Aaron Keyes: Not Guilty Anymore

Songwriter, worship leader, mentor, Aaron Keyes wears a lot of hats. And each of those unique skills come together on Not Guilty Anymore, his latest album due for release on Kingsway this coming summer.

Honest, engaging and beautifully creative, the album is also intuitive and pastoral in a way that as powerful as it is subtle. Put it another way: Aaron Keyes doesn’t just sing songs, he lives them, and this album invites all who hear it to share in the journey.

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Aaron is the sort of worship leader who never had a career plan or roadmap for success. He simply led worship with his friends.

Camp-fires gave way to college dormitories which in time became living rooms, church halls and more, but Aaron has never really left the huddle of faces illuminated by flame and faith. He has always been a worshipper who values connection with God and others over crowds or concerts.

Those core values are reflected beautifully in Not Guilty Anymore. Originally released in 2007, Kingsway are delighted to be able to re-introduce these eleven tracks to the world.

The sound covers lo-fi garage rock in ‘You Never Cease To Amaze Me’ and ‘Like Jesus’ as well as epic, soaring production in ‘Help Me Lord’ and the closing track ‘Not What My Hands’. The album features plenty of collaborations: Stuart Townend, writer of ‘In Christ Alone’ and ‘How Deep the Father’s Love for Us’ joined Aaron to write Psalm 62, while ‘Blessing and Honor’ is a joint effort with Steve Hindalong (‘God of Wonders’).

Gary Sadler (‘Ancient of Days’) co-wrote ‘I Am Yours’ and Dutch worship leader Kees Kraayenord helped write the tender song of surrender ‘Help Me Lord’.

The heart of the album is found in tracks like ‘Psalm 62’, ‘Blessing And Honour’, ‘Help Me Lord’ and the title track. With its lyrics that directly confront the stain of sin and guilt that threaten to choke so much of life, the song is a work of true prophetic power.

All of them open the door to worship, taking care to bring all into a deeper relationship with God without leaving a soul behind.

Not Guilty Anymore is a powerful album, one that nourishes even more than it entertains, that doesn’t just look for listeners but reaches out to fellow disciples journeying with the love of Jesus.

As Aaron says: “I think we cheapen Jesus’ blood when we live on in shame and guilt. This album is about that place of realisation of what the cross has done to set us free.”