The latest album from indie artist Young Chozen, G.L.O.W., is high energy, electro-pop infused ear candy that gets you moving straight from the first beat. Independently produced and crowd-funded, this album was a welcome surprise in quality and message.

 

The first song kicks off with a piano vibe, morphing to electro and then the bass drops--hard. "Right Here, Right Now" features Joth Hunt from Planetshakers. The song is focussed on the youth of today and immediately know that Chozen's heart is for young people. The song declares that "right here, right now, we can make a change / right here, right now, there's no time to waste / right here, right now, let's do it today / cause' there's no time to wait for tomorrow." It truly is a rally call that we are all called for a purpose. The song at first listen reminded this reviewer of "Mo Money, Mo Problems" by Biggie, Mase and Puff Daddy.

 

"Beat Of Your Heart" has a strong drum line and an abundance of synth. The electro vibe comes of strong, but it is still pleasant to listen to. The song is all about living in God's strength and letting His heart be the melody of of your life and showing His heart to the world around us. This song is a strong contender for some serious commercial airplay.

 

A little fun is up next with "Stanky Face." Heavy electronic sounds and over-processed vocals are featured up front on this track. This definitely has youth group video night written all over it as kids do the Stanky Face dance. Behind the fun and games, Chozen delivers a solid gospel message.

"Declaration" is Chozen's declaration of who he is in Christ and what God has done in his life. The song starts with an old school drum beat and suddenly switches to the heavy synth sound. The drums come back just as the verse starts. The song bangs hard and the gospel message is delivered with fluency and style.

 

"1 to 10" is a "good girl theme song". It is a song written to minister to young ladies to help them understand the purpose their Creator made them for. The song touches on issues such as modesty, dating, true love and self-esteem. "How We Do It" is a wonderful fusion of hip hop, R&B and EDM. The beats are solid, the hook is extremely musical and there is just the right dose of electronica. Chozen is smooth in his rhymes and flows seamlessly from verses to bridge to hook. 

 

I am a huge fan of when hip hop crosses paths with CCM and "In The Dark" does this for me. Zeek Power opens with vocals and plays acoustic guitar. The track is reminiscent of the Jimmy Needham/Trip Lee collaborations. The song is about being a light in a dark world. "I will glow, I will glow, oh when darkness closes in on us/I will glow, I will glow, like a fire burning bright, hold me up to the light/I will glow." 

 

"Without You" asks the question of what would we do without God in our lives? Where would be without the saving grace of Jesus Christ? Chozen has an amazing testimony of what he has overcome in his life and this song is his reflection on that. "Faces" is about the happy faces that people put on the outside while they are broken on the inside. It is about seeing through the facade and comforting people in their reality and helping them to realize that God has a greater purpose and design for their lives. "All Falls Down" is another acoustic guitar driven track. The track speaks to people who get built up in themselves and rely on self to get them through, and asks the question, "who will you turn to when it all falls down?"

 

The title track "GLOW" closes out the album and we learn that G.L.O.W. stands for "Give Love Out Willingly." This gets us back to the simple message of Luke 10:27: "He answered, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.'" As Christians, this is the greatest commandment and how we must live our lives. We are called to be the light of the world.

 

This album is refreshing. A new independent artist, with a fresh new sound, and top rate production. Young Chozen bares his heart in this album and his love for youth ministry is clear. The album touches on topics ranging from living a lifestyle that exudes evangelism in "GLOW" and "In The Dark" to self-esteem and self-worth in "1 to 10" and "Faces". It is obvious that this young artist's heart is for the next generation of Christians and he is fulfilling his purpose through this album.

 

"In the Dark" (Get it on iTunes here.)