With a music career that stretches more than 10 years, Audio Adrenaline has achieved a longevity that only a handful of artists experience in today's fast-paced, ever-changing music industry. Fads come and go, and music trends shift endlessly from genre to genre. So when a band can reach a 10-year milestone and still be crafting clever, innovative, compelling music while continuing to develop a massive, loyal audience base, it's an incredible accomplishment.
Audio Adrenaline has achieved just that.
The concept of making a global impact for Christ is not a new one for Audio Adrenaline members Mark Stuart, Will McGinniss, Ben Cissell and Tyler Burkum. While the band's focus has always touched on themes of missions and outreach, Audio Adrenaline has never been more aggressive in communicating that message than they are now, with the release of a brand new album, Worldwide.
"We wanted to really do something we're passionate about - something different and new," says vocalist Mark Stuart. "This is our seventh album and we've been singing about this idea throughout our career. So we decided to go for it and make this whole record about standing up and saying, "Hey, I want to get serious about my faith. I want to be a missionary. I want to do what I can do in my community." It's basically a call to action."
Stuart says the idea behind Worldwide came from the response the band received to its powerful hit single "Hands and Feet," which first appeared on the group's Underdog record.
"We got a lot of feedback and e-mails about that song from both kids and parents, and that really encouraged us to do a record like this," Stuart explains. "I think that song motivated a generation to do something, and we want to continue to motivate people in that direction. It's all about getting out there and doing something incredible for God. You don't have to go overseas to be a missionary. Just get out there in the world-even if it-s just to your next door neighbor's or in your high school-and take God there."
Produced by music veteran Charlie Peacock and Jason Burkum, Worldwide features a collection of songs that sound a rallying cry to youth. From the explosive, autobiographical "Worldwide One" to the guitar-laden smash, "Dirty," and the tender ballad, "Pierced," Audio Adrenaline has created a clever roster of fun, challenging, and thought-provoking songs.
With "Worldwide One" setting the stage by daring listeners to "come along for a ride," and "Church Punks'" 90 seconds of rock and roll rebellion, this album starts off at a blistering pace. The next four radio-bound singles, "Dirty," "Go and Be," "Pierced," and "Strong" are the thematic heart and soul of the album, leaving the listener ready to take on the world. From there, Worldwide takes a left turn with "Leaving 99" and "Pour Your Love Down," two ballads, featuring Burkum on vocals, that make a perfect follow-up to Audio Adrenaline's smash multi-format radio hit, "Ocean Floor." As an added extra, an "Ocean Floor" radio re-mix even makes its way onto this new album. Stylistically, Worldwide comes full circle with the heavy-hitting album closers, "Start a Fire" and "Worldwide Two," completing a package that is nothing more than a pure rock and roll album to its core, hearkening back to the days of the band's gold-selling album, BloOm.
Tying directly into the album's theme will be Audio Adrenaline's first major tour since the band released the Underdog album nearly three years ago. Titled 'The Go Show' the spring 2003 tour will be co-headlined with MercyMe, and include special guests Kutless and The Swift, and will be a call to missions, Stuart says.
In an effort to encourage kids toward action, Audio Adrenaline and MercyMe have partnered to form a foundation called The Go Foundation. The Go Foundation will highlight 10 to 15 "under-the-radar" missions' organizations the bands want to help bring exposure to. The Go Foundation will act as a conduit to help plug kids directly into an organization that matches their strengths. A national Web site will also be accessible for those who choose to register with The Go Foundation online.
"This is all a challenge to the youth of America - specifically the Christian youth of America," Stuart says. "The worship movement is so strong now, and we just want to challenge kids not to fall in love with feeling good about worship so much that they build a wall around themselves in their youth group. They need to take their worship to the streets, get out in their schools and worship with everything they have. It's all about putting worship into motion, putting faith into action-worldwide."
With a total of seven studio albums to its credit, Audio Adrenaline is approaching sales of more than 3 million units and has garnered 4 Grammy Award nominations and multiple Dove Awards. Last year's critically-acclaimed project, Lift, generated three No. 1 singles, including the radio hit, "Ocean Floor," which crossed multiple formats and topped both the AC and CHR charts, a first-time feat for Audio Adrenaline. That milestone gave the band a career total of 17 No. 1 songs, including the audience favorite, "Big House," which was named the CCM No. 1 Song of the Decade for the 1990s.
Audio Adrenaline has continued to build an ever-widening fan base over the years, and that exposure was magnified in 2001 through the band's high-profile stint on the innovative Festival Con Dios Tour, the traveling outdoor festival Audio Adrenaline co-headlined with the Newsboys and the O.C. Supertones. The much-publicized tour was highlighted in media outlets across the country, and was featured in a Newsweek magazine cover story. In 2002, the band was asked once again to co-headline the equally successful second outing of the Festival Con Dios with label mate tobyMac, MercyMe, and Out Of Eden.
