GRAHAM KENDRICK was quizzed by Tony Cummings about his new album, surfing the Psalms and writing with other songwriters.
There is unlikely to be a single reader of Cross Rhythms articles who doesn't know the name Graham Kendrick. This towering father figure of contemporary worship has dominated the British church scene for more than three decades and his classic songs such as "Knowing You", "Shine Jesus Shine", "The Servant King", "Meekness And Majesty", "Such Love", "Jesus Put This Song Into Our Hearts", "Amazing Love" and a dozen more have become omnipresent in UK congregational life. Since his association with Fierce! the veteran has enjoyed a new lease of creative life and such albums as 'What Grace' and 'Do Something Beautiful', with a more modern pop rock approach than of old, have enjoyed critical success though without spawning any new congregational worship "hits". Now with his latest Fierce! album 'Out Of The Ordinary' Graham has teamed up with Julian Kindred (the producer of Delirious?' 'World Service') and even more intriguingly has co-written songs with several well known worship leaders including America's Paul Baloche, Delirious?' Stu Garrard and Onehundredhours' Tre Sheppard. I pitched Graham a batch of questions and here are his replies.
Tony: 'Out Of The Ordinary' is an interesting album title. How out of the routine were the recording sessions for you?
Graham: It was unusual to record with complete strangers, because having learned his trade in Nashville, the producer was keen to involve two of his Nashville buddies, Scott Williamson and James Gregory (drum and bass respectively) so they came over to record the basic rhythm tracks.
Another unusual aspect was that whereas many of my albums have been heavily congregational, with my role more as the worship leader, this was approached more like an artist album, in other words my voice was carrying every song, with background vocals used more like another instrument. As a result it was much more demanding, and Julian the producer worked me harder in the vocal booth than I can remember, which was a good discipline for me because as a habitual worship leader my focus is more on leading the people than my personal vocal performance.
Tony: What brought about the decision to write songs with other songwriters and what do you remember about the experiences?
Graham: Although I have co-written in the past, for example with Steve Thompson, I have mostly written alone. There has definitely been a tendency among UK Christian writers to do this, particularly compared with the USA and the pop music business, but in the past few years this begun to change, which I think is a good thing. There has to be creative chemistry and willingness to give up your own way of doing things to make room for someone else's ideas. It is to a great degree a matter of "chemistry", the way two or more creative people interact, and it has got to be enjoyable.
The idea of writing with Paul Baloche was spontaneous - he was in the
UK for a songwriters gathering I help to organize and staying at my
home for a few days, and he casually suggested we tried to write
together. We began with a half finished idea of mine which I was stuck
on, which after a couple of days and a fair amount of editing by email
over the next few months, became two songs, "What Can I Do" and
"Creation's King".
Tony: Was it a very different
experience working with a young songwriter, say a Tre Sheppard, than
working with a hugely experienced veteran like Paul
Baloche?
Graham: It was different because
personalities are different, as well as styles, and Tre's style is
further away from mine than Paul's, but that makes it fresh and
different. In fact the song with Tre arose out of a meeting at the
YWAM base where I was leading the crowd in some Psalm improvisation,
and Tre and Onehundredhours were my "backing band". We spent quite
some time in Psalm 34 and chatting afterwards discovered we both felt
that there was something special about some of the lines we had been
singing, and agreed to get together and see if there was a song
brewing.
Tony: How did you meet up with Julian
Kindred?
Graham: At the time I was looking for a producer I happened to be
spending some time with Martin Smith and asked if he had had any
recommendations. He had several but after working with Julian on
Delirious?'s 'World Service' album felt that he might be particularly
suited. I called him and we spent a day talking it through and playing
through my "work in progress", and decided to take a risk on each
other!
Tony: How involved do you get in the
overall sound of the album? Do you ever say, "No, that arrangement is
all wrong for the song. We'll have to start again," or something like
that?
Graham: We discussed every song and referenced lots of recordings
until we broadly agreed on the approach, then worked together on the
structure of each song. Yes I do have a veto, but I engage a producer
because I want their ideas, so I am keen for them to have lots of
creative freedom. In my case I tend to be focused on the song itself,
primarily lyrics and melody, and how it might work in congregational
worship rather than arrangement and production ideas.
Tony: Your latest album touches on such themes as God's
creation and the wonder of God's incarnation. Could you talk me
through these and other themes touched on on your album and explain
what inspired the particular songs?
Graham:
"Creation's King" originated from listening to some theological study
notes in audio form which a friend sends out occasionally. It opened
my understanding about the unique role of the human race within the
creation, being made both material and spiritual, the only creatures
able to observe the beauty and wonder of the universe and give a
conscious response back to God of thanks and worship. There was much
more to it than that, and obviously a song has to condense sometimes
complex things into a few lines, which is what I tried to do in the
first verse, with the chorus referencing the great song of the book of
Revelation where redeemed humanity join with one voice to celebrate as
all things are finally restored to their original purpose of
glorifying their Creator.
"What Can I Do" came from the same general area of thought, but with a more personal response, firstly to the beauty of the natural world, then to the wonder of God's love in sending Christ in human form for our salvation.
"Beautiful Mystery" started from a line in a book which tried to put humans in perspective in relation to God by comparing a mighty waterfall with one single droplet of moisture. I built on that idea and theme because it resonates with me in a culture that puts self in the centre of the universe, sometimes even in Christian worship.
"The Way Is Open" is a deliberately Trinitarian song, because bIblically worship is to the Father, through the Son and by the Holy Spirit. I wanted a song which worshipfully reflected on this truth, which has become largely absent from our songs and therefore from our understanding. Songs are one of the main ways in which we learn theology these days, for better or for worse!
Of all the songs "Crucified Man" owes most in its style to my roots as
a singer/songwriter, and is not intended as a congregational song.
It's a kind of manifesto on the apparent foolishness of the cross in
the eyes of a world obsessed with power and success. I can trace back
the beginnings of the song to at least seven years ago, and a few
failed versions. I picked it up again and at last it began to fall
into place.
Tony: I'm fascinated by the
concept of "Psalm surfing". Tell me a bit about that.
Graham: Psalm Surfing. This is how I describe it if I am offering it
as a workshop option:
What is it?
Worshipping God with an
"open agenda". Catching the waves as word and spirit combine in the
improvised singing of Scripture - especially the Psalms. Seeking
sacred space where creative adventures in prayer, praise and ministry
can be inspired. Arts + voices together in Scripture-driven worship.
Using the Psalms in this way can refresh personal devotions as well as
small group and public settings. Not only that, singers, songwriters,
instrumentalists, poets, painters and dancers can find themselves
riding new waves of inspiration. No sunscreen required.
Thank you 4 the dialogue. I'm a "Kendrick's songs lover."