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Because we're always interested in sharing talented new Christian artists with our readers, Christian Music Today is open to receiving CDs and press kits from independent artists. Due to the enormous number of projects we receive, however, we are unable to correspond with every artist that contributes. We ask that you refrain from contacting us for confirmation of receiving your album or for feedback and advice concerning the music. Please understand that we do give the submissions a fair listen, and that we will be in touch if the music is something we feel our readers would be interested in.

If you are an independent artist who would like to be considered for review on our site, please send your CD(s) and any related press materials to editor of independent artist coverage:
Christa Banister
Attn: Independent Christian Artists
420 Elmington Ave., #1403
Nashville, TN 37205

Russ Breimeier, Online Associate Editor, studied music at the University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana and music business through the graduate program at Columbia College Chicago. Previous jobs and internships have allowed him to experience the entertainment industry from nearly every angle, including performance, production, A&R, and marketing. His musical tastes run a wide gamut between pop, rock, and alternative, though piano men like Billy Joel, Ben Folds, and Michael W. Smith are among his favorites. Russ also keeps up with music by leading worship (piano, keyboards, and vocals) at his church every week. He also listens to music while reading, studying, going to movies, exercising, driving, walking, eating, sleeping, breathing, and just about every other waking moment, which might explain why he enjoys listening to sports and talk radio during his remaining free time.

Mark Moring, Online Managing Editor/Music & Film, has been a music fan since a young age, thanks mainly to two older brothers who were teens in the '60s and turned him on to great rock and roll—starting with The Beatles, The Who and the Rolling Stones. Since then he's discovered the greatest rocker of all time, Bruce Springsteen, whom Mark has seen in concert 15 times. Mark's current favorite Christian artists are Carolyn Arends, Randy Stonehill, Sara Groves, Jars of Clay, P.O.D., Jennifer Knapp, Ginny Owens and Jill Paquette (do you detect a preference toward thoughtful female singer-songwriters here?). Mark lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife, Nina, and sons Peter and Paul.

Andree Farias, freelancer and hip-hop go-to guy at Christian Music Today, is a student at Rutgers University in New Jersey, studying Journalism with an emphasis in Media Criticism. While hip-hop is his forte—he maintains you have not lived until you've heard A Tribe Called Quest's The Low End Theory—he's known to low-ride to selections ranging from early Mariah and '90s grunge/alternative gems to the grand U2 and indier-than-thou mainstays Radiohead. On the spiritual side of things, Andree leads two youth Bible studies and plays bass with his local worship band, but he generally has trouble singing along because of those darned offbeat notes.

Andy Argyrakis, a Chicago-based freelance writer/photographer, also appears regularly in the Chicago Tribune, Illinois Entertainer, and Concert Livewire. His "In Focus" celebrity interview column is featured weekly in the Daily Journal and his "Standing Room Only" section is a monthly staple in CCM magazine, where he serves as a contributing editor. Though barely old enough to remember the early '80s (let alone the 1970s), Andy's a retro fanatic all the way, scouring thrift shops throughout his travels to find tacky vintage garments and pointless old-school memorabilia. His official website is www.andyargyrakis.com.

Christa Banister, a Nashville-based freelance writer, previously served as Departments and Creative Ventures Editor, monthly "Insider" columnist for CCM Magazine and Editor of CCMmagazine.com before taking the plunge into self-employment (and marriage) all in the same year. While some would question her sanity, she's always up for a challenge. Speaking of music, Christa's first love was The Beatles, Duran Duran, and the occasional Whitney Houston power ballad (shh, don't tell anyone), even though she's not yet 30. In her teens, Christa finally discovered Christian music, and like many of her youth group peers, crushed on Michael W. Smith before discovering he was happily married. Now she counts Switchfoot, Delirious, and Jars of Clay among her favorites and still loves all things British with Radiohead, Oasis, Blur, Coldplay and nearby Dubliners, U2, ranking at the top of the list.

Maryann B. Hunsberger, a New Jersey-based freelancer, has written professionally for more than 20 years and listened to Christian music for three decades. After becoming a Christian, Maryann thought she was destined to listen to nothing but hymns for the rest of her life. Then, she discovered contemporary Christian music. She spent her free time at concerts of early Christian artists like Larry Norman, Honeytree, Phil Keaggy, Randy Stonehill, Barry McGuire and Keith Green. She met her husband, Bob—a Christian singer/songwriter/pianist—at a John Michael Talbot concert and got engaged at a Terry Talbot concert. Some of her favorite current artists are Bebo Norman, Fernando Ortega, FFH, Mark Schultz, Relient K, Switchfoot, Jeff Deyo, Jars of Clay and Phillips, Craig & Dean. She has two children, Ryan and Jade.

Jackie A. Chapman is almost a native of Nashville, Tennessee after eight years in residence there. She keeps a full schedule freelance writing and serving coffee drinks at a very busy Starbucks (her favorite drink is a breve cappuccino). Jackie previously served as editor of Seven Ball and Release but now her words show up in Christian Music Planet, Songs4worship.com and On Course, the Assemblies of God youth magazine. Shes experienced a great year musically, with new music from U2, Coldplay, United, Switchfoot and David Crowder Band. If that wasnt enough cause for excitement, she stood in awe as she watched her Irish, Aussie, and British favorites perform live. Only one thing in Nashville is more important than music to Jackie—her youth group. She looks forward to teaching 30-some 10th graders on Sunday mornings and serving as a worship leader for the whole group on Wednesday nights.

LaTonya Taylor, Associate Editor for Campus Life magazine, covers gospel music for Christian Music Today. If you walk into her office without knocking, she's likely wearing headphones and ad-libbing along with whatever's in her CD player—perhaps jazz, blues, Motown, or hip-hop, but most likely gospel. LaTonya's early experiences with gospel music included James Cleveland, The Winans, Andrae Crouch, the Clark Sisters, John P. Kee and the Mighty Clouds of Joy. LaTonya blogs about gospel music on her website, www.gospelgal.com.

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