Worship Musician August 2017 | Page 13

Photo: Hillsong United Instagram really organized enough. I always have a fear of [WM] You are in the producer’s seat for right, and then push record, which obviously wishing that I had a certain piece of gear that I Hillsong United and for the last four albums for makes sense now, but at the time we were may have let go. I feel like every piece of gear Hillsong Worship. How much would you tether doing it backwards. has a particular vibe and a particular sound. that to your experience in L.A. working with Sometimes I just fall in love with stuff, and I’ll people like producer Butch Walker? always come back to it if I need that vibe. That’s how I stepped in with Hillsong United and Hillsong Worship. I’d been working with [Michael] Butch Walker was a huge influence Butch and I suddenly realized that we’ve got [WM] Are there any pieces that you sold, or on me as a producer, because he is like no one the talent for it, we just need to re-position one that you saw in a shop but didn’t buy, that else I’ve ever met before. He’s unbelievable. He how we’re doing it and try to spend more time you feel like was the “one that got away”? can pretty much play any instrument, which I working on some of these songs and getting envy because I can’t play keyboards and many the vibes early rather than trying to get the vibe [Michael] I don’t think so. I think I’ve always other things I’m not as good at. But he can after the album’s been recorded. been pretty lucky with stuff. I came from a play just about anything, as well as being an pretty poor family, so if there was ever anything amazing singer. [WM] One of my favorite things about the that I wanted I had to really get creative with early records is that it feels like you’re just how to get it. I used to borrow a lot of money When I was young, we would make live albums. the guy with a Gretsch and an AC30 or two, and work crazy long hours to pay for stuff. I feel We would just push record and then the next just banging away. I love that about your like I try not to be too materialistic with stuff as day we would go into the studio and try and put playing. That hasn’t disappeared as you’ve well. I feel like, if I have it then I’m lucky, and if I the album back together again. Butch Walker’s matured, but at the same time your approach, don’t, then it is what it is. approach was to get the songs and the parts as a band, at making records is crazy August 2017 WorshipMusician.com 13