[WM] You mentioned you were leaving a We try to never write like we’re trying to write a month we are doing hymns in church. So, we
session, what are you working on? classic song or anything like that... like a song incorporate hymns a good bit in some way.
that will be around for a long time. We want to Sometimes it’s “on the fly” in a spontaneous
[Chris Brown] Yeah! We are finishing up all write songs – and we remind ourselves of this moment, but sometimes it’s planned out and
of the arrangements for the recording of our all the time - only about what God is doing in we’ve actually arranged it. We made that shift
next album. So, we’re reviewing everything our church. We’re going to write for the people to doing pretty much all Elevation songs…
now in the studio and are just trying to figure in our church, and we’re going to get to know maybe three or four years ago. But, we worked
out if we need to work on melody or instrument the people in our church. We write from places our way up to that point over time.
production… that’s kind of what today was. of hurting, you know… people are experiencing loss and loneliness. For us, it’s so important [WM] How often are you introducing new
[WM] When selecting for this record, what to be connected to a local body of people, songs to your people when not in a season of
is the litmus test that causes a song to make spending time with people. preparing for a new record?
the cut?
[WM] I was recently interviewing Mosaic MSC [Chris] New originals? I would say, once a
[Chris] Well… I feel like we have just the and they had set a goal of having 100% Mosaic month. We’ve been a little more aggressive
best-case scenario. We have our church and songs in their worship. Have you also set a recently and it’s been more like two songs a
we’ve been doing original music in church for similar goal? month. That’s a lot for people to grab ahold of
six or seven years now. We’ve been putting
honestly. You know, the same people are not
out albums for 11 years now, but the first [Chris] Um, you know, primarily what we showing up at our church every single week.
few albums, we did not play the songs in do is our music. Some of that is a little more So, they may miss the first week we do a song
church (laughs)! seasonal, like for the past three or four months, and they have to catch up a bit.
we’ve really only done our stuff as we are
But really, I feel like we are so fortunate because getting close to recording. We’ve needed to get [WM] You’re in a unique place… most worship
we do have almost a built-in audience, so to these newer songs in front of our church before leaders reading this article would probably love
speak, to help figure out if a song is resonating the live recording. We need our people to be to be able to experience worship in your church!
or to understand if a chorus lifts the way it familiar with the songs. Many of the readers of Worship Musician
needs to. I will say that we’ve never carelessly
have to deal with having people standing in
thrown a song in front of our church; like we’re Now, after we have recorded the album, we their congregations with arms folded, totally
literally using them as a test-group. We’ve may do another song maybe like once a month expressionless and unengaged in worship. Is it
never thrown a “half-baked” song in front of or so. So much for us is driven by what we need possible for you to relate to that?
them, but if we do feel like a song is complete to keep familiar and in front of our church that and we just have no idea how it would “take” we’re either getting ready to release or record in church, we’re able to try it and see. That’s or whatever. I would say a couple of times a
[Chris] Oh, of course!
one of the best things about being rooted in
our local church. So, I would say the litmus test
is happening over the course of 12-months
or so. It would be, “Does this song minister
to the people that we are with week-in and
week-out?”
We will record this album in a few weeks
and there will be songs that we’re recording
that we’ve been singing in church for 10-12
months. But, it just takes us that long to move
on from the previous album in church and then
to finish writing for the next album. Our poor
people here, they hear songs and they forget,
“Oh yeah! I don’t even have that on an album
anywhere and I’m tired of it now!”
Photo Courtesy of Elevation Church
April 2018
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