Stellar Award winners and Grammy Award nominees, 21:03 (Evin Martin, Torrence Greene and Jor’el Quinn) has grown up right before our eyes. The maturity that comes from experiencing the ups and downs of life is heard throughout their third CD, EVOLVED…From Boys to Men, being released September 6, 2011.

 

The first single, “Still Here,” was written by Evin Martin after losing both of his parents in a very short span of time. Almost two years ago, his mother died of multiple sclerosis complications at the age of 48. Then, his 50 year-old father died. “I was depressed and went through a period of having panic attacks - waking up out of my sleep because I didn’t know whether I was going to be next to die,” says Martin.

 

The support of 21:03 and PAJAM helped him through the rough period, and a sermon at Straight Gate Church in Detroit inspired “Still Here.” Martin says, “Bishop Andrew Merritt was preaching about The Blood, and said the same power that conquered the grave lives on the inside of me, so I don’t have to fear death because the blood already covers that. I’m still here because the blood still has its power.”

 

With an old school groove and stunning vocals, “Still Here” is currently Top-25 and continues to climb at Gospel Radio. The group received a standing ovation when they taped a performance of the song for the upcoming season of BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel. “God says He will give us psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to encourage one another,” says Martin. “The Holy Spirit is a great comforter and He literally gave me that song in eight minutes.”

 

A diverse musical offering, EVOLVED…From Boys to Men also features such treats as “Hear Your Voice,” a catchy alternative pop sing-a-long; the hip-hop infused “Favor,” where the trio boasts of their “swag in the spirit;” the techno-styled “Incredible,” which was a Top-20 song on Gospel radio in 2010; and “Loving You (The Wedding Song)”, a guitar-strummed ballad on par with R&Bs greatest love songs.

 

“We can’t dance at 100 bpms all day. We hurt. We love. We’re sad. We’re just chill today. We’re all of these things,” Martin says of the varied musical styles that comprise the CD.