Songwriting Masterclass with Matt Redman

How do you balance writing a song that's simple enough to be "catchy" but complex enough to be interesting?

Great question. I've been doing this long enough to know that there's no formula! Some songs (or a section of a song) to the cerebral songwriter brain might feel 'over-simple'—but somehow connect so well, and people don't want to stop singing them. Others are less simple, but somehow get boring more quickly. It's quite the conundrum, ha! I kind of like the fact that there's no simple formula, as it keeps us dependent - it keeps us seeking and searching for a new inspired way to help people talk to God in our songs. And perhaps that's the key word—'inspired.' There's a certain kind of song which seems so inspired, so 'God-breathed,' that it feels right at home in your heart, and doesn't grow tiresome to sing—even though simple.

An example would be the choruses of songs like 'How Great is our God' and 'Great are You Lord.' They are two of my favorite songs from the last couple of decades—and written by friends of mine— but if I'm honest, the cerebral part of my songwriter's brain doesn't understand how they're quite so special to lead in worship. And yet they are. There isn't really an explanation—they just are. They are inspired. It's almost as if in some beautiful way, the sum is greater than the parts. One last thing I would say here—simple doesn't have to mean shallow. There's a way to sing depth without being overly wordy. And also think about the flow of lyrical depth in a song— for example packing the verses with lots of poetic truth, and then making the chorus a simple, easily-grabbable response to the truth we sang in the verses.

Hi Matt. Seeking your advice about leading worship in a smaller context. When leading worship with a group of 50-100, how would you encourage a greater sense of passion and engagement? It's an ongoing consideration for us, and something we often find challenging in a smaller setting. Thank you!

It seems to be that sometimes leading in a smaller group like that can be the most challenging place—but when it goes right, it can be the most profound and beautiful of all. There's something so fantastic about the intensity of that kind of group when everything is flowing well, and people fully engage—but that, of course, is the challenge. I don't think there are any simple formulas for this, but of course, the most fundamental thing is the songs themselves.

When the songs are truth-filled, lifegiving, prayerful, and easy and enjoyable to sing, you're probably halfway there. There are other things you can also do to help. For example, I'd identify some wholehearted, expressive worshippers and ask them to sit in the front rows each week. It helps set a spiritual temperature, and lead all the others sitting behind them. But the advice I'd give above all is that you've got to keep helping people realize the wonder of the experience. This isn't just a musical moment; nor is it just about what is seen and obvious. We are joining in the anthem of heaven— joining our few voices to the multitudes who voice their praise around the throne room of God, this very moment. We are caught up in the eternal activity of heaven, and before this is ever a musical happening, it's a spiritual one. If week after week, you can exhort, teach, and pray along those lines, you'll hopefully start to see the realization of that set in with your congregation. I hope that helps a little!

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