All About Worship Digital Magazine Issue 1 - August 2012 by All About Worship

INTERVIEW WITH ISRAEL HOUGHTON Reviews:

Jesus Culture, Dustin Smith, Hillsong

Worship Leading: How to Move Beyond Singing Songs to Leading Worship

ISSUE 01

AUG 2012

Listen (Can You Hear the Music?)

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AUGUST CONTENTS DEVOTIONAL: THE IDOL OF WORSHIP .....4 25 SONGS THAT CHANGED THE WAY WE WORSHIP .....6 THE SONGWRITERS CAFE: INTERVIEW WITH DON POYTHRESS .....10 INTERVIEW WITH ISRAEL HOUGHTON .....12 WHERE TO BEGIN .....18 WORSHIP LEADING: HOW TO MOVE BEYOND SINGING SONGS TO LEADING WORSHIP .....22 REVIEWS: JESUS CULTURE, DUSTIN SMITH, HILLSONG .....24 1

Credits Editor-in-Chief Wisdom Moon Creative Director Jesse Morrow Contributing Writers Joe Brookhouse, Joe Cameneti, Jr., Sean Hill, Mathew Reames, Ed Rotheram, David Santistevan Contact mag@allaboutworship.com Facebook.com/allaboutworship Twitter.com/allaboutworship Advertise ads@allaboutworship.com Address All About Worship PO Box 3082 Olathe, KS 66063

Letter from the Editor Since the inception of All About Worship some seven years ago, the Lord has been faithful in opening doors for us to reach more people every year. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had the rare privilege of interviewing and getting to know many amazing worship leaders, artists, and songwriters. Our mission since the beginning has always been to equip, encourage, and inspire worship leaders. We trust that this new Digital Magazine will be another tool we are able to use to do just that. As you read through this first issue, I invite you to send us your feedback and thoughts. I want this to not just be a one-way communication, but a two-way conversation. Let the conversation begin! Wisdom Moon Editor-in-Chief wisdom@allaboutworship.com

DEVOTIONAL

THE IDOL OF WORSHIP BY JOE CAMENETI, JR.

’ve been doing some thinking lately. About ministry, my walk with God, and more specifically, about my relationship with this thing called worship. If I’m being completely honest… as a writer, and an all-out music lover, worship can so easily become something I never intended. There’s only one way to phrase it. For me, and many others that I personally know or have observed, there is a gravitational pole towards something I would call the “idol of worship.” No, not idol worship… That’s a little more overt. I’m talking about something that starts out harmless enough… maybe even with the best of intentions. But it seems to always result in the same issue – the most pure form of glorifying our Creator can be hijacked by something that’s just a degree off of center… the idol of worship. What exactly do I mean? I’m convinced that songwriters, worship leaders and even music enthusiasts can fall so in love with the act of worship that it can become just that… simply an act. I want to be sure that you understand my heart in saying this. I love worship. I love “worship artists.” And more than anything, I love The Church. But I see a tendency in my own walk with God to lose site of what worship is all about, and I thought it might be a good idea to think out loud amongst friends.

I see a tendency in my own walk with God to lose sight of what worship is all about...

I’m not suggesting this is an issue for every worship leader. It’s possible that this tension most commonly exists in writers and those who enjoy creating. But it’s an undeniable reality in the circles I seem to find myself in. So how do I know if I’ve been sucked in? A few things come to mind… How often am I connecting with God? Is it hit or miss at best? Every few days? Maybe once a week before the mad rush for the weekend hits? This is a big indicator of our heart condition. Another gauge… my ability to join in worship with the congregation. For some, this applies as we’re leading worship, and for those like me, this applies as I worship with the church (I’m on staff at a church and I write for our worship records). But truthfully… I can’t tell you how many moments I’ve wasted thinking about the technical aspects of a worship set. I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve spent entire seasons of ministry disconnected from God as my church worships all around me.

And even more shamefully, I admit that song choice has downright angered and offended me! I’m just being real… Many times I’ve thought things like, “Are we seriously going to play that again?” or “Oh we’re playing your song and not mine,” or “I can’t believe the people aren’t in to this! They so liked his song more than mine!” Maybe I’m the only carnal person who’s ever thought these things, but maybe I’m not… How about the whole “record label” thing? This is huge for a lot of writers. Many of us would never say it out loud, but it’s easy to feel like our ministry will never be legit until we’ve been “discovered.” Until others are singing our songs, inviting us to lead at their event or even registering for our worship conference to hear our thoughts on worship. And I totally get that this is a tricky thing. I mean God gave us these desires after all, and it pleases Him when we use our gifts for His glory. Right? But that is the key… when the act of glorifying God has become something less, we are in a dangerous place. So what’s the solution? I’m not pretending to know all the answers, but God has been leading me to ask some hard questions of myself. Questions like…

I mean God gave us “What if we eliminated the lights, the people, the labels, the writing and everything else that these desires after all, record comes with ‘modern worship...’ and we spent a year an island... Just you and Me… does that get your and it pleases Him when on heart racing as much as the thought of your song we use our gifts for His being sung by millions?” Ouch! I think we could all benefit from a time away from glory. Right? worship as we know it. A worship fast if you will. No blogs... No comparison... No looking at the iTunes top ten chart... Just us and God. What if the reward wasn’t the compliments, adrenaline, and fill in the blank...? What if He really became our exceeding and great reward? I’m not suggesting that it’s impossible to sincerely worship God with lights and people present... A huge part of leading worship involves “leading” people into worship. I’m just wondering how much more of God there is to explore... What would my world look like if I truly allowed God to have all of me? And what if one of my songs never “hit”? What if my only desire was for my song to hit Heaven, and Heaven to hit earth? My prayer is that those who are already practicing this type of worship would only grow hungry for more. And those who feel stuck in the rut that I’m talking about, would simply examine their worship, take inventory, and invite God to do something extraordinary. Joe Cameneti, Jr. Joe serves as the Connections Pastor at Believers Church in Warren, Ohio. www.believers.cc

25 Songs That Changed The Way We Worship I

ncorporated in 1987, Integrity Music is celebrating 25 years of music and ministry with a landmark anniversary double-CD and bonus DVD, 25 Songs That Changed The Way We Worship, releasing June 26. The collection features original songs by the leaders that have helped shape the sound of worship over the last 25 years, including “Open The Eyes of My Heart,” “Give Thanks,” “Shout to the Lord,” “Ancient of Days,” “Trading My Sorrows,” “Revelation Song,” “How He Loves” and 18 more. Helping to launch the ministries of Paul Baloche, Israel Houghton, Hillsong, Darlene Zschech, Kari Jobe, Lincoln Brewster, Don Moen, Ron Kenoly, John Mark McMillan and many more, these songs have been sung by millions of worshippers around the world. While all of the songs have spent time in the CCLI Top 500, indicating the songs most often used in North American churches, some of them have been in the top 10 for as many as 10 years, while 13 have spent multiple years in the top 100! With Integrity’s songs being sung in over 164 countries and translated into Russian, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, French and numerous regional dialects, the true global impact and the number of lives touched by this music is immeasurable. “These songs serve as a powerful reminder of why Integrity Music started in the first place – to share the songs of worship that give a dynamic voice to generations of worshippers worldwide, uniting us in awe of our wondrous, majestic God,” says C. Ryan Dunham, president of Kingsway and Integrity Music. “This is the foundation for our next 25-years and more as we are captivated by the strength of a song to connect hearts and minds.”

“These songs serve as a powerful reminder of why Integrity Music started in the first place”

Contributing “Open The Eyes Of My Heart,” “Hosanna,” and “Your Name,” along with the DVD bonus track, “The Same Love,” to 25 Songs That Changed The Way We Worship, Paul Baloche says of his 20-year partnership with Integrity , “I stand amazed and am grateful, humbled to be part of this group of people who really have a heart for the church locally and worldwide.”

Here are the stories behind a few of the songs:

“Open The Eyes Of My Heart”

Artist: Paul Baloche Writer: Paul Baloche While leading worship one morning, the phrase “Open the eyes of my heart” popped into Paul Baloche’s mind. “I’d heard a pastor pray that a couple of years before and I had written it in my journal,” recalls Paul. “Later, I looked into Ephesians 1:18 and spent some time there, praying that.” So as Paul was leading, he sang out, “Open the eyes of our hearts, Lord. Open our eyes, Lord. We want to see You’.” He wasn’t sure of how the rest of the song came, other than that he was thinking about Isaiah, “Lord, to see You high and lifted up.” Thankfully, Paul’s sound technician was recording the service and captured the moment. “It just felt like the sincere prayer of our hearts at that moment,” Paul remembers. Publishing: © 1997 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music/ASCAP (adm at www.EMICMGPublishing.com) CCLI # 2298355

“God Will Make A Way”

Artist: Don Moen Writer: Don Moen After learning that his young nephew was killed in a car accident, Don Moen searched for some way to help bring comfort to his grieving family even as he struggled with his own sorrow. While reading Isaiah 43, he asked God to give him something that would bring hope to the family in the middle of a hopeless situation. As he prayed, the words for “God Will Make A Way,” came to mind. He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me. For a while, that song remained a private message for his family. But slowly, he began sharing it with others and soon found that it was a message for the whole church. A message to cling to when “there seems to be no way.” Publishing: © 1990 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music/ASCAP (adm at www.EMICMGPublishing.com) CCLI # 458620

“Trading My Sorrows”

Artist: Darrell Evans Writer: Darrell Evans The inspiration for “Trading My Sorrows” came to Darrell Evans as his band played softly during a time of prayer at his church. As people came to the altar, Darrell thought about what we bring to the cross and what we leave with in exchange. And he sang out: “I’m trading my sorrow, I’m

trading my shame. I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord.” Darrell says his band began to play along. And though the moment had begun as a somber one, the music took on a celebratory feel as the worshipers were overcome with joy as they too sang out about this divine exchange. Darrell later took those initial lyrics and, inspired by 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 and Psalm 30:5, he finished the song. Publishing: © 1998 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music/ASCAP (adm at www.EMICMGPublishing.com) CCLI # 2574653

“How He Loves”

Artist: John Mark McMillan Writer: John Mark McMillan In November of 2002, while in a Jacksonville, Florida, to record a new album, John Mark McMillan received word that one of his closest childhood friends had died following a car accident. John Mark was devastated. “I had pages of dialogue with God in the days that followed, some angry, mostly confused, but also I wrote a lot of songs,” he says. The first song from that season, much of it written the day after the accident, was the song “How He Loves.” John Mark says the song was every bit a “tribute to a friend, a cry for understanding, and the worship that resulted from it all.” Publishing: © 2005 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music/ASCAP (adm at www.EMICMGPublishing.com) CCLI # 5032549

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THE SONGWRITER’S CAFE

INTERVIEW WITH DON POYTHRESS

oe Brookhouse of The Songwriter’s Cafe, had a chance to interview well-respected songwriter, Don Poythress. Don’s songs have been used by the likes of Jaci Velasquez, Easton Corbin, Tim McGraw, Darryl Worley, The Martins, among many others. Joe: Your debut release, Wash Away, has a distinct contemporary country flavor; however, much of today’s modern worship music is dominated by a four-on-the-floor rock sound. Why buck the trend? Don: You know, sometimes as a songwriter I do try to write toward a certain trend in the market to reach certain artists or listeners. But for my project, more than anything, I just wanted to write songs that moved me lyrically and melodically and hope that it connected with people. I love all kinds of music, especially modern worship and country, and I hoped that those influences would come together in a fresh way. Joe: As a successful professional songwriter, you are frequently sought out as a co-writer for both country and Christian artists. What does a typical co-writing session look like for you? Does your approach differ based on the intended audience (country vs. worship)? Don: Co-writing is an interesting experience. I compare it to blind dating because it can feel so natural or SO awkward! I usually try to spend the first few minutes of a session just getting to know the person, trying to make them feel comfortable and learn their interests. Then we might begin sharing some ideas, lyrical or melodic, or maybe just something we’ve heard that interested us and wonder if it could be turned into a song idea. The birth of a song is a very mysterious thing. Often I look back after finishing a 10

song and think, ‘How in the world did we get here from there!’ Of course, every session is a little different because every writer brings different strengths to the table. If I’m writing with someone that’s an incredible lyric writer, I may concentrate more on the melody and let him have the reigns lyrically and the reverse is also true. You learn over time how you write best with certain people. I usually write for five or six hours and if we haven’t finished we will book another session. And, I usually try to write five days a week unless I’m out of town. Yes, I suppose I do approach writing country and Christian songs a little different. Of course it’s the same basic premise: try to start with a great idea. But after that, there are different rules for different genres (all broken at times) that are kept in mind. For instance, every genre has its own language and there’s things you can say in Christian music that you couldn’t say in country music and the reverse is true. I remember when I first started writing Christian songs with my friend Brian White. I would throw out a line and he would say…I like the thought, but we would say it like this or like that. And, the same would be true when we wrote a country song. He might throw out a line that in Christian music would be fine, but in country music might come across preachy and I would say, “What if we said it like this?” Joe: How do you evaluate a new song, whether one you’ve written yourself or one presented to you by another artist? What are some common songwriting pitfalls and how do you avoid them? Don: I consider a song to be good if something UNIQUE was communicated, or if a truth is communicated UNIQUELY. One of the main pitfalls is losing the focus of the idea. It’s very easy to say so much that you don’t say anything well. You have to settle on your main idea and keep the thread of that idea throughout the song. And, you have to be willing to throw lines away (sometimes good ones) that don’t support that idea or that are redundant. Joe: Your lyrics are straightforward and concise, yet avoid being cliché. How do you avoid “wordiness” and still deliver the message? Don: I suppose the main way is by keeping the main idea focused in your mind as you write. Also, don’t feel like every line has to be profound. And I know this may sound very mechanical, but being careful a song is not too long will also teach you to write more concise, for obvious reasons. It’s a good exercise to write a lot of songs that are under four minutes, to learn how to communicate an idea in less time. A special thanks to Don Poythress for taking the time to share his songwriting insights with us. Visit DonPoythress. com to find out more about Don and his songwriting. Be sure to visit TheSongwritersCafe.com for more interviews, tips, and resources for Christian songwriters.

INTERVIEW WITH

ISRAEL HOUGHTON BY WISDOM MOON

fter receiving the pre-release of Israel Houghton’s new CD, I knew that an interview with Israel would be a great way to launch this new digital magazine. The new project, called Jesus At The Center, recorded live at Lakewood Church with New Breed, releases August 14th. In the first few minutes of my initial listen of this 2-Disc project, I was hooked. The energy and diversity in genres grabbed my attention, and I couldn’t wait to get a chance to discuss the album with Israel. I caught up with Israel by phone in mid-July. We covered a gamut of subjects, from his initial involvement at Lakewood Church to songwriting to the state of worship in the church today. Throughout, Israel was a gracious and humble interviewee. We hope you enjoy the interview as much as I was privileged to conduct it.

Wisdom: I want to start off with a question that was submitted through Twitter from one of our followers...How did you get involved with Lakewood Church? Israel: In January of 2001 I was asked to come do a weekend with them. Joel [Osteen] had been in the pulpit for a year at that point. I thought I was just coming to do special music that weekend. They ended up having me lead some and I led about 4 or 5 services. And, at the end they said, “Hey, we’d like you to consider coming and being one of our full-time worship leaders here.” I wasn’t really able to do that at that time, but what we did was I entered into a consultant role with them. So, for the first eight months, I would come in once a month for about a week at a time and work with their team. Then, we started the process of recording the We Speak To Nations record that year. After we did the record I started coming in twice a month and it’s been that way for the last 11 years. Of course, I moved my family to Houston shortly after that. And it really happened because of chemistry. There was just a good connection between us, and it felt like I would be a good addition to their team. The rest is history. Wisdom: Speaking of moving your family, tell us about your family. Israel: My wife and I have been married nearly 18 years. We have 3 amazing kids...Mariah (16), “Sonny Boy” (11), “Lillie” (9). Wisdom: And Mariah sang on this new album, right? Israel: Yes, she did. Wisdom: She has a beautiful voice! Israel: Thank you very much. Wisdom: So, you’ve won numerous awards, including both a Grammy and a Dove last year for Best Contemporary Gospel Album for Love God, Love People. With all the publicity and notoriety, how do you stay true to your calling and keep your heart in the right place?

Israel: I think part of that is having the right people around you that keep you grounded. You can’t be married to an amazing woman like Meleasa for that long and not have an ear to hear what she would say. She knows me better than anybody else, so when she says, “Hey, I don’t know I would do that” or “have you considered this?” I mean, those words have heavy resonance in me. So she definitely helps keep things normal and grounded. And she helps me stay sane. Wisdom: Your new album releasing August 14th, Jesus At The Center, was recorded live in front of 29,000 people at Lakewood Church, with New Breed. I’ve been enjoying listening to the prerelease. There’s a lot of energy, and it’s very diverse. Could you tell us your history with New Breed? Israel: We began New Breed in 1995. It became our ministry name for when we were out traveling and creating music. And in 2000, we put the group together under that name. It was comprised of different worship leaders and musicians who were friends of mine. I just said, “Hey, we’re going to do this project. Are you guys interested in getting involved?” They all said, “Yes!” We didn’t really know the impact this project, let alone forming the group, would have. We just set out to do what we wanted to do as far as putting new songs out and doing a recording deal with Integrity Music. And, out of that we thought maybe we should keep doing this. And, God has blessed it. Wisdom: This new release is probably my favorite so far from you. It is very rich in diversity in genres and the guests you feature on it. It’s full of energy. You have artists from T-Bone ( who’s a rapper that I actually grew up listening to), to people like Michael Gungor, who is a completely different genre. And, you have many others on the album. Does diversity in genres on this album reflect your musical influences and appreciation of the different genres of music? Israel: Yes, definitely. And, all of it is intentional. We want to do music that really serves as a resource to everybody’s Sunday morning experience. Not every song is going to be for everyone, but I guarantee you there is a song for everyone on this record. Wisdom: Tell us the story behind your new single, “Your Presence is Heaven”. Israel: It is a song I wrote with Micah Massey. It’s a song that he had started and brought to the table. The line “Your presence is heaven to me”, the way he presented it was a channel, going into the chorus. And, the more I heard it, I felt like the chorus he had was for another song. “Your presence is heaven to me” felt more like the hook. So, we then stripped away everything else, and the things that really stuck were “Jesus, you’re the cup that won’t run dry” and “Your presence is heaven to me”. That was a strong enough anchor to build the rest of the song. What came about, I think, is really special. Wisdom: Yes, it is a really powerful song. Let’s talk a little bit about songwriting. When it comes to co-writing, there are different ways different people go about it. What is your approach to cowriting sessions? Israel: I think it’s a combination of listening and initiating. Sometimes you listen and maybe suggest, “I wouldn’t say it that way.” And when something is not quite gelling, you initiate: “What if we did this entirely different...and added this and subtracted that.” It really takes a level of mutual respect and thick skin. 14

Wisdom: We have a lot of folks in our online community that are songwriters. Many of them are eager to learn more about songwriting. So, if you could share one thing with the up-and-coming songwriters, what would that be? Israel: I’ve been in this for 22 years. When I started, there were few opportunities and you had to really scramble to make those opportunities happen. You had to send music to people and had to try to be in the right place at the right time to shake the right hands, to hand your CD, at that time cassette tapes, to the right people. There’s always been a part of me that said, “I’m not gonna to be one of those people that kicks down doors. I’m just not gonna to do it.” “What I’m gonna do is maximize where I am.” For example, I started leading worship at 19, and if a pastor preached a message that really resonated with the church and there was a way for me to take excerpts of that message and write a song, then those songs would connect in our church. And, people would sing them and have a sense of ownership, because those songs came out of our environment. As a result of that, people would come through our church and hear one of our songs and take it to their church. That’s how it happened. It happened extremely organically and very much by the hand of God. I’ve never been a frustrated writer or artist in that sense, wondering about things like, “When’s my time gonna come?!” God says, when I can trust you with little and keep trusting you with little, then I can trust you with a little bit more, a little bit more...and then I can trust you with much. So, I would say, don’t get frustrated in your process. Flourish where you’re planted and let God add the increase. Wisdom: Most artists have people on both sides of the fence...people who love you and others who hate on you. I’m sure you have your share of haters. How have you dealt with criticism and “haters”? Israel: (chuckles) Yes, I do! You have to know who you are first. If you allow people to define who you are and who you’re not, and you go by their definition, you’re asking for trouble. I’ve never been one to defend myself. Trust me, I’ve had plenty of people have something to say, especially when you’re trying to do something that’s a little bit different, like addressing the cultural divide and that sort of thing. But, when people say things and throw dirt on me, I can either look at it as “I’m being rejected” or I can look at it as “there’s an environment being created around me that seeds can grow in, and there are seeds of greatness on the inside of me.” Then, I am going to need some of the fertilizer and some of the dirt that people throw on me. 15

Some of the greatest people in history didn’t get there without criticism and detractors. I heard Joel Osteen say, “I wake up every morning with this understanding that...God, I want to honor You and please You, and this is what I believe You’ve given me to say to the people.” Joel obviously has a very specific role he plays in the body of Christ. And, he says, “IF I missed God, I missed Him with the right heart.” I’ve always felt like that is the right approach to this. I’m walking with God. I know who I am. I know what I’m called to. If criticism and the detractors become a louder voice than the voice of God in my life, I have to deal with that. I wake up everyday going, “If I missed God, I missed Him with a pure heart.” Wisdom: Where do you think worship music is headed in the next five years and do you think we’re headed in the right direction? Israel: That’s a loaded question, because five years ago I was asked that question and I said I feel like worship is going to be more and more cross-cultural and perhaps that was a faith-statement more than a fact. Looking forward I would say, if I had any concerns, it is industrialization of worship. It’s the danger of becoming known for worshipping the worship, rather than really putting Jesus at the center of everything. I tend not to try to tell people what to do with their worship, unless I’m doing it in my own life. So, if I sang “Jesus at the center”, I’m saying admittedly, probably in the throes of all this industry and marketing mayhem that comes with it, there’s a chance that I was not where I needed to be. There’s a chance that the purpose in what I do was not completely exacted. So, be the center of my life is a prayer and it’s not just my individual prayer, it’s a prayer for the whole body, it’s just, “God, please reign supreme again. We need to stop making this about us. It needs to be about You.” My hope is that where this is going is way more Jesus-centric than in days past. Wisdom: Lastly, what is one thing you are hoping our readers take away from your new album and DVD? Israel: Honestly, just what we’re talking about...a fresh return to the purpose of God and the person of Jesus. And, putting Jesus at the center! Wisdom: Thank you so much for taking the time to share with us. We look forward to what’s ahead with your music and ministry! Israel: Thanks, Wisdom!

hat an honor it was to have a chance to talk to Israel one-on-one, despite his busy schedule. Special thanks to both Israel and Integrity Music. Be sure to visit Israel’s website (newbreedmusic.com) and check out his new CD/DVD - Jesus At The Center. We are also partnering with Integrity Music to giveaway 2 copies of the CD/DVD combo. All you need to do is email us your comment/response about this interview, no later than Aug 20th: mag@allaboutworship.com. We will pick 2 random winners. (U.S. residents only) 16

Original Master MultiTracks available at:

M U S I C D I V I S I O N S O F D AV I D C C O O K

Receive an additional 10% OFF any song from Israel & New Breed in August using promo code: ISRAEL

SOUND & LIGHTING

WHERE TO BEGIN BY SEAN HILL

“I

loved the worship this morning, do you have a CD I can buy so I can worship like that all week?”

You fumble for an answer to give and offer up, ”Yeah, hopefully soon”. This invariably sets off a chain of events in your mind that keeps your brain running all week. Like a whirlwind you cycle through endless thoughts, “I need to record a CD,” “I need a studio,” “I need a producer,” “Does anybody I know, know how to record,” “Where do I even begin?” It can be very daunting before you ever have the chance to press “record”. Properly beginning the journey can appear harder than the actual recording process itself, but I assure you, it doesn’t have to be.

BUDGET

As an independent artist, the first thing you must realize is that you will have to fund your recording project. Unless you sign a record deal with a label that will pay for your recording, or you can raise the money somehow, you will foot the bill for the project yourself. How much money you have in your bank account will quickly determine how high on the “quality” scale you can go. But, let’s talk about what “expensive” in the recording industry means. Major labels fork out literally hundreds of thousands of dollars for just one record to be produced. Luckily, for artists who aren’t signed, there are studios and producers everywhere that work with smaller budgets. Quality independent studios often charge between $1,000-$2,000 per song.

a quality project will go much further and do more for you than something rushed and cheap.

Why so pricey? After the producer hires a professional band, pays for the recording time, edits, mixes, and masters the music, they will have invested 25+ hours on a well-produced song, 18

involving as many as ten different people, each who gets paid. With that information, you may choose to put your next recording on hold; however, I assure you that you will not regret a decision to save for a quality project. Hear me when I tell you, a quality project will go much further and do more for you than something rushed and cheap. Cheap productions have a way of haunting people for many years.

SELECTING A PRODUCER: ROUND 1

Let’s propose you have $5,000 saved. You are ready to hook up with a studio to get this project rolling. The Internet is literally overrun with thousands of secular and Christian studios to choose from. So maybe you start with typing in “Christian Recording Studio” in Google. It brings up pages and pages of studio websites to choose from. Researching these results will be your number one task over the next week. Here some direction to get you started with your evaluation: • Sample their product: Listen carefully to the sound bites they’ve made available. Do it with decent headphones, not just your crummy laptop or stock computer speakers. Compare those sound bites with the bands that you love. How do they compare to one another? • Research the company: Read through their material. Do they have what appears to be a good track record? Do they have a nice website? Is it up-to-date? • Connect with them: If it all looks good and you like what you hear and see, send them an email…but don’t stop there! Go on, and email more and more studios. • Dig Deeper: Research is your best tool at this stage. Get quotes, have conversations, and compare things side by side. I liken this process to dating. You figure out who is the most attractive to you and ask them out. You go on a date and perhaps they say things you don’t like. Move on. Date around before you ever commit! If there is ever a time to not settle it’s when you’re dating… and when you are looking for a studio and producer. The studio and producer hold the keys to how your project will sound… NOT YOU!

The studio and producer hold the keys to how your project will sound… NOT YOU!

WORKING THE SHORT-LIST

You’ve sent out emails to six different studios at this point, some local, some more distant. You get back responses, some you like, some you don’t. You’ve created a short-list, and you’re ready to sit down and visit with a few producers. There are several things that I consider red flags to look out for when dealing with producers/ studios in an initial meeting. The intention isn’t to scare you but to make you aware. Many “producers” aren’t really producers at all - they just happen to have a little recording gear 19

and know how to press record. Intuition is going to be a necessary part of meeting with these producers. I’d even suggest inviting along a friend or two. Inspect for these red flags to avoid a project that will haunt you: • If a studio/producer isn’t busy and they can take on your project immediately… red flag. Good studios are busy studios. • If a studio/producer won’t send you a sample of their work that matches the style you are looking to record… red flag. Generally producers have one or two “niche” styles and if you choose to work with them you will be taken towards their niche. • If a studio/producer cannot produce references to satisfied past clients... red flag. That probably means they have either had no past clients or they have had bad relationships with all of their clients. • If a studio/producer wants to record without an agreement/contract between the two of you… red flag. That’s just shady business. • If a studio/producer wants the total amount of the project funds up front… red flag. Shady shady shady business. • If you just don’t like the producer flat out as a person… red flag. Remember you are about to be side-by-side with them for many, many hours. You are not just hiring a studio and a place to record; you are hiring a group of people to work with. • Garageband is not a program that can yield legitimate, high quality records. Garageband can and should be used for demos. For the most part, most legitimate producers are running ProTools, Logic, or CakeWalk, and if they aren’t using these programs… red flag.

INITIAL MEETING

I’ve noticed over the past couple years a few preconceptions that a lot of first-time recording artists arrive with in their initial meeting. They must have just watched their favorite artist enter into a multimillion complex in New York, Nashville, LA, or Atlanta on a behind-the-scenes documentary on TV and expect to walk into the same environment. That is a stereotype that your budget just doesn’t allow at this point. This first encounter is crucial to making a solid decision on moving forward with a studio and producer. Your evaluation needs to be based on reality - not on assumptions built on stereotypes and inexperience. To that end, I offer the following advice for navigating that initial meeting. • Do not judge a studio/producer based on the looks of the studio environment. Great songs are cut in basements, attics, and spare rooms everyday. Don’t look for the vocal booth or acoustical treatment all over the walls, it likely won’t be there… well, egg crate might be, which as a side note, has almost zero acoustical impact in a room. • Do not judge a studio/producer based on the equipment that they have or don’t have. I’ve seen great records produced with almost no decent equipment. I’ve also seen terrible records produced with loads of fantastic equipment.

• Do your best to leave your preconceived notions about recording behind you, because the majority of them are likely inaccurate. • Be specific with your visions about the project to see if the match with the producer is right. • Voice your concerns. Ask the producer to explain how he/she will address them before production begins. • If something is confusing, or too “technical”, ask for a break down. Don’t let a producer talk over your head. Many times the producer is just talking industry lingo and forgets to return to plain and simple English for a first time artist. • If project pricing is discussed, ask for things in writing if a contract is not presented.

WRAP UP

Your best friend in this crazy process of hunting down a place to record will always be your ear. Your ears don’t know how to lie. If it sounds good, it sounds good… period. I’ll leave you with this. If you want to have a professional experience and end up with a professional CD, it will cost you something. 99.9% of the time “free” or dirt cheap from a friend of a friend is not going to be quality, and more or less a waste of your time, energy, and most importantly the one and only first impression you get to make on people. Today, it seems like just about every neighborhood has a “studio”. Whether they produce quality music is a discussion for another day. Be choosy, do the research, and stay focused on what God has placed on your heart to do. If a studio and producer can’t align with your vision, move on… even if that means you have to travel a great distance to get a solid recording. Ultimately stay focused on your ultimate goal of making quality Kingdom music! Stay tuned to this series as I “lift the veil” on the oftentimes-mysterious recording process. Next time we will look at ways to prepare for the studio once you’ve settled on a studio and producer to work with. Be blessed!

Sean is a full-time producer and songwriter in Lawrenceville, GA. www.uphillstudiosonline.com

WORSHIP LEADING

HOW TO MOVE BEYOND SINGING SONGS TO LEADING WORSHIP BY DAVID SANTISTEVAN

YOU KNOW THE CLICHES. YOU READ THE BOOKS. YOU BOUGHT THE T-SHIRT. • • • •

“Worship isn’t about music” “You were created to worship” “Born to worship” “It’s not about you”

But how does that translate into worship leading? How do you move from merely singing a setlist to leading in worship? We’ve all been there. Standing before a crowd, scared out of our minds. It’s enough just to get through one song, let alone lead people in worship through a whole set, right? We talk a lot about making disciples. One of the characteristics of young worship leaders is that they don’t know how to lead worship. Ironic, but true. Sure, they may have a great voice. They may be able to sing through a song well. Indeed, they may have insane stage presence or musical ability. But they don’t know how to lead…people…in worship.

5 TIPS FOR ACTUALLY LEADING WORSHIP

Since I have a few worship leaders I’m discipling at the moment, I thought I’d bring you into my process a bit for teaching them how to lead. You can do the same! #1 KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN There’s nothing wrong with closing your eyes from time to time. But not for an entire worship set. Your main job is to connect with people. You can’t do that if you’re in your own worship world. Practice keeping your eyes open.

#2 ENCOURAGE PEOPLE Just because you have a great voice doesn’t mean people will join you. You need to invite them. All it takes is a little encouragement. Throughout a worship set, I’ll give tons of vocal cues, encouraging people to lift their voice. Here are some of them: • • • •

“Let’s sing this together” “Church, let’s rise up and declare this truth” “Every voice, from the front to the back” “That’s beautiful! Let’s sing it one more time”

I know this may feel awkward at times, but it doesn’t have to be. You aren’t performing songs. You are a leader. Your church is waiting for you to lead them. #3 HOLD NOTHING BACK I’ve got to say, there’s nothing more inspiring than a leader that puts their heart on display – a worship leader that pursues God with everything they have. A true heart of worship connects the generations. A true heart of worship is inviting and inspiring to a congregation. Don’t be timid. Rise up and lead with boldness. #4 IGNORE YOUR FEARS Nerves are a part of the game. No matter how long you stand on a stage, it’s always nerve-racking. You must learn to ignore those fears. Stop focusing on the worst case scenarios and just worship God. Otherwise, you’ll paralyze yourself with fear. And fear is the worst frame of mind to lead in. You need to practice ignoring your fears. #5 PREPARE YOUR HEART If your only preparation is in the musical realm, you are not becoming the worship leader you could be. Pray for your congregation. Show up with expectancy. Talk to people before and after service. You’re more of a waiter than you are a rockstar. Prepare your heart beforehand to serve people in their encounter with God. It’s not about you and your leadership. It’s all about shining a spotlight on the glory of God and getting out of the way. Your church doesn’t care how talented you are. They don’t come to hear your amazing arrangements. They come to connect with Jesus. Make sure you’re ready to lead. Question: How else can we move from song-leaders to worship leaders? David Santistevan is a worship leader, blogger, and the proud father of his newborn son, Tyler. Visit his blog: davidsantistevan.com

REVIEWS

Jesus Culture Emerging Voices It is now easy to hear the mention of the name “Jesus Culture” and immediately think of Chris Quilala and Kim WalkerSmith. Yet having established this band (and the Jesus Culture movement as a whole) over the past few years, Banning Liebscher [pastor of Jesus Culture] explains the move forward (and therefore the rationale behind the new album Emerging Voices: “We believe that there are emerging voices being raised up around the earth right now, and these voices are going to be used to see entire nations awakened to the love of Jesus. Kim Walker-Smith, Chris Quilala and Melissa Wise-How were worship leaders who were young and involved in our youth group and that the Lord began to anoint to see their voice stir the hearts of the Church and awaken people to Jesus.This album is just a handful of these emerging voices; ones that are close to us: Derek [Johnson], Mary Kat [Ehrenzeller], Nate [Ward] and Justin [Jarvis]. I’m convinced that God is going to take their lives, songs and anointing to impact an entire generation.” Of the first 3 tracks, I leaned most towards “I Belong to You” - a song that describes the attributes of God’s greatness and glory in the verses, and then reminds us in the chorus that we belong to Him - we are His and His alone. Also of note here is Mary Kat Ehrenzeller’s “Mighty Fortress” - the words of Zephaniah 3:17 have always resonated with me (“He will rejoice over you with singing”). This song is a great example of Jesus Culture’s attention to arrangement - Mary Kat’s vocal line sits perfectly atop a pounding backbeat and ethereal keys & guitar to create a wonder in sonic architecture. One of the hallmarks of the Jesus Culture movement is the time devoted to spontaneity within worship. Several notable worship songwriters (including Bethel’s own Brian Johnson) have brought to light the fact that their best songs were birthed in spontaneous worship times. To that end, I was drawn immediately to “Be My Love” (and the ensuing reprise “We Just Love You”) nearly 11 minutes of continual worship to get yourself lost in. What starts out as a lively worship song transforms over the time into a chorus of spontaneous song - all blanketed under the theme of God’s unending, never failing love. “Who Can Compare” brings something rarely seen to a Jesus Culture album - an acoustic guitar. This reflective, responsive, song brings something of a new dimension to the Jesus Culture sound 24

REVIEWS - the picked acoustic guitar and the soft padded keys create a pleasing ambiance. This song leads into my standout track of the album - Derek Johnson & Jeremy Edwardson’s “You are My God”. I have had something of an on-and-off relationship with the octave-shift worship song over the years, but this is a masterclass of how to make it effective. Starting on something of a mellow tone, this song explodes mid-way through into a powerful anthem speaking of the greatness of God our Father. At Bethel Church, Redding (home of Jesus Culture) their underpinning subtext is “excellence in everything”. Do everything He’s called you to do with all your heart. It is evident in this, and every other Jesus Culture release I’ve heard that this is what drives them: a deep-seated love for the Lord, and a passionate, burning desire to see His people worship Him. If this is where Jesus Culture is headed, I, for one, want in. Ed Rotheram | @edrotheram

Dustin Smith You Are The Fire It is always exciting when you get a new worship album, but the feeling is multiplied when you can say you were there for the live recording of it. It makes you feel a sense of ownership that isn’t in most albums. This is the case for me with You Are The Fire by Dustin Smith. With five albums under his belt in collaboration with his church, this is Dustin’s first live album as a solo effort. The project was produced by Michael Farren (Pocket Full of Rocks) and Kyle Lee (Michael W. Smith). Other collaborators include: Jennie Lee Riddle, Carl Albrecht, Stu G, and others. This is an amazing album and it’s worth discussing every song on it, but here are some highlights. The second track on this album is a fantastic anthem called “Let Justice Roll.” Our God is the God of Justice, and we are His instrument. That is the heart of this song. With strong beats and memorable guitar lines, this will be stuck in your head. It’s definitely a song that will fit well with congregational worship and will do a good job of firing people up for outreach. The track “Rushing Waters” is absolutely fantastic. It is the kind of song that could easily become a standard in many churches. The song sings of the majesty and holiness of God. There is an 25

REVIEWS amazing moment in the song where everything drops out and all you hear is the congregation singing “Our God Reigns”. The highlight of the night when we recorded this was in my mind the song “The One That Really Matters”. It begins with a simple piano, but when Dustin started to play, you could feel the presence of God increase in the room. It was so thick and tangible that Dustin and the band just stopped. It reminded me of a 2nd Chronicles 5 moment. After a minute, the team was able to continue, but the presence was still so strong it was apparent God was there. The song’s opening line fits this so well, “I feel you so close to me, I can hardly move or breathe.” Never have I heard a lyric that so exemplified a moment. This album ends with the title track “You Are The Fire”. The song begins with the bridge, “Fan the flame till the whole world sees us burn. You are the Fire.” It builds this bridge into an anthem where you can’t help but shout because God is the fire shut up in our bones, like Jeremiah spoke of. Then the song moves into the verses and chorus and literally gets you on your feet praising God. This is one of my favorite songs I have heard in a long time. It is perfect for a congregation. It is fast and loud, but can be played by the smallest of teams with the least instruments. The lyrics are singable and relatable. It is a song that definitely should be in your services. I would love to describe every one of the songs because they are all so good. Every song could get a whole paragraph and more, but I think with this selection, you can begin to get an idea of what this album is like. Mathew Reames | @matreames

Hillsong Cornerstone Hillsong never disappoints. I mean, their worst day is better than most other’s best, and Cornerstone is Hillsong at its finest. What I love the most – they never settle for just catchy songs. If their music doesn’t rope you in, their mission will – “Championing the cause of the local church.” As I previewed this live album, each new song was heard through the filter of my past experiences, (each better than the one before) and this album holds true to form.

REVIEWS Joyful and energetic, “Endless Light” is the perfect opener, setting the sonic tone of the album. An easy and singable chorus followed by an even more singable hook “God be exalted, God be exalted in everything – We live for Your glory Lord.” The title track is a fresh take on Edward Mote’s 1834 classic hymn “The Solid Rock”. Mirroring Hillsong’s global vision for 2012, this song articulates the message of Ephesians 2. God is building a home, and we are all a part of its construction. “Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the Cornerstone that holds all the parts together.” Ephesians 2:19-22 (MSG) Some other notable moments include “Running”, led by J.D. of Hillsong United. Every Hillsong record has this song, each one just sounds a bit different. “Run” from a few albums back comes to mind, and I love this one as much as the rest! “Hope of the World” is another standout. Released in the Cornerstone EP, this is reminiscent of solid classics like “Mighty to Save”, and “Our God is Able”. If you are going through a rough time, Hope is sure to flood the atmosphere as you bump this in your playlist! All of the songs are phenomenal, but there’s one in particular that I am addicted to – “Beneath the Waters (I Will Rise)”. This song is straight up powerful. It’s saying all the right things, and it’s making it personal. “I rise as You are risen, declare Your rule and reign. My life confess Your Lordship And glorify Your name.” Buy this album… Lots of times. Gift it on iTunes. Sing it. Cover it. And worship Jesus! Joe Cameneti, Jr.

Listen to episode 93 of the All About Worship Podcast for our recent interview with Reuben Morgan about this album.

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