AUSTRALIAN TRIO VERSES ANNOUNCES SIGNING WITH FAIR TRADE SERVICES, DROPS NEW MUSIC VIDEO FOR DEBUT SINGLE "THANKFUL"
NEWS SOURCE: Merge PR May 21, 2021
21 May 2021 - Nashville, TN - Fair Trade Services announces the newest addition to their artist family - VERSES, an Australian-based pop trio comprised of brothers Joel and Luke O’Dea and Luke’s wife Jess. A group that began making music to reach kids in Joel's youth group quicklyturned into something much more than they'd ever expected. Being discovered through the songs they posted on YouTube lead them to sign with Fair Trade Services who were immediately drawn to their ministry.
"When I met Joel, Luke, and Jess, I was immediately drawn to their music and their heart for the Word of God," shares James Rueger, VP, A&R for Fair Trade Services. "They built their name around the deep-rooted belief that the Word spoken out would NOT return void. Their passion for their music and vision to send God’s word out to the world made it a very easy partnership. I am excited to see how God uses this music."
The trio couldn't agree more, sharing, "We are so excited to be partnering with Fair Trade! They’ve caught the vision of what we feel God has asked us to do with our music and have been amazing at helping us pursue that. To have a team with such great experience and success in the music industry, who are passionate believers and awesome people, working together to get our music into people's lives is a dream."
The band's debut single, "Thankful," just debuted last night on FreeCCM.com and is also available now on their Vevo channel. At first listen, “Thankful” is a joy-filled piano-driven pop anthem that plays like a montage of the band’s beginnings and everything that came after. Finding real joy in the goodness of God has given the trio a spirit of gratefulness that colors every decision they make, and the timing couldn't be better to release the song.
"Since the moment the melody for 'Thankful' came to life, we have believed that it would bring a divine sense of thankfulness and joy into people's lives like it did for us," they explain. "We wanted to capture that sense in the music video for thankful; that in everyday situations, good and bad, we have a reason to be thankful. Whether that be the beauty of creation, the community around us, or even just the knowledge of Jesus in our lives. We had so much fun making the video in our hometown of Newcastle, Australia - a place to be very thankful for!"
Still residing in Australia, VERSES remains thankful for everything that’s happened and hopeful for what’s to come. It’s less about what they get to do and more about where their songs are able to go. “That’s the mission of VERSES,” Luke says, “singing these Biblical truths into people’s hearts so it will become a part of their everyday life."
Jess adds, "We are fully convinced it doesn’t matter what medium God’s word goes out in. It will complete everything it was sent to do. That’s special to us, that we get to send out the word of God in places we’ll never go to. That’s our true north.”
This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS 7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC] The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown] Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG] Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland] Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither] Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM] JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town] Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC] Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent) Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent) SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident] The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent) We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]
SINGLES Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision] ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident] Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb] Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM] Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax] Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon] Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident] Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax] ELI GABLE Glory Bound - Single [Capitol CMG] Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind] Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G] Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax] KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident] Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC] Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel] Claire Leslie Thank God I'm Not Alone (from Claire's Phone) - Single [Capitol CMG] Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown] Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach] LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity] Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident] Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident] Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity] PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify] Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident] The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue] Tommy Royale, gio. Like Dat - Single [Capitol CMG] Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax] Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]
DVD Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]
Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS Chad Cory America [DREAM] Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]
Tasha Layton Encourages with New Song, "Singing in the Dark"
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
