Gotee Records

Release Date: April 26th 2019

Reviewed by Joshua Andre

Jon Reddick– You Keep Hope Alive (Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

1. You Keep Hope Alive

Is there anything TobyMac can’t do. Apart from being a full-fledged singer/songwriter and influential musician in the CCM industry, and being nominated a crazy amount of awards throughout his time in the spotlight; he is also the CEO of Gotee Records- previously a large but now a small, tightly knit label group with a handful of artists of which most Toby has ‘found’ and has since nurtured to stardom so to speak. Not to say that Toby’s an active mentor to all of these artists, but his impact and imprint has been all over these artists, which is definitely a good thing. Even though Relient K and Jamie Grace are now independent singers, and Capital Kings have disbanded (and all three received their start through TobyMac!), the current roster of Finding Favour, Hollyn, Cochran and Co., Ryan Stevenson and Aaron Cole have all been moulded along the path of Christian music due to Toby’s presence in their lives.

Taken verbatim from my review of TERRIAN’s single “God With Us”, this statement stands true with TobyMac’s latest artist signing to Gotee. Jon Reddick is a worship pastor at a local church in Franklin, Tennessee. And while it seems like TobyMac is signing ‘too many’ artists to the label, Jon’s debut single “You Keep Hope Alive” is brilliantly sung and conveyed, as we are blessed to hear an anthem for the ages, and a track that is sure to bring comfort to any and all who listen. On the surface, this track is musically and lyrically simple. A bit of repetition in the chorus; we are met with a track that could have fallen flat. Yet with more and more listens, I have found myself loving “You Keep Hope Alive” more and more. Maybe there’s something in my spirit that resonates as Jon repeatedly reiterates how Jesus is The Hope in this broken world, or maybe God’s got a Holy Spirit anointing on this song over others; but whatever the case, if this is what Jon’s debut single sounds like, then the debut full length album in the future will be nothing short of remarkable and near-flawless. Vocally similar to Michael Tait of Newsboys, and Israel Houghton; Jon’s presence on Gotee Records will only strengthen the unique and diverse label even more!

Through lyrically simple, I’ve got to say that “You Keep Hope Alive” is nonetheless one of this year’s most inspiring tracks I’ve heard this year. Sky’s the limit for Jon Reddick, and let us hope that whenever his full length debut releases, that lives will be changed and hearts opened to the Gospel because of it! Well done Toby for signing such a gem of an artist, and a man seriously on fire for Jesus! Now Toby…it’s time for that official dc Talk reunion with Michael and Kevin, don’t you reckon?

Score: 4/5

RIYL: Israel Houghton, Kirk Franklin, Travis Greene, Danny Gokey, TobyMac, Matthew West