forever JONES
With Musical Revival the 7-member, family band known simply as forever JONES continues their mission to declare the spirit of worship, the message of the Gospel, and the essence of family through their artistry. The 11-song album, written entirely by the Jones family and produced by Keith Thomas is filled with the diverse influences of Pop, Gospel, Rock, and Urban, unified by a seamless thread of Worship.
The sonically ambitious project marks the next phase in the evolution of the group, who stepped boldly onto the national stage in 2010 with their critically and commercially acclaimed debut Get Ready. Featuring the #1 hit “He Wants It All,” that album earned a GRAMMY® nomination, while winning a Stellar Award for Best Contemporary Group along with three Dove Award nominations, including the prestigious New Artist of the Year.
Rather than to rest on that success, forever JONES used their new platform to challenge themselves as songwriters, musicians, and worshippers. “There has been an evolution of writing. The family has grown and the kids have grown as writers,” says Dewitt III, father and spiritual leader of the group. “There was collaboration on this album where we wrote all of the songs together. That was an interesting journey for us…very, very powerful. That’s why you hear so much diversity in the music.”
The initial steps in their musical journey began more than thirty years ago in Yakima, Washington as Dewitt and Kim Jones cultivated the habit of family prayer and worship. Eight years ago, the couple, along with their five children---D’Jeniele’ (pronounced Jineel), Dominique, Dewitt IV, Judah and Mya---relocated to Shreveport, Louisiana to become part of the ministry staff at Shreveport Community Church.
“Prior to this album, our writing had never been intentional,” Kim says. “This time we all sat down and wrote together. Each member brought the beginning of an idea as he or she heard it in prayer, then we’d pray a little and just start writing. We were all in a room. Different ones had keyboards, guitars, journals, and recorders.”
“We want to write and sing music that speaks to somebody’s spirit,” says oldest son, Dewitt IV. “It’s really powerful whenever you hear a song or an artist and the anointing speaks to you. We want to write music that does that for people.”
To capture their unique, organic process in the studio, the group tapped legendary, Nashville-based producer Keith Thomas (BeBe & CeCe Winans, Whitney Houston, Amy Grant). “Keith was really easy to work with and he interpreted our music very well,” says Dominique, “The fact that we all have ideas can make it challenging, but working with him was really easy, really fun.”
For Dominique, the lead voice on the group’s signature song “He Wants It All,” one studio moment was particularly memorable. “The day we were to record the vocals for “Every Moment” was just a hard moment for me,” she shares. “I was weak and tired, so I went into the studio and worshipped.” The authenticity of that experience is perfectly captured in the recording, from the airy opening line through the powerful, swelling bridge, to the deeply personal, final flourish.
Perhaps more than any song in this collection, “Every Moment” is a tribute to the sound and spirit of forever JONES. The lyrics were born of a difficult season in Dewitt III’s life. “I had a dear pastor friend who died from cancer,” he reflects. “During his decline I woke up with the words to that song on my heart, and I texted him those lyrics. Everyone worked on it and finished it up.”
That process of real life becoming worship, transforming into art is at the core of the group’s ministry.
D’Jeniele’, the oldest sibling, sings lead on the playfully percussive, acoustic track “I See You”. The deceptively simple sentiment in the lyrics came from a moment of insight as Kim was walking one day. “I took a walk around the river and I was just wondering does anyone see and does anyone care,” she says. “I recalled Luke 12:7 where the bible says that every hair on our head has a number.”
Out of that brief experience came a chorus written from the perspective of God the Father speaking to His precious child: “I see you in all that you do/You’re not just a name in the crowd/I know your name/In touch with your smile/I’ve been watching you for a while.”
Dominique and D’Jeniele’ join voices on the powerful “Hold Me Still”. Dominique shares her inspiration for penning the piece: “That idea started years ago when I was in high school and just thinking about that verse ‘Be still and know that I am God.” I saw a picture in my head of a girl being held in this big hand. Waves were crashing over her, but this hand was holding her still. That was the picture, and we just started to write the lyrics.”
While all eleven songs on the album reflect the eclectic style that has come to define forever JONES, the message of the song “Musical Revival” points most directly to their current vision. The track is edgy with electronic percussion, auto-tuned vocals, and buzzy bass, while the lyrics pay tribute to the power of music. The chorus chants a challenge to harness that power in a positive way: “Start a musical revival/ A musical movement/ A musical experience tonight, tonight, tonight.”
For oldest daughter D’Jeniele’, the sentiment of the title cut came from a simple question she posed to her father one day: “What would it be like if music could talk? From there I got the idea for the album title as well as the lyrics to that song.”
By personifying “lyrics” and “rhythm” in the verses of the song, forever JONES gives voice to their passion as artists and songwriters. “Though a song on paper may not weigh anything, when you hear it, it'll hit you like a ten-ton truck,” D’Jeniele’ explains. “Words are powerful, and music is powerful, so our challenge to the music world is to write with a purpose. Use your music to influence this world. Use your music to start a MUSICAL REVIVAL!” Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
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