Four
years after the release of his last disc, Bring It On, newsboys bassist
Phil Joel is writing new songs with a deliberate purpose.
“Over the past few years I hadn’t written much
because I didn’t feel like I had a whole lot to say. It was during this
time of quiet that our lives had begun to change,” Phil says.
“My wife, Heather, and I felt the Lord challenging
us to live lives of simple devotion to Him. This meant getting back
to the basics and removing clutter. It affected every area of our lives
from the ground up.”
It was this call to simplicity, spiritually as well as practically,
that prompted writing and recording the deliberatePeople. album. “I
wrote and recorded this CD in the garage behind my house. I wanted to
lock Nashville out and open the doors wide to family and friends but,
most importantly, to God. And this CD is the result,” says Phil.
Phil braved uncharted territory with this project, making his debut
as producer.
“I really encouraged Phil to produce this record
himself,” says Heather. “His honesty and
sensitivity to the Lord needed to be communicated clearly, without distraction.
Heading up this project has allowed him to make music that is far more
indicative of his New Zealand roots. These songs have really captured
something special.”
Writing
and producing the record was only the beginning. The couple decided
to release the deliberatePeople.album online in early 2006. Phil and
Heather quickly began filling orders, their mudroom a makeshift shipping
warehouse, full of CD cases, shrink-wrap and packing tape.
From designing the artwork and photography to co-writing 4 songs, Heather
has been very involved with the project. “During
the kids’ naptimes, Heather would come out to the studio with their
baby monitor, and we’d spend a couple of hours designing web site stuff,
album art, and working on music. We love working together; the whole
process has been very homegrown,” says Phil.
As close to home as the recording was, mixing and mastering took place
in England at the world famous Abbey Road Studios.
Seven months after the independent, online release of the ‘dP,’ album,
Phil and Heather teamed up with Indelible Creative Group. “Indelible
is amazing in that they truly understand what it means to ‘partner’
together and walk out the vision God has given each of us. The company’s
mission really fits with what we’re doing. They want ministry-based
music that has a greater reach—something that promotes a lifestyle of
daily devotion to God.”
The deliberatePeople. album is titled in reference to the new ministry
that Phil and Heather have founded. deliberatePeople. is primarily web
based and serves to encourage people to be more deliberate in their
daily pursuit of God. The site offers daily Bible reading plans, a prayer
guide, devotional blog, and podcasts.
“We hope to see God move in people’s lives as
they return to the simplicity of seeking Him on a daily basis. It all
begins at the beginning of the day; the good old quiet time is vital
if we want our relationship with the Lord to grow and go amazing places.”
For more information, deliberatePeople.com.
