Raving for Jesus? Nashville Band Pumps Techno

Technopraise is encouraging teenagers to rave for Jesus with its latest single. But can we really rave for Jesus?

If you don’t have teenagers in the house, you may not have heard of raving. Simply put, raving is dancing to techno music. A rave is essentially a club party with a live DJ spinning techno music while teens dance. Raving has attracted a drug element with some teens using ecstacy or LSD at the parties.

“Some Christians believe that raving is inappropriate worship,” says Yuri Mamchur, a Russian-born music producer and the founder of Technopraise. “Christians who think that dance beats and Jesus don’t belong together have missed parts of the Bible. The book of Psalms encourages celebration of God through all means available to us. Jesus’ first miracle was making sure a party didn’t stop.”

The music video for the new song, “Hands to the Sky,” shows Johnny Hammer, Technopraise’s 13-year-old exclusive artist, and Alexis reviewing last summer’s radio hits. Discouraged by the songs’ inappropriate sexual and drug-related content, they join their friends and sing an original dance song. Throughout the video, kids play sports, roast marshmallows and rave at a Christian nightclub concert.

Mamchur says Technopraise wants kids to see that Christian music can be contemporary and cool. He argues that Christian kids are asking for upbeat, danceable music. His response: Let’s rave about Jesus.

“Technopraise gives me the chance to inspire kids around the world,” says Hammer, trained in violin, classical piano and vocals. “Kids my age are surrounded by many negative things—bullying, violence, drugs and early sex. We’re exposed to some gross stuff. I love our new song because it encourages kids to let their inner light shine and share their love for Jesus with others.”

The blonde-haired, blue-eyed 8th grader lives in Washington state, has a 4.0 GPA, writes original songs and says his priorities are “time with God, school and family.”

“Jesus is my best friend—someone who is always watching over me,” Hammer says. “I talk to Him during hard times and thank Him for all the great things He’s given me. I think it’s awesome to be a Christian teenager, and I want all the kids out there to not be ashamed of their faith, to follow their dreams, and to let the world know about Jesus during this Christmas season.”

What do you think about Christian raves?