Premier Christian Radio daytime host Josh Carter looks back at his favourite tracks from 2024 and gives you his recommendations for starting your new year the right way
It never ceases to amaze me how much inspired Christian music is released each year, and 2024 was no different. Songs were released from much loved worship leaders and seasoned Christian singer songwriters, plus the odd surprise making its way into the mainstream UK chart too… Here’s my run down of my ten favourite tracks.
‘Joy (What the world calls foolish)’ – Martin Smith
It was great to have some new music from the eternally youthful Martin Smith, former frontman of Christian music royalty Delirious. ‘Joy’, the title track to the album is representative of the record as a whole – upbeat, positive and full of worship to Jesus. And what’s not to love as he mixes in an old Sunday School classic. See if you can spot it!
‘Gonna be good’ - TAYA
An infectious song about the adventure of following God, not knowing what is ahead but knowing that it’s ‘Gonna be good’. This song follows Taya’s breakthrough album in 2023. If her voice sounds familiar, it should be. She is the vocalist on one of the most streamed worship songs ever - Hillsong United’s ‘Oceans’ - currently at 531 million listens on Spotify!
‘We pray’ - Coldplay, feat. Little Simz, Burna Boy and Elyanna
Probably my favourite track of the year was Coldplay’s collaborative effort from their final ever album Moon Music. It taps into the universal desire in everyone to pray. Any song that gets God in the charts is good by me and this track peaked at number 20 in October of 2024. Getting to play my favourite band on Premier Christian Radio was a bonus too!
‘In your hands’ – Craig David
Craig David singing ‘He’s got the whole world in his hands’? Yes indeed! It was even featured as BBC Radio 2’s Track of the Week. In recent years, primary school assembly bangers have been enjoying a resurgence. He stated that the song is about shining a light on how truly special we all are. But could there be a deeper spiritual reason as well?
‘Heart unchained’ – LZ7 and The London Community Gospel Choir
An uplifting song about the power of the good news of Jesus to unlock our hearts and set us free, this song is a collaboration between LZ7, fronted by Lindz West (formally of Christian dance act The Tribe, if you remember them from back in the day!) and LCGC. Who doesn’t love a choir? The song was launched at Big Church Festival 2024 and is fantastic!
‘Hard fought hallelujah’ – Brandon Lake
I always appreciate raw, honest songwriting and Brandon Lake’s latest certainly packs a punch. Reminiscent of the Psalms – “So I’ll bring my hard fought, heartfelt, been-through-hell hallelujah / And I’ll bring my storm tossed, torn sail story-to-tell hallelujah”. Lake’s distinctive, gravelly voice just adds to the authenticity.
‘Place in this world’ – for KING + COUNTRY feat. Michael W Smith
This song is taken from the soundtrack to the biographical film Unsung Hero, which explores the Christian music scene in Nashville in the 1990s. It’s a collaborative re-make of a track originally released in 1991 and, as a teenager during that decade, I was very happy to discover it on the movie soundtrack.
‘Jesus on a train’ – Gabby Barrett
This country track is reminiscent of Joan Osborne’s ‘One of us’ or even perhaps Robbie Williams’ ‘Jesus in a camper van’. The song is about discovering Jesus in those around us and echoes Jesus’ warning in the Gospel of Matthew that, when you welcome the least of these, you have welcomed him.
‘Sweet oblivion’ – David Kushner
David Kushner’s dark and almost harrowing album The Dichotomy really caught my attention last year. With his memorising voice and Psalm-like lyrics, each song depicts living in the world while desperately trying to hold on to the Kingdom of God. ‘Sweet oblivion’ is a raw prayer for rescue and forgiveness - not for the faint hearted.
‘God the Son’ – Matt Redman
It’s always comforting to hear new music from Matt Redman. Like a familiar friend, he once again leads us to worship Jesus through this song released toward the end of the year. ‘God the Son’ is not strictly a Christmas song but, nonetheless, it does fit neatly into that season, declaring who Jesus is and what his coming to earth means for all of us.
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