New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Rick Hoganson Media) Eighteen months in the making, Kim Walker-Smith and Skyler Smith released last week (July 16) their highly anticipated and first musical collaboration, HOME, a worshipful, modern folk-pop collection from
Jesus Culture Music. Already gathering critical acclaim, the album spent all week on top of the iTunes® "Christian/Gospel" chart while climbing all the way to No. 8 on the iTunes overall "Top Albums" chart. The album also lands this week at No. 1 on the overall Christian/Gospel Current
Digital Albums and Worship Album Billboard retail charts.
Produced by Jeremy Edwardson and Jason Borneman, the music of HOME was carved out of Kim and Skyler's unique love story, the worship life they've aspired to as individuals and the ministry they've shared as part of Jesus Culture. HOME explores the intimacy of time alone and together in the presence of God, and that sense of belonging as a universal metaphor for our relationship God pursues with his children.
"Calling this album HOME took on so many meanings as the project progressed," explains Skyler. "We've always traveled so much, we've known that 'home' would have to be wherever we found ourselves. We didn't want to force anything, but we wanted to come together as a couple and say something personal and honest about our lives in relationship with each other and in relationship with God."
"From the beginning of our marriage," Kim adds, "we've been very intentional about blending our lives, taking every opportunity to be 100% completely together, so this album really is a defining moment for us, a creative endeavor that represents who we are as a couple and as worshipers who desire intimacy with our Creator."
A studio recording where eleven of the twelve tracks were written collaboratively by Skyler and Kim, HOME is a departure from the live, corporate worship experience captured on the
Jesus Culture records, on which Kim's voice is most often associated. This more intimate offering is already resonating with critics. Worship Leader Magazine says, "HOME is nothing less than refreshing, and lovely… With this creative and authentic endeavor the Smiths have created something special…worshipers will be led to an outpouring of adoration, as well as receiving the life-changing love that is directed back towards us from the creator of everything." Breathecast.com adds, "Kim Walker-Smith brings to the palette her bold, intense and dynamic stage-presence of pop worship. Skyler Smith…brings to the table an Americana rootsy folk vibe."
Widely known for her passionate and contagious pursuit of God's Presence in worship, Kim, along with her husband Skyler, lead, teach and impart worship around the world. Named one of the "Emerging Leaders of Tomorrow's Church" by Charisma magazine (2010), Kim's rendition of the John Mark McMillan song, "How He Loves," has been viewed over 9.5 million times on YouTube, while her version of Brian Johnson's "Where You Go I Go" has over four million views.
For more information about HOME and Kim and Skyler, go to www.jesusculture.com, www.onlyloveremains.com.
