Courage. It is one of the rarest commodities in the music industry today, especially among artists. After all, courage requires adhering to your passion, your creativity, regardless of the outcome. Taking a song from the piano in the living room to the studio with a strong sense of faith and abandoning thoughts of commercial success, can be liberating. On her self-titled, fourth full-length album, Michelle Tumes displays this rare form of courage in every possible way.
After three releases on Sparrow Records it was time to part ways with the company that had nurtured the beginning of her recording career. The irresistible pun would be that Tumes left the nest and found herself in a place where she needed courage; courage to forge the next chapter in her musical life.
“Though it was so difficult, I left Sparrow, and decided to take a hiatus from putting out records and touring. I really needed some time to regroup, to get back to where I started in every way. I knew I needed to get back to just writing what I love, and just leave the rest to God. I prayed that the Lord would give me a new direction.”
And new direction is what He gave her. In the interim of creating her own music, she wrote for other artists (Disney Radio’s Jump 5 and the Italian tenor, Alessandro Safina), and secured a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell. She moved from Nashville to Los Angeles with her husband, Doug. Tumes decided to hone her craft and went back to University via correspondence from Australia, delving into ancient history and literature. After adjusting to her new life, Michelle began writing songs again for herself, taking her time.
Several years passed. The innocent love which characterized her early career--a love for sharing her heart through song--began to return, only this time with wisdom to match it. Her publisher, Judy Stakee (Sheryl Crow, Jewel, Michelle Branch) guided Tumes through a grueling time of refinement that was extremely challenging. Many songs made their way to the drawer of her desk. One day, after sensing that her song writing had captured the relationship she has with God, her husband said, "Let's make an album." The journey of the recording began. It is in this motivation that she once again enraptures audiences with her sound.
Michelle Tumes is one part classically influenced one part worship, one part singer/songwriter, all parts inspiring. One might compare the material to a blend of Enya, Tchaichovsky, U2, and Bjork, if it wasn’t, well...so unique. There are rich orchestral movements (conducted by Michelle), vibrant piano selections (written and performed by Michelle, and songs which feature everything from live drums to ambient samples (yes, produced by Michelle as well, along with her husband, Doug). And through it all, her voice is beautiful, even angelic at times. Urgent. Reverbial. Haunting. And the emotions of the album can be felt on the proverbial record sleeve.
Good day to you my friend, I was away for a bit, participating in field mission training at ft Knox, just returned last night, to our home here at Ft Campbell, home of the 101st Airborne. I hope you and yours are well, enjoying life, and dreaming big. Your conversation was greatly missed. friend, Robert Foster
Just wanted to drop by and show your page some love. Thanks for being a friend here on Myspace.
You can now embed your choice of three different music players on your site for free if you are interested in supporting M-3 (Music Mattters Ministry)
These Players are free and work with Myspace, Facebook, Friendster, Hi5, Orkut, Wordpress, Yahoo, iGoogle, and many other sites. Just pick the one you like and copy and paste the code into your profile if you so choose. :-)
Just checking back with you to remind you that Powerplayed is really interested in showcasing your videos. I know I reached out some time ago but haven’t seen an upload from you as of yet. Powerplayed offers a free membership, free upload and gives you a platform to expose your talent to a quarter of a million people. Also, by uploading your video you are automatically entered in the running to be a part of our Friday “Independents Day” e-blast, dedicated to indie artists that exposes your work to a lengthy list of music industry execs.
If you need help or want more information please call Troy at
Have a great week! Thank you for accepting me as a myspace friend! Please feel free to check out my latest poem posted on my blog and let me know what you think. God bless you and please keep in touch. Mark Welling
Realize that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside. Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving. Reach out.Share.Smile.Hug. Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself.
~Og Mandino
With deep love and greatest respect God's Lightcarrier
Yes, we can, but are we really doing it? Do we really want it, the change? Hm, there is one man in this world who turns back now, who cares about community...Mental Warfare against Babylon System
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