This month’s
DetroitGospel.com and Rhythm & Praise with Deborah Smith
Pollard
Spotlight Artist is J.BETHEL & SPOKEN FOR!
Click to listen to I GOTTA PRAISE IN
ME
Artist
Name: J.BETHEL & SPOKEN FOR
Single Title:
I GOTTA PRAISE IN
ME
Single Release
Date: March 2016
Album Title:
ALL
IN
Album Release
Date: October 2014
Record Label:
J.BETHEL & SPOKEN FOR
LLC
Where the
Project Was Recorded: Mad Monkey Productions and The Audio Cafe’
Artist’s Home Church
and Pastor: Word of Light Christian Center / Pastors Gregory and Doreen Bethel
Project’s guest artists,
musicians and/or producers: Guest Artist Tasha Page Lockhart on Vocals
Anything you’d like to share about the project or the
process:
“ALL IN” is straight from a Kingdom mindset that no one or thing will stop a true child of God. This
album deals with simplicity of Salvation and the complexity of our
flesh. The album is filled with several dynamics of music genres such as,
contemporary, traditional, jazz, pop, funk, and classical; all entwined
together with spiritual Word-based lyrics to lead you to Jesus Christ!
This God-inspired project reveals the heart, attitude, and diligence of a
child of God! In Faith, I know that this project will lead others to or
back to Christ! I was also inspired to finally create this project out
of sheer love of music. The process of seeing every musician, vocalist, and
engineer all working to achieve a common goal. All of us on one accord
grooving, singing, writing, and creating together. ALL
IN!
Challenges (to completing or
releasing the project) that had to be overcome: Some of the challenges in completing this project
were finances, balancing family time and work, as well as learning the
marketing process on the fly. Financially, I knew it would require a
great deal of money. I wanted to make sure that if I was going to
finally embark on this journey to produce, write, and play, that I had
the best with me! That meant over paying in some sense for musicians,
vocalists, and engineers that had no affiliation with me at all. I was
not really known in “THE CIRCUIT” some would say and I pretty much
wrote, played, and created all of my music at my home church. So, I only
knew my band, praise team, and was oftentimes always studying to follow
in my father’s footsteps. But the knowledge I gained with each person I
worked with was greatly valuable. Balancing family and work while
creating this project was extremely difficult. But it was because my
drive to show that a indie artist can actually put forth a project that is on a “A-List ” artist
level. And in doing so, started to isolate myself from my wife and
children. I began taking off days from work. Pulling money out of my
401k. taking out small loans without consulting my wife. And after a
while or so, my family leaving to stay with their mother and grandmother. It
was the most devastating act my wife could have done to show me my
priorities had totally changed. I was lost in my own ambition to follow
my dreams. But the Word is a mirror that will show you yourself in your
true form. And I had strayed away from the purpose for which God had me
to create this project. So I fasted, consecrated, and prayed for
forgiveness of allowing pride and selfishness to come in and drive my
family away. My family came home and I’ve never gone back to that
concept of thinking again. Once the project was completed, I had to now
get it exposed to people, radio, social media, etc. To make a long story
short, I spent for what I did not know. Searching for the right radio
promoter. Going through 2 different publicists before realizing that I
really didn’t need them that time. Searching for a competent Graphic
designer/website builder. But after about 2 years of praying, grinding,
and searching, God blessed me with everything I needed to operate in
excellence.
Advice for Aspiring Artists:
- Pray before you act. ( Proverbs 3:5)
-
Make sure your lyrics and music concepts are together.
- Go to a studio that has competent engineers and excellent equipment.
- Always use musicians and vocalist that are on your level or better (get the best).
- As a producer and artist, be able to explain
your concepts and ideas to your team. And direct with love and patience.
You know your music, but they don’t.
-
Listen to what others hear as well. When you have your musicians, let
them feel and play what comes out of them. Then give feedback. No one
wants to be micro-managed. No One! - Your engineer is your best friend. Use their ear, ideals, and
creativity to expand you to another plain in your playing and writing.
These are the people whole bring your project to life. Your mixing and
mastering is everything. You can have the best musicians, incredible
writers, strong promotions, and great social media, but if your mix
and/or mastering is horrible, you won’t last. - Make sure you vocalists and lead vocalists fit your music. James
Brown said, if it feels right, and sounds right, then it must be right!!
(I am speaking on music here. lol)
-
Have a strong marketing team to help push your project. ( Oh and this includes you as well. If you don’t push, who will?)
- Excellent website so people can follow you. Facebook and Instagram
are fine, but if you can go farther in your promoting endeavor, do it. A
website is a reflection of you and your work. And it allows the consumer
learn more about you in depth.
Any fun facts or trivia related to the
project:
When I was in the studio waiting on Tasha Page
Lockhart to arrive, I didn’t know who she was. My nephew reached out to
her for me after I told him I was looking for a great female vocalist.
When she came down the stairs I was like, “Hey…and you are…?” And she
said in her lively voice, “Tasha Lockhart sir, and you?” We talked about
the song I wanted her to sing, “Worthy of All Myself,” which is on the
debut project, “ALL IN.” She killed it too! So it was getting late and
she was getting ready to leave. As she was grabbing her things, we put on
the track “I Gotta Praise In Me.” We were all just jamming and singing. So I
said to her, “You feel like making some more money, cause you would kill
this.” The coat came off and in two takes, she really we wrecked this song in
my nephew’s basement! She came out the booth and said, “I’m feeling this
joint right here!” Later on, my sister-in-law (Nikki Nicole Stephens)
at that time, got on the train too. That really kicked it up. I never
wanted to use this track as a single either. After Tasha won “Sunday’s
Best” Season 6, I felt it would be using her accomplishments for my
gain. I came out with “You’re God” and it was smashing at the time on
the charts. Moving very fast on the BDS chart. But I ended my
relationship abruptly with the radio promotion team I was with because
of financial difficulties. 5 months later,
I had a new radio promoter and we decided it was time to go in a new
direction. We continued to push “You’re God,” but made the decision to
go with “I Gotta Praise In Me”after a small contingent of listeners
heard and loved it.
For more information on J.BETHEL &
SPOKEN FOR and their music ministry, visit the following
Links:
Website: www.jbs4.co
Amazon: ALL IN
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/all-in/id971190087
CD Baby: cdbaby.com/jbethelspokenfor#
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Benkc3stuqspscihk7mqhyqxq5y
Sound Cloud: https://soundcloud.com/j-bethel-spoken-for/sets/all-in
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXnANChTy3MYvuvCpr7NSFYjgIs0a–PD
Facebook: j.bethel33
Twitter: @_JBethel
Periscope: _JBethel
Instagram: JBETHELSPOKENFOR
For Product Service and Interviews, Please Contact:
Bruce Knight
PUSH-IT! Marketing and Promotions
Phone: (313) 207-5786
Email: pushitmarketingandpromotions@gmail.com or
Website: www.pushitmarketingandpromotions.com
For Booking Information:
email jbethelspokenforevents@gmail.com or call 248.270.2669
#SPOKENFORNATION
