Kim Gentes



This is a video sampler of some of the songs on the new album.  It shows not only the photos from the creative process in the studio, but years of various gatherings in which these songs have been used as anthems to the voice of local churches I have had the priviledge to lead in.

The album artwork and final mastered tracks are being completed as we speak, so this is your "early look" at what is coming...

blessings

Kim

I wanted to share some encouraging news on the recording. First, as all the parts wrap up, I can't be more pleased with the musicians that producer Brian Thiessen has engaged to work on this recording. They include:

• Calum Reese on drums, percussion (Hungry, Come now is the Time, Dwell, etc)
• Matt Weeks on bass (Hungry, You Shine, Dwell, etc)
• Kelly Carpenter on keyboards (Light the Fire Again, Sweetly Broken, etc. songwriter of Draw Me Close)
• Brian Thieseen on guitars (all of Brian Doerksen's recordings, as well as other Vineyard releases and the latest Andy Park project)
• Andy Park - vocals on Holy Holy
• Rita Springer - vocals on Bless The Lord
• Jessica Park - duet vocals on All of Me for All of You
• and myself (Kim Gentes) - vocals and acoustic guitar.

I was very excited to hear that Brian had put this team together and now that the song premixes are coming in, I am so glad he chose these musicians/worshipers.  There is a beautiful quality of devotion on each of the instruments and arrangements.  I am honored to have each of these people be a part of this project.

The process of tracking is all nearly finished with occasional parts wrapping up to complete some songs. I am right now sitting and listening for the first time to an amazing vocal cut by Rita Springer, who did guest vocals on the song "Bless The Lord", a song I wrote some time ago. A few weeks back I got another track from the producer that features worship leader Andy Park singing the upbeat song "Holy Holy is the Lord Almighty". Both songs by the guest vocalists are wonderful!  Jessica Park also does a blissful vocal part in the hymn-like song All of Me For All of You, which we sing together.

Can't wait to get this project available for you all.

The entire process has been a joy!

Today was the second day of recording on the new worship project. The day started better than day 1, because I learned that getting lots of sleep is much better for recording music in studio. Per the direction of my producer Brian Thiessen, I slept in late and came in to the studio around 10:30am.

Another smart tip from Brian T was to drink lots of water and stay hydrated during recording process. So I made sure I had a couple of bottles there as the day went on. For energy during they day, he brought some apples, muffins and bananas. A quick bite of fruit was a great way to perk up the energy without sludging down the stomach. When I got tired later in the day, I took a bite of an apple to keep me going. Being in a recording studio, even bites of apples can get captured.

Apple bite sound- here is a audio sample of biting an apple. Lots of energy in those apples!

Today, we recorded 4 more songs for the project. Most of them were upbeat songs, all of them were written or co-written by myself. The songs were: In Your Presence, Let Everything, Run To You and Kingdom Rain. During the process, lots of creative decisions are made.   Brian T sits here thinking about one of those such decision.

The day ended well, as I went to have a good dinner at the Canadian restaurant Swiss Chalet, a fun chicken eatery.  I love the dipping sauce they have for chicken. If you ever get to Canada, try Swiss Chalet chicken meal.  Fairly affordable and tastes good.

Today I drove to Surrey, BC (near Langley) where I met producer Brian Thiessen to start with tracking vocals and guitar for the project. To be honest, I was pretty nervous on this first day and I woke up early because of that.  It turned out to be a good day, but I was exhausted earlier than in the day because I had gotten up so early. 

We worked on singing the vocals for a new song "All Of Me For All Of You" that was the first "hymn" I have written.  A new original song, it has some co-writing with Don Moen who helped with some of the lyrics.

After that we had a great treat when Andy Park arrived in the studio to track vocals for the song "Holy Holy".  Andy has been a friend and mentor for many years, and he graciously agreed to contribute guest vocals to this new song of mine, written as a script and melody to express the worship described in the book of the Revelation throne room scene of chapters 4 and 5.  Andy laid down some great vocals and really expressed worship in a wonderful way.

After lunch, we moved on to the vocals for the song "I Was Made To Worship" an upbeat song about our lives being living sacrifices and God's purpose in making us living praise to His name.

The day ended with tracking vocals for the pensive chorus "Only Jesus", the only song on the new album that I did not write.  I added my guitar to layer some soft acoustic sound into the song and we were done for the day.  By this time it was after 6pm and I was exhausted.  It was a fun, tiring and good first day of recording.

UPDATE (May 11): We will be recording vocals and guitar on May 25-27 in Langley, BC, Canada for the project.  Song selection is completed and arrangements are well on the way. Most  tracking has already been done for drums. We are very excited to be moving forward on this. Producer Brian T. has enlisted some excellent musicians and worshipers on this project.

We have begun creative process, song selection and arrangements for a new worship project.  The project will include original, new songs including some co-written songs.  The album is being produced by Brian Thiessen, veteran musician, arranger and producer in BC, Canada.  Brian's credit's include the guitarist for Brian Doerksen, and producing for recent albums from both Andy Park and Brian Doerksen.  The album will be recorded in Vancouver area of British Columbia, Canada.

Since Kim is originally born and raised in Canada (and lived there until he was 20), this album is something of a "coming home" in many ways.  We will be keeping things updated with album progress on the Facebook artist page at : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kim-Gentes/24717218449

We'll let you know as things move forward.  One surprise will be a couple of Kim's worship leading friends who will contribute guest vocals to a couple of the songs.  Stay tuned for more...