downhere

Not to be confused with Down Here.

Downhere
Background information
Origin Canada
Genres Christian rock, alternative rock
Years active 1999–2013 (on hiatus)
Labels Word, Centricity
Website downhere.com
Members Marc Martel
Jason Germain
Glenn Lavender
Jeremy Thiessen
Past members Tyson Manning
Corey Doak

Downhere (stylized as downhere) is a Christian rock band from Canada. They have released six studio albums to date: downhere (2001), So Much for Substitutes (2003), Wide-Eyed and Mystified (2006), Ending Is Beginning (2008), How Many Kings: Songs for Christmas (2009), and On the Altar of Love (2011)[1] and have won several Juno and Covenant Awards.

History

The Early Years 1999-2001

The band was formed by Marc Martel and Jason Germain who were roommates at Briercrest Bible College in Caronport, Saskatchewan.[2] In 1999 Martel and Germain added fellow Canadians Jeremy Thiessen and Tyson Manning, along with American Corey Doak, and released an eponymous debut album independently on Slyngshot Records.[2] Tyson and Doak left the band, and later on Downhere signed with Word Records. In February 2001, they moved to Nashville, Tennessee. The band soon added bassist Glenn Lavender, whom they had met two years earlier, after his band broke up.[2] Downhere's independent album was reissued with the inclusion of bassist Lavender, and released in 2001 as their international debut, downhere.

Mainstream and international success (2001–2013)

Marc Martel performing in the Queen Extravaganza Tour.

Their second album, also released through Word Records was entitled So Much For Substitutes. In 2006 they were signed to Centricity Records and released Wide-Eyed and Mystified which led to the 2007 Juno Award for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year, and Covenant Awards for Rock Album of the Year and Recorded Song of the Year ("A Better Way").

In 2007, the band released two additional CDs that were unique. In early 2007, they released Wide-Eyed and Simplified, which contained new versions of 8 songs from Wide-Eyed and Mystified, in addition to three popular songs from earlier releases. Later in 2007, the band released Thunder After Lightning (The Uncut Demos). This album contained 15 previously unreleased demos which were considered for use on Wide-Eyed and Mystified but were not used. The CD also contained demo versions of two songs which were used on Wide-Eyed and Mystified. In April 2007, Downhere released Thank You for Coming (The Live Bootlegs), a six-song collection of live songs recorded in 2007 while on tour with Jason Gray and Lanae Hale.

Their next album, Ending Is Beginning, was released on September 23, 2008. The band released the songs for a few days and gave fans the chance to give input on which songs they should put on the album, and as a pre-release to Ending Is Beginning in June 2008 they gave away the whole album Wide-Eyed and Mystified as a free download.[3]

In October 2009, they released How Many Kings: Songs for Christmas, a collection of Christmas songs. This included "How Many Kings", which was a bonus track on Ending Is Beginning. Between the release of Ending Is Beginning and their new album Downhere released Two at a Time: Sneak Peeks & B-Sides, a collection of older songs compiled over their career, as well as two new songs: "You're Not Alone" and "The Song You Sing". "You're Not Alone" was released as a single in May 2010.

In May 2011, the first single,"Let Me Rediscover You", from their upcoming album On the Altar of Love was released. The album itself was released August 23, 2011.

In September 2011, lead singer Marc Martel also gained attention on YouTube for his cover of "Somebody to Love" by Queen, auditioning to be part of the Queen tribute band. Martel was noted for his vocal and visual resemblance to Freddie Mercury.[4] On December 8, 2011, Martel was announced to have been voted as one of six winners (and one of three Canadians) of the contest.[5]

In July 2012 the members of the band announced that January 1, 2013 would mark the end of their traveling ministry for the foreseeable future. Members of the band have stressed that this is not a break up, and they are still open to playing select shows and events here and there. Each of the members have felt God is leading them all in different directions, thus logically ending this chapter of the band.[6]

Hiatus (2013-present)

Vocalist Marc Martel released an EP, Prelude, on February 1, 2013[9] which includes "Up in the Air" and "8th Wonder".[citation needed] The EP was recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles with producer John Fields.[citation needed] His full-length debut, Impersonator, released on September 30, 2014.[10]

In October 2016, the band got together for one more night to celebrate Centricity Music's 10th anniversary. The band shared live footage of the rehearsal on their Facebook page. They performed their hit song, "A Better Way" at the event.

Band members

Left to right: Marc Martel, Jason Germain, and Glenn Lavender performing in 2011
Past members

Awards and nominations

GMA Canada Covenant Awards
GMA Dove Awards
Juno Awards
Shai Awards (formerly The Vibe Awards)
Western Canadian Music Awards

Discography

Albums

Singles

Year Title Peak Chart Positions Album
2001 "Larger Than Life" downhere
2001 "Free Me Up" downhere
2001 "Great Are You" downhere
2001 "Protest to Praise" downhere
2001 "Calmer of the Storm" downhere
2003 "Breaking Me Down" So Much For Substitutes
2003/2004 "Starspin" So Much For Substitutes
2003/2004 "What It's Like" So Much For Substitutes
2006 "The More" Wide-Eyed and Mystified
2006 "Surrender" Wide-Eyed and Mystified
2006 "A Better Way" Wide-Eyed and Mystified
2006 "Little Is Much" Wide-Eyed and Mystified
2007 "Forgive Yourself" Wide-Eyed and Mystified
2007 "The Real Jesus" Wide-Eyed and Mystified
2007 "How Many Kings" Christian AC - No. 4 (December 28, 2007) Bethlehem Skyline
2007 "Glory To God in the Highest" Bethlehem Skyline
2008 "Here I Am" Christian AC - No. 5 (October 10, 2008) Ending Is Beginning
2009 "Hope Is Rising" Ending Is Beginning
2009 "My Last Amen" Christian CHR - No. 5 (6/5/09) Ending Is Beginning
2009 "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" Christian AC - No. 22 How Many Kings: Songs For Christmas
2009 "Christmas in Our Hearts" How Many Kings: Songs For Christmas
2009 "Gift Carol" How Many Kings: Songs For Christmas
2010 "You're Not Alone" Two at a Time: Sneak Peeks & B-Sides
2011 "Let Me Rediscover You" On the Altar of Love
2011 "Rest" On the Altar of Love
2012 "Living the Dream" On the Altar of Love

Songs on compilations

Year Album Song(s) Label
1999 The Warehouse Mix "Larger Than Life" & "Raincoat" Slyngshot
2001 WOW Hits 2002 "Protest To Praise" Sparrow
2006 Launch: Starting Line "Everything Will" CMC Distribution
2006 Life Is Precious: A Wes King Tribute "Excavate" Permanent Recordings
2007 YourMusicZone.com #1s "A Better Way" CMC Distribution
2007 28th Annual Covenant Hits "A Better Way" CMC Distribution
2007 Bethlehem Skyline "Glory to God in the Highest" & "How Many Kings" Centricity Music
2007 Win This War "Grown Man" (re-work of the original song from their Indie release)
2008 Canada Rocks "A Better Way" CMC Distribution
2008 GMA Canada presents 30th Anniversary Collection "What It's Like" CMC Distribution
2009 Sea to Sea: Christmas "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" Lakeside Media
2010 O Come All Ye Faithful: A Christmas Album "How Many Kings" BEC Recordings

DVDs

DVD soundtracks

Movie soundtracks

References

  1. ↑ "Downhere on "Out and Aboot Tour"". Centricitymusic.com. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 "Interview: Downhere". Jesus Freak Hideout. 2001. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  3. ↑ "MusiChristian.com - your source for Christian Music, Christian Books, Christian DVD, Gospel Music, pre-order products and more.". June 18, 2010. Archived from the original on June 18, 2010. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Canadian singer Marc Martel goes viral with Freddie Mercury imitation". The National Post.
  5. ↑ "Canadians Marc Martel and Francois-Olivier Doyon selected for Queen tribute band". The National Post. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  6. ↑ "A Letter From Us To You".
  7. ↑ Downhere also received 2006 GMAC nominations for Artist of the Year, Group of the Year, and Album of the Year: Wide-Eyed and Mystified. GMAC 2006 Covenant Award Nominees. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  8. 1 2 Donovan, Kevin (November 4, 2006). "Downhere Takes Home Three GMA Covenant Trophies". Christian Today. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  9. ↑ Downhere also received GMAC 2009 nominations for Group of the Year, and Modern Worship Song of the Year: "Live For You". GMAC 2009 Covenant Award Nominees. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  10. ↑ "Down to earth with downhere". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  11. ↑ Monger, James Christopher. "(Biography) Downhere > Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  12. ↑ Breimeier, Russ (September 22, 2008). "(Review) Ending Is Beginning". Christianity Today. Retrieved October 11, 2008.
  13. ↑ "Downhere Discography". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved May 15, 2010.

External links

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