Army of Three hit the number 3 spot of hitz.fm MET 10 for eight weeks in a row recently, with their song Wonder of Your Greatness from their newest released Heartcore album.
The Heartcore album has ten tracks and two remixes, recorded in collaboration for two songs with Korean missionaries in Thailand and an Indian music band in India.
The production of the Heartcore album began in 2014 when Darren Teh stumbled upon an old unreleased album titled, Pre-wired To Worship, that Army of Three had recorded. The band decided to regroup and re-record the album.
“We went into free jamming in the studio. We didn’t even revisit any of the old songs but the music just came naturally. The coolest thing is that we were worshipping in the studio, speaking in tongues, praying and crying,” said Darren.
The band wrote the first song of the Heartcore album, Wonder of Your Greatness, to see how far they would go. They continued to meet every other week, following this fluid creative process of worshipping God.
Founded in 2005, Army of Three began near the end of an explosive Christian band movement, which started around year 2000 with the likes of Altered Frequency and Joshua Race Ministry.
“When we go onstage to play, whether in a church or at a bar, we always want to make sure that people know that we play music because of Jesus. We are taking bold steps, being very unashamed and unafraid.”
Their gigs in the bars had people asking them for prayer, lifting their hands in worship and thanking them for bringing them to church, at a bar.
What’s more is that Heartcore has now expanded beyond an album to become a music ministry, representing a group of Malaysian Christian bands who want to reach out to churches and break into the secular music scene.
Under the Heartcore group now, other Christian bands have joined hands with Army of Three for their Heartcore tour around Malaysia, including Relent, South and the Lowlands, Kent Sim, Sam Lopez, Tim Lim, Joanne and Julia, and Jeshurun Vincent from C4J.
“We want Christian bands of different styles or genres, to reach out to different people out there.”
The Heartcore group is actively looking to collaborate with more Malaysian Christian bands with the same vision.
One of the visions of the Heartcore group is to later expand this ministry by providing workshops to educate church musicians to perform and to carry their brand of music out of their church.
“The Heartcore group gives us this platform to help new Christian bands find their footing in the music industry and promote their band. We have been in the music scene long enough and spoke to many industry experts. With our experience, we can guide everyone.”
One of their immediate projects in the pipeline is to organize a music festival featuring all local Christian music bands.
“Musicians in churches are going into the contemporary line because there is no opportunity for them to perform. That is where the Heartcore group provides the platform and movement, connecting musician to musician.”
Rooting for Malaysian Christian bands, Darren Teh looks forward to local Christian bands creating their own music and styles for worship and performance, in and out of church.
“God did not give you a talent to only play in the church. Your talent does not only belong to the church, but imagine all musicians in the Church of Malaysia coming out of the church to play.
“They may be rock stars with one million members following each of them on social media but they serve in church. That changes perception. Everyone who serves in the Army of Three, serves in the church.”
If the Church of Malaysia would come together and share their resources of talents, skills and money, imagine the things we can do together.
“I see a huge movement coming that is not limited to music and age group but applicable to all. Everyone should come together and I hope, through the Heartcore group movement, we can unite the Church of Malaysia.”
*The Heartcore group is currently on tour. If you would like to know their schedule, book them for an event, invite them to your church, or get in touch with them about your musical aspirations, please contact them directly at armyofthree@gmail.com. You can also find them on Facebook and read more about them here.
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well done guys, its great that other Christian bands are coming together.
keep the wonderful music flowing. 🙂