CHRISTIAN SONGWRITER
[ BRIAN & JENN JOHNSON | Doug Doppler ]
In addition to leading worship and heading Brian is a crafter. He will get his theme and just brings people to a point of response. Glean
up the Bethel Music ministry, Brian and Jenn wring it out and find the best lyrics. It’s amazing from those kinds of writers and learn how they
Johnson are truly prolific songwriters. If you are that he has such a crafting gift. Brian really writes do it. Realize that you’re going to be writing for
interested in taking your songwriting to the next from the eternal: Who God’s always been and many, many years. An idea that you might think
level, we encourage you to read, share, and who He will be. But for me, I’ll get a message of is the best ever but other people don’t, just
discuss this interview with your worship team what I feel the Lord is saying, almost like a letter, keep working on it.
and songwriting partners. and then try my best to figure out how to sing what I felt the Lord was saying. We do cross I see this a lot, people want to start songwriting
[WM] A search on SongSelect reveals that each other’s lanes a little bit, but it’s been really communities but don’t have the backbone to
between the two of you Brian has sixty-five cool to see how the other writes. sustain critical thinking and growing people
songwriting credits and Jenn, you’ve got
that may be better than themselves in that field.
twenty-five. More than just being prolific writers, [Brian] I know a lot of young writers, and it Every great leader will thrive in an environment
many of these songs are currently in rotation at honestly goes back to having confidence in where the people they are leading might be
churches around the world. What did you do God. It’s important to not be an insecure writer, better than they are.
as young adults that made a difference in your and just be confident that maybe that thing that writing now, and what suggestions do you have you think is so sacred and isn’t the best it can [WM] Brian, I remember being floored the first
for people who are just starting out? be – maybe it could be better or the song could time I heard Kim Walker-Smith singing “We Cry
say it in a better or fresher way. Out.” What’s it like to write a song that helped
[Jenn] We’ve both been writing since we
introduce the world to Kim Walker-Smith and
were in high school. We just started putting I would say if you want to be a great songwriter, words and music to our connection with God. learn from the people that are doing it well and Vineyard Music really helped steward that that have success. And when I say success, I [Brian] That’s just awesome. I love it. I
Father’s heart and connection to the Lord in mean the songs that heaven is on, like “10,000 honestly wish more songwriters would let go
those scenes of our lives. Reasons.” My goodness, what a song! Heaven of their songs and maybe allow a better carrier
joined in and nodded and is resting on that to carry a song. I think, as a songwriter first,
We both write really differently in the sense that
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Jesus Culture?
song. When churches sing that song it just
July 2017
WorshipMusician.com
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