Praise Unit

Praise Unit is not a band, and not a choir, but what is it?
A collective of singers and musicians taking the stage with the intention of delivering music with a message through an intense and inspiring musical experience!

They were founded in 2004 by Joakim Arenius and the sound is influenced by modern r'n'b, old school funk, dance club music and contemporary gospel, but it does not stop there. The privilige of making music with such a group of dynamic contemporary singers is that you bring the energy of their voices into whatever style you present. That's the feeling you get from the music of Praise Unit, and that's why their songs are spread in such various places.

The recordings are produced to be inspiring and interesting to listen to in your car or mp3-player, and not something you only want to hear in a live show. But the songs are also easy to perform for anybody and because it's available on sheet music it is finding its way around the world via many other artists and choirs.

"The Mission Field", the CD that came out in 2009, featured popular artists from six different european countries, and in december 2009 Praise Unit made a mark on music history when they performed their songs with the Swedish Chamber Orchestra, where the songs were arranged for singers and orchestra, no band.

To learn more, or to see when Praise Unit is coming to your country, please visit www.joakimarenius.com. Email info@bubblejam.se.

 

A sample of Praise Unit history:

- Debut CD "Whole" released in 2006 followed by the DVD "The Whole Tour"
recorded live in Germany 2008.
- "An offer I can't refuse" recorded with US Grammy-nominated artist Sarah
Kelly in 2008 and released on the Joakim Arenius compilations "Eleven
offers" and "My favorite gospel songs".
- Opening for Kirk Franklin in Sweden and Germany on his first European tour
in 2008.
- Second CD "The Mission Field" released in 2009, featured David
Thomas(GER), Sammy Planes(SPA), Samuel Ljungblahd(SWE), Ole Börud(NOR),
Miriam Gardner(DEN) and Oslo Soul Children(NOR).
- "The Mission Field" was voted one of the best CD's
released in 2009, by swedish newspaper Nerikes Allehanda.
- Toured the US east coast in 2008.
- Toured Germany and other northern european countries in 2007.
- "Classical gospel", 13 songs arranged and conducted by Joakim Arenius,
performed in 2009 by Praise Unit and the Swedish Chamber Orchestra.


Media reviews on selected Joakim Arenius & Praise Unit products:

About "The Mission Field", CD released in September 2009:

Nerikes Allehanda (5 stars):
"It's impossible to sit still while listening!"

Crossnet.se (5 stars):
"They keep lining up excellent soul, funk, jazz, latin and gospel songs.
The groove is what keep the songs together!"

Dagen:
"You can not listen too many times to these tracks!"

Indrag.se:
"Lots of energy throughout the whole CD!"

Ikon1931:
"It's a pleasant listening experience!"

About "Whole", CD released in August 2006:

Smålandstidningen (5 stars):
"A masterpiece!"

Nerikes Allehanda (4 stars):
"This mixture of modern soul, funk and contemporary gospel is instantly
appealing!"

Sundsvalls tidning:
"This is the succesful combination of Joakim's past as funk musician and
gospel director!"

Trots allt:
"Melodies and a groove that never disappoint you!"

About "The Whole Tour", DVD released in June 2008, recorded live in
Minden, Germany:

Ikon1931:
"It's incredibly fresh!"

Dagen:
"Simple, yet efficient coreography which is very inspiring!"

About "Classical gospel", the collaboration between Joakim Arenius, Praise
Unit and the Swedish Chamber Orchestra:

Nerikes Allehanda (5 stars):
"The merge of genres reaches impressing qualities!"

About "Eleven offers", CD compilation with songs written by Joakim Arenius
and recorded by Joybells, Sarah Kelly, Praise Unit, German Gospel Choir
and others, released in May 2008:

Trons värld:
"You have to surrender to the capacity of Arenius' songwriting and admit
that this is the best gospel music of Sweden!"

Crossnet.se:
"There is only one problem. I want more!"