The Collective

Nine Beats Collective is an international tribe of troubadours, poets, rebels, provocateurs, sages & activists. We've come together from different continents, different cities, and different experiences, all on the trail of the ancient Bible sayings known as ‘the beatitudes’.
Bios

Heatherlyn

Based in Colorado, Heatherlyn regularly contributes music in communities seeking to be peace and compassion in the world. Her debut album Storydwelling, fused diverse influences including Reggae, Americana, Rock, Blues and Soul. With lyrical themes of social action, considering how we each are channels of peace and hope in our world, Heatherlyn has shared the stage with many notable national and international activists, leaders and artists. Across USA, she has collaborated with the likes of award winning photographer and author John Noltner; the 1,000 Days Movement; and author Doug Paggit. She toured in Australia with author/philosopher Peter Rollins, and debuted live in UK with NINE BEATS in 2017.

Developing a unique sustainable model for her work, Heatherlyn ranges from house concerts to stage, from artist-in-residency to yoga and music class leading; from online presenting to songwriting workshops. Her accomplishments include winning Midwest People’s Choice of NPR’s Mountain Stage/NewSong Performance Contest. Heatherlyn is a key collaborator to NINE BEATS, not just with her self-penned ‘Letting it go, but also contributing four co-writer credits.

Eric Leroy Wilson

Eric serves as the Associate Chaplain at Pepperdine University.

He’s a certified Spiritual Director, Executive Coach and religion blogger for the Huffington Post, and an award-winning playwright and theatrical director.

His work has been published and performed around the country including the John F. Kennedy Centre in Washington D.C. Eric’s book, Faith: The First Seven Lessons was released autumn 2016.

As well as providing spoken word interludes, Eric brings a passionate M/C persona to the NINE BEATS album!

Rev Vince Anderson

He’s a real Rev! Born in Fresno, CA, Vince moved to New York in 1994 to study at Union Theological Seminary to become a Methodist minister. The Reverend lasted 3 months (!), before sensing a new direction to take his music and message to where the people were, into the bars and taverns. He started holding weekly “Services” in New York’s Lower East Side and Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He serves as a pastor and musician at three New York City Churches; Citylights Community, Barstool Tabernacle, and Bushwick Abbey. He recently finished setting the book of Psalms to music.

The Reverend calls his music, “Dirty Gospel”, a term reflective of both his musical influences and his theological perspective. He has released 4 albums as well as playing a weekly show in New York City for over 20 years with his based band “The Love Choir”. He’s toured internationally as well as playing with artists such as The Roots, Daniel Johnson, and Melvin Van Peebles. His band includes members of TV on the Radio, Run the Jewels, Nick Waterhouse band, and Burnt Sugar. On his NINE BEATS track (co-written with producer, Tony Bean), Rev Vince’s lyrics serve up a withering take on Twitter culture and cheap blessing – underpinned by a pounding ‘dirty gospel’ groove.

Ben Grace

Australian singer-songwriter Ben Grace’s impeccably crafted songs hover in the space between lightness and the depths, wrestling their way through humor and melody to peel back the layers and reveal the naked truth of us. Born and raised in an inner city suburb of Sydney, Ben’s exodus from the beliefs and structures of his working-class Christian childhood weaves poignantly through his lyrics, revealing itself in his deep commitment to justice and willingness to call forward the darker themes in American politics. Through the specificity of his own deconstruction, Ben writes into our universal search for belonging, spiritual homecoming, and desire to live seen and unashamed.

His solo work is the culmination of a 25 year trajectory through the industry that includes the release of over 50 songs and collaborations, each a twist in the gradual unraveling that would lead him to produce under his own name. In the past two years, Ben has joined fellow artists to tour across 20 states and through Europe, playing everything from house shows to historic venues, singing into the truth of our stories and holding them up to the light.

Ambassada

Ambassada became one of the most prominent artists on the African scene with a multi-award winning first album, “Natamani”, in 2004. His hit single, ‘Watote Ikane’ advocated Children’s rights and led him into the humanitarian world that is still a core part of his work. It also led to lining up with Black Mambazo, P. Diddy, Yossour N’Dour, amongst others. In 2008 he took a break for study and his humanitarian projects, headlining the Action Aid “Get On Board” Aids Eradication Campaign, and being engaged by Oxfam as a G8 poverty campaign headliner in East Africa. He became a UN Ambassador to Children in 2010. Today, The Ambassada Foundation works in slums and children’s homes around Nairobi.

In 2012, he moved to Nairobi Kenya to belt out some of his best tunes including “Ayaya” (ft Danie), “Take Me”, and “Kani” (Kanisa) that addressed issue in the 20th century church. Now based back in Monster Studios in Kampala, Uganda, Ambassada’s collab ‘Kosi’ (co-written with NINE BEATS producer, Tony Bean) has an irresistible groove and heartfelt vocals that invoke hope for the children of Uganda, Africa and the world.

Barry Taylor

Theologian, professor, writer, cultural commentator, artist, musician, film music composer and famously had a faith epiphany when on the tech crew of AC/DC’s ‘Highway to Hell’ uber-rock n’roll tour.

A talented song writer, he has composed movie soundtracks and produced his own albums. Barry travels globally, speaking on issues related to the intersections of theology and contemporary culture. He co-authored A Matrix of Meanings: Finding God in Pop Culture and A Heretic’s Guide to Eternity and Entertainment Theology: New Edge Spirituality in a Digital Democracy.

‘Wild World’, Barry’s self-penned and sung contribution to NINE BEATS, is a old-school R&B vibe that grabs your attention and refuses to let go!

Tony Bean

MOBO-award winner Tony Bean is founder of 5a.m. Records, a highly respected studio in Birmingham, U.K. The main writer/producer of the outfit, Tony is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist. His first love is guitar, for which he is well recognised, particularly on the gospel circuit where he started out. He developed as a session musician and has worked with artists ranging from gospel group Nu Colors to rap artist Coolio.

Tony’s influences vary from R&B and Jazz, to Reggae and Rock; witnessed by the variety of music he has produced. His guitar work can be heard on many of 5am’s productions – and right across the NINE BEATS COLLECTIVE project. Tony has co-penned several powerful songs on Nine Beats To The Bar, recording in USA, Uganda, and Denmark as well his home turf in Birmingham. As producer, Tony has mustered an eclectic crew of artists across 3 continents to produce a unique collaboration, full of delicious song writing and musicianship. With long-time trusted engineer, Colin Bassett, 5 a.m. have helped to produce a high-quality album that we hope gains the wide hearing the blood, sweat and tears deserve!

Martin Trotman

This smooth, soulful and exceptionally skilled pianist, vocalist, composer, musical director and producer boasts an enviable collaboration list that includes 80’s diva Jackie Graham, Peter Andre, and has supported artists like Nile Rodgers, Soweto Kinch and Snarky Puppy.

As a producer and composer, Martin has penned and recorded scores for film, TV and ads, and created arrangements for emerging artists, managing their portfolios and nurturing fresh new talent. As a performer, Martin ranges from a full-on jazz experience, a soulful solo performance mixing soul, jazz and RnB, to a tight 8-piece band.

His arranging skills and musicianship have illuminated many tracks on the album, and his self-penned composition, ‘Serenity’, fuses soul, gospel and jazz with a glorious arrangement and amazing vocals. His first solo album is set for release in 2018.

Steve Bassett

Creator of NINE BEATS, Steve is a lyricist, presenter, creative director, documentarymaker & storyteller, who’s worked in more than 35 countries, often alongside vulnerable communities.

As a bassist, guitarist, lyricist and presenter, his C.V. includes chart singles, numerous tours, albums, TV & radio appearances. In the charity/development sector he has been involved in, and created, [inter]national events, campaigns & initiatives and been involved in a host of innovative projects and major public events.

A passionate strand of his work is to produce/film/present/script over 150 docos and short films all over the world, most often in developing world contexts exploring issues such as HIV/AIDS, poverty, etc. He’s Creative Director of the Lifewords charity. Steve has co-written 4 tracks on the album and is Executive Producer.

Rob Taylor

Rob has been the artist liaison and business manager from the beginning of The Nine Beats Collective.

With experience stretching back over 30 years, he brings a mix of Executive and CEO management experience, specialising in organisational recovery, strategy and transition. He’s also been a board chair across both the creative industries and charitable, not-for-profit social enterprise sector, including a large supported housing provider, an award-winning media charity, a trust pioneering projects around spirituality and culture in South Asian Communities and a leading award winning black led arts development organisation with UK and international commitments.

Mark Scandrette

Author, speaker, activist and networker, Mark is the founding director of ReIMAGINE: A Center for Integral Christian Practice based in San Francisco (www.reimagine.org), where he leads an annual series of retreats, ‘Learning Labs’ and projects designed to help participants integrate the teachings of Jesus into all aspects of life through shared practices and intentional community experiments leaders. His books include FREE: Spending Your Time and Money On What Matters Most (IVP 2013), Practicing the Way of Jesus (InterVarsity Press 2011), Soul Graffiti (Jossey-Bass 2007) and Belonging and Becoming: Creating A Thriving Family Culture (with Lisa Scandrette). He is a contributing author to other books including, The Gospel After Christendom (Baker 2012) An Emergent Manifesto of Hope (Baker 2007) and The Relevant Church (Relevant 2005). He and his wife Lisa and their three children live in the Mission District of San Francisco.

Mark has extensive background in church leadership and community-based organizations. He graduated from the Bemidji State University with a degree Applied Psychology (with an emphasis in family and community health), studied theology at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota and received training as a spiritual director at Mercy Center, Burlingame, California. He frequently speaks and guest lectures at universities, churches and seminaries and at conferences nationally and internationally. He has been influenced by teachers and mentors that include Dallas Willard and Fr. Richard Rohr.

Working with NINE BEATS, Mark has helped to shape the whole creative approach, introduced friends and networks, and has written ‘The Ninefold Path’, a (largely online and film-based) resource exploring the Beatitudes. It will be ‘live’ later in 2017. Mark’s ability to re-imagine and develop new ideas has been a big part of the development process: he returns to UK for a series of NINE BEATS event from AUGUST 2017.

Rozella Haydée White

A life and leadership coach, creator, consultant, and owner of RHW Consulting, Rozella describes herself as a faith-based social entrepreneur – looking to create innovative solutions to social issues using faith as their foundation.

Rozella is the Houston City Director for Mission Year, a faith-based gap year organization committed to walking with young adults to build beloved community across dividing lines and become advocates for God’s justice. She is a consultant with LEAD, a leadership development organization focused on empowering Christian leaders, transforming faith communities and influencing the world. Rozella previously served as the Director for Young Adult Ministry for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), one of the largest protestant denominations in the United States.

Her experience with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder in 2012, led her to begin her blog, Embracing My Shadow – an attempt to publicly share about her struggles and her journey of self discovery. The blog has evolved to be a place where she shares the story of her ongoing effort to accept her WHOLE self; of seeking radical self-love and helping others do the same.

Rozella is also the founder of Sacred Travel Journeys, a soon-to-be non-profit organization striving to foster awareness, peace and love through travel journeys that transform the soul.

As a writer, teacher, preacher and public theologian, Rozella is a known presence on social media boldly engaging issues of faith, justice, mental illness and the radical and transformative love of God as embodied in the person of Jesus. She is committed to the pursuit of justice and is a co-founder of #ResistHouston, a community of connection, empowerment and support for resistance against injustice.Connect with Rozella on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Christine Yi Suh

Christine Yi Suh is a spiritual director, writer, and creative who is passionate about the intersection of contemplative practice, justice, and embodied spirituality. In addition to facilitating anti-racism workshops, Christine cultivates healing spaces and soul care retreats for women of colour and faith communities committed to a liberated theology and praxis. She is the author of Forty Days on Being a Four. You can find more of her work @christineyisuh.

Mikael R Andreasen

Mikael is a musician and award-winning composer based in Copenhagen, Denmark, who primarily works under the moniker Kloster (the Danish word for monastery) which at the same time is a solo project, a band, and an ever-growing collective counting more than 50 people, typically wrapping vocal melodies in beautiful chords and tones.

Mikael has released six critically acclaimed albums. “Half Dream, Half Epiphany”, was nominated as album of the year at The Danish Music Awards. In 2016, Mikael won the Steppeulven award for composer of the year (a show curated by the Association of Danish Music Critics). He has performed in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, England, The Faroe Islands, Germany, and USA.

Aside from his collaborations with Nine Beats Collective, Mikael wrote songs for a new national song book in Denmark and for a Danish theatre company performance piece.

Caleb Quaye

Born and raised in London, England, Caleb became the signature guitarist of the 60s/70s working with Elton John, Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, Hall & Oates, and many more legends. Dragged to church by Chester Thompson (Weather Report, Frank Zappa, Genesis/Phil Collins) in 1982, a radical transformation experience set Caleb on a new path with him eventually becoming a pastor and worship leader with the Foursquare church. His autobiography, ‘A Voice louder than Rock n’ Roll’ was published in 2006, and a documentary of his life is currently in production. He still performs with his band ‘The Faculty’.

Caleb is an Elder of Worship at The Church On The Way, LA, and is also part time faculty at Shepherd University/Cornell School of Music in Los Angeles. He travels the world as a “Musicianary” using music as a transcultural means to reach people with a message of hope! Caleb’s unmistakably fluid, lyrical guitar illuminates NINE BEATS – illustrating why Mr Quaye is regarded as one of the world’s best guitarists. Caleb also contributed own composition, ‘The Way Of Peace’ – which features vocals from Darren ‘Daz’ Ellison (Ollie Murs’ band) and female vocal group ‘Divine’.

Matt Valler

Matt Valler is a dad-dancing, beach-loving geek of an Englishman, living in the ancient Kingdom of Cornwall, at the very South-West end of the UK. He is serious about stories, especially the ones we tell each other without knowing it. Matt can often be found ‘hacking’ cities around the world, uncovering their hidden meanings, although at the end of the day he likes nothing more than writing in his shed-with-a-view on the side of a Cornish creek.

Matt also happens to be the Founder and Director of Alchemy, a social business that experiments with stories to create change. He previously served the global United Bible Societies fellowship as Ambassador for Youth, and is currently visiting lecturer in Postcolonial Biblical Imagination at Sarum College, part of the University of Winchester. He also chairs an education charity for young people called Soulscape.

His powerful ‘Zombie Apocalypse’ take, on the Beatitudes (‘An Invocation For Ghosts’) is a must-read at – its lyricism ‘is crafted into musical form and performed soulfully by Heatherlyn as the beguiling ‘Blessed Are The Undead’ on the album.

Aaron Niequist

Aaron is a worship leader, songwriter, and pastor in the Chicago area.

After majoring in music theory and composition at Judson University, he joined the student impact staff at Willow Creek Church. After leading worship at Mars Hill Church (Grand Rapids, MI) and then returning to Willow Creek Church (Barrington, IL), he created A New Liturgy – a collection of modern liturgical worship recordings. Aaron curated a discipleship-focused, formational, ecumenical, practice-based community at Willow Creek called “The Practice” and is now developing his own project in this arena.

He’s married to Shauna, a popular blogger and author whose latest book hit the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers lists. Aaron’s own first book ‘The Eternal Current’ is released soon!

Fatai

A Melbourne-based singer who, soon after being a semi-finalist on the first season of ‘The Voice’, penned a deal with Mercury Records Australia, [part of Universal Music] where she spent two and a half years under their direction and guidance.

Fatai sold out her own first headline tour spanning Australia and New Zealand in 2014, before launching out as an independent artist in 2015. She’s toured as main support to Boyce Avenue (USA), Guy Sebastian (AUS) and David Ryan Harris (USA). As well as her trademark voice, Fatai is a beguiling songwriting and performer.

Fatai delivers a sensational vocal on this album – giving soaring emotional power to ‘Lament’, a song written by her fellow Chicago resident Aaron Niequist. A stand-out track!

Deborah Pritchard

Deborah has been broadcast by BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, released commercially by NMC, Signum and Nimbus and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, London Sinfonietta, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Singers, Manchester Camerata and the English String Orchestra.

As a synaesthetic composer she has worked with numerous visual artists including Maggi Hambling, Hughie O’Donoghue, George Shaw and Icelandic sculptor Steinunn Thorarinsdottir. Her violin concerto ‘Wall of Water’ after the paintings by Maggi Hambling was performed at the National Gallery, Sainsbury Wing Theatre and acclaimed by Gramophone as a ‘work that will take one’s breath away’. She studied composition with Simon Bainbridge for her MMus Degree in Composition at the Royal Academy of Music and was awarded her DPhil from Worcester College, Oxford where she studied with Robert Saxton. She teaches composition at both the University of Oxford and Leeds College of Music. She was composer in residence at the Lichfield Festival, 2016. With both stand-alone tracks and string arrangements for other songs on the album, Deborah has added some very beautiful textures to the soundscape of the Beatitudes.

The Story

SPARK

Like all ideas, it started as a tiny spark.

  • What if the wisdom of nine ancient sayings could speak right here, right now?
  • What if these words, spoken by Jesus and included in the Bible, were found to be tender not toxic, inviting not divisive, a welcome not a weapon?
  • What could that mean to our lives in the face of this wild, wild world?
  • What if a soundscape album was the way to bring these sayings to a new generation?

What if it was just TIME for this?

I just say had to say yes, and keep saying yes, to the invitation of these NINE BEATS!

“Especially with the current political climate, many people are feeling a pull towards the alternate message of the beatitudes: trust not fear, lament not denial, cooperation not comparison, agency not despair, compassion not judgment, honesty not pretense, embrace not us vs. them, surrender not retaliation.”

MARK SCANDRETTE

GATHERING

Across USA, Europe, into Uganda, I threw myself into conversations with an array of sublimely talented people – such kind, gracious listeners who were willing to join this adventure.

It was random but somehownot random. These were the right people, with real stories, whose high-level skills were matched by the depth of their humanity, and their passion for faith, life and love.

“What if there really is a call for a counter-cultural move for the world? I really believe the beatitudes are that. This message is so profound, so impactful, that it can tap in to whoever you are, wherever you are.”

ERIC LEROY WILSON

Some became key shapers. Mark Scandrette, especially, helped find some wonderful artists. Friends made recommendations. Random connections turned into friendships. The momentum grew until it was time to bring the NINE BEATS Collective together.

HOTHOUSE

“These are sayings that speak to those who are on the outskirts, recognising that this is for everyone, that all are welcome … a different way of being that invites all in.”

ROZELLA HAYDÉE WHITE

Gathering at a retreat centre in California, we began to explore the beatitudes together. It. was. Lit! No divas, no egos, no agendas – suspicion put at ease as we found ourselves fused by the beauty of the beatitudes. Collaborations began, forged in shared experience, shared faith journey, shared creativity.

“There’s so much that tells us we’re not good enough or we should be this way, or we should do this or whatever … I think the beatitudes are a beautiful way of inverting a lot of those messages, so that we can begin to perceive our lives and our reality differently.”

HEATHERLYN

The beauty of NINE BEATS is the diversity – of culture, music, perspectives, backgrounds, race: a gloriously wide canvas to create from. It shouldn’t have worked – but with these beguiling, subversive, inclusive words spoken by Jesus 2000 years ago as the common thread – it did, it does! And if it works here … why not everywhere?

PRODUCTION

With producer Tony Bean at the helm, writing and recording the NINE BEATS album took place over several months. To capture the ‘vibe’ of each artist, we decided to record in their home city, extending the Collective to include brilliant engineers, session players and vocalists. Via NY, Chicago, Minneapolis, & LA in USA, to Kampala Uganda, Copenhagen Denmark, and Birmingham, Worcester & London UK, the soundscape was pieced together.

“I like the idea of a soundtrack to the beatitudes … you have a collection of songwriters, artists, musicians, that aren’t trying to set the beatitudes to music – or even necessarily be inspired by them, but rather try to find the essence of what it is, and write around that … it’s almost like we’re writing in between the cracks of the beatitudes. There’s a space in between each beatitude that I think this project is trying to fill.”

REV VINCE ANDERSON

With a double album of material, the narrative (which had to work over four sides of vinyl) was vital. The arc moved through awakening, purgation, illumination to union: spoken word linking a pilgrimage from broken empire, to lament, the invitation of the beats, and walking into the future ‘nine beats to the bar’.

With gatefold concept artwork and a killer symbol design, the album was released in summer 2016 – and the 5-star reviews keep coming! It’s a slow burn project – but worth getting into!

LIVE!

In 2017 a showcase ‘full-band’ gig of the album with many Collective members illuminated Greenbelt Festival in UK, followed by a short tour. Heatherlyn, Rev Vince Anderson, Mikael R Andreasen and others have featured their collabs in their gigs. Mark Scandrette, Aaron Niequist, Christine Suh, Eric Wilson, Rozella White, Danielle Welch & Matt Valler have brought NINE BEATS (and The Ninefold Path) to numerous gatherings across UK/USA/Australia, etc. With live events featuring the Collective in different configurations being planned for UK/USA in 2018/19, there’s so much more to come!

MOVEMENT

“The voice of the beatitudes needs to be heard in today’s society: the whole human side of life is being more and more ignored … the beatitudes are like a gentle breeze of something true.”

MIKAEL R ANDREASEN

NINE BEATS is so much more than an album – it’s a haunting, a cry, a new beat. It’s a soundscape filled with soul, adventure, lament, and rage. It’s a love song, and most of all, it’s a movement.

The NINE BEATS Collective begins here, but there’s room for anyone on the trail of this ancient wisdom. These beats might hold the keys for our liberation wherever we are, whoever we are, however we are, today.

– Steve Bassett, founder and Executive Producer

The Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

[Found in the Bible, Matthew chapter 5]