Southern Gospel Trio Southbound Releases Debut Self-Titled Album
“Since we were all kids, our lives were surrounded by Southern Gospel music. We never dreamed that the songs of our childhood would ever become the songs we now write and record, but here we are headed southbound and singing Southern Gospel music!” — Clint Brown
Worship music veterans and longtime friends, Clint Brown, Seth J. Elbe and Jody Braselton, have joined forces to form the contemporary Southern Gospel trio, Southbound.
Featuring captivating harmonies and powerful lyrics, Southbound’s debut, self-titled album was recently released from Daywind Records.
BISHOP CLINT BROWN
Clint Brown can be described as a modern day David. For over 30 years, and with 23 Albums recorded, His Music Ministry has helped write the soundtrack for churches across the world and transformed the sound of Worship in the Kingdom of God. As Grammy and Dove Nominated artist and songwriter, Brown has penned over 500 songs recorded, in 13 different Languages, for many of our Gospel Artist today. In 1993, Brown moved to Orlando, FL to follow God’s plan for him to Pastor. Since then Judah Church has become one of America’s vibrant, multi-cultural, family churches ministering every week to thousands in Orlando, FL and hundreds of thousands across the country via Social Media. Pastor Brown has traveled the World in his 30 years of ministry, while preaching and singing The Gospel of Jesus Christ, and he doesn’t show any signs of slowing down!
Clint, traveling the world for three decades, ministering in Orlando, Florida since 1993. How has social media allowed you to stay in touch with worshippers across the country?
Social media has been invaluable for my ministry. Not only has it allowed people I’ve known for years to stay connected, it has also given the entire world access to my music and the progress of my ministry through the years.
Lead single, “Address Change Notification.” What do you hope listeners take away from the lyrics?
I hope they get that same feeling that I get every time I sing it. That this life is not the end. There is a better day and a better place waiting for us.
Which songs are your personal favorites from the new self-titled album and why?
I love them all, but if I just had to pick a few, then my first would be “He’s Got a Way.” It is special to me for two reasons: 1. It is the only song on the project written by all three guys 2. It really is the testimony of my life. No matter what I’ve faced in my life, God has always either made a way out or turned it for my good.
The second song I would pick is “No Better Than That.” It just reconnects me to my roots in my church experience and also reminds me of where I came from to where I am today.
JODY BRASELTON
Jody Braselton was born and raised just north of Atlanta, GA. He and his two older sisters grew up in a Baptist Church where his dad pastored for many years. At just 11 years old, he sang the old Bill Gaither song, “God Loves to Talk to Little Boys While They’re Fishing” on a local radio show. When he was a teenager in youth choir, his youth pastor pulled him forward to sing a solo. It was moments like these that impacted his future in church music! He began to write and create music, recording his first project at age 15 and has recorded 6 more albums since then. His earliest influences in music were from traveling Southern Gospel groups that stopped to sing at his family’s church along their way. Through people like The Hinsons, The Kingsmen, and The Cathedrals, he heard the power of Southern Gospel harmonies and song lyrics. It had a permanent effect on his life! He has led worship for 25 years and currently serves as the Worship Pastor at Central Church in Covington, GA. He enjoys spending time with his wife Katie and two sons Judah and Asa.
Jody, singing Bill Gaither’s “God Loves to Talk to Little Boys While They’re Fishing” led you to record your first project at age 15. What message can you share for teens looking for a future in church music?
Yes, my dad brought me that song as a little boy. It was the first real solo I ever sang. He loved it so much that he made me sing it on his preaching show on the local radio station in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The thing I would first say is to pray and pray some more. You want to make sure that that’s exactly what God would have you do. Then follow your dream and get under leadership that you can learn from. Stay humble in everything that you do and never stop learning and growing in your musical gifts.
A portion of proceeds from the album and live shows will benefit the Autism Society of America. What is your personal connection to this group?
This subject is close to all of our hearts, but for me and my wife, it hits where we live. My oldest son Judah was diagnosed at two years of age with autism and didn’t walk till he was three. He is almost 10 years old now and is nonverbal, but he is such a beautiful child, and we adore him. His smile lights up a room. We have learned so much from him and are also honored that Southbound as a ministry is sowing financially to help better understand and treat autism.
SETH J. ELBE
Seth J. Elbe was born in St Louis, MO and has moved 39 times, spending the majority of his life between Georgia, Florida, and Texas. From a family a 6, with two older brothers and a younger sister, he started humming melodies before he could talk. His family sang together in local churches. When traveling, they would practice harmonies in the car to southern gospel music and the occasional Oakridge Boys cassette. From a very young age he learned to cook from his mom, and enjoyed it so much that he worked in a few restaurants during High School. Though he eventually he chose to focus on music and not cooking, you can still find him every week making delicious dishes and grillin’ the best steak! Seth has recorded a few albums, and enjoys the creativity of song-writing, leading worship, creating arrangements, and directing choirs. He’s married and has two children, and currently lives in Orlando, FL where he serves as the Worship Pastor of Judah Church.
Seth, traveling with your family to sing in local churches, developing harmonies practicing songs including ones by The Oak Ridge Boys. How has blending multiple genres into your own songs helped bring a new sound to old classics?
What I enjoy most about music is that it allows each artist to freely express their creativity in their own way. I grew up singing Southern Gospel and then proceeded to sing in and even direct many choirs in different genres. Developing harmonies has always been my favorite way of expressing heartfelt music that can create powerful moments of praise and worship. In addition, Southbound has set a priority to deliver a sound that is unique only to us — to which we have labeled “Gospel Grit.”
Which Southern Gospel groups have most influenced your own music?
The Hinsons and The Rambos have all influenced us over the years with so many great songs! Some of them actually joined us recently on stage for a concert we did at the Franklin Theatre in TN. Geron Davis is another writer and arranger that has written numerous songs over the past 40 years that have impacted me greatly! I’ve been blessed to sing with him several times, and I’m honored to call him a friend.
What’s ahead for Southbound in 2022?
Southbound already has some amazing opportunities for several concerts and we are continuously recording more songs in the studio to be released soon. As songwriters we are constantly writing and creating new music for ourselves, other artists and groups as well. We’ve only just begun, and we enjoy staying busy doing what we LOVE to do!
Southbound Social Media: