You will know Benjamin ’ s writing from the song “ So Will I ( 100 Billion X )”. It ’ s a song he sings and co-wrote with Hillsong . You may also know him from his recent appearance with Cody Carnes , “ Take You at Your Word ”. But this Northern Ireland lad has now released a full , 25-song collection of remarkable songs for the church and those that have become somewhat disenfranchised with the faith . Benjamin speaks to hearts and is a true wordsmith .
[ WM ] It is indeed a pleasure to meet with you today !
[ Benjamin William Hastings ] The pleasure ’ s mine – thanks for making time .
[ WM ] I need to begin by saying that you are too young to write this good ! Engaging melodies and profound lyrics don ’ t just happen . I know that there are exceptions . Jackson Browne wrote “ These Days ” when he was just 16 , and I think Kenny Loggins wrote “ House at
Pooh Corner ” at just 17 . What say you ?
[ Benjamin ] I think that ’ s very kind . I don ’ t know . When I turned 27 , I think I had my first life crisis . Because I was like , “ Look at all the amazing people that died by this point . I haven ’ t done anything !” I ’ ve always viewed it as the opposite . Mozart was six when he was a virtuosic violinist . Certainly , it feels offensive to even put myself in the same sentence as that . But the point being , I appreciate you saying that because I ’ ve always felt the opposite . I ’ ve always felt like I ’ m chasing the apple .
[ WM ] I ’ ve read that you were raised outside of Belfast , Northern Ireland . Do you recall The Troubles at the tail end of that period ? If you were raised in the church as a child , what was that like during that time ?
[ Benjamin ] I just tell people I ’ m Irish . Growing up in Northern Ireland , was interesting . The last thing that ’ s there is a tribute to my granddad .
The last thing he said to me before he died was , “ Remember you ’ re British .”
[ WM ] Really ?
[ Benjamin ] It was an interesting climate to grow up in . To be honest , I was born in ‘ 91 , and by the time I was born , a lot of it had started to cease . The ceasefire was in ‘ 94 , if memory serves me right . It had been winding down . My Dad very much grew up in the thick of it . He grew up on Shankill Road , which was one of the main Protestant streets in Belfast . In the record , you ’ ll hear a line like , “ Dad grew up to the sign of guns ”. That was very much his upbringing . It was all around him . By the time I was in school , it was normal , but it wasn ’ t really that crazy . We would have maybe a couple of bomb scares a year in school , which sounds crazy to think about .
[ WM ] Yeah , just a couple .