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Bright Horizons

by Mark Cullen

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1.
2.
Cascades 04:30
3.
Joy 05:04
4.
5.
Sunrise 05:42
6.
7.
Vivid 04:44
8.
Royal 05:30
9.
Open Arms 05:17
10.

about

At the beginning of 2023 I had a growing sense in my spirit that I needed to create and record some of my own instrumental music. It has been quite some time since I last released my own original music (2011) and I felt the need to express this side of me.

The themes in my heart were hope, light and a bright future, and so I started working around the title, BRIGHT HORIZONS.

Some of these pieces grew out of ideas that had been sitting around for some time, and some were brand new. At first I was planning on an EP of 6 or 7 songs, but as the project progressed I was able to produce a full ten song album.

My Mum passed away on the 12th of August 2022. She was the greatest source of encouragement in my life. I will always remember the line she would never tire of saying, “Sonny, I love to hear you play!”

Her name was Joy, but her last few years on earth had been pretty tough physically. She had struggled with walking because of issues with her feet for most of her life.

While working on this record it dawned on me that I should write a tune to honor her.

I wanted to write something that would bring an atmosphere of joy - overwhelming, unbridled joy - to celebrate her life, reflect her name, but most of all to give some sense of what she would have felt in the first moments of entering into the next life where everything would be brilliantly vivid and intoxicatingly beautiful. Pain-free, she would laugh and run and skip like she never had been able to before!

I actually ended up writing two tunes, Joy and Vivid, both of which carry these themes.

I have been incredibly blessed and encouraged by the caliber of musicians I have been able to work with on this record. Some have been close friends for many years, and some are legends I have admired from afar, never even dreaming I would get to work alongside them. I have certainly stretched as a musician, producer and engineer with this project, but these guys have truly taken my work to much greater heights than I could have achieved without them.

My hope is that this music will take your spirit on a light-filled journey of life and leave you with a sense of hope for a bright future. May all your days beginnings and endings be filled with BRIGHT HORIZONS!

credits

released February 23, 2024

Awakening (Let It Rain)

Cascades
Drums: Paul Mabury
Perc: Paul Mabury
Bass: Jimmy Haslip
All Keys: Scott Kinsey

Joy
Drums: Gary Novak
Perc: MC
Bass: Jimmy Haslip
Keys: MC
Organ, Piano, Rhodes: Rob Rinderer

Bright Horizons
Drums: Paul Mabury
Perc: Paul Mabury, MC
Bass: Andrew Ford
Piano: Andrew Naylor
Keys: MC

Sunrise
Drums: Paul Mabury
Perc: Paul Mabury
Bass: Andrew Ford
Keys: MC

Spirit Active
Drums: Paul Mabury
Perc: Paul Mabury, MC
Bass: Andrew Ford
All Keys: Scott Kinsey

Vivid
Drums: Gary Novak
Perc: MC
Bass: Jimmy Haslip
Keys: MC
Piano, Rhodes: Jeff Lorber

Royal
Drums: Gary Novak
Perc: MC
Bass: Andrew Ford
Keys: MC, Paul Anderberg
Piano, Organ, Rhodes: Rob Rinderer

Open Arms
Drums: Gary Novak
Perc: MC
Bass: Jimmy Haslip
Rhodes: Andrew Naylor
Alto Sax: Randal Clark

The King Is Coming
Drums: Paul Mabury
Perc: Paul Mabury
Bass: Andrew Ford
Piano: Andrew Naylor
Keys: MC, Paul Anderberg

(All guitars by Mark Cullen)


All compositions by Mark Cullen (APRA/ASCAP), except Open Arms, by Mark Cullen and Andrew Naylor (APRA/ASCAP)

Executive Producers: Scott Norton, Andrew Bolt, Bryon Rivera, Marshall Booth, Syrastusa

Produced and Recorded by Mark Cullen

Guitars and incidental keys and percussion recorded by Mark Cullen at The Soundcastle, San Diego, CA.

The following Rock Stars recorded their own instruments and parts at their own facilities across the world, using their own secret powers and methods:
Paul Mabury, Gary Novak, Andrew Ford, Jimmy Haslip, Scott Kinsey, Jeff Lorber, Andrew Naylor, Rob Rinderer, Randal Clark

Mixed by Mark Cullen at The Soundcastle, CA.

Mastered by S. Blake Kanicka, Dallas, TX.

Artwork and Design: Aaron Davis

Photography: Mike Finn

Patrons - These are the people who believe in and support the creative pursuits of an artist with significant financial contribution and with much encouragement. I couldn’t have done this without your generous backing and I am truly grateful!
Scott Norton, Andrew Bolt, Bryon Rivera, Marshall Booth, Syrastusa, Jose Rubalcaba, HooiJin Teng, Rudy Batiz, Paul & Audrey Churchward, Mei Lu, Jim Moriarty, Ben Jordan, Josh Ladwig, Isaac Doidge, Austin Knight, Alexa and Jimmy Lick, Mike Yeager, James and Debbie Doidge, Sandy and Dean Cobussen, Shayle Cullen, Andrew Bennett, Eugene Neal, Ps Jurgen and Ps Leanne Matthesius, Mary Crafter

Big thanks also to these Kickstarter supporters:
Michael Yee, Ethan Dunne, Jennifer Lewis, Adrian Dunne, Paul Kiriakos, Eric Raftery, Justin Knight, Dr Kevin Dette, Kyle Raftery, Anamarya Martinez, Kahle and Kelsey Steinmetz

Thanks to the staff and church family of Awaken Church in San Diego, CA. for your continual support and encouragement. I especially want to thank Ps Jurgen and Ps Leanne, Ps Dr Matt and Ps Mikala for your guidance and your belief in me.

Special thanks to Jimmy Haslip for going far above and beyond just a musical contribution. I have so appreciated your genuine interest in my project, and the information, advice, and connections you have generously offered along the way to help me succeed.

Extra special thanks to my beautiful wife, Ali. I love you! Your love and unwavering belief in me is my strength and is truly God’s gift to me.

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Mark Cullen San Diego, California

Mark is an accomplished worship leader, musician, singer and songwriter. He also enjoys the search for form, emotion and beauty through photography.

Mark’s heart is to use his gifts to the fullest, “allowing God’s generosity to flow through” him (1 Pe 4:10). He continues to inspire others through his worship leading and teaching in his home church and at other churches and conferences.
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