Looking at Videos!

 Looking at Videos!

With the recent great success of our video, "Let It Reign", we thought we'd take a look at a few of the other videos we have on "LivingWatersUtube". (CLICK!)

If you put them in order of popularity, the next most popular is our fun skit, "The Parable of the Talents", captured at a 2004 concert. Third most popular is, "Booze Blues Cruise", a song we never actually did in concert; it has just a few pictures used for the video, with emphasis on the music. We have several photo montages like "Do What He Tells You to Do", which comes in fourth. Our first photo montage, showing a rough history of the group, comes in at number five, and is appropriately backed with "Love's in a Name".

After that, it is worth noting several of these. Mary Gillis' loving tribute, "Lonely Dancer" is something VERY special to us. We have a lot of rough concert clips here, notably "Love in Arms" played just a few years ago. There are several photo productions that have gotten some attention, like Mike's "Take Me" and "Stay!" and the recent very successful song "Anna Post Writing" put to video. A couple of Mark's older songs, "This Loving Stream" and "Perfect Gift Song" were captured back on his wedding day. We did also put our first podcast out here. 

There's so much we've managed to save, create or otherwise present to you. We invite you to join, peruse, and celebrate with JOY the Good God's goodness to our family!

Peace & Love & JOY,
Mark LaJOIE! for Living Waters!

Mike Answers the Question!

 Mike Answers the Question!

I recently asked the question, 'was this our best vocal performance?' about "Let It Reign. Mike provided this thoughtful response to me:

I never considered myself a solid vocalist, but I am better with age. You have always had the powerful voice. But we are all in this one together. I have a fresh view now. Josh’s powerful orchestration, adding your visuals, our excitement for a new song with a great LW theme, recording live together, in His Spirit; certainly one of our best over-all performances. Then you bring it to life with the video! I do consider this my best LW song. It was a gift that came so quickly. It enhances my faith. I hope it does that for everyone who listens and watches.

Michael McBride

 

A Brand New Video: "Let It Reign"!

It has arrived! A brand new video for "Let It Reign"! This features a newly pumped up audio mix, & a truly crucial message for our times.  CLICK here: Let It Reign on RN

FEATURED VIDEO

Let It Reign

WATCH NOW

Good Friday Playlist From Living Waters

Good Friday Playlist From Living Waters

LW Good Friday Playlist on Spotify

It is Good Friday. Such an important day! A day that every human heart has thought about and longed for, whether they knew it or not. As Isaiah said about the Suffering Servant and all he would suffer, all he would go through for our sake: "....those who have not been told shall see, those who have not heard shall ponder it...." This is healing for the nations. I just heard that the word for "mercy" in Greek is almost exactly the same as the word for "olive oil". His total sharing of our fate is the ultimate healing balm for our deep wounds and alienation from God and ourselves and each other. "By his stripes we are healed". This has to be the deepest meaning for us. Let the Living Waters of His Grace flow to heal your confusion, pain and problems. Eat this Bread. Drink this Cup.....

Positive Album Review for "Overflow"!

Positive Album Review for "Overflow"!

Link to the Music Review CLICK to read!

On this day, March 14, 2019, we received a great, positive music review of our new album, "Overflow", by Rob Allwright on the "One Man in the Middle" album review site in Great Britain. They specialize in Christian music. I spent some time reading his reviews, and I have no doubt he is absolutely fair, honest and generous.

He gave us a 7.9, or roughly four stars. That included a 9 out of 10 for originality, something I'm really proud of, in contrast to the homogenizing influence of the industry. He caught a  lot of things about us that can only be seen if you are being really sensitive and diligent. He picked up on our 'bread and cup' theme, and praised the thematic flow of the album (though he did grade us lower on 'Lyrics'). He thought the second half was stronger musically and mentioned "Let It Reign" and "Light of the World" in particular. As for "Let It Reign", he thought it lends itself to a song video - well, we might have to do that! He absolutely loved "Light of the World", and said he wanted to listen to it many times and that it reminded him of Keith Green.

He also was really cool about our being a Catholic band, when the Christian music scene is sometimes not so tolerant of that. He spoke on our behalf saying we are definitely praising the same Jesus he is and doing it extremely well, and asking his listeners to give us a chance. Here is how he ended his review: 

"The band describe themselves as being in the "autumn of their years" and are quite self-deprecating, wondering if they still have it, and surprising themselves with what they have come up with. However there is a whole lot of creativity in this group that is still flowing through them, so they definitely shouldn't write themselves off just yet! The second half of this album has the stronger selection but there are striking images and things to think about and challenge you all the way through this album but it is definitely "Let It Reign" and "Light of the World" that really would have to be my two favourite tracks. This is a great album which has a light rock sound, praises Jesus and encourages us to do so too!"

We really couldn't ask for much more than this. It's funny, I was kind of worried about "Light of the World", because we had a lot of trouble getting the recording off the ground at first, and I wondered if it was a weaker track, but that is precisely the one this man liked the best! And it is one of our earliest and most beloved tracks.

Please, good friends of Living Waters, rejoice with us once more as we are blessed beyond measure; we hope that this is totally on behalf of the Kingdom of God....

Peace & Love & JOY,

Mark LaJOIE!

Link to the Music Review CLICK to read!

Live Interview with Mark & Mike!

Live Interview with Mark & Mike!

On St. Valentine's Day we did a live interview with Jacqueline Jax on AVA Live Radio. There are many ways to listen, but you can go to this link and scroll and press "Play" on "Episode 680 Behind the Music with Living Waters on Let It Reign". It is also up on iHeart, Spotify and elsewhere. 

AVA Live Interview with Living Waters

She really is a good interviewer, and Mike and I really enjoyed doing this. She had many positive comments about the album....

"Overflow" is Released...Merry Christmas!

"Overflow" is Released...Merry Christmas!

 

"Overflow" by Living Waters on Bandcamp! Click to listen....

It has happened! The work is complete. If you've heard parts of this album already, you still have no idea. There has been a lot of work done, just in the last week or so, on virtually every song.  It is now finished. This album has become something greater than its parts. Please! Listen to this! As of today, Christmas Day, it is available on our Bandcamp site and is streaming on ReverbNation.

There were big contributions by Mike McBride, Greg Loell and Mark Lajoie, and especially the talented producer, Joshua Loell (Best Film Score Winner!). Most exciting is that Dave Bourque, Tony & Denise Vassel all did their part also, especially on "Light of the World" and "Hail Mary". This album features lots of joint vocals and a large dose of a rockin' Greg Loell.

We are aiming to release the digital distribution (iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, etc.) on January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. That fits perfectly with the theme of the album: 'He can brighten up your darkest night...', the Light of the World, Sonrise. 

Please, share in our joy, listen, download, and share the goodness! Be on the lookout for the streaming releases coming soon.

Peace & Love & JOY,
Mark LaJOIE!

"Overflow" by Living Waters on Bandcamp!Click to listen....

One Day More!

One Day More! Overflow!

"Overflow" by Living Waters on Bandcamp! Click to order....

The Lajoies had a little private listening party last night. Wow! We are absolutely floored. This album is an absolute work of art. As we talked we said some of the following.

We said that anyone unfamiliar with Living Waters as a family will be suitably impressed with the genius production, for sure. But if you are a real Living Waters person you will rejoice in the deep roots in our past on this thing. There are many familiar songs and that core blend of songwriting styles and personalities, and featuring Mike, Mark, Greg, Dave, Denise & Tony at various points. And, then, there is a new 'flow' by Josh, someone steeped in reverence for who the Living Waters family is, and yet bringing a new genius to it all.

Further, we said there really is a wonderfully coherent theme to the whole thing that is so cool, something you hardly see anymore in albums. The key idea is taken from "City of Joy". It's a song that isn't on the album, but has been on every one of our full-length albums to this point. The idea is that there IS a Place that we can go with our deep needs as individuals and as a faith family, and that Place is the Person of Christ Himself, especially in the Bread and the Cup. We see this mentioned in "Sing to Jesus", "When Sunday Comes", "Covenant Love", "Let It Reign". In our pain and misery, there is one who understands, whose Heart is pouring out Grace to help us change. The image that jumps out is that of Light or Fire that shines from the Rain of Grace. "...He can brighten up your darkest night...", "The dark-ness is gone and now I see the light", the aftermath of the storm, the Light of the World, Sonrise, etc. That's why finding the album picture we did with the flowing Waters and the Light was so awesome.

Sometime this evening we will press the release button on Bandcamp, and you will all be able to hear for yourself!

"Overflow" by Living Waters on Bandcamp! Click to order.

Peace & Love & JOY,

Mark LaJOIE!

"Let It Reign"!

"Let It Reign"!

Let It Reign (Studio Version) CLICK to listen!

{As of this date, Josh is still working on final last touches to the vocals, but we are posting the song is as, for now, so you can hear it!} - December 2, 2018

When Mike & I got together to sing our parts for "Let It Reign", there was a real energy in the room. Mike had done a really cool demo for us to work with. For the first time on a recording that I can remember, we were doing a shared lead vocal - and it was awesome to do! Josh had us singing live together in the same room, bouncing our parts back and forth. It was so fun, and so real. We are probably going to re-do some of the vocals, but, I think this helped drive our other vocal performances, and actually set us up for a fantastic total session that day.

Another really cool thing, Joshua Loell, Greg's son, and our producer on this album, decided to turn this song into a totally cinematic-style production. (Well, he kind of knows a thing or two about cinematic-style production, doesn't he? He has won an award for best film score at the San Diego International Film Festival. He is sure to win more in the future.) This is a song that lends itself very well to that style. We didn't know when we started this project that we were being produced by such a talented young man.

The theme of the song? makes it a perfect one for this album. No matter what storms or hurricanes in our lives, we can find all the grace we need 'when Sunday comes' in the Cup and the Bread; we can be the Light of the World. And, as Mike said, you can't get more of a "Living Waters" song than this, can you, with all those references? It makes me think of the deer altar picture we use, based on Psalm 42. Just in time for Christmas! SO! Without further ado...let it reign....

Peace & Love & JOY,

Mark LaJOIE!

Let It Reign (Studio Version) CLICK to listen!

Some Video of Living Waters Recording!

Some Video of Living Waters Recording!

This summer's recording has included some Mike & Mark singing together on many songs; The results, I think, were fantastic! Our blend seemed just right, and our back and forth on "Let It Reign" was so much fun. Mike has contributed his keyboard skills to several Mark songs, like "Sing to Jesus" which we played together so much back in the day.

We're not really good on putting what we're doing on the record. I think we're just too busy doing the work, in the zone, shall we say. BUT! I managed to video a few snippets of us doing some more work on "Light of the World" which we could share with you. Ready?

Here is our vocal recording spot; we were doing the melody for "LotW" chorus

Mike was warming up to do the intro to "LotW"

Mike had to fix the tag on Josh's shirt!

Click the line below to see: 

Video of Mike practicing the end of "LotW". 

At the end, Josh is circling his finger, telling Mike to keep going, because he has the section on a loop. Josh can then take or blend the best sections from the looped tracks.

Well! I hoped you enjoyed this small glimpse inside the process. Sausage being made....

Peace & Love & JOY,

Mark LaJOIE! of Living Waters

A Living Waters PREVIEW!

A Living Waters PREVIEW!

 

In our previous article, we said we are working on a possible album this summer, perhaps aiming for a Christmas release. We have created a 'preview' of this album, tentatively named, "Overflow". Please, be advised, this is probably NOT exactly how things are going to end up! BUT, it doesn't hurt to give you all an idea of some of the new songs, reworks of old songs and demos that we are working on. There is a theme that seems to be developing which is summed up in the title, "Overflow". {As of June 26th, I have added Mike's new song, "When Sunday Comes" as part of this playlist!} Stay tuned & listen to this until then:

"Overflow" Preview Playlist

Happy listening!

Peace & Love & JOY!

Mark LaJOIE!

A Living Waters "Let It Reign" Playlist

A Living Waters "Let It Reign" Playlist

We put together a playlist that features the 'Bread & Cup' Eucharist theme found in Mike's new DEMO, "Let It Reign". Our new production, "Covenant Love", also mentions this image, as does an unpublished demo, "Song of Love" and "Make Me Free", a full group tune from our "Refresh" album. SO, without further adieu, here is the "Bread & Cup" Playlist!

CLICK!: "Bread & Cup" Playlist