much anymore, is just take the time.
[Mariah] So Chad and I have worked a couple every time Mosaic does something we have an
of times together on some other projects. He’s army, and I mean like a real army, behind us.
We’ve tried to force songs, we’ve tried so produced some of the coolest records, there’s I never feel like I’m going somewhere people
many different things and just throwing things a band called Sports and another band called aren’t willing to go. I never feel like I’m going
out there, but you can’t cut corners. There’s no BRONCHO and they’re these really cool up and alone. Even when my ideas are a little crazy
way around the fact that if your Church doesn’t coming Indie bands. And he’s done Pop stuff, or out of the box, I’ll ask them to just go with
connect with it, then it’s not your song anymore. but I know him because of the smaller Indie me for one second, and everyone will have my
It’s no longer a priority, because your priority is things. back. Until it doesn’t work, and they still have
to connect people in worship and bring people
your back even if it doesn’t work, but we still go
to Jesus. So for us it was just taking time. Then I just think he’s brilliant and has an instinct and and give it one hundred percent. I just think it’s
for six months about a year ago, we said we’re artistry that hasn’t been heard in the Christian really special. So many people are in the same
only going to play our songs and see how far world, and honestly in the world, at all. To me boat, so many people are young Christians and
we can get. We really just wanted to sing songs it was really important that we could push the are just starting their journey, and just finding
that had our heart behind them. Now, we will limits and express ourselves, and go as far Jesus. It feels like we’re all together, and you
sing other people’s songs, but it’s a lot more outside of the box as we wanted to go, and I don’t have to have any level of experience to
intentional. If I hear a song and it’s personally felt like he could take us there and help us get be a part of our family.
speaking to me, and I feel it’s p erfect for a out of our own box and own heads and just moment, we will sing it. But it’s not because we help us make the record we wanted to make.
have to sing someone else’s song. We sing it
because we want to.
[WM] Let’s take a moment to talk about
generations,
spiritual
inheritance,
and
[WM] In your song story video for “Tremble” vision. I love your Dad’s (Erwin McManus)
when you quote Psalm 97:4, you can really mission statement about the vision behind
It really was just taking the time, and I think it see that your passion for the Word transcends what the sound of Mosaic MSC is…
took like three years of writing all the time. We this song. Noting that many of the people who would have months where we’d say, “Okay, attend Mosaic are just getting to know Jesus, “The worship music that carries the
every single one of us needs to write three as a Worship Pastor how do you take your team culture of Mosaic. Mosaic MSC is the worship
songs…” or, “We need a song a week…” or, on your journey with Jesus along with you? of Mosaic, a Church in the heart of Los
“Eighty songs this year.” We would really set
Angeles. Mosaic MSC is the ethos of their tribe
goals and sit down and spend the time. Most of [Mariah] I think a huge part of what Mosaic and culture, carrying the sound of Mosaic and
us that write for MSC, maybe five of the writers is, is community. So, me going somewhere is their city across the world. Everything we do is
are on staff at Mosaic. So we all have other me going with people. It’s just a beautiful thing about connecting people to Jesus. We know
roles that take up a lot of our time, and people that when you find Jesus at Mosaic, you are that worship opens the hearts of those who
have families. There are just a lot of life things brought into a family. Our biggest thing is that have closed their hearts to God. We also know
that get in the way, so taking the time and you belong here, and you don’t leave here that worship causes our hearts to burn brighter
prioritizing this has become harder and harder, alone, you leave here with a family. Even if you and our love for God to grow deeper. We hope
but it’s more important all the time. When we haven’t accepted Jesus yet, you’ve walked into that the music of Mosaic MSC will be a gift to
take that time to write we just go as hard as a family. the Church and a light to the world.”
we can and write as many songs as we can,
-Erwin McManus
because we want to set ourselves up to be able It’s probably my greatest joy in life that I get to be
to sing our songs. I think it just took time, and surrounded by people who are as passionate
it took care, and not rushing ourselves but also as me, if not more passionate, about what God
being proactive. is doing in Los Angeles through Mosaic. So
[WM] You co-produced Heaven with Chad
Copelin, whose credits range from Christian
artists like All Sons and Daughters, Crowder,
and Gungor, to mainstream artists like Avril
Lavigne and Third Eye Blind. How did Chad
come into the picture, and what are some of
the ways his background impacted this record?
“Tremble” // Behind the Song
22
October 2018
WorshipMusician.com