to make sure I’ve got the range right and the [Jared] It’s bit of both. It’s not as though if Chris Tomlin. I’m not Reuben Morgan. I’m not
timbre right. Am I writing a passage beyond the it’s a gig it’s something I don’t care about and Brooke Ligertwood. I don’t have those hits on
dexterity of my player? carry the responsibility of with honor. But, when the board. Why bother? But I’ve discovered
I’m on the stage at church I’m concentrating some things as a man in his 40s who’s been
[WM] One of the phrases that’s going around so much on who’s doing what, especially if I’m doing music since I was in my late teens. The
these days is being a lifelong learner. How on the MD mic doing band leading. I have to work I’ve done as an arranger has all come
would you say you’re adding to your learning watch the leader to see where they’re going to along in the last few years.
today? go, especially in our Pentecostal environment where it could go anywhere. I want to be When I was in my 20s, I thought I was going
[Jared] The last year or so I’ve been travelling to supporting the leader well. If they start singing to be a record producer, an arranger, a hit
Nashville a lot. What I’ve been trying to do while a song we haven’t sung or rehearsed in six songwriter, all these things. And it just didn’t
I’m there is sit in on other people’s recording months, I’m going to be calling out chord happen. I did small amounts. But my day job
sessions. When I was there in November, I numbers. If I get lost in a moment of worship was creating piano/guitar/vocal charts for Hal
sat in on a Nashville String Machine session. and the whole thing derails, no one’s going to Leonard, Word and other publishers. None of it
It’s one thing to run your own session and do go “That’s okay, Jared. You were worshipping!” was creative. It was cranking out sheet music.
things the way you think is best, and I’ve had They’re going to wonder what is going wrong I got into my 30s and honestly thought that the
a lot of experience doing that. But to see these (laughs). ship had sailed on the creative stuff. I felt like
guys was next level. I learned so much about
I’d missed the boat. I was so old now that I
how they ran their sessions, about how they [WM] What is a co-writing session like for was in my 30s. I hit 40 and life changed. I think
set up the studio, how they got things done you? that part of it is maturity, part of it is longevity.
in a timely fashion. Once you’re in there with a
I’ve seen that people I work with who are also
bunch of people playing their instruments, you [Jared] I find co-writing sessions with other in their 40s now have more influence. I’ve got
might be spending $1,000 an hour. You don’t Christians to be a great time of refreshing respect from being around music that long. It’s
want to spend that money mucking around. I because co-writing is like sharing. We share not what you know. Some people might say I’m
learned a lot through that. our souls, spend a four-hour session together only getting the work because I’m in the right
talking about what God’s doing. We’ll be writing camp. I think it’s because of perseverance.
Then when I was in Nashville again in April a song about faith, and to write the song we’ll That’s the stuff. Tenacity and showing up. Just
I actually had a session with them where we need to unpack what faith is. We’ll end up continually showing up the next day and the
tracked some of my arrangements for projects. reading some Bible verses on faith. We’ll pray next day. Putting your hand up for stuff. You
Even doing it with them I learned a whole together. It’s basically a small group Bible study get honored for that kind of reliability and that
bunch more from working with the engineer. on faith. Sure, we end up with a song on faith integrity. I’ll be back in Nashville soon, writing
Things like numbering every bar. Things that will at the end, but I find those situations really force songs again. That’s what I’m going to do. If no
make your session sound better, go smoother. me into the Word and force me to contemplate one ever hears them, that’s okay.
Everyone can either go home earlier or we can God stuff. It’s great!
get more done. When I sat in on a session last
[WM] What you’ve just described seems like
year they actually gave me a score to follow. [WM] You work with some very successful a great mindset for any volunteer on a worship
It was a Word choral recording session. Not songwriters. Do you ever wonder why you team. Be reliable. Review the songs before
only was I seeing them play, I actually had should bother writing when others are finding rehearsal. Learn the hook you’ll be expected to
Daniel Simpson’s score to follow through the so much favor in their work? play. Be ready. It doesn’t mean you come ready
whole session. That was an amazing learning
to play a Mozart concerto, you’ll be ready for
experience as well, just looking at someone [Jared] When I’m in Nashville I’m not just else’s orchestrations. I got to hear the score wearing my arranger hat. I’m there as a writer, come to life. too, to write songs with other writers and [Jared] Absolutely. The other thing is, don’t
artists. Trying to get a song picked up to be be a jerk. I always say that I’d much sooner
[WM] When you’re playing with your worship recorded can make you feel like you’re throwing hire the second or third best musician who is
team at church, are there moments when you your songs into a giant hole. You never see great to work with. If you’re the best person at
have a sense of “Wow, God is here” or does it them again. You write the song. You demo it. whatever your craft but you’re difficult to work
sometimes feel like a gig you’re playing? You send it to the A&R guy. That’s it. Then you with, unless you’re the best in the world, no
go write the next one. It’s demoralizing. I’m not one’s going to put up with your rubbish.
August 2019
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