We have had it on good authority for a while now that Derek’s next album was going to be different. And now it’s official! If you don’t get Derek’s newsletter (for which there is no excuse and you should remedy that right now!) here is what the latest one had to say, among other things.

Derek’s back in the studio, readying Stockholm Syndrome

It’s been over a year since Derek released his critically acclaimed The Ringing Bell, and he’s currently writing and recording his new album, which we hear is going to be titled Stockholm Syndrome. He’s collaborating with long time friend and former Caedmon’s Call bandmate Josh Moore on what is rumored to be a more experimental, electronic album.
Teasing with programmed and decidedly more ‘inorganic’ elements, Stockholm Syndrome is shaping up to be Derek’s most ambitious album to date.
Be on the lookout for a tentative May 2009 release.

We also know that Derek is feverishly working in the studio all this month on the record. This record is shaping up to be one of Derek’s boldest musical statements yet!

Stay tuned to dw.net for updates!

Derek’s set and discussion time is 80 minutes long, but hey, don’t you have some holiday coming up? This has to be better than watching the Lions get pasted on Thanksgiving, right?

We’ve got a new song to sing: Derek did re-sign with INO, and the next record comes out will be finished in February; it ought to come out in May. We think it’ll be different. We’re sure some of you won’t like it—but then that’s been true of each of the last few records, right? We can’t tell you what it’ll sound like [because we don't really know] or who he’s working with [we do], but … it’s probably not what you’re expecting. Unless, of course, you’re expecting the Spanish Inquisition.

And instead of that, let’s present two things:

1. Sandra let slip today that she and Derek are expecting a little sister for Mr. Rhodes in February.
2. In the line of embarrassing, we-just-don’t-get-it photos of Derek, here’s another:

Happy Veterans’ Day.

This week only!

Phil Wickham’s got a new album out that he is giving away in exchange for your email information. (Hey, where have we heard of that concept before?).

Did Phil get inspiration for the idea from Derek?

We can’t say for sure. But a look at 1 of the 399 faces on the cover of Phil’s album might be a clue.

Check the bottom row, tenth face from the right.

Michael Spencer, who styles himself as the Internet Monk, wrote today about Christian counter-cultural music. Sound like any wee bald laddies we know?

Listen to Derek Webb’s take on a Dylan-esque voice, and notice how the mainstream Christian music industry attempted to pigeonhole him for being too political. Webb continues to be at the center of a different kind of Christian art; a socially conscious, challenging voice of a counter culture that resists the “mainstreaming” of the Christian artistic voice into the Christian ghetto. “We Don’t Have A Savior On Capital Hill” isn’t going to make it on K-Love anytime soon.

Monk decries the mainstream evangelical culture, speaking further about the “Christian ghetto” and name-dropping the Square Peg Alliance:

Christian radio will not play these voices. They will not be leading the bouncing worship songs at your next youth event. They are not entertaining the sheep into a state of altered- and largely insensitive- consciousness.

You will find them at Square Peg Alliance and Paste Music. You’ll hear them cited as “indy folk” more than Christian. You’ll have to endure the question “But is that really Christian music?”

Evangelicals have now produced a massive consumeristic niche ready to buy, wear and applaud whatever fits in its pre-described mold of entertainment oriented discipleship and warm, fuzzy, evangelical experience.

We figure that most of you are nodding your heads vigorously. We were.

[Hat Tip to Chris Hubbs via email.]

Kevin Davis writes on his blog about Derek’s show on Sunday in Souderton, PA.

Had I known Joe Bassett was going to open, I might have actually made the trek over to see the show. (Actually, it was a family picnic that prevented my attendance).

For all of our Nashvillian readers Derek posted about some media play for Noisetrade over on the NoiseTrade Blog

for our friends in nashville, we understand that noisetrade is going to get a mention on this monday’s morning edition, which airs every weekday morning locally on npr. if you’d like to listen, check the listings at the local npr website (http://wpln.org/). i’m told you can even listen on their website after the fact (and i hope so, since i’ll be on the road…). thanks to nashville public radio for their support!

We will definitely be checking out the website to see if it goes up after it airs and will keep you guys posted.

The NoiseTrade blog just added some pretty sweet news about an opportunity for Derek to get the word out about NoiseTrade.

Derek Webb, will be part of a panel discussion entitled “21st Century DIY” at this year’s Next BIG Nashville 2008 Conference. Derek and the other panel members will discuss “The New Tools and Services available for independent or independent minded artists and representatives. Reps from websites, third party service providers and new media companies discuss the new slate of tools available for independent artists and music businesses.” Panelists include:

Derek Webb / NoiseTrade
Clint Smith / Emma
Dave Jaworski / Passalong Networks
Lou Plaia / ReverbNation
Chris Stacey / Mozes, VP, Music Industry
Jeff Price / TuneCore

MODERATOR: Kevin Brown / Echo

Panel discussion is from 10-11am on September 12th.

We here at DW.net agree that this is “sure to be a stimulating discussion about the past, present, and future of music marketing and distribution.”

More information at http://www.nextbignashville.net/.

Matt Conner of Stereo Subversion recently interviewed Derek on a whole range of issues ranging from Noisetrade to his next album. Here’s what Derek had to say regarding the latter:

It’s pretty early on and, as usual, I’ve got pages and pages of ideas. It’s hard to say exactly where it’s going. I have a couple strong ideas, but I’m almost afraid to say because you never know once you get in and start. I thought Mockingbird was going to be full of different stuff. I intended that to be a record about art and politics and the combination of the two and it ended up just being about politics. [Laughs] There’s only one song about art on that record and it’s totally out of place.

Right now, if I had to give it broad strokes, I would say it’s going to be a record about race and sexuality - those are the big issues right now, but that’s what has been squarely in my line of sight for the last couple of years.

You can read the whole interview here.