"We're very excited for this new venture at Bethel," said Terry Linhart, Ph.D., professor of Christian ministries, who oversees the new record label. "Having our own recording label and studio will benefit all of our fantastic music programs and give Bethel students opportunities to create, record, and publish music at a professional level."
On April 12, HCM Records will release its first project, Anchor in the Undertow, featuring original songs written and recorded by Bethel students in the Worship Arts program. The album was produced by Billy Smiley, a five-time Grammy-nominated and 26-time Dove-nominated artist, producer and songwriter based out of Nashville, Tenn. The songs were recorded at Dark Horse Recording Studios and the Playground Studios in Nashville by Bill Whittington, award-winning engineer who has worked with Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Tim McGraw, Michael W. Smith, CeCe Winans, and many others.
Original songs on the album are:
"Pick Me Up" – written and recorded by Freshman Zechariah Good of Knox, Indiana
"High Above it All" and "For a Time Like This"– written and recorded by Junior Cidney Dobrodt of Mishawaka, Indiana
"Unknown God" – written and recorded by Senior David Andrews of Chicago, Illinois
"My High Tower" – written and recorded by Sophomore Remella Coffey of South Bend, Indiana
"All of my Ways" – written and recorded by Junior Jack Chandler Walters of Goshen, Indiana
An album release party will be held on April 12 from 7-9 p.m. in the Sufficient Grounds Café and Campus Store on Bethel's campus. Producer Billy Smiley and recording engineer Bill Whittington will be on campus that evening as well for the reception. A concert featuring these students along with other musicians is being planned for August 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the Everest-Rohrer Chapel/Fine Arts Center.
Watch behind the scenes videos of the recording process and interviews with the songwritiers
Read about the Worship Arts trip to Nasvhille to record Anchor in the Undertow