Song Ideas/Blog

"Blessings" by Chance the Rapper

I was reminded of the unique works and faith of Chicago-native Chancelor Bennett, better known as Chance the Rapper, by this recent news...

"Gooyeem Hallelujah (Barafrazim Name To Ra)" by Roozbeh Najarnedad

Rounding out Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we have a song in Farsi and English, written by Roozbeh Najarnedad and...

"Changa" by Sheldon Bangera (India)

While browsing Spotify, I came across the work of Sheldon Bangera, a worship leader and songwriter of Mumbai, India. He writes music in...

"Uukhai" by Nomadic Spirit (Mongolia)

While researching, I found the group Nomadic Spirit of Mongolia. They've been playing at Christian conferences, and "Uukhai" seems to be...

"I Believe" by OneWord (Solomon Islands)

A few years ago, I was commissioned to transcribe this song by a college friend serving as a missionary in Indonesia. Looking into their...

"Uta No Kisetsu" (trans. "Season of Song") by Takafumi Nagasawa (Japan)

I was informed about Takafumi Nagasawa by a Japanese graduate student at Trinity. Arguably Japan's most well-known worship leader, his...

"Church Arise!" by Kat Mills

April is Autism Acceptance Month. In cyberspace, I recently stumbled over a Christian songwriter who is openly autistic: Kat Mills of...

"Comfort, Comfort Ye My People" (Sacred Jazz) by Deanna Witkowski

April is Jazz Appreciation Month, and I found this gem (be sure to watch the score video after the introduction!) by musician and fellow...

"Abaana (The Lord's Prayer)" by Songs2Serve

Songs2Serve is an intercultural, music ministry think-tank in the Netherlands. I've helped them with their English translation work on...

"Yeshu Muktinath" by Aradhna (India)

Maybe the first non-Western musical Christian band I knew was Aradhna. As I learned more about them, I was happy to discover they have...

"You Are My Shepherd" by Gloria Fanchiang

"Gloria Fanchiang is a second-generation Taiwanese American songwriter, independent recording artist and worship leader based in Los...

"Oh God" by Chantel Varnado

Chantel Varnado is a singer and worship leader from the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago's South Side. I had the privilege of meeting...

Two Tune Settings for St. Patrick's Breastplate

I was researching Irish hymns for St. Patrick's Day when I came across a hymn text based on his famous breastplate prayer. Supposedly,...

"Heal Us" by Grace Funderburgh

When I was transcribing Proskuneo's first album, I worked a lot over email with Grace Funderburgh (the first thought upon meeting her was...

"Good Oh" by Sherwin Gardner (Reggae)

Sherwin Gardner is a Trinidadian gospel reggae singer who has been cranking out albums since 1998. My favorite from his most recent...