Free Music - Mindy Smith: Love Lost

Conversant FREE — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:24:57 -0700

Free Worship Song: "One Heart, One Mind"

Christy Tennant — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:02:19 -0700

Art is a Gift: Jake Armerding Gets It

Christy Tennant — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:00:00 -0700

In my previous post, I talked about a book I'm reading right now (and loving), "The Gift" by Lewis Hyde.

At International Arts Movement, we talk a lot about radical generosity. This is one of our core values (which include wresting with the deep questions of art, faith and humanity; embodying and fostering aspirational and enterprising spirits in artists; and rehumanizing every aspect of our culture). This is something we want to see more of - artists who "get" that their art is a gift, not a commodity. Where much has been given, much is required.

Every now and then, I get a glimpse of this in the artists I meet, and Jake Armerding is one such artist. I first heard Jake in February, when he played at The Living Room in the East Village. My friend Kevin Gosa plays with Jake, so I went to hear them, and WOW, was I blown away. This guy is tremendously talented.

Today I discovered that he is also very generous. His latest album, Songs in Stained Glass, can be downloaded for free. All that is required is that you provide 5 names with whom to spread the word (and the love!)

I love it when music is a gift that keeps on giving.

If you don't want to provide 5 names, you can pay whatever you want for the album instead. The minimum required amount is $0, and the maximum is $25. I was so impressed by this model that I slid the Pay What You Want slider all the way to the right and paid $25.

Get it? Jakes generosity made ME want to be generous. And because I'm in a position where I can afford to be generous, I took great delight in paying the maximum amount. Not everyone is able to, and that's the point. Folks who can only afford $1 will still be able to receive the gift of Jake's music.

Know what else? Even though I gave $25 for the album, I still feel like I'm receiving it as a gift. Jake didn't ask for $25. He didn't ask for anything! He gave me a gift, and I joyfully gave him a gift back. It felt so good.

So, I can't recommend enough that you CLICK HERE to order your own download of Jake's album.

And, what do you know? I've just passed the gift not to FIVE people, but to the 3,000+ subscribers to my RSS feed.

The kingdom of God is not a market economy. It is a gift economy. Let's not wait for the New Jerusalem to come down from heaven to start bringing the kingdom of God to earth as it is in heaven.

A Christmas Gift - Free Music

brianwurzell — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:51:10 -0800

My good friend and workmate (not to be confused with playmate), Ryan Axtell, has recorded a couple FREE Christmas tunes and is making them available as a gift to you for the next couple of days. Ryan is an EXTREMELY talented songwriter/worship leader/arranger/flautist(not really on the flute thing), but, he will bring some diversity to your Christmas with the free downloads on his site. CLICK HERE and download away. Make sure to leave him a thankful comment too.
PS - his dad plays a MEAN Honky-Tonk piano and also is the puppet man. No joke Steve Axtell makes the puppets that you see on Vegietales, Terry Fater (americas got talent…remember him?). Check out his site at AXTELL.COM and see his muppet making there.

free music

Free Music - Mindy Smith: Love Lost

Free Worship Song: "One Heart, One Mind"

Art is a Gift: Jake Armerding Gets It

A Christmas Gift - Free Music