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Myron Butler & Levi returned to where it all started – Dallas, TX. Along with his long time vocal ensemble, Levi, Butler went back to his hometown as the setting for his first ever live recording. The outcome was truly an evening of great expectations and of great results.
REVEALED Live In Dallas is an impressive collection of Butler’s unmistakable Urban Worship style and is a defining moment in his musical evolution. As the title indicates; Butler lays bare more of himself as an artist and as a minister, lyrically dissecting and understanding God’s plan for us through song. A great mix of high-energy tunes and Sunday-morning ready songs with beautifully crafted worship ballads REVEALED Live In Dallas is Butler’s best work. The live atmosphere played to his and Levi’s greatest strength -- ushering in the presence of the Lord in a spontaneous and responsive way. “It was so awesome to feed off the energy of the crowd … our hometown crowd at that,” said Butler. “It was a great opportunity to present what we normally do in our shows … inviting God in.”
What is quickly becoming Butler’s signature is the way he has been able to offer thematically important projects, giving his music depth and substance. Butler’s smash single, ‘Set Me Free,’ explored liberation in knowing God, then he made us ‘Stronger’ which invited us to walk into our purpose in God. Butler presents ‘Revealed’ which unveils God’s Word and His promise in a deeper way. The total sum of the albums’ parts, make the whole central theme clear. Every song gives a different perspective and understanding to the common thread weaved throughout the album.
“The first two records’ purpose was to empower the listener – the believer,” said Butler. “This CD is us looking up to God. REVEALED is the central thing … revealing His glory, His character. I want people to seek to know God on a deeper level and to spend time with Him.”
Butler sets up each song on REVEALED as a way “to lyrically and spiritually connect to knowing who God is and to reveal God’s character.” The title track “Revealed,” is a call to God for His glory and His presence. “I wanted to give the audience something high-energy that they would expect from Levi,” said Butler. “And I wanted to marry the central theme with something the audience and the consumer can participate in … I wanted a call and response kind of thing that brings in everyone.”
Butler ensures his music is Word-based and not just presentation-based. While his presentation is on point, vocally Levi are among the tightest and best ensembles in today’s current gospel landscape and musically the band hits all the right notes especially on the exuberant offerings like “Revealed” and “Just Can’t Live,” it is Butler’s lyrics that give life to his music ministry.
“It’s more than just making good music,” Butler explains. “I really push Levi to understand who God is and what He has for them individually … we as a group study together, we dissect scriptures, share lessons from my Pastor (Bishop TD Jakes) and as a result it gives us all a different and more profound perspective on the Word of God.”
On REVEALED, Butler manages to balance his distinct urban contemporary praise songs with Sunday morning ready church offerings. “I really centered this album to be something the church can touch; I wanted something specifically praise and worship teams can duplicate and sing in their church every Sunday morning.” Butler said. “Speak Into The Atmosphere,” is one such song. A definitively praise and worship song that is classically structured with call and response life changing lyrics.
REVEALED Live In Dallas is a musical experience that audiences can both participate in and enjoy. Among the noteworthy tracks is Butler’s anointed rendition of “Time After Time.” His approach to this well-known pop song is artfully done. With soulful vocals and beautiful piano track it speaks to God’s continued grace and faithfulness. Featuring Butler’s mentor Kirk Franklin, “Just Can’t Live” is contemporary praise and worship at its best. In the vein of urban praise and worship architect Fred Hammond, Butler and Levi, offers crisp vocal and musical arrangements that showcase his strength as both writer and producer.
The outstanding “Run To The Cross,” features EMI Gospel label mate Smokie Norful. Butler talks about God’s finished work on the Cross, “each of us has a choice … sometimes we hide behind our gifting but sooner or later those things will not cover us, but if we stand behind the Cross and we are behind the finished work of God then the King of Kings has forever settled our debts in heaven. I want this song to cause each of us to consider what Calvary has already done … leading to understanding more of who He is.”
“The album is a snapshot of my continual pursuit of God. Pursuit is something on-going …we as Christians should be on a lifelong process and pursuit of the knowledge of God. I want to encourage listeners in their own process to continue to pursue God. It is one of our life long duties – to know and to relate to God,” Butler said. Songs like “Choose to Believe” and “Moving Closer” are reflections of Butler’s heart toward his quest to be closer to God.
Adding to the list of credits – songwriter, producer, and vocalist – Butler plans to add minister and pastor to the mix. While Butler has been making a name for himself as a prolific producer (most recently working on Marvin Sapp’s current and last hit record), he carefully chooses his words when talking about his next steps, revealing he does not take God’s call lightly. He acknowledges the call on his life and feels the pull towards the preached Word.
Butler has already taken the steps to bridge his music ministry with the teaching of the Word on this album. REVEALED Live in Dallas is so much more than a live recording, it is a study on knowing who God is in a deeper way and is something all audiences can be drawn into. |
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