had the singer from the band Delta Spirit, and
seen both sides of that now.
away, but apart from that I don’t have any other
Eddie Fisher, who is now the drummer with
talents.” So, he signed the paper, and I never
OneRepublic. The band didn’t last very long, [WM] What are some of the ways having went back. Some of the Hillsong Young and
but we met Butch, who wanted to produce the dyslexia has impacted your life? Free guys went to the same school, and they
album. When the band broke up I reached out
told me that Mr. Mortimer is quite proud that I
to Butch and asked him to let me know about [MGC] It still affects me now If I’m paying for any work that he might know about. He called something. I love being able to use credit cards me back and told me that he was going to be because I don’t have to tell people that I can’t There are benefits of having dyslexia, like some
supporting Avril Lavigne in Japan and asked if I count properly. I had a lot of problems growing of my favorite riffs that I’ve ever made. I’ve usually
wanted to play guitar for him. It was awesome, up in school because I would ask questions and heard it in my head and figured out how to play
I didn’t have to try out or anything. I got the gig, people would make fun of me. Even now, I still it, rather than just noodling and trying to find
went to rehearsal, and Butch took my passport sometimes have to write a 2 to remember that something. It’s been a challenge, but I feel like it’s
and got me a Visa to go to Japan for a month – if it starts on the left, it’s a two, and if it starts on made me stronger with music. I can pretty much
it was so much fun. Butch is such a great guitar the right, it’s a five. I know that sounds silly, but play anything, and I can hear a song and tell you
player too, he’s incredible. people with Dyslexia understand what I mean. I whether it’s going to be loved by everyone or not
took some tests when I was sixteen where they loved by anyone. So, I guess I’m grateful for it.
[WM] When did you get start going to Hillsong?
made something of my life.
told me that I had it really bad, and if I wanted
to leave school I could. They couldn’t support [WM] So… did you know “Oceans” was going
[MGC] I grew up in a Christian household. My my type of Dyslexia at the school, and all I had to be such a massive hit when you started
parents got divorced when I was eleven, and to do was to get all of my teachers to sign a working on it?
I started going to Hillsong then. My mom had piece of paper. So, I walked around school, and met Brian Houston, Joel’s father, so I got pretty the one guy I couldn’t get until the end of the [MGC] Joel was in New York and I was back
connected. I was playing in the youth ministry day was Mr. Mortimer, my music teacher. When in Sydney when I was working on the album. I
by the time I was twelve. I feel like Christianity I finally pinned him down I told him that I just had hired the keyboard player and the strings
has always been a part of my life, and I’ve had needed him to sign the paper and I would be players to work on “Oceans”. I talked to Joel
so many friends come and go who have walked done, he would never see me again. He said, via FaceTime and told him that I was going in to
with Jesus and then fallen away. But for some “What are you going to do with your life?” And I record some stuff for it, and he told me that he
reason, it just feels quite natural to me. Like, I’ve said, “I’m going to make music, play guitar, and didn’t have a single lyric for that song, so not to
never felt angry at God for things happening, tour the world.” And he said, “If it was that easy, worry about that one. I told him that it was my
or not happening; and I’ve had a lot of ups and then I’d be doing it. There’s a reason why I’m a favorite song that didn’t have lyrics yet. So, I just
downs in my life. A lot of my friends have been teacher. It’s a miserable life. You don’t want to be recorded all of it anyway. Then, when we were
derailed by either being successful, or not being doing it.” I said, “I’m not good at anything else. I finishing off some drum parts at Electric Lady
successful. Ironically, that’s one of the big things don’t know what else I can do.” So, he said, “I’m studios in New York, I pulled up “Oceans” and
I’ve noticed with my friends. It derails them and going to sign this, but I think you’re making a said to Joel, “Just listen to this now. I’ve worked
they get upset with God if they’re not successful, huge mistake. I would want you to stay in school really hard on this and I think it’s going to be
or they get upset because they’ve become so and just try and figure it out.” I told him, “I can’t amazing.” And the cello started at the beginning,
successful that it all gets in the way and derails understand anything that’s going on, except for and then the piano… and then the terrible
their relationship with God as well. I feel like I’ve music. I can hear something and play it straight continued on 46
January 2018
WorshipMusician.com
11