[Matt] I look at JD, who is kind of the classic think that is what has helped me
crazy guy on stage. I look at the way he dances along the way – knowing what
around on stage, and I know that he’s not doing I’m doing, so that I can get out
it because he’s a good dancer. He’s probably of that boat.
the worst dancer on planet earth! (laughter) But
he’s so amazing at just going crazy on stage [WM] Like Chris Quilala from
and having fun! I think that’s what it is. It’s about Jesus Culture, you’re a guy that
having fun and having that joy that’s in God stepped out from behind the
where you just let loose and go for it and be drum kit to lead worship – love it!
crazy. I don’t think it’s a performance thing for From the drummer’s perspective,
us. This is a real joy for us and we’re just going you literally see everything that’s
to give it all we’ve got. I think it does connect happening on the stage. How did
with the people that come to a worship night, that serve you as you stepped
or with a congregation, or whoever it is. It’s out from behind the drum kit,
about just being vulnerable with them. We’ll both as a worship leader and
come to the States for three weeks straight songwriter and arranger?
and do twelve nights, and Joel will say things
that you hear every night on the stage, but if [Matt] I feel like I learned how the moment needs it… he’ll take a different to lead worship from behind path and just start speaking out. That’s all the drums. I stopped drumming about being mindful of what the Spirit wants because I broke my leg, but I to do on stage. We’re not afraid to do that also felt like there was always so and to step out of the box or away from what much pressure on the drummer, we’ve rehearsed. The more you rehearse and because if you mess up on stage know the plan, the more you can deviate from as the drummer, it is so noticeable it comfortably. You can always get back into and can really derail everything it if it goes downhill. That’s what I always say that is happening. I didn’t really enjoy that back home if we’re rehearsing for a night, “Let’s pressure. I loved playing drums, but I didn’t like I was very reluctant to sing though. One of my
make this as good as we can in rehearsal. Now the pressure. I guess, in a natural sense, it was worst fears was to get up in front of people
we know what we’re doing. And now we step a selfish move not to play the drums anymore. and sing. But Jad Gillies was kind of pushing
out of it and go the way God wants us to go.” I But I felt like I genuinely learned how to lead me along and telling me that I couldn’t just
people in worship through the drums.
keep writing songs and not get up there
and sing. He was kind of joking, but also
a little bit serious. And I knew in my heart
that it was going to happen eventually. I
didn’t want it to, but I also kind of did want
it to happen because I felt that it was how
God was directing me. So, eventually I just
got over it and stood up in front of people.
I stood there with my head down, and so
nervous that I didn’t move an inch. I sang
a song and kind of chipped away at that
confidence issue I had, and I remember
one day realizing that this was about God
connecting with people so I needed to step
out of the way. For me, that took away all of
my issues with being confident up on stage
and gave me a boldness to just do it and to
get up and lead people in worship.
24
August 2017
WorshipMusician.com