Play Chase Music

About twice a month we all hook up and pitch the latest song or songs that have been brewing in our belly.
They range from so many genres….rock, soul, worship, pop, folk. But it’s not everyday someone walks in, sits down and has a song they’ve written on the harp.

Connor Way is one of the youngest in the bunch but one of the most talented. He plays just about everything…he writes and composes but more than that, he has an incredible respect for the integrity of music and for music to convey and capture the emotions and the journey of the heart and spirit.

Um…in other words…he’s a genius.

A couple of weeks ago…he came to a song pitch meeting with harp in hand and absolutely rocked our world. Everyone in the room was rudely awakened by the beauty and emotion of his original song.

So…take a few minutes…get away from the business of life and work…put on some head phones….and enjoy.

Having a little fun in the Green Room between services on the Mac.

Enjoy.

What do get when you combine thousands of fired up students and youth workers, 7 passionate musicians from 12Stone Church, a host of dynamic speakers and last but not least the presence of the living God? Spontaneous Combustion? A shift in the time space continuum? Both of those answers are close but the real answer is Love Mercy Charlotte.

Love Mercy Charlotte was one of four regional youth events put on by the Wesleyan Church. The theme of the event was based upon Micah 6:8 and students were challenged with this statement: To live out our Faith on a daily basis is to: Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with our God. Seven members of the 12Stone worship team (Miriam Ahkuoi, Dustin Ahkuoi, Emerson St Pierre, Nathan Cooley, Nick Kirk, Connor Way and Matt Utterback) had the awesome privilege of leading worship for this three day event in Charlotte, NC. It was an incredible sight to see these students lifting their voices and hands to God, making commitments to follow his leading and giving selflessly to those in need. Over $45,000.00 was raised collectively amongst all 4 events to help dig fresh water wells in Mozambique through the ministry of World Hope International.

~Dustin

Here are a few pics from the event:

Recently Pastor Kevin and several of the leaders at 12Stone Church felt a God prompt to honor and serve single mothers during the Christmas Holiday. This included hosting an event specifically for single moms and their kids. In keeping with the heart of this prompt the Playchase songwriters were given the opportunity to write a song about the sermon topics for the Christmas Kindle series or a song specifically for single mothers. This is the story of a song that emerged from that songwriting session…

Sometimes I approach songwriting with a melody in my mind already and then find the chords to go around it. Sometimes I will have written lyrics and then attempt to give them life through melody. On this particular songwriting session I sat down at the piano with nothing but a chunk of free time. One of the opportunities we had was to write a song for single mothers. As I pondered this topic I thought to myself “I was raised in a two parent home so I didn’t witness it firsthand…plus I’m a guy so I have no chance of knowing what being a mom is like…much less a single mother.” Nevertheless I still felt a God press to give it a shot. As I started tinkering on the piano the words “Late at night and the starry sky is filled up with wishes” came out of my mouth. Instantly my heart was struck with a sense of longing…which led me to my inspiration.

Miriam and I have a longtime good friend that through a series of unfortunate circumstances is raising a child all by herself. In the midst of running a home she is going to classes to get her masters degree while working as a teacher in the mornings. She has a beautiful little girl that is full of life and joy. In spending some time with her I have witnessed someone who has truly made the best of her situation. She loves her daughter and showers her with kisses, sings songs with her, fixes her meals, puts her to bed and the list goes on. She is a single mom who is strong and filled to the brim with love. Yet in all of her strength there is still a sense of longing and being forgotten. In the midst of her joy there is struggle. It is tough enough to raise a child without a husband but after watching her I am convinced that being a single mom is one of the toughest jobs around.

So…out of a random lyrical line and inspiration from a dear friend came “Story of Grace.” As soon as I finished writing it knew I wanted it to have a gentle, compassionate vibe so I enlisted the vocal services of Ms. Valerie Miller. Valerie really brought a warm and heartfelt sound to the lyrics. Nick Kirk, our resident producer extraordinaire added his magical touch to the production. Our heart as Playchase songwriters is to add value to others through the power of song. Whether you are a single mom or someone who has been impacted by a single mother…we hope this song encourages and blesses you.

Much Love,
Dustin

To download the song for free go here.

Miriam Ah Kuoi here…

I have been in the studio for the past 3 weeks working on my 5 song EP with hopes of it being released by the end of December. I am working with our very own Nick Kirk (Scores films for Whitetone Motion Pictures, songwriter, and producer) and producer, Dan Hannon (produced such artists as Manchester Orchestra and Winston Audio).

Wasn’t sure I prepared for the process that it takes to do this….it has been challenging, inspiring, and a bit out of my own comfort zone to say the least.

This is my first blog on this journey and I welcome anyone who cares to read and get an inside look at this process. I am going to be very honest and speak of my thoughts and feelings as an artist and a songwriter as this process unfolds so here we go.

The first couple of weeks were tough, not gonna lie. The artist and songwriter in me had a rude awakening for sure! Dan, Nick and I listened  through every song and coming to the end realizing that we were going to put 5 NEW songs on the EP. Holy crap! So the writing began….and at the end of 7 days…I was looking at 5 new songs ready for production. I was so used to waiting on the inspiration and letting the inspiration or how I felt in the moment drive me. I was used to piddling on the guitar or piano and walking away for days or months and really in no rush to get the song done. I was used to the melody, the music, the lyrics, and my heart to all be on the same page going at the same pace. But in 7 days…we had 5 new songs?? I was frustrated and worried that what I was singing, writing, reworking had no authentic meaning. My heart had not caught up with anything we had done.

Oh to trust….to put all my trust into the producers hand and let them fight for the integrity of a great song was incredibly difficult. I had been yanked out of my own pace, my own comforts in my approach to writing.

We came to the day to track vocals for  the first song: “Jesus Tore The Veil”, which is a collaboration of Daniel (Winston Audio), Dan Hannon, and myself. I remember sitting on the coach saying to my heart “Come on…catch up!” And it did. As I stepping intot the booth and began to sing, every word, every chord change moved me multiple times to tears. And to find out the it will be accompanied by a real 3 piece string ensemble….it’s absolutely beautiful. Honest. Real. Vulnerable.

So I’ll wrap this up for now… if I could say this to the artists and songwriters….

Don’t be afraid to put your craft on the chopping block to get beheaded… Don’t be afraid to yank the song out of hiding…it may be a bit premature when you do but it will develop and grow and catch up with you as if you had gone your normal way of writing it.

Mucho luv to all.

Write like the wind~Miriam