week ahead. 

Today's music monday post is about why we do what we do. People often ask Jordan and I questions about how we got into music, but I think answering "why?" is vital to getting started for any musician and/or entrepreneur.

music monday: bandzoogle

This week's music monday post is about a tool I've found indispensable to my online presence. When Jordan and I decided to take the plunge and become full-time musicians, we knew we had to utilize every tool available to help build the foundation for our career. What I soon found out is that online, there are hundreds of available tools (if not more!).

At first I tried to maintain a presence on a bevy of social media and music-related sites, but I soon found that less is more when it comes to doing it right. I still evaluate my roster of go-to sites every so often, and I will certainly jump right in to anything that seems to offer popular or significant contributions. At the end of the day, I believe the most important online thing for an independent musician (and entrepreneurs in other fields, for that matter) is their own website. Read more after the jump!

music monday: ben rector

Hey friends! To complement the launch of WanderLove (yay!) I thought I'd debut the first of several ongoing features you'll see here. As you may know, today is Monday. Also, I love music. Hence: music mondays! Every Monday I'll be featuring something music related, including music I'm loving, tips for new/indie musicians on getting started, tools we use to run our music business, and more. If you've got specific questions or post ideas for music monday I'd love to hear them in the comments section! Now, on to today's post, featuring an artist I have been listening to non-stop for 9+ months...