The C28 T-shirt Winners!

First off, I want to thank everyone who entered the contest. Reader participation makes doing this website fun. Plus, C28.com has some really cool T-shirts and I'm sure you'll get compliments from friends and family when you wear yours.

The winners are...

1. Felicity of Rare Rocks

2. Deborah of Comfort Joy Designs

3. Michele of Creative Writings 101

4. Mary Jenkins

5. Fatou Dia

Enjoy your T-shirts!

Music Spotlight: Lights

Lights is the musical equivalent of sitting by a campfire and making s'mores. Her music warms you with its idyllic lyrics and her sound is deliciously sweet, melting you with its simple honesty. She rocks a keytar and enjoys using words like stellar and tubular. When she talks she speaks with a kindness in her voice that exudes a mix of bubbly youth and sage.

It's apparent that she's tapped into the kind of originality that most artists long for. From her style (signature headbands and the occasional fanny pack) to the true-to-herself vibe that she’s created while garnering some national attention. You may have heard her songs in the latest batch of Old Navy commercials. "The Last Thing On Your Mind" is perhaps the most stunning because the melody lingers with you long after the commercial ends.

Although Lights is not her given name she said "it's like a one word description of everything I want to say to the world."

Growing up as the daughter of missionaries she's lived in places like the Philippines and Jamaica. And for her, inspiration comes in all types of forms.

"I'm inspired more by the things I see...driving through a city or walking through a city with no music or anything. You have to walk and not hear anything to like hear it the most."

She says Phil Collins "is like a superhero of mine" and other than Collins she would enjoy collaborating with Kanye West because she thinks the blending of genres could produce something cool.

Lights doesn't court hype and doesn't want to become jaded by seeing herself on TV. In fact, she doesn't even own a TV and that probably works in advantage for her fans who eagerly await her next project.

When it comes to touring she would love to play in Paris, which only seems fitting for Lights to want to play in the "City of Lights." The Canadian singer also looks forward to playing in Los Angeles and touring in the States.

But Lights isn't all about music. She knows the value of taking the time to express her creativity in other ways.

"You can't put it all out in music because you get spent. You have to release it somewhere else so I do a lot of painting. I paint like pop art. Sort of like comic book style...and I also draw comics and someday I'll put out a graphic novel or something."

You can listen to Lights music at www.myspace.com/lightsnoise and see why she's one of the best acts to emerge out of the indie music scene this year.



[photo credit Daniel Bray]

Natalie Portman's Shoe Line

If you're into expensive vegan-friendly shoes then Natalie Portman's shoe line at Te Casan is perfect for you. But for those of us who aren't willing to shell out $300 plus for a pair of high heels we can simply admire them.

Is anyone else of fan of vegan and eco-friendly clothing lines?

Bollywood Meets Hollywood in The Cheetah Girls 3 - One World

I can't help but smile over this amazing blend. I couldn't have dreamed up a better match. I'm a big fan of musicals, Disney and Bollywood so it's easy to see why this makes The Cheetah Girls 3: One World one of my most highly-anticipated films of the year.

Check out this short behind-the-scenes featurette to tide you over until the August 22nd premiere on The Disney Channel:



Related Post: Bollywood Goodness

[photo credit SillyKhan]

C28 T-shirt Giveaway!

C28 is offering a T-shirt giveaway from their NOTW line exclusively to Think Virtue! readers. 5 winners will be chosen. And the winners will also receive stickers, coupons and some other goodies courtesy of C28.

This contest is open to everyone. To enter, just email giveaways@thinkvirtue.com - Be sure to include your name and blog/website (if you have one). Contest ends July 30th. I’ll draw names on Thursday, July 31st and notify the winners via email and website.

Also, the first 45 people to leave a comment will get a coupon for 10% off your next purchase at www.C28.com for you and a friend.

Best wishes!

[Some bands that rock C28...Wavorly and Moi]

Holly Hunter talks about the influence of music on Saving Grace

Not only is the Academy Awarding-winning Holly Hunter passionate about being a good actress, she's also passionate about good music.

On her TNT show Saving Grace, she portrays Grace Hanadarko, an Oklahoma City detective who goes through booze, men and solving crimes at an alarming rate. As Grace seems to be spiraling in circles she gets a chance to turn her life around when a rough-around-the-edges angel appears after she accidentally hits a pedestrian late one night while driving.

Grace's storyline gives Hunter a perfect opportunity to explore music that wades through the waters of various emotions and illuminates her character's inner struggle to find hope and redemption.

"We used Anthony and the Johnsons last year and we're using another song of theirs this year. I got turned onto them through Lou Reed. Since Lou Reed is such a collaborator, he's got his ear to the ground, you know, for new music" says Hunter, over the phone, "We're using 'Fistful of Love'...that's a song of theirs that Lou actually also sings on. We've kind of shaped one of the episodes around that song...it can be about Grace but it can also be about a crime. So the writers wrote this really fabulous script and we just finished shooting it."

Making music an intricate part of the storytelling process has become somewhat of a theme for the show. Another episode of Saving Grace will be centered around a song from The Pixies and Hunter is especially enjoyed how a Kid Rock song in episode two came together, "it's a perfect marriage between a scene and a song."

Hunter uses all kinds of music to help her get into character from Queen to The Black Keys to TV on the Radio but she said that "Lou Reed is and will continue to be my touchstone for this show."

You can watch the season two premiere of Saving Grace tonight at 10p.m. on TNT.

Music Spotlight: DJ Keebz

DJ Keebz has toured with notable Christian hip-hop acts like TobyMac and Grits. When he's not on the road he's the house DJ for the The Logan Show, a late-night Christian talk show, as well as radio producer for the Weekend 22 and on-air talent at WNAZ.com.

Here's my Q&A with him:

1. How would you describe your style?

Well, very "East Coast" most would say, but you'll find a hint of Hispanic influences in there as well. I'm not Hispanic, but I am from Tampa, Fla. so that comes through a bit. More so than anything, I'm a big fan of live instruments, so you will always find that in there as well. Although I am from "The South" I'm not a fan of southern rap...we can do better than that.

2. What equipment do you use?

2 vestax turntables, 2 pioneer cdj-1000's, 1 Rane ttm-56 mixer, 2 hands, 1 soul.

3. Which format do you like the best: Vinyl, CDs or digital downloads?

Vinyl.

4. What were some of your favorite moments when you toured with TobyMac?

My favorite moment was when we performed in Gatlinburg, Tenn. My parents where finally able to see my on tour performing, it was the last time my mom saw me perform before she past away...they were really proud.

5. What music artists are you eager to collaborate with?

Mims, Soujaboy...I'M SO KIDDING!!! Right now, I would say in Christian music, Verbs, Andale', Pettidee, MOC, and of course Toby. Outside of CCM, I would love to work with someone like Lupe Fiasco...even though he is Muslim, he is very open about his religion and I can respect that...he also thinks before he writes.

6. What do you think about the current state of urban Christian music? Is it at a crossroads?
It's dead...good thing about Christianity is, it's based on a resurrection.

7. Who are some of your favorite DJs?

Maj, z-trip, promote, form, Jazzy Jeff.

8. What projects are next on your calendar?

We'll I can't really say...lets just put it this way. There are a few project available, I'm choosing which one I want to dive into...but something is coming. If you search through my friends list on MySpace hard enough...you just might find the big project (that's all I'm saying). www.myspace.com/djkeebzmixtape

***

[photos courtesy of DJ Keebz]

Jimmy Needham - Not Without Love

Check out my review of Jimmy Needham's upcoming album Not Without Love over at The Christian Manifesto. I gave it four out of five stars so it's definitely music worth getting excited about.

Here's a snippet: "...it offers a universal beauty that can easily connect with anyone who enjoys songs about love, life and the search for God amidst it all."

To listen to some tracks from Needham's album visit his MySpace page at www.myspace.com/jimmyneedham

[Links That Make You Think]

Here's a round-up of some interesting news and links that I've come across:

• Disney Channel songwriters Adam Watts & Andy Dodd (Camp Rock/High School Musical) will be special guests at The Gospel Music Association's Music in the Rockies seminar.
  
• Film critic Roger Ebert talks about the need for redemption in films.
  
• Relevant magazine interviews Sen. Barack Obama in regards to his faith.
  
• Kevin Max (of dcTalk fame), Joanne Cash and other music artists released Hope, Volume One, a compilation CD, with proceeds benefiting Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE).
  
• Twitter at Church?
  
• "I Kissed A Girl" singer Katy Perry started off in the Christian music industry.
  

Check them out and tell me what you think.

The XXXchurch is moving to Las Vegas

When was the last time you prayed for a prostitute or porn star? For Craig Gross, founder of the XXXchurch, praying for those caught up in the sex industry is worth all the criticism he gets from both sides of the spectrum.

Some Christians think he's gone too far with his ministry, they can't see the value of him reaching out to those in such seedy situations. On the other hand, some non-Christians can't understand why he's there in the first place because they don't see a problem with the lifestyles of those in the sex industry. But whatever people are saying, good or bad, Gross doesn't let that stop him from helping those in need. In fact, he's taking the XXXchurch to a new level. In 2009 the XXXchurch will be moving its headquarters to Las Vegas. In the following video, Gross talks about his excitement for this new venture.



Anyone else glad to see the XXXchurch making the big move? If not, what are your thoughts on ministries like this?