Today I have the privilege of interviewing and giving away 3 albums of one of my favorite worship teams, Elevation Church.
Elevation is set to release their brand new live album, For The Honor, on November 22. After the interview I will let you know how you can win a free download on that particular date.
Chris Brown, one of the worship leaders, was kind enough to answer a few questions.
David: So what’s new on the horizon for Elevation Church?
Chris: Biggest thing is the partnership with Essential Worship/Provident. They’re really going to help continue moving the kingdom influence of EW forward with the distribution of this record.
David: You guys have been producing worship albums out of your church for a while now. What made you want to start doing this?
Chris: Our vision to write original songs flows from Pastor Steven’s heart. When he called Wade, Mack, and myself to come on staff to build this worship ministry in the spring of 2007, he cast the vision that we would write songs about what Elevation is experiencing and what the people are walking through. And so far we’ve released an album each year – and it’s served as a landmark for our church and what God’s done over the course of that year.
David: It seems you’ve created a culture on your worship team that is very passionate, engaged, and high energy. How have you fostered this?
Chris: This also stems from Pastor’s Steven’s heart and vision for the worship ministry. It’s our desire that Jesus be celebrated when we gather to worship. That will always be our highest priority, our biggest focus. So our worship experiences reflect that – a celebration. We’re redeemed people – so let’s give God worthy praise for who he is and what he’s done. And we believe firmly that when we celebrate the name of Jesus, that the lost are drawn to Him.
David: What would you say is the best way to attract high quality, Jesus loving musicians to your worship team?
Chris: 1) Expect a lot from them. The highest compliment we can pay anyone is to call more out of them – to let them know that we see more potential in them, and we’re not going to let them settle for less. It’s intrinsic in people that they want to be ‘more.’ And when this happens – when excellent musicianship and worship are taking place, then it attracts the same. 2) Always keep vision in front of them. This isn’t about just getting to make music. This is about serving this house, and the amazing vision that God’s given us.
David: I’m pumped for your newest album, “For The Honor” being a live record. What was it like planning and producing a live album?
Chris: Process was totally different. We did a lot more pre-production work. We spent more time working collaboratively with the musicians who played on the recording. For a studio album, we do a lot of production in the studio – and so obviously, a live record doesn’t afford us this opportunity. We needed the parts worked out going into the night of the recording.
It was a longer process this time as well – b/c it was our first time doing everything ‘in-house.’ We spent time over the last year building out our own studio to make it possible for us to produce and engineer our projects from within. And Mack tackled all the production. Killed it! He’s genius.
[tentblogger-youtube sRmYXAawf1Q]
David: Your music is an inspiration to so many worship leaders. How do you guys balance the tension between simple, corporate worship and creative, musical risk taking?
Chris: Not sure 🙂 We still feel like we’re learning and discovering our sound. But we just try to write singable corporate worship songs that start on an acoustic or piano. Then we spend a lot of time ‘producing’ them – and not settling for those songs to just stay in the vein of simple “acoustic rock worship.” It’s important for us to try and take a simple song and bring a freshness to it.
David: What music are you guys currently influenced by?
Chris: It’s different for each of us. Mack is into a lot of hip-hop – Kanye, Jay-Z. And some pop stuff – Kesha. Mainly he’s always intrigued by great album production and catchy hooks. I’m very much into anything that has a pretty melody and great vocals. That spans a lot of genres typically. But I mainly listen to folk, americana stuff…James Vincent McMorrow, Bon Iver, and of course the new M83. Wade and London are both pretty pop-rock people.
David: You guys obviously write a lot of songs together. What does this look like for you on a weekly basis? How have you created a culture of songwriting?
Chris: When we’re in ‘songwriting season’ – we write together on Thursday mornings. We also take a couple songwriting retreats a year to get out of our typical setting and surroundings. And we do a ton of demo file sharing throughout the weeks constantly. We never wait til an idea is ‘complete’ to share it with each other. If all we have is a melody idea tracked on our phone, we’ll shoot it over to the others in hope that it stirs something for them. It’s a very “open-source” approach.
David: Any closing advice for we, local church worship leaders?
Chris: Love your church. Love your pastor. Serve your church. Serve your pastor. And realize that you’re called to the people of that church. You’re not called to “launch your career” by leading at the church.
Winners!
1. Craig
2. Amanda Valentine
3. Colin
Question: What stuck out to you about this interview? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
“When we celebrate the name of Jesus, lost people are drawn to Him”
This is key…. Not relevance, trends, or latest research.
Thanks for the post David, and EW!
I love the culture of Elevation and have been greatly impacted by their ministry. Some of my best experiences were attending Elevation last year.
I love the process they have as well as the commitment to their local church.
“And realize that you’re called to the people of that church. You’re not called to “launch your career” by leading at the church.”
So many young worship leaders and songwriters are hoping they write the next “Shout to the Lord” or that their church will be a stepping stone into something bigger. It’s a selfish approach to ministry.
Love and serve where you’re called to love and serve. Simple and profound. Love it.
Elevation Worship is Amazing!
Enjoyed that he emphasized loving and serving a local church.
Agreed. That is so important but so difficult to grasp sometimes.
I love love love this post! I have just recently heard this worship group. After meeting David S and Shay Mooney at an Imagine Leadership Conference at my church FVWC in Gettysburg, PA last year, I listened to songs they’ve been doing. Because of seeing Shay’s video of EW song, “Give Me Faith” that just changed my life recently. God gave me a passion, a drive, a vision in that song for my own GMC worship team. Since then, I’ve been listening to as much Elevation Worship music as possible. Sorry the post is long but I just had to say that God really spoke to me through one of their songs! Blessings! 🙂
I had an opportunity this past weekend to check out one of their worship services and it was amazing. Everyone in the band and at the church, from the parking lot to the stage, was super nice and welcoming.
Luke, that’s awesome. I look forward to the day I can visit as well!
David – Thanks so much for this blog, and thanks for posting this interview with Elevation Band.
I don’t know the EW team personally like you or others who comment on this blog do, so it was encouraging to find out 1) the vision they have for writing to capture the life of the local church, and 2) that they’re so much on board with their Pastor’s vision. It’s a great example I can use to encourage the younger writers God is raising up in our tribe.
You’re awesome!
Hey Cheyne, thanks for reading my friend! Sounds like you have a songwriting team you work with?
It’s in the embryonic stage, but we definitely have a solid writing contingent here – people who do prose, poetry (one girl’s posted some really powerful stuff to her FB Notes – she’s definitely been spending time in the King’s chambers), even a start-up book publishing group.
I’ve done some songwriting on and off over the years, but I’m also trying to encourage several younger closet writers and some of my music team members to write their own stuff. If you ever have time, I’d love to catch up with you on the side to compare notes (I can give you my other contact info as well if you email me. :-))
In the meantime, I’ll keep checking back here… Thanks again!
So much appreciate their hearts at Elevation to write songs that fit where God is at and where He is taking their local church.
Lately our worship leader on sunday has been leading the song Give Me Faith and I have been encouraged by this song and by others on previous records. I can’t wait until this one is released!!
We do “Give Me Faith” as well. Such a powerful song!
Elevation Worship has been one of my favorite groups to watch grow. It’s awesome that they agree with their pastor’s vision and go with it so much! That’s so important for the worship team and pastor to be on the same page.
Personally, I love how raw their lyrics are. “Give me Faith” has to be one of my all time favorites. However, I’m super excited to see what the new album has in store for us! 🙂
Awesome! I have heard a few things about elevation worship, but I have never listened to a CD or anything. They seem pretty awesome!
I love when he said that to draw great Jesus-loving musicians in your group…you must expect a lot out of them. I have been putting that into practice lately, and it has really payed off. A few people from the team actually have quit and moved on. Although I do not want it to be that way, I know that God wanted it to. As long as we stay consistent and do what God wants us to do, everything will take care of itself!
Great interview! I enjoyed it!
I love how they all are influenced/listen to different styles but are unified in their desire to create music that simply glorifies God in spite of their differences…and are probably bringing more to the table because of them.
Rebekah, I thought that was interesting as well. Makes you wonder how often they disagree over musical ideas and if rehearsals get tense 🙂
My good friend Caleb thinks you’re an awesome guy David. Nice interview, I love Elevation Worship and it’s cool to hear their heart on their worship ministry and some influences (I have a soft spot for Ke$ha too.)
Which Caleb do you speak of? I haven’t really given Kesha a try. Maybe I should?
A dear friend to me love the Worship that comes från elevation Worship. Now its My turn to fall in love!
I find interesting the fact that, when asked for influences, no Christian artist is cited. No Tomlin, McMillan, or anything. It was all mainstream stuff.
Not saying that’s bad. Good stuff is good stuff, no matter who makes it. Just something to make note of.
Thanks for posting the interview!
I have really grown to love Elevation’s music over the past couple of months. A worship leader friend of mine and I were just talking about the difference in them and Hillsong. Hillsong’s stuff, lately, has been very hard to connect with our congregation but Elevation’s worship is so “local church” minded, and they are really getting into it.
I’ve heard all about Elevation and Ps Steven Furtick, etc… but I actually never listened to their worship. I would love to start 🙂
p.s. love what you’ve done with the blog. You are incredible consistent and creative with your writing. Love it! Be blessed.
You should definitely start listening to Elevation. Great stuff.
I have all the previous Elevation Albums and they are great, they are becoming quite the worship ministry. I am glad you got to partner with them in this giveaway.
What really stuck out to me was their heart for their church and their senior pastor. I love that they show that relationship as such a positive motivator!! Can’t wait to hear the new album!
A couple things stick out to me. One, that he said they are still learning and discovering their sound. What will it be like once they do find it? INCREDIBLE!!!
Two, how much they are tied to Pastor Steven when it comes to the music. That is family!