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By Andrea Dujardin-Flexhaug
ONE OF the most famous pop stars in the world has been connected in news
articles recently with Kelowna Christian hip hop artist Michael Kulyk, in a
mixup of their music.
Kulyk recently produced his first album, Da Vine Influence, which was launched at a CD release party earlier this summer at his home
church in Kelowna, The House.
When Kulyk’s friend Wes Kelly took two of the CDs home and opened one to listen to, he got
a bit of a shock. Coming from his speakers was not the singing voice of Kulyk, but of pop singer Justin Timberlake.
When Kelly phoned his friend, Kulyk could hardly believe it – until he retrieved it and listened for himself.
When he informed DMA/Sony in Ontario, they said they had been pressing
Timberlake’s album beside Kulyk’s, and must have swapped them by mistake.
“So Sony had a huge meeting to get to the bottom of this,” said Kulyk, “since they are only aware of this happening one other time with another artist,
recalling 100,000 back.”
In Kulyk’s case, a mere 1,000 CDs had been printed, and he says Sony estimates three to
five of them were swapped. He said they planned to scan the whole order to see
just how many were mixed up.
Kulyk isn’t sure yet if his gospel music has ended up in the hands of Timberlake’s fans. “I hope so, that would rock,” he said.
He thinks of the mixup as a blessing in disguise for several reasons, with one
being that “God is up to something promoting his word, aimed towards a lost generation that
will turn their hearts back to him.”
As well, he said, “the mix-up overall has helped get my name out there because it’s been on international headlines.”
He has since received several encouraging comments from fellow Christians,
including one who said: “Wow, this doesn’t happen by chance. It was God promoting your music.”
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Kulyk works with Teen Challenge in Kelowna, where he has been a part of the
ministry for the last three years. Before he became a Christian, he had a tough
childhood growing up in East Vancouver in a housing co-op, following his dad
and brothers in gang and crime activity.
But his developed interest in writing and hip hop took him to schools, the
streets and nightclubs – and then to Much Music, which included him in a documentary of Vancouver
underground artists.
He was just about to release a secular album, when he accepted Christ. He then
went through the intensive Teen Challenge program.
Now his life is about hitting the streets, youth outreaches and even schools to
share God’s word. He speaks against drugs, and addresses other teen issues.
“I see a revival coming soon, real soon – that’s gonna come as a surprise . . . in the church, because it’s not coming from there,” said Kulyk.
The revival, he said, will come “from a ‘new wineskin’ approach of methods and strategies, that are reaching the lost by any means.”
Da Vine Influence is available online at itunes and cdbaby. It is also available at stores such as
Belltower and House of James. A sample is available at: www.myspace.com/michaeldavidk.
September 2009
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