On this episode of the True Tunes Podcast, we spend some quality time with one of the most exciting and fresh contemporary Gospel artists to emerge in years. DOE, (aka Dominique Jones) first came to our attention as a member of Forever Jones – an eclectic Gospel group that included her parents and siblings. With her solo debut LP Clarity, released on Jonathan McReynolds’ new label with RCA Inspiration, (and including contributions by Israel Houghton, Matt Maher, McReynolds, and more,) DOE demonstrates talent, wisdom, and vision beyond her age. Her self-assured style, which includes elements of Norah Jones and Lauryn Hill, challenges conventions – even as it has already scored a #1 Hit on Gospel Radio.

On the Jukebox, we are joined by our good friend Aaron “A-Train” Smith to listen deeply to Stevie Wonder’s world-changing music in the 1970s. Between '72 and '76 Wonder released five albums, four of which won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. He dominated the R&B and Pop charts and plowed his own lane – setting standards and influencing artists for generations to come. A-Train was drumming for The Temptations, The Undisputed Truth, and other Motown bands during those years. He gives us an insider’s remembrance of Wonder, his music, and his legacy. Full show notes and music list is available at TrueTunes.com/DOE.

The True Tunes Podcast is sponsored by VisionTrust.org. Help us change the world for one child at a time by sponsoring today. Visit VisionTrust.org/TrueTunes for more information. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our SWAG STORE.

On this second installment of our conversation with singer-songwriter ROEMER, (aka Ben Seidl,) we explore how his experience hosting an open mic night in Berlin, combined with his careful study and practice of sound missiology, might inspire us to engage our communities with integrity, compassion, and authenticity. (Full Show Notes HERE.)

The True Tunes Podcast is sponsored by VisionTrust.org. Help us change the world for one child at a time by sponsoring today. Visit VisionTrust.org/TrueTunes for more information. You can support this show by joining our group of patrons at Patreon.com/truetunes or dropping us a tip via PayPal.

Find ROEMER's music HERE: https://roemer.bandcamp.com/

Royce Lovett's blend of soul, hip-hop, and Gospel has found a wild path into the world - from a Motown Gospel debut to NBC's The Voice and beyond. In this episode, we hear a slew of his music as he unspools the story of his inspiring journey so far. On the Jukebox, we listen back to some of the earliest examples of Christian Hip Hop and trace the roots of Rap back to Gospel, with pioneering musician and author Soup The Chemist and early artist and church-planter Pastor Chris Williamson. (Full music list, links to Royce on The Voice and his TEDX Talk on the Show Notes page at TrueTunes.com/royce.)

The True Tunes Podcast is sponsored by VisionTrust.org. Help us change the world for one child at a time by sponsoring today. Visit VisionTrust.org/TrueTunes for more information. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our SWAG STORE.

Berlin-based singer-songwriter Ben Seidl, aka ROEMER, stops by to talk about mission, missiology, and a surprising intersection between Deitrich Bonhoeffer and Karl Marx in his community. Roemer's recent albums have haunted our mixtape and best-of lists for the last couple of years. 

The True Tunes Podcast is sponsored by VisionTrust.org. Help us change the world for one child at a time by sponsoring today. Visit VisionTrust.org/TrueTunes for more information. You can support this show by joining our group of patrons at Patreon.com/truetunes or dropping us a tip via PayPal.

On this episode we are joined by singer-songwriter Andy Zipf on the eve of the release of his latest single, “Did You Know I Was A Ghost?” and in anticipation of his upcoming album, How To Make A Paper Airplane. Zipf, a 20-year veteran artist, has worked with labels and functioned as an indie. He has been in bands and has been a solo artist. His latest album, however, takes his work to a whole new place. Drummer and percussionist Jay Bellerose, bassist Jennifer Condos, keyboardist Tyler Chester, and upright bassist Dennis Crouch, have played with T Bone Burnett, Robert Plant, Over The Rhine, Madison Cunningham, and too many others to list. As Zipf’s band, they bring sparkle and depth to his excellent songs about loss, doubt, mystery, and beauty. And speaking of sparkle and depth, we cue up U2’s Achtung Baby on the True Tunes Jukebox and take a careful listen 30 years on. Artist manager and certified geek Nick Barre joins JJT to examine the lingering legacy of this postmodern classic.

Don't miss Andy's exclusive acoustic performance of "Did You Know I Was A Ghost?" on True Tunes at 45RPM.

The True Tunes Podcast is sponsored by VisionTrust.org. Help us change the world for one child at a time by sponsoring today. Visit VisionTrust.org/TrueTunes for more information. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our SWAG STORE.

As always, THANKS to our Patreon supporters and to the amazing staff and volunteers at VisionTrust.org.

Andy Zipf's Official Website:  https://www.thecowardschoir.com/

Singer-songwriter Andy Zipf is about to release a new album, How To Make A Paper Airplane, and will soon be featured on the full-length True Tunes Podcast. In this advance peek we get to hear a special live, solo, recording of his new single, "Did You Know I Was A Ghost". 

The True Tunes Podcast is sponsored by VisionTrust.org. Help us change the world for one child at a time by sponsoring today. Visit VisionTrust.org/TrueTunes for more information. You can support this show by joining our group of patrons at Patreon.com/truetunes or dropping us a tip via PayPal.

Singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Phil Madeira, who can regularly be found backing up amazing artists like Emmylou Harris, is out with his latest project, "BLISS." This collection of love songs may seem like a bit of a change-up by this famously acerbic artist - especially after last year's edgy "Hornet's Nest," so we caught up with him to talk about this project and the concept of "love songs" in general.

Why do we all keep going back to art - even silly love songs - when it comes time to walk through our most important experiences? Consider this short episode a long-awaited sequel to our two-part conversation with Madeira in early 2021. 

The True Tunes Podcast is sponsored by VisionTrust.org. Help us change the world for one child at a time by sponsoring today. Visit VisionTrust.org/TrueTunes for more information. You can support this show by joining our group of patrons at Patreon.com/truetunes or dropping us a tip via PayPal.

(A longer edition of this conversation will be made available to our Patreon Backers.) For a full music list and more visit the Show Notes page at TrueTunes.com. 

We are beyond thrilled to welcome one of the most essential artists of the last half-century to the True Tunes Podcast. Bruce Cockburn has written over 350 songs and released 30 studio or live albums since 1970, and four different compilations. 22 of his albums have been certified either Gold or Platinum in Canada. He has received 13 Juno Awards, is in the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in 2001 he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at a ceremony that included testimonials by Midnight Oil’s Peter Garrett, Margo Timmins of Cowboy Junkies, and Bono. He holds multiple honorary Doctorate degrees – and continues to write and record. He recently released a 30-song collection of his singles called – simply – Bruce Cockburn’s Greatest Hits 1970 – 2020.

This wide-ranging conversation, presented in context with many of his most beloved songs, covers everything from his roots in the 60s to his most recent projects. Cockburn and host John J. Thompson contemplate the significant influence spirituality plays in the music, how Bruce formed as a songwriter, and more. On the Jukebox segment, Thompson is joined by singer-songwriter Chris Taylor to explore some of their favorite Cockburn songs that were not necessarily “hits.”

The True Tunes Podcast is sponsored by VisionTrust.org. Help us change the world for one child at a time by sponsoring today. Visit VisionTrust.org/TrueTunes for more information. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our SWAG STORE. You can also find our 50-song COCKBURN JUKEBOX mix here.

Full music list and other links and info can be found on the SHOW NOTES PAGE at TrueTunes.com. 

On our second episode of the new short-form TrueTunes@45RPM show, we bring you MORE Bruce Cockburn! Host John J. Thompson and singer/songwriter Chris Taylor continue their dive into 2 more favorites from Bruce: "Loner" and "Gospel of Bondage." For more info visit TrueTunes.com.

Thanks to our sponsors at VisionTrust.org. You can support this show by joining our group of patrons at Patreon.com/truetunes or dropping us a tip via PayPal. 

(Believe it or not, there was even MORE to this conversation, which has been sent to our Patreon backers separately.) 

Don't miss the full show, and keep spreading the word! 

Introducing TRUE TUNES @ 45RPM - the new short-form version of the deep-dive conversations happening in the main True Tunes Podcast and at TrueTunes.com. In honor of the release of his stunning new solo double-album This Beautiful Mystery, this premiere episode features a conversation with Terry Scott Taylor from the Daniel Amos Alarma! Radio Special (produced by our own Bruce A. Brown in 1981) alongside a clip from our conversation with Taylor in the fall of 2021. 

As always, THANKS to our Patreon supporters and to the amazing staff and volunteers at VisionTrust.org. CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION or find us at Patreon.com/TrueTunes to join our support team. 

For more information visit TrueTunes.com