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VOYAGER RETURNS FROM THE PAST WITH MUSIC AND A MESSAGE FOR TODAY
Voyager is a band that originally formed in 1984. Enjoying a brief but successful two years of live performances, the band never got around to recording an album. That wish finally was realized when the group reconvened after a 37 year stretch. The long awaited album was completed and was well received on July 29th, 2022. Continuous play CDs feature the entire album and are available. Songs can be heard separately at the links below. The entire album can be heard FOR FREE exclusively at Congregation Yeshuat Tsion's website. Be sure to check out Voyager's videos below!.
THE BAND
MALOU STIRMAN
The voice of Voyager is Malou Stirman, who hails from the Philippines, where she was involved in music at a young age. She played in professional bands in her teens and twenties. Jack, an American serviceman, became her biggest fan. They married and Malou was brought stateside, where her musical experience grew. Fate led to meeting musicians that could compose and play progressive rock, as well as perform challenging pieces by bands such as Rush, which were popular at the time and Malou specialized in. Beyond Voyager, Malou sang for a number of bands and she recorded two albums. She then found her passion being the music director at Holy Ghost Church in Denver, where she has served for 20 years. Fortunately she was able to make room in her demanding schedule to rejoin Voyager and record the band's long awaited debut album.
AARON JOHNSON
Aaron Johnson's first instrument was the trumpet at age 7. At age 10 he graduated to guitar under his father's guidance playing country and folk music, before graduating to rock, progressive rock and keyboard oriented music in the 70s. He played in a band called Stone Free, then was recruited to play in the well known local band called Stiffwater, in which he served for 7 years. He then embarked on a successful solo career in 1978, recording 8 solo albums and playing countless live engagements in a number of bands, one of them being Voyager in 1984. He retired from the industry in 2000. In 2013 he was recruited back into action serving at the Messianic synagogue he and wife Ellen attend. Other related musical endeavors led to the reforming of Voyager and finally capturing the band's sound in the long-delayed album.
JIM BENNETT
Jim was a new drummer when he was recruited to play in Stiffwater in 1982, in which Aaron Johnson had once been a member. He cut his teeth playing challenging progressive rock, emulating legendary drummers such as Keith Moon, Neil Peart and Ringo Starr. He quickly became a drummer of professional caliber out of necessity. Completing a number of recordings with Stiffwater and performing numerous live shows, Jim joined forces with Aaron and they formed Voyager in 1984. In subsequent years Jim played in bands of all genres, ranging from country and Christian to pop and heavy metal.
THE ALBUM
1984: Voyager formed in Lakewood, Colorado. There were no progressive rock bands in the area that were fronted by a female singer, making the band unique. Female singers were just becoming accepted in the genre, and even today such a band is a rarity. The band enjoyed brief success in the form of live performances. Rare video footage attests to the phenomenon (be sure to see the VIDEO GALLERY below).
1986: The amazing Voyager sound was not captured with a studio production before the members moved on to other projects, but stayed in touch over the years that followed. Time raced by, the years changing to decades. Having done everything in music he wanted to do, composer-producer Aaron Johnson only had one regret, and that was not recording a Voyager album.
2021: 37 years later, at his wife's suggestion, Johnson looked up his bandmates on New Year's day of 2021 and suggested they record an album that he would produce. The proposal was met with enthusiasm and the project immediately began with song selection. It took 18 months to select and arrange the songs, write new material and record the album.
2022: The album was released on July 29, 2022. Voyager is available world-wide, a realization that was impossible in 1984. Thanks to the internet, the dream has been made a reality. Three of the nine tracks on the album are fully orchestrated. Johnson composed all orchestral parts and performed them using a MIDI controller and an orchestral sound bank, which is one reason why it took most of 2021 to record the musical elements. Johnson recorded all keyboard, bass and guitar tracks throughout the year, with drums being added by Jim Bennett in December 2021 and January of 2022. Malou Stirman added vocals throughout the course of the project.
2023: For the devoted Voyager enthusiast a deluxe edition CD is available for a limited time. A bonus CD includes a live performance of Something Wicked This Way Comes , plus rehearsals of The Visitor, Islands of the Heart and cover tunes Children of the Sea (by Black Sabbath), The Hemispheres Overture, The Spirit of Radio and Free Will (all by iconic progressive rock trio Rush). These original 1984 recordings were made with a singular consumer grade video microphone, among the first of its kind, and are presented in their raw and historic form sonically enhanced. Also included are Something Wicked This Way Comes and Revelations played by the band without the orchestra.
Voyager's following and internet interest remains steady. The band is watching to see if that interest is sustained to queue them to make more music. Keep watching this web site for further updates!
VOYAGER IS A BAND OF BELIEVERS
All members of Voyager are believers in Yeshua/Jesus as the promised Messiah to the world, who offers salvation to everyone, beginning with the Jewish people. Voyager's mission is to proclaim the good news of the Gospel, and do it by playing the best powerful prophetic rock possible, which is their musical trademark and heritage. It is the band's hope that people would accept Yeshua's gift of salvation. This is the mission Voyager earnestly desires to pursue with this music. Since Voyager's forming in 1984, they have been on a journey that brought them back together in a delightful but unexpected way for this purpose, clearly indicating God's planning and directing hand was in charge of the entire undertaking. The project continues under this premise, Lord willing with new songs coming in 2023. May His will be done through this music, which will carry His message to destinations we cannot imagine. Yeshua's Word does not return void!
THE SONGS
CLICK ON THE TITLES TO ACCESS THE LYRICS
JACOB'S TROUBLE Composed for the album, a complex and lively Rush-style rocker that represents Voyager's signature sound.
THE CHOICE Originally played by Voyager in 1984, features dynamic guitar sounds and synthesizer motifs. We face choices every day, some minor, some major, some life changing. But there is one choice that is the most important of all the choices one makes in their life.
ISLANDS OF THE HEART Rich in guitar sounds and deep lyrics, this song shows us what an island of the heart is, which can be many things, including us. Another Voyager 1984 original.
DELIVERED Heavy duty metal style rocker about the delivery of the Jewish people from Egypt and Persia, and the delivery of...the listener of this song! New composition.
THE VISITOR The band played this epic tune in 1984-1986 and had always wanted to record it in a studio. The opportunity finally arrived, and it is a fully orchestrated version, a dream-come-true! The final verses have been rewritten, taking our unwitting traveler to a location quite different from the original version. This song is even more relevant today in light of the so-called UFO phenomenon. See the lyric video below.
SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES Based on Ray Bradbury's classic tale of the battle between good and evil, this song was originally played by Voyager in the 80s, but is now a timely warning about the troubled times we live in. The second single of the album, it returns in a menacing orchestrated version. See the video presented below.
THEY THAT REMAIN A heartbreaking duet illustrating the tragic end of an engaged couple's relationship due to unforeseen and extraordinary circumstances. This song will be a controversial conversation starter.
IN HIS TEMPLE There aren't many joyous worship songs that feature a heavily distorted guitar that is about to explode, but this is that song. Certainly one of a kind composed for this album! The first single from the Voyager album, released in September of 2021. See CYT and Official videos below.
REVELATIONS An epic song that spotlights the writings of the Apostle John, presented in grand scale by Voyager and the orchestra, amplifying God's undeniable majesty.
VOYAGER VIDEO GALLERY
WITNESS VOYAGER'S PAST AND PRESENT IN THESE UNIQUE TIME CAPSULE VIDEOS!