Author: Mary Nikkel

I have a deep and abiding love for writing, photography, videography, and rock and roll, all of which led to spending four years as Associate Editor for NewReleaseToday.com, the largest Christian music website online. Now I'm serving as a freelance writer and photographer, still passionate about music that makes us think deeper and love more.

Raising the Bar: ‘Ready. Aim.’ by Bayless

on By

With their absolutely masterful pairing of vocal tones and the ability to bring in symphonic and electronic elements without ever compromising the gritty heaviness, Bayless's Ready. Aim. is easily the strongest release this year from an independent rock band. Beyond simply having all of the right elements in play, Jared and Vanessa (aided by an exceptional production team) execute those elements with polish and professionalism that could see them easily standing alongside the biggest rock releases this year. If you take a shot on only one band you haven't heard of this year, Bayless should be a top contender.

Joy Invincible: Switchfoot’s Fantastic Traveling Music Show

on By

Switchfoot presented the tour as a way to thank their fans for more than 20 years of music. Really, it also ultimately served as proof of why this group can easily fill out auditoriums after over two decades. The songs cast a little light on the things that survive the shipwrecks, the things that outlast the storms: love, hope, redemption, melody, community. The resilience of those things through all the worst chapters we live is truly a joy invincible.