Bethel Music, the worship music and community of songwriters emerging from Bethel Church in Redding, CA, releases the debut solo album from artist Amanda Cook, Brave New World, today (Sept. 25) through Provident Distribution.
 
Already hitting No. 1 for a time on the iTunes Christian/Gospel chart, the recording features 13 original songs and reveals the themes, confessions and heart of Cook in a dynamic, melodic and ethereally rich atmosphere of worship. Intentionally crafted like a painting made with strokes of melodies and chords, the album invites listeners to experience Cook's recorded journey of discovery, permission and mystery.
 
"These are my imaginations and confessions put to melodies and music," shares Cook. "Brave New World represents a voyage of discovering that God has been on our side all along. That we can live a whole life, full of heart, with a capacity to process pain, wrestle with truth and find ourselves steady at the end of our pilgrimage. There is an endless possibility for God to create a world within us, a world transformed through the bravery of perfect love. My prayer through this record is that you would experience the reality that you in fact house a brave new world. You are a brave new world. May you be filled with hope in the one whose mercy is timeless and whose love for mankind is as boundless as the sea."
 
Responding to the music and message of Brave New World, iTunes music fans are lauding the album with multiple 5-star reviews while two lyric videos from the new album that released Sept. 4, "Pieces" and "Heroes," have already received thousands of "likes" and more than 440,000 views on YouTube. "Pieces" is a bold declaration of God's nature while "Heroes" compels a listener to dance even amidst disappointment, trusting that God has our best interests in mind.
 
Like music fans, critics are similarly responding to the album. With upcoming coverage by RELEVANT, Worship Leader Magazine, CCM Magazine and more, HollywoodJesus.com names the recording a Top 10 album releasing this month. NewReleaseTuesday.com adds, "Amanda Cook has created a beautiful atmosphere of genuine worship and praise with Brave New World. With her soft yet bold vocals and anthemic lyrics that declare God's promises in every song, Amanda has crafted what I believe to be one of the best worship albums this year."
 
For Cook, the journey to Brave New World began with her song, "You Make Me Brave," which became the anthemic title track to Bethel Music's Billboard Top 10-selling album released last year. The message and process of writing, recording and leading the song in worship, gave Cook the opportunity to explore what it is like to live in a world without anxiety, a world absent of fear in the presence of God's perfect love.
 
With three-time GRAMMY-nominated, twice Dove Award-winning "Producer of the Year," Jason Ingram, and one of Nashville's most in-demand producers and drummers, Paul Mabury, sharing producer credits on Brave New World, the pair also teamed up with Cook to write for the album. "Jason and Paul essentially pastored my heart through the making of this album," says Cook, who also co-wrote three songs with Bethel Music's Steffany Gretzinger.
 
For all the latest Bethel Music news, including information on its current 5-star acclaimed and bestselling (No. 1 Christian, No. 9 overall album, Billboard) We Will Not Be Shaken CD/DVD and its second, all instrumental Without Words: Synesthesia album that released July 31, can be found at www.bethelmusic.com. The site also features Bethel Music touring details, chord charts, videos and more resources. Links to Bethel Music social media sites include: www.facebook.com/bethelmusic, @bethelmusic and http://instagram.com/bethelmusic.