With the UK launch scheduled for Monday 27th February, Matt Redman and LZ7 are releasing more details about ‘Twenty Seven Million’ - their new single which looks to raise awareness for the anti-human trafficking movement. Tickets for the four-date UK tour are now on sale, and exclusive photos from the live video shoot have also been released.
‘Twenty Seven Million’ started life as a conversation between Beth Redman and Christine Caine (founder of the A21 Campaign). Beth was shocked to discover that an estimated 27 million people are trapped as modern day slaves, and of those millions it is estimated that only 1% – 2% are rescued. By way of response Beth collaborated with her husband Matt, as well as husband and wife Lindz and Lucy West (LZ7), Willie Weeks and Jorge Mhondera to write ‘Twenty Seven Million’ – a song which tells the true story of a girl trafficked from Eastern Europe into London’s sex trade.
We are told how the girl has been… ‘Trapped in the night, trafficked and beaten./All a part of an evil economy,/Nothing more than someone’s commodity.’
“She’s numb, she’s dead from the inside out,/Her heart is screaming but you don’t hear the shout.”
The song refuses to hold back: ‘We’re not bothered if this offends,/‘Cause you’ve got people that can defend./But they aint got that, they’ve got nothing.’
Speaking of the single, Christine Caine comments: “A21 is beyond excited about the release of ‘Twenty Seven Million’. With the help of Matt and Beth Redman and LZ7 we want this song to awaken people to the reality of human trafficking – and then inspire and empower them to rise up against injustice, and fight for freedom. It’s been said that music creates culture. Our hope is that this song will help create and enact a culture to DO SOMETHING about trafficking.”
The live performance video was shot in January at the Georgia Dome stadium in Atlanta, USA. 45,000 college students had gathered for the Passion 2012 conference – an event which always has strong ties to social action. Matt’s guitar features prominently in the video, and was painted especially by acclaimed artist Natasha Kissell – who came to prominence when Charles Saatchi bought her entire Royal Academy graduation show in 2003.
Grammy-nominated worship leader Matt Redman and urban music gurus LZ7 will be visiting Belfast’s Church of God (February 18th), Audacious in Manchester (February 24th), Hillsong London (February 26th) and KingsGate Peterborough (March 2nd). Events will be made up of worship led by Matt Redman, LZ7’s trademark urban beats and Gospel presentation as well as Beth Redman speaking about the issue of modern day slavery.
The single was produced by Willie Weeks and Jorge Mhondera, mixed in Nashville by David Garcia (Toby Mac) and was mastered at Abbey Road.
For tour dates see mattredman.com and lz7.co.uk
For more on the A21 Campaign visit thea21campaign.com
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