Having read more than 20,000 stories from people across the world within the last few years, Grammy - and Emmy-nominated recording artist Matthew West recently hosted a 'Storytellers Weekend' for those individuals and families who, out of those thousands, inspired the collections of songs on both his new album, Into the Light, and 2010's The Story of Your Life.
After receiving over 10,000 personal stories from all over the globe for The Story of Your Life, the acclaimed singer-songwriter, who has been forever impacted by the outpouring of stories, felt as though there was even more for others to say during this season of his music. The new studio album, produced by Pete Kipley, features 12 tracks inspired by 10,000 new letters submitted after West invited people to, once again, send him their stories. The songs making up this sixth studio project were written mostly while he was on tour this spring. The tracks comprising Into the Light were inspired by stories touching on everything from the power of forgiveness, drug addiction, the rejection of apathy, domestic violence and many other topics. The album is now available for preorder on iTunes, featuring a bonus track acoustic version of "Forgiveness," as well as a behind-the-song video about the single: smarturl.it/intothelight.
Each of the storytellers who inspired these tracks were in attendence for West's Storytellers Weekend 2012 and were surprised with a special dinner, concert and commemorative plaques, presented by West, bearing handwritten lyrics to the song their story inspired. In addition, they were treated to a night at the Grand Ole Opry, where West performed.
The lead single from Into The Light, “ Forgiveness,” is continuing to surge up the charts at radio, with it claiming the No. 4 spot on the National Audience Chart, No. 4 at Christian AC Monitored, No. 2 at AC Indicator and No. 12 at CHR this week. In addition to already charting in the Top 5 on the National Christian Audience chart, the single garnered over 7.5 million audience impressions this week. "Forgiveness" also stands firm in the Top 10 on the iTunes® Christian & Gospel Songs chart, where it has remained most of the summer.
West kicks off his headlining "The Into The Light Tour" on Thurs., Sept. 20 in Dallas and will be hitting 33 markets through the fall. For a complete listing of tour dates and cities, visit http://www.matthewwest.com/tour/.
Having read more than 20,000 stories from people across the world within the last few years, Grammy - and Emmy-nominated recording artist Matthew West recently hosted a 'Storytellers Weekend' for those individuals and families who, out of those thousands, inspired the collections of songs on both his new album, Into the Light, and 2010's The Story of Your Life.
