Singer/Songwriter John Mark McMillan released his first independent project, Borderland on Lionhawk Records and debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Christian and Gospel chart and continues to hold a Top 15 slot in the iTunes Overall Albums chart this week, receiving a lot of praise media as well as fan support.  

Borderland was funded solely by a Kickstarter campaign with close to $70,000 raised from more than 1,500 contributors.

"All of my albums have been special, but there is something extra special about this one," shares Charlotte, North Carolina native McMillan on his release day. "I think it's because it's much more of a community project than any album we've done before. Through fans' Kickstarter contribution and the way our local community of musicians & artists rallied around this project really blew my mind! I am proud of this album for many reasons but especially because I believe the sound you hear is not the sound of John Mark McMillan but the sound of my friends and I doing what we love!"

The Media has jumped on board to publicize this project stating that "it may be one of the most rewarding worship albums in years," JesusFreakHideout stated. Relevant stated, "it's an excellent release from a very exciting musician" as well as IndieVisionMusic affirming that "it's the perfect blend of style and substance."

A 10 out of 10 review from TheBlueIndian notes "In Borderland, it seems we're given access to John Mark's secret garden, one he's found or has found him. Themes throughout speak of identity lost and found, personally and corporately for listeners as a whole; a sort of personal state of the nation, present and future, carried and communicated with a group of outstanding musicians and friends."

Borderland borders on the literary. Full of metaphors that twist around themselves and images and adjectives that are at once both literal and figurative, McMillan bends words to his own devices. Religious imagery is pressed into service to describe the mundane while the ordinary is often elevated to the euphoric.

Supporting his album, John Mark McMillan will head out on his spring tour, "Are We All Animals Tour" kicking off March 29 in Orlando, FL. Opening the tour for McMillan will be a few of his Kickstarter supporters. Singer/songwriter Brady Toops will also open during select dates in the southeast. Official tour dates are listed below.

Are We All Animals Tour dates below:

3/29 Orlando, FL

3/30 Miami, FL

3/31 Bradenton, FL

4/02 Tallahassee, FL

4/03 Pensacola, FL

4/04 Monroe, GA

4/05 Rainbow City, AL

4/06 Oxford, MS

4/08 Nashville, TN

4/09 Campbellsville, KY

4/10 Knoxville, TN

4/20 Kalispell, MT

5/07 Richmond, VA

5/08 Vienna, VA

5/09 Manheim, PA

5/12 New York City, NY

6/20 Spokane, WA

(Photo : MergePR)