Critically acclaimed Christian rap/hip-hop artist Steven Malcolm has released a new version of “Even Louder" featuring Natalie Grant. “I really want to bridge the gap between worship and hip-hop. And show the world that worship isn’t just one style, one genre, but a lifestyle that glorifies Jesus,” explains Steven. “Working with Natalie was amazing. From touring with her on the Bible Tour to being able to have her be a part of this record is just humbling.” The collaboration came about organically, Natalie had heard Steven perform the song when they were both on the Bible Tour.
They quickly found Natalie and Steven shared the same vision in making music that opens up people to different styles of music and share the same purpose.
“I love Christian music because it has so many different styles that appeal to so many different people, but we draw these hard and fast lines between music genres,” says Natalie. “And the thing that combines us and makes us unified is that we are all sharing the message of Christ. We need to start being a reflection of that unity and a way to do that is to blur the lines between our styles and I think it is a beautiful reflection of what the Body of Christ is supposed to be.”
Steven co-wrote this new song with Leeland after hearing the original worship anthem from “The Church Will Sing” album written by Tony Brown, Jonathan Jay, Benji Cowart and Matt Armstrong. He wanted to create a worship song that reflected on the challenges of life such as anxiety and depression and how while everyone may go through the darker times, our praise should then become even louder.
Steven continues, “I wrote it with the mentality of, ‘if people take everything away until I’m left with nothing, what will our response be? Will it be to curse God or will we lift our voices to Him and begin to worship louder than ever before.”
“In Psalm 59 it says ‘I will sing loudly to the Lord because He is my strength,’” shares Natalie. “ I interpret that as the louder I sing the more of His strength I will experience and that is what praise and worship is to me. Praising God doesn’t make your problems disappear, if shifts your perspective from your problems to the solution of Christ.”
About Steven Malcolm
Steven Malcolm is a Hip-Hop recording artist fromGrand Rapids, Michigan with Jamaican roots. His music, which has been streamed over 11.7 million times, has been featured on Spotify’s New MusicFriday, been used by the NBA on ESPN, and on VH1’s “Black Ink Crew.” Malcolm, who is known for pushing visual and sonic boundaries with his cinematographic eye and multi-cultural musical background, has performed for over 1 million people. Steven's upcoming release - The SecondCity - shows his diverse artistry as he combines multiple genres from hip-hop, reggae, and worship.
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