Soteria Music Blog

Hi folks,

Sorry it’s been so long since the last posting on this blog.

Since the release of DaySpring lots has been happening; i’ve moved offices and moved house, the Soteria Magazine has been upgraded to full out-sourced LIFO printing (www.soteriamag.co.uk) and some new WMD projects have gradually started to emerge.

In recent days S-WMD has done some trials and demos with Tracey Sleeman and James Saldivar. Tracey, a fantastic singer from Redruth Baptist (www.redruthbaptist.org.uk) hopes to get recording her album of songs in the near future. James a great piano/vocalist did an impressive live song a few weeks ago, this was recorded as a live demo that’s now in post-production, should be ready very soon.

In order to meet the new demands the S-WMD website is currently offline while it gets a full revamp and upgrade. Hopefully it won’t be long before this resource is back online with it’s new features.

In addtion to all this I’ve become a teacher! I currently have three fantastic students learning drums. On Easter Sunday two of them took part in a performance of “The Old Rugged Cross”, one of them has only been learning for three months! A good time was had by all.

God’s blessings be on you.

Jon Richards

Last night, when I arrived home I sent a message to the other members of the Soteria team: “The day has finally sprung”. That’s right! In case you haven’t seen the front of the Soteria Music website in the last few minutes; “DaySpring“, Rose Grigg’s debut, folky & rocky solo album is finally ready for distribution to anyone who wants a copy. Fill in this contact form at the website to request your copy.

Last night a small group of willing helpers assembled in the downstairs lounge of Redruth Baptist Church for what would usually be a time of singing and praying in the Church’s “Late Night Worship” session. This night however things would be a little different because then with light Christian music playing away on the CD player the album was assembled. My thanks to the team last night for all their hard work: Sarah - for folding and correcting all the back trays with incredible attention to detail, Darren - for folding the front covers and separating out jewel cases; a tricky task, Sharon - for assembling, and of course the stalwart of the Late Night Worship group Derek - for the many things he did but perticularly making the tea! A good time of fellowship and laughter was had by all, (even if the celiphine wrappers were hard to get on). We rounded the evening off with Darren bringing a scripture to the group, singing a few songs to God, and then Derek closing in prayer. Very appropriatly for this event I wore my Soteria-WMD team t-shirt!

Can I once again thank everyone involoved in the project; Phil Gray for the recording, Duncan Odgers for the bass playing and working so hard on the end of the songs (keep a look out for that bit), Craig Sheer for the solid drumming, Mike Thomas for his incredible guitar playing, Eddie Fletcher for his guest vocals on the track “Shine” and of course Rose Grigg. Also thanks to the Soteria team; Rob Allwright and Greg Messam, Clive Richards for the photographs, Redruth Baptist Church for allowing us to use their building and recording equipment for the drum and bass parts.

Thank you to Jesus Christ for entrusting Rose and I with this project. I pray that this may now be an acceptable offering of worship and obedience to You.

God bless you all

Jon Richards - Exec Producer

www.soteriamusic.co.uk

We are nearly there with DaySpring now, no really I mean it!

Last night the final versions of the artwork was emailed to the printers, payment has gone through and the master CD is in a jiffybag on my desk ready to go in the post tomorrow morning. Finally we are so close to completion.

At this point it would be worth giving a warning to my friends, family, and anyone else around that we’re gonna need some serious help to put all this together when it arrives from the printers. So I may well be coming round asking, pleading, bribing, or blackmailing you to help. Free tea and coffee will be on the go.

At the same time Operation Mobilisation is in Redruth for the week doing a mission in conjuction with my church (Redruth Baptist). So a busy time here. So I’m gonna make the most of a quiet Sunday afternoon while I’ve got the chance.

God bless you all

Jon Richards

Yes! It’s here! It’s arrived!!

I’m sure you’re wondering what on earth I’m on about. Well, after 21 months of long hard graft the proof copy of the DaySpring album has finally turned up! Yay! Now all that remains is to show it around to everyone who has a say on it, and then if everyone’s happy we’ll get publishing!

Been a long time coming hasn’t it? So click here for a sneaky peak at the disc

January 2006, Rose Grigg and I met up in the Basset’s Arms in Portreath, and over a glass or two of cola, sketched out a rough plan of the album and how we (with the help of Phil Gray, Rob Allwright and Greg Messam) might build the new label S-WMD! Now here stand at the brink of publishing; after lots of planning, much praying, hours of practice, countless re-records, hours of mixing, loads of mastering, gallons of coffee, and must have constituted several acres worth of potatoes cut down into chips and fried by the local chippy!

What a journey its been. Along the way we’ve forged new relationships, and enhanced old ones. Yes some things didn’t go right, no project ever goes perfectly; we are human after all! But through the problems and adversities the Christian love of God shines through and eventually pulls everyone back together.

Since the recording phase Duncan (the bass player) has gone on tour accross the UK. Craig (the drummer) has moved to France. Mike (the guitarist & Rose’s brother-in-law) has moved to Oxford. Phil (recorder) has moved to north Cornwall, and Rose has moved to university in London. I’m gonna have quite a bit of posting to do just ot get the complementery copies out!

Well no time to lose, I’m off to do some sound editing for the church now (redruthbaptist.org.uk)

God bless

Jon Richards

Exec Producer

www.soteriamusic.co.uk

Things are really now hotting up for the DaySpring launch. Not only is the
recording and mastering finished but now the album artwork has gone to the
printers for sampling. We are now just days from the manufacturing stage.

Needless to say I for one am relieved to finally be at this stage, and once
again my thanks to everyone who has been so patient waiting for this album
to come out.

Now is the time to be praying that it’ll be of real blessing to people and
glory to God.

In the mean time, and a man who shares my surname once said;
“Keep on prayin”

Jon Richards
Exec Producer
Soteria - WMD