(Photo : Colton Dixon)

Colton Dixon's debut album, "A Messenger" finally hit stores today January 29^th. It's available on iTunes with bonus track "Wake Up" and Walmart is offering an exclusive version with bonus track "The Shape of Your Love".

Fans of the "American Idol" season 11 singer are stoked to see his post-TV success. Colton Dixon released the first single off the album, "You Are" in October. It reached number 1 on the iTunes Christian and Gospel chart after only a week.

Dixon sat down with Billboard to discuss the album's evolution and songwriting process. "I either wrote or co-wrote all the songs except for one. I'm the kind of artist who thinks that everyone should write their own stuff. It means more that way," he explained.

Dixon had been co-writing for "A Messenger" between being cut from the show and then doing "American Idol" tour.

"The first couple weeks, I wrote 13 songs in 13 days, literally getting every idea that I had on the show on paper," he says. "It was great to already have enough for an album after two weeks. I was like, 'I'll have over a hundred songs!' But then the tour came along, and there was no time."

He also spent some time working on possible songs with Lifehouse frontman Jason Wade. However none of those tunes made it on to "A Messenger." "Hopefully they'll make the next record. I'd really like to do some collaborations in the future."

Now Dixon is set to go on tour with Third Day. To find tour dates check his official webpage:

http://coltondixon.com/

or

https://www.facebook.com/coltondixonmusic

Colton Dixon's "A Messenger" is available for purchase here:

Order the CD on Amazon.com here: http://smarturl.it/AMessengerAmazon

The album is also available at Target, Family Christian Stores, LifeWay Christian Stores, Best Buy and most other music retailers!!!
A Messenger, Colton Dixon

1. Noise
2. I'll Be The Light
3. You Are
4. Never Gone
5. Love Has Come
6. Scars
7. Rise
8. Where My Heart Goes
9. This Is Who I Am
10. In and Out of Time
11. Let Them See You