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ABOVE THE GOLDEN STATE

ABOVE THE GOLDEN STATE Radio

Music

FEATURED SONG
The Golden Rule
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The Golden Rule
Released: Jan 26, 2010
Label: Sparrow Records

General Info

  • Genre: Christian / Pop / Rock

    Location Portland, Oregon, US

    Profile Views: 492172

    Last Login: 3/19/2012

    Member Since 11/1/2005

    Website www.abovethegoldenstate.com

    Record Label EMI/CMG Sparrow Records

    Type of Label Major

  • Bio

    MANAGEMENT Nightvision Artist Management Mo Thieman mo@nightvisionam.com 615.392.0330 BOOKING Elite Talent Agency booking@eta-live.com www.eta-live.com LABEL EMI CMG Sparrow Records www.abovethegoldenstate.com

  • Members

    Michael Watson

  • Influences

  • Sounds Like

Comments

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  • ~WarOfAges~

    when is the new album coming out ?

    1 year ago
  • Brittney Grant

    Omg you guys did amazing at Hume ! I was there the 3rd week :D

    1 year ago
  • Jason Dinh

    Hey, at hume lake 2010 you sang a song where the chorus goes "I am yours, save me" a couple of times. I can't seem to find that song. What is it?

    1 year ago
  • Jo Ridler (music page)

    rad music.

    1 year ago
  • Stephanie Wetlesen

    heyy i used to go to soild rock and i love your guys band!!! =)

    1 year ago
  • ALi

    I'm watching the video for the Sound of Your Name on TVU right now! It's great seeing familiar faces and our city in a music video!

    1 year ago
  • Reyna Alexandrea

    HUME LAKE WUZZZ AMAZiiNNNGG!!
    Y0U TAUGHT ME H0W T0 W0RSHiP.
    Y0U GUYZZ ARE GRRRRRRRREEAT

    1 year ago
  • melanie williams

    hey:) I was at Hume the first week,
    could you guys put up some of the worship songs?
    maybe "You are holy, great and mighty"
    LOVE that song!

    1 year ago
  • Alison Scribner

    You guys were amazing at Hume! I love my tshirt and poster you guys signed! :D Thanks for all the awesome hard work you put in! <3

    1 year ago
  • BLUE EMBER

    whats up man, this is keawe. hope youre doing great!

    1 year ago
10 of 1192More

BIO

“What can we do to live life the way it was meant to be? Jesus claimed that if we love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind and our neighbor like our self, well, then we will live.” —Above the Golden State frontman Michael Watson

In the cool, culturally minded streets of Portland, Oregon, Christianity, like much of the city’s music scene, is basically underground.

But for the Portland trio know as pop/rock act Above the Golden State, the sheer lack of Christian culture hasn’t been a problem. If anything it’s caused the guys to get serious about their faith in the trenches—and what it really means to be a follower of Christ.

“I feel like we got a fresh, clean, unbiased start to following Christ and understanding God through His Word,” Michael shares. “And that’s why we draw from who we are and share that message musically.”

Now on the heels of its critically acclaimed, self-titled debut in 2008 that yielded hit singles “Sound of Your Name” and “I’ll Love You So,” the band is serving up a new collection of catchy anthems with a decidedly West coast vibe on The Golden Rule.

With a back-to-basics approach, Watson says the album’s lyrics underscore the core elements of faith.

“The Golden Rule, to love God and your neighbor as yourself, is a commandment we’ve all been given,” says Michael. “Through our songs, we want to encourage the Church to return to that fundamental truth. We aren’t interested in competing with other bands for chart success or simply following the path that the music industry has set out for artists. Instead, we are constantly pursuing God upward, serving God within our community and going into the world to share His message.”

Not afraid to shy away from the complexities of faith, even in a three-and-a-half minute song format, Above the Golden State’s sophomore album isn’t fueled by pat answers and platitudes. Rather, it’s driven by an authentic desire to love the world as Jesus did.

One of the project’s standout tracks “I Am Loved” is a reminder of God’s continual presence, even when He feels far away.

“Where is God? Why don’t I feel His presence? These are questions that many of us ask. Even great men of the Bible like David asked these questions,” Michael shares. “But this song is ultimately a reminder that He hasn’t left us. He hasn’t stopped loving us. Naturally, life will have its highs and lows, there’s no escaping that. But thankfully this life is really just the beginning. He is shaping our souls for the day we’ll see Him face to face and know Him fully.”

With “The Real You,” the band addresses authentic Christianity, not the “feel-good, quick fix” that’s often peddled in the Christian subculture. Later on, with “Tragedy,” the message of “The Real You” gets a practical application when the guys investigate life’s darker realities, most notably what you say to someone who’s lost it all through divorce, cancer, lost jobs or even a loss of faith.

Anchored by the prayerful and practical support of their local church, Solid Rock in Portland, the band is “humbled” and “honored” to share its Gospel-driven message with the masses.

“How Jesus is moving in our church locally is the lifeblood of our ministry,” Michael says. “Now I would like our next big push outwardly to have a clear message of the Golden Rule, which is already in our music.”

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