Above: The cover to Eric's new release, Fresh Hope, now available in our Online Store!

Eric's New Album, "Fresh Hope: Reflections on the Birth of Jesus" NOW AVAILABLE! 

The idea began back in 2001, as Eric Gwin was finishing up working on his debut CD, Refuge. Christmas was coming up soon, so he decided to put together a couple of tracks celebrating the birth of Jesus, made available exclusively through download. 

He recorded "A Savior is Born", a song written for Ariel back in 1991, but had never been released. He then wrote and recorded another track entitled, "Peace on Earth." The songs were released as downloads throughout the holiday season in 2001, and have become popular with his listeners ever since. It was because of the popularity of these two songs that Eric began thinking about putting together an entire album of songs focusing on the birth of Christ. 

After working in the studio throughout the Spring and Summer of this year on the follow-up to 2005's The Calling album, Eric came to the realization in early August that he would not be able to finish the songs for that album by the end of the year as he had hoped. So, he decided to take a break from the complex rhythms and dense arrangements of the new material and put together something simple and new, just in time for the holiday season. 

Over a period of about eight weeks (from mid-August to the end of October) Eric wrote and recorded 8 more "praise and worship"-style songs based on the birth of Jesus and put them together with the 2 songs he had already recorded to form the new studio release, Fresh Hope: Reflections on the Birth of Christ.

Fresh Hope is quite a departure for Eric when compared to his last studio album, The Calling. On a musical level, the songs are simpler with much more of a "worship" feel. Although these songs can be considered "Christmas" songs, many of them would fit right in within a worship service at any time of the year. 

The album is now available on CD in our Online Retail Store and in our Download Store! Pick up a copy and make this new album part of your holiday celebration this year!