Music|July 23, 2021 05:08 EDT
Award-Winning Family Band, The Springmans, Debuts Single 'Upside Down' from New Studio Album
Award-winning family band, The Springmans, is thrilled to unveil the debut single from their long-awaited new full-length album, Upside Down, produced by and co-written with multi-Grammy and Dove Award winner Mark Heimermann (dcTalk, Michael W. Smith, Newsboys).
The title track, "Upside Down," is available today, July 23rd, 2021, on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, and Tidal, with the full project releasing in Fall 2021.
As industry insiders know, winning awards such as the Parents Choice Award and the GMA Canada Covenant Award, as The Springmans did on their debut project, Happy Beach, is a very unusual accomplishment for any artist, but especially for an indie band.
More than a collection of songs or a family jam session, Upside Down is a serious declaration of devotion made by young believers and their spiritually grounded father, Perry Springman.
With their home-grown, organic brand of feel-good pop and praise music, and wrapped in legit, quality musicianship and production at every turn, The Springmans' 10-track Upside Down project serves as a worthy follow-up to Happy Beach, also produced by and co-written with Heimermann.
With a passion for sharing the life-changing truth of the gospel with the world, Perry and the kids begin and end every song in scripture, weaving eternal messages of hope, mercy, grace, and joy into each verse and chorus on Upside Down, and turning conventional thinking about what contemporary praise and worship music could and should be on its head.
Exuding a Partridge Family vibe with a mission and not content to settle inside the four walls of the church, The Springmans play at family-oriented festivals, fairs, parades, events, churches, and schools worldwide, both mainstream and faith-based, with audiences counts into the 20,000s. Their music has a multi-generational appeal, bringing children and adults together with worship music that connects and inspires everyone from age two to 92.
"In a Christian worship culture that tends to create music that separates the church body into age categories, we believe we are all to worship Him united, together," says Perry Springman, "Upside Down is our call to worship as the family of Christ-with songs that will draw adults and kids together in worship of the One who calls us His children. If you choose to love and follow Jesus, then you can expect the world to view you as, well, upside down-different, strange, and peculiar. But we believe that living a life without the One who created us, knows us, and loves us is what is truly upside down!"
"It's extremely rare to find a family that can sing, play, and travel together in this day and age, but it is so needed!" says Heimermann. "I love the joy and innocence of working on kids' music, and it's always fun working on The Springman's records. The world can always use some more 'back to our roots' kind of family entertainment with some wholesome messages, and this record is filled with such sweetness!" A family band of self-described "musicianaries," The Springmans is comprised of lead vocalist and song leader Perry Springman (aka Dad), Emma (17) on vocals, mandolin, and ukulele, Ryan (14) mandolin, djembe, drums, and vocals, Sarah (10) on keyboards and vocals, and Jacob (10) percussions and violin. Mom Julia serves as the road manager for the busy family band.
Most of the songs were co-written by Perry Springman and Heimermann; the kids even chimed in on a few. The project kicks off with the shimmering, pop-inspired soundscape of "Marvelous," then segues effortlessly into the colorful interplay of childlike imagery and plucky instrumentation of "Kid in a Castle," which sounds like the best birthday party ever, with a divine, eternal celebration at the center.
"Watch Me Now" shines the spotlight on Ryan as the 14-year-old takes over lead vocals, accompanied by cheery accordion and driving percussion. The joyful ode to Matthew chapter six encourages listeners to revel in the fact that even as God feeds the birds and clothes the flower, He constantly watches over us as well.
Classic Christian phraseology gets a fun makeover on the carnival calliope-esque tune, "Renew My Mind." The catchy lyrics call for prayer and renewal, and rather than relying on ecclesiastical verbiage to get his point across, Perry Springman keeps it simple enough that a child could understand. Singing My brain's a little hazy, and I'm clearly freaking out right before Help me to renew my mind is about as honest a request as one can make, and The Springmans deliver it with the authenticity and joy that is characteristic of their ministry.
Sarah takes over lead vocals on the sunshine-spun sing-along, "A Thousand Nice Things," a tune that the 12-year-old co-wrote along with her father and Heimermann. Not to be outdone, 10-year-old Jacob, the youngest member of the Springman clan, co-wrote and contributed lead vocals to the summery sounding, banjo-driven declaration "You're the One." Perry takes over center-stage again as he commemorates his Jewish heritage on the moving and uplifting anthem, "Hear O Israel." Emma claims lead vocals in the supercharged pop-rock anthem, "We're So Sure," with its counter-cultural message of saying "No" to the world and shouting "Yes!" to Jesus. The title track offers an acoustic guitar-driven story song that celebrates the paradox of faith where weakness becomes strength, and faith becomes sight, because Seeking the Kingdom / Turns everything upside down.
The album closes with perhaps the most poignant track on the album. The call-to-worship contemporary hymn, "All You Shining Stars," will take every listener back to a campfire singalong with a lovely call-and-repeat that captures a back-to-nature Rich Mullins feel that is as timeless as one would hope.
A confluence of catchy pop beats, endearing, accessible lyrics, and an indelible spirit of fun, track-by-track, Upside Down is an audio storybook of a multi-talented, multi-generational family of worshippers, seekers, and a legacy of salvation set to song. It's different, it's fun, and as promised, it's an upside down ride that takes you straight to the feet of God, just the way Jesus wants.
For more information about Upside Down and The Springmans, or to listen to The Springmans' debut single, "Upside Down," visit thespringmans.com.