Lately when I think about faith, I keep coming back to the theme of “journey” — I don’t think God wants us to chase after the ultimate correct answers or some final destination. God is my rock, but he’s still full of surprises. I shouldn’t cling too tightly to my assumptions; my priorities can shift as God leads. Faith is (by definition) uncertain: it’s a dynamic thing, constantly in-progress, never too comfortable but always in good company. This album echoes that delightful mystery.

A while ago, I knew a guy who gave me this advice (I still have a recording):
“Don’t worry about making a mistake. There’s all kinds of people in scripture that God will send in one direction and then stop them and say, nope, go back this other way, and who knows why it all is, but we know God has a divine plan in things. And there is as much to learn in the travail towards the wrong thing as there is in skipping towards the right thing.

Nothing is wasted, young man. Know that God is with you. He knows how to put your pieces back together. He wants you to trust him. And off you will go with God again… Don’t worry about the great plan, the great mission, the great ‘calling’… Just be. Let God do what he’s doing in your life right now. … Just keep whistling along. Be of little anxiety; don’t be perplexed about your life. The Lord will show you where to go and when to go. Everything will come together. You just keep walking.”

All songs written by Mark except Break It Down (by Keigan Fortune & Mark Amadeus Flowerdew) and Lead The Way (by Mark in collaboration with Chu Yeon).

• Let’s Go, Sinner Saved By Grace, and You Are The One: bass by Nathaniel Caravan.
• Don’t Know Where I’m Going: background vocals by Meg Johnson, Danny Robichaud, Gordon Flowerdew, and Emma Flowerdew.
• Break It Down: rap vocals by Keigan Fortune, drums by Andre LeBlanc, bass by Brycen Gunn, background vocals by Sadie Hirschfield and Emma Flowerdew.
… Otherwise, all instruments played by Mark with female vocals by Emma Flowerdew.

Recorded 2016-2021 by Mark in his home (except Break It Down: recorded with Keigan Fortune at NSCC Ivany Campus).
Arranged, produced, and mixed by Mark. Mastered by Don Chapman. Cover art by Nathan Little.
Released August 20, 2021. 100% MAPL.

Thanks God. Thanks to everyone who has given me instruments and championed my music over the years (especially Mom & Dad, Meg & Danny, Sue & Jim, and Charles). Thanks to Emma for sharing the journey and being my perpetual sounding board.

• Nominated for Inspirational Recording of the Year at the 2022 East Coast Music Awards

• “One of the most optimistic albums I’ve heard in a while, Let’s Go is the newest release from Mark Amadeus Flowerdew, a musician hailing from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. A bright mix of gospel, folk, pop, and ragtime, Flowerdew creates a lighthearted listening experience tantamount to a sunshine-filled walk on a warm summer’s morning.” (Cups N Cakes Podcast Network)

• “Happiness Abounds in NEW Full-Length Album from Mark Amadeus Flowerdew” (Atlantic Axess Podcast)

• “The #EarshotSongOfTheDay is ‘Let’s Go’ by Mark Amadeus Flowerdew – a catchy, jazzy, ragtime-flavoured track, playfully reaffirming spiritual convictions from this Dartmouth Christian folk artist & composer.” (Earshot Digital Distribution)

• The song Good Job was featured on CBC Radio’s Information Morning in culture columnist Tara Lynn Taylor’s Art ‘n Soul Report

• Featured as the East Coast Artist of the Day on 97.5 FM Community Radio (Lower Sackville, NS)

• Debuted at #43 nationally on weekly campus & community radio chart (Earshot)

• Spent 14 weeks on the Top 30 Chart for CKDU Campus Radio Halifax and ranked #18 for the whole year (2021)

Lent is the season from Ash Wednesday to Easter, modelling Jesus’ long journey to his death and resurrection. One year, instead of giving up chocolate for Lent like I used to, I decided to set a goal to finish writing one song for each week until Easter. The number and complexity of the songs grew, splitting into a surprising range of genres, resulting in this, my rather eccentric debut album.

For me, Lent conjures up pictures of austerity and quiet self-reflection, as when Jesus wandered the wilderness for 40 days. Lent reminds me of the broken and temporary nature of this journey on earth, but also that Jesus journeys and suffers alongside us. Lent positions me on the difficult path to the cross, asking me if I’m willing to repent, humble myself, and follow Jesus to his death – trusting in the promise of reward on the other side of the suffering.

Here is my honest musical journey to the cross.

Written, performed, & mixed by Mark Amadeus Flowerdew. Cover art by Mark.

Thanks to Kailey, Alex, Ethan, Pelham, Drue, and Gordon for lyrical feedback. Thanks to St. Paul’s Anglican Church for supporting my music and the use of their grand piano. Thanks to Halifax Central Library and my parents’ house for the studio space.

Released June 7, 2016. 100% MAPL.

Forward all praise to God.