Mixing It Up: Platinum-selling worship leader Chris Tomlin adds DJ Promote to ‘Burning Lights’ tour

Platinum-selling singer/songwriter Chris Tomlin is squashing stereotypes of contemporary Christian music by adding DJ Promote to his 34-city “Burning Lights” worship tour.


The traveling stage show will be in support of Tomlin’s new, same-titled Burning Lights album, which earlier this month became only the fourth Christian album to ever hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 sales chart.


“I strive to create a special night for people from the beginning moments to the very end. I want them to feel engaged with the music, to be inspired, to have fun, and to be lifted up. Having DJ Promote this year brings a new element to the tour that is perfectly in line with the heart of the night,” Chris Tomlin said.

The project’s lead single, “God’s Great Dance Floor”, sports a slight EDM (electronic dance music) vibe that fits in naturally with the type of environment Carlos “DJ Promote” Trevino has been used to supplying as a professional DJ for over a decade.


Promote’s role as part of the “Burning Lights” tour will be to “throw a party” via a DJ performance after opening act Kari Jobe completes her set.


“This is a really exciting opportunity for me personally and the DJ community at large,” Trevino said. “It’s quite a statement that an artist of Tomlin’s stature understands what a DJ can bring to this type of event.”


Trevino’s turntable talents have been a part of over 11 albums and tours with artists such as Lecrae, KJ-52, Tedashii, Propaganda, B.Reith, Knowdaverbs and bands like Shane and Shane, Starfield, Jars of Clay, and Thousand Foot Krutch.


His profession and passion have led him to DJ for over 250,000 people in almost every state and in places like South Africa, Slovakia, Sweden, The Netherlands, Canada, Panama, El Salvador, and Mexico.


DJ Promote fell in love with music as a young boy in West Texas. Growing up without the positive influence of a father (who was in and out of prison) also caused him to seek acceptance and validation outside of his family. Although he found his calling in graffiti art and hip hop culture, Promote was still driven by a desire to use his art and influence to improve the lives of others.


He worked as an urban youth minister for over six years, created audio and video projects with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, has been an invited participant in the SXSW (South by Southwest independent music festival), and recently founded Table Turners – a resource and partnership for DJs who are giving back to their communities.


“I try to live my life by putting people and ideas before myself,” Trevino said. “I promote the things I enjoy. I love God. I love music. I love to create and celebrate stuff that inspires people, so that’s what you’re gonna get when you come see a DJ Promote show or hear one of my mixes.”


“Hopefully it will make you feel as free as I do.”

Click here for “Burning Lights” tour dates.

Hip-Hop Worship artist Rawsrvnt teams with Jamaican reggae star St. Matthew for ‘Soul Deep’ hybrid EP

These days, some of the most popular music is built upon “dream team” collaborations of artists from different genres, geographies, or camps.

So it is with much delight that Soul Deep and Readyback Records, in association with Lion of Judah Sounds (DJ Frost/Monty G), announce that Hip-Hop Worship artist Rawsrvnt has teamed with Jamaican reggae star St. Matthew for a hybrid EP called Soul Deep that fuses both of their individual sounds.

The project also carries the momentum of one of its key tracks, “The Almighty,” winning the 2012 En Sound Music Award for Best Gospel Reggae Song.


Rawsrvnt met St. Matthew in 2011 while visiting Jamaica on a missions trip. The two instantly clicked and linked up soon after to record the song “The Almighty” for Rawsrvnt’s Love Deluxe album. Shortly after that release the duo reunited in Kingston, JA to film a music video for the cut.

“Part of my goal as an entertainer and music missionary has been to create great music that appeals to the masses and shares the love of Jesus,” Rawsrvnt said. “By partnering with St. Matthew we can add an international, island vibe to that mix and attract even more people to this life-changing message.”

Soul Deep will be available worldwide through all major digital outlets (iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, etc.) on Tuesday, August 7.

Both artists believe that if at least 1,000 fans download the EP on its release date they will make a Top 10 chart ranking on iTunes which can ultimately lead to new listeners experiencing this life-changing message through music.

“I would definitely love to see Soul Deep hit that goal and make Christ famous in a genre that, while spiritual and substantive, often pushes King Jesus to the background,” Rawsrvnt said.

The project can be purchased through most digital download sits including iTunes and Amazon.com.

Fans who wish to support the project are urged to use the #SoulDeep hashtag on social media networks and visit Rawsrvnt.com/SoulDeep for FREE electronic wallpapers and other goodies.

INTERVIEW: Singer B.Reith talks about his new hip hop mixtape, surprising listeners with rap, and the challenges of sharing his faith in music

On June 29, 2012 B.Reith released How the Story Continues Vol. 1 – a free hip hop mixtape that reimagines and continues to expand the theme of his recent How the Story Ends album.

I recently caught up with the acoustic pop artist via e-mail to discuss the project, whether or not listeners are still surprised to hear he raps, and which style of music is an easier way to share his faith.

Sketch: In today’s mash-up, multi-genre music culture, are people still surprised that you rap? Why do you think that is the case?

B.Reith: Maybe not surprised that I rap, but hopefully surprised at the depth of my rap skills. Being able to rhyme a few basic words is one thing, but being an actual lyricist? That’s more of an anomaly.

Regardless of how multi-genre and mashed up our music culture is today, hip hop is categorically an urban genre. My element of surprise is that I don’t dress or talk “urban,” yet a portion of my music is urban.

I think God has a sense of humor, deciding to place these diverse gifts in me. I’ve been around diversity my entire life, it’s part of my calling. I’ve learned to cherish it, embrace it, love it: relationally and artistically. But diversity is rare, and that’s why it probably surprises people.



Sketch: The new version of the song “Lonely Hearts Club” is described as an “acoustic cello-beatboxing remix.” How in the world did that come about?

B.Reith: Yea, so if you haven’t heard of Kevin Olusola you need to go and look him up ASAP. He is a cellist /beatbox virtuoso. I met him a year ago (before he became a part of the Pentatonix and won The Sing Off, since then his career has sky rocketed). He was touring with the band Gungor who my manager Calvin also managed at the time. He was in Nashville for a few days and we tracked some cello parts on “I’ll Get By” for my most recent album How the Story Ends.

While we were in the studio we started talking about how cool it would be to remix a song with cello and beatbox. “Lonely Hearts Club” was perfect. We started it that night and then finished in L.A. earlier this year. Kevin arranged it, slowed it down a bit, and gave it a whole different vibe. I can’t believe I’m giving it away for free!

Sketch: Which do you find more challenging: to write a hip hop song (which tends to have a ton of lyrics) or an acoustic/singing song (which tends to have less lyrics)? Why is that?

B.Reith: I think writing good, authentic and quality music is challenging, period – no matter what the genre is. But I find that writing hip hop is a little easier for me because I can just go with the flow of a rhyme scheme and not be bound by the word limitations of a melody. I think it’s harder to say what you need to say with less words – especially when those words are bound by a melody. You have less words to tell your story, so each one counts more, and they have to fit poetically with the melody as well. It’s the same thing as communicating with people. It’s easier to say EVERYTHING and hope they get the point than having to carefully edit yourself and craft each word. That’s why I’m glad I do both, I can slip in and out of them when I feel like it. It’s the best of both worlds.



Sketch: Do you find that one artform, hip hop or acoustic pop, lends itself to conveying your faith better than another?

B.Reith: Well, it depends on how the song comes about. Sometimes I feel as if God is writing through me, and I find it very easy to convey my faith through my writing because it’s pouring out of me. Verse 1 of “I’ll Get By” was like that.

Other times it takes everything I have, and then some… and then some more – to labor over every lyric and carefully craft my words so they can hit the listener in an authentic, creative, and emotional way they’ve never heard before. I think that softens people’s hearts. Verse 3 of “I’ll Get By” was like that, took a LONG time because of how sensitive the topic I was speaking on.

So I would say regardless of the genre, conveying my faith in a refreshing, artistic, non-stale, non-recycled sounding way takes some deep digging. Maybe hip hop lends itself to that slightly more because I have room for more words, but then again, it’s hard to sound authentic and not cheesy. So… to answer your question, I’d have to say both!

Sketch: Are there any songs where you prefer the album version over the mixtape version or vice versa? Or is that like asking you which of your children is your favorite?

B.Reith: I think I like the mixtape remix of “Simple Days” because of the sincerity of the new rap leads over those classic samples. It has more passion and more relevance; it’s more personal to me. And “Lonely Hearts Club” and “Drawing Board,” well, the remixes are so different, new and fresh to me right now, I guess I always favor my newest ideas. If I ever have children I hope I don’t treat them like that.

Download How the Story Continues for FREE at breith.com

VIDEO: Andy Mineo & Ruslan (theBREAX) share their biggest mistake

At SXSW 2012, Tre9 and I moderated a panel discussion of Christian rap artists including Andy Mineo, Trip Lee, Von Won, k-Drama, Thi'sl, Ruslan (of theBREAX), KB, and PRo. 

In the video clip below, Andy Mineo and Ruslan share their biggest music ministry mistake (so far) so that others can learn from it.