Integrity Music
Release Date: August 11th 2017
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
MDSN– Kerosene (Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Kerosene
“…As a parent, there is a lot I can take away from this journey with our daughter. First, invest in your children’s passions and giftings; make it a priority. You won’t regret it, and it will mean the world to them to know that you hear and see them. Second, just because something doesn’t turn out the way you (or they) thought it would, doesn’t mean God won’t use it for the bigger picture of what He is doing in their life! We thought Gracie was going to be a Disney pop princess, but God had something much bigger in mind to use for His glory!…” Madison Grace Binion. OR Gracie as she is known by her parents, and I guess by everyone else who knows her personally. A young girl that, at 16 years of age, is mature way beyond her years, and a young singer/songwriter and worship leader that I’m sure we will all be blessed to hear on the radio and in albums for a long, long time. The daughter of Nicole and David Binion, lead worshippers of Covenant Worship; Gracie has had quite a remarkable ride in getting to where she is today as an Integrity Music artist. From being one of the few songwriters in the running for her pop song to be chosen as the theme song for the Disney TV series Girl Meets World (which ultimately didn’t happen) to now being an artist and changing the world through worship music under the moniker MDSN (the consonants of her first name, and pronounced ‘Madison’!); we are now blessed to her Gracie’s debut single “Kerosene”, which released this past week. A worship song with dance/pop/EDM elements, this out-of-the-box single (which on the surface doesn’t fit the mould musically and stylistically from Integrity Music, but a deeper look makes me conclude that Integrity Music is the perfect label at this point for Gracie!) is sure to touch the lives of many, so let’s dive deep a bit, to see what makes “Kerosene” great and a standout song for me this year thus far!
First of all, Gracie doesn’t try to be like other worship artists in this song. Like other worship artists on Integrity Music. She doesn’t sound like Alisa Turner, Chris Sayburn, All Sons & Daughters, Corey Voss, Greg Sykes, Jaci Velasquez, Lincoln Brewster, Paul Baloche, Planetshakers, Seth & Nirva, Tim Hughes nor Travis Ryan. She sounds like her own person. Not trying to emulate a certain style, Gracie passionately gives it her all in this vibrant, energetic pop/dance 3 minute melody, that ardently recounts to us that Jesus’ love and presence is all that we need, and lights us up the same way that kerosene does to anything it touches. Powerful like anything we have ever seen, yet loving unconditionally, Jesus’ presence is something Gracie delves into here, as I tap my toes and dance quite a bit to this inspiring tune that is sure to be on radio in the next few months, and maybe WOW Hits next year if the compilation is as bold as I think they should be. I’m seriously getting some happy summer vibes here- and if the song released a bit earlier, I would have placed it on my Top Tens post about ‘Songs Of The Summer 2017’! That’s how contagious and infectious Gracie’s joy and love for Jesus is, that I want to outwardly proclaim his goodness as well. Well done Gracie for a compelling debut track that has me longing for more!
Sure to be a mainstay in Christian music for a long time yet, MDSN has stamped her commanding presence on Integrity Music, and in time, I reckon “Kerosene” will be on everyone’s lips. It does remain to be seen what genre Gracie will venture into with the rest of her music to be released at a later date, but I for one am confident that no matter the style, God will be glorified. So what are you waiting for? If you haven’t listened to the track, you are in for a real treat. And if you have, then why not listen to it again? And again, and again…
3 songs to listen to: Kerosene 3 times, then watch the music video three times…until we all become more and more excited for Gracie’s debut album with Integrity Music sometime this year or next year!
Score: 4.5/5
RIYL: Hillsong Young & Free, Britt Nicole, Hollyn, TobyMac, Group 1 Crew, V. Rose, Cimorelli