Downhere

Last updated

Downhere
Downhere on a building.jpg
Promotional photo of the band from 2010
Background information
Origin Caronport, Saskatchewan, Canada
Genres Christian rock, alternative rock
Years active1999–2012 (on hiatus)
Labels Word, Centricity
Members
  • Marc Martel
  • Jason Germain
  • Glenn Lavender
  • Jeremy Thiessen
Past members
  • Tyson Manning
  • Corey Doak
Website downhere.com

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.

Contents

History

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 (2001–2012)

Marc Martel performing in the Queen Extravaganza Tour Marc Martel.jpg
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. 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]

Hiatus (2013–present)

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.

Band members

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

Timeline

Downhere

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

YearTitlePeak chart positionsAlbum
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. 22How 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"

Songs on compilations

YearAlbumSong(s)Label
1999The Warehouse Mix"Larger Than Life" & "Raincoat"Slyngshot
2001 WOW Hits 2002 "Protest to Praise"Sparrow
2006Launch: Starting Line"Everything Will"CMC Distribution
2006Life Is Precious: A Wes King Tribute"Excavate"Permanent Recordings
2007YourMusicZone.com #1s"A Better Way"CMC Distribution
2007 28th Annual Covenant Hits "A Better Way"CMC Distribution
2007Bethlehem Skyline"Glory to God in the Highest" & "How Many Kings"Centricity Music
2007Win This War"Grown Man" (re-work of the original song from their indie release)
2008Canada 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
2010O Come All Ye Faithful: A Christmas Album"How Many Kings"BEC Recordings

DVDs

DVD soundtracks

Movie soundtracks

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References

  1. "Downhere on "Out and Aboot Tour"". Centricitymusic.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2011. 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. "Downhere, On the Altar of Love Review". www.jesusfreakhideout.com.
  5. "Canadian singer Marc Martel goes viral with Freddie Mercury imitation". The National Post.
  6. "Canadians Marc Martel and Francois-Olivier Doyon selected for Queen tribute band". The National Post. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  7. "A Letter From Us To You". Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  8. 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 Archived November 27, 2006, at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  9. 1 2 Donovan, Kevin (November 4, 2006). "Downhere Takes Home Three GMA Covenant Trophies". Christian Today . Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  10. 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 Archived September 1, 2009, at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  11. "Down to Earth with Downhere". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  12. Monger, James Christopher. "(Biography) Downhere > Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  13. Breimeier, Russ (September 22, 2008). "(Review) Ending Is Beginning". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on September 3, 2009. Retrieved October 11, 2008.
  14. "Downhere Discography". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
  15. "Jesusfreakhideout.com Music News, October 2013: Centricity Music to Release Love & History: The Best of Downhere October 15 to all Music Digital Outlets". Jesus freak Hideout. Retrieved March 18, 2019.