Christian Music News

Marking a musical rebirth for former Delirious? frontman, co-founder and primary songwriter, Martin Smith, his solo debut, God’s Great Dance Floor, Step 01, released to five-star acclaim and went all the way to No. 1 on the iTunes® Christian & Gospel chart. Smith is now set to deliver his second, full-length installment, God’s Great Dance Floor, Step 02.  Releasing Oct. 1 in the U.S. on his independent label, Gloworks, and with Fuel Music Distribution, the album pre-sale is available now at Amazon.com.

As Step 01 was born out of a reinvigorated season of life in a new local church community (St. Peter’s – a Holy Trinity Brompton church plant), Martin’s God’s Great Dance Floor, Step 02 continues that journey with a new collection of personal revival songs rich with biblical context.  A welcoming invitation to prodigals and faithful alike, God’s Great Dance Floor, Step 02 (like Step 01), is a reminder that God’s grace is for everyone.

This new collection of worship songs features a duet with Sarah Bird on “God Is Coming,” and vocals from Martin’s daughter Elle-Anna on the title track, “God’s Great Dance Floor,” written by Martin and Chris Tomlin.  Elle-Anna was also featured in the lead role of Martin’s first video from Step 01, “Back To The Start (God’s Great Dance Floor),” which has received over 300,000 YouTube views.  Step 2 also includes co-writes with Tim Hughes (Worship Central), Reuben Morgan (Hillsong), Nick Herbert (St. Stevens -Twickenham) and GRAMMY Award winning Michael W. Smith, Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin.

“Thanks to all of you who have been so encouraging about Step 01. I had no idea how it would be received, but I was pleased to see people getting out on God’s dance floor again,” says Martin.  “When I started writing again, I had no plan to release the songs or record an album.  It’s been a new adventure since Delirious?, and I am encouraged that these new songs have connected with so many of you…I’m honored that so many are interested enough to be a part of this journey.”

Highlights on the album are opening tracks “You Are My Salvation,” co-written with Morgan and featured as the first video from the new project (www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHet3tqHj8g), and “Emmanuel,” co-written with Redman and Herbert.  Another standout track, “Great Is Your Faithfulness,” was also written with Redman.  Further included on the album is “Angel (Song For Anna),” which is a new version of the song Delirious? fans might remember as “There Is An Angel” with newly penned verses, plus “Song Of Solomon,” a song Martin describes as “one of the most intimate songs I’ve ever written.”

Already applauded with a five-star review, LouderThanTheMusic.com says that with God’s Great Dance Floor, Step 02 “Martin Smith once again delivers a truly outstanding and exciting album.”  Taking these new songs, hits from Step 1 and Delirious? fan favorites on the road, Smith will be hitting six countries in Europe with Matt Redman in October and ten cities in the UK with Leelandin November.  For all the latest tour updates and more, go to http://martinsmith.tv.

While on tour, Smith will also learn if he receives the first Dove Awards of his solo career.  Receiving his first two Dove Award nominations as a solo artist last month, Smith’s Spanish album, Dia De Redencion (Day of Redemption), was nominated for Spanish Language Album of the Year while Jesus Culture With Martin Smith:  Live From New York, recorded with Jesus Culture, is nominated for Special Event Album of the Year. The 44th Annual GMA Dove Awards show will take place October 15 in Nashville, TN and be broadcast October 21 at 8:00 pm ET exclusively on the UP! Television Network.

When Martin and his band Delirious? emerged in the U.S. back in 1997, having already impacted a generation of UK youth with its passionate call for revival, most agree that the modern worship movement officially began. The hope of that movement and the music that came out of it—“I Could Sing of Your Love Forever,” “Deeper,” “Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?,” “Shout To The North” and a string of other modern worship standards—has irrevocably changed the landscape of Christian music in the U.S. and around the world. Long before 2009’s farewell concert, RIAA certified Gold-selling and GRAMMY nominated band Delirious? had become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Like their song “History Maker” that landed on 1998’s King of Fools, the band became ‘history makers’ themselves.

Still making relevant music, Martin’s God’s Great Dance Floor, Step 01 and 02 spring from a man refreshed, revived and reconnected with Jesus and with his Church.  Excited to play a lead role in the ongoing call to worship, he is a passionate model for young worship leaders of today.