Integrity Music and Running Club Records have reimagined their GMA Dove-nominated album, The Joy of Being, as a live album with today’s release, The joy of being together. The new album features the original tracks plus six additional tracks of previously released songs recorded live. Celebrating a decade together, Citizens recorded the album at a church near the University of Washington. Watch the video below for the live performance of “Only Jesus Christ” from their colorful and creative recording.
“Ten years ago, we all met in Seattle at an old church near the University of Washington,” recalls Citizens frontman Zach Bolen. “Now, a decade later, we’re back in the same place filming and recording The Joy of Being Together. A lot has happened since we first met there, namely the formation of Citizens, but even greater has been the gift of a lifelong friendship. This project is a celebration of being loved by God and being loved by one another. The joy of being together is living fully in the body of Christ; being known by one another and receiving the benefits and challenges of vulnerability in the process. The pandemic created a physical barrier that left a lot of time apart, so in a practical sense, this record is really about coming together again to do something we love.”
The original studio recording, The Joy of Being, captured the band’s reflections on removing all distractions to find our truest and most important affirmation in the joy of being loved by God. And now, as more people get back together after long separations, they want to share these songs in a new environment capturing the joy of being together.
“We were created to be together and to reflect to each other the beauty and mystery of God as image-bearers,” Bolen shares. “In fact, we learn more about God through our stories and experiences than we ever could if we left our own thoughts behind. Friendship is a priceless joy.”
The Joy of Being is nominated for “Best Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year” at the 52nd GMA Dove Awards. The awards will take place live and in-person on October 19 at Allen Arena in Nashville and will air exclusively on TBN on October 22.
The post office Citizens releases live album “The Joy of Being Together” first appeared on TCB.
Author: Jessie Clarks
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