Downhere | |
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![]() Promotional photo of the band from 2010 | |
Background information | |
Origin | Caronport, Saskatchewan, Canada |
Genres | Christian rock, alternative rock |
Years active | 1999–2012 |
Labels | Word, Centricity |
Past members |
|
Website | downhere |
Downhere (stylized as downhere) was 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.
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 had broken up. [2] Downhere's independent album was reissued with the inclusion of bassist Lavender, and released in 2001 as their international debut, Downhere .
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. After the release of Ending Is Beginning, 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.[ citation needed ]
In May 2011, the first single, "Let Me Rediscover You", from their upcoming album On the Altar of Love was released.[ citation needed ] The album itself was released August 23, 2011. [4]
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. [5] On December 8, 2011, Martel was announced to have been voted as one of six winners (and one of three Canadians) of the contest. [6]
In July 2012 the members of the band announced that as of January 1, 2013 they would no longer be touring together, although the band would not be broken up. [7]
Vocalist Marc Martel released an EP, Prelude, on February 1, 2013. [9] 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.
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | "Larger Than Life" | Downhere | |
"Free Me Up" | |||
"Great Are You" | |||
"Protest to Praise" | |||
"Calmer of the Storm" | |||
2003 | "Breaking Me Down" | So Much for Substitutes | |
"Starspin" | |||
"What It's Like" | |||
2006 | "The More" | Wide-Eyed and Mystified | |
"Surrender" | |||
"A Better Way" | |||
"Little Is Much" | |||
2007 | "Forgive Yourself" | ||
"The Real Jesus" | |||
"How Many Kings" | Christian AC - No. 4 (December 28, 2007) | Bethlehem Skyline | |
"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" | ||
"My Last Amen" | Christian CHR - No. 5 (6/5/09) | ||
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" | Christian AC - No. 22 | How Many Kings: Songs for Christmas | |
"Christmas in Our Hearts" | |||
"Gift Carol" | |||
2010 | "You're Not Alone" | Two at a Time: Sneak Peeks & B-Sides | |
2011 | "Let Me Rediscover You" | On the Altar of Love | |
"Rest" | |||
2012 | "Living the Dream" |
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 |
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downhere is the first official album release under a major record label by Christian rock band downhere. It is only preceded by their 1st independent album release. The album received the 2002 Covenant Award for Rock Album of the Year and the 2002 Juno Award for Best Gospel Album. The song "Larger Than Life" received the 2002 Covenant Award for Rock Song of the Year and "Protest to Praise" was featured on the WOW Hits 2002 compilation.
So Much for Substitutes is the second official album release by Christian rock band Downhere, 1st album to include current bassist Glenn Lavender, and last album released under Word Records. The label dropped the band from their roster in 2004, despite the band garnering nominations and awards for the album; 2003 Covenant Award for Modern Rock/Alternative Album of the Year, nomination for both the 2004 GMA Music Award for Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year, and the 2004 Juno Award for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year. The song "What It's Like" won the 2003 Covenant Award for Alternative Song of the Year and the song "Breaking Me Down" won the 2004 GMA Music Award for Modern Rock Recorded Song of the Year.
Wide-Eyed and Mystified is the third official album release by Christian rock band Downhere. It is the 1st official album release through Centricity Music, to which the band was signed in 2005.
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