Naomi Raine & Tiffany Hudson - Old Church Basement Album Release | Holly Furtick

Hello and welcome to The Holly Furtick YouTube channel. We have something very special today because we are celebrating the release of a very special project which is finally out today. It's called Old Church Basement. You have heard some of the songs. You've heard Jireh. You've heard Talking to Jesus. You've heard Wait on youn. I know you've heard that one because it's going crazy on YouTube. But today you get to hear all of the songs. And I am so, so excited for you to do that. So in order to celebrate today, I brought two special guests on here. People that you know and love, girls that you know and love. I have Naomi Rayne with me. Thank you for being here. And Tiffany Hudson. And we're just gonna have a chat. We're gonna talk about worship. We're gonna talk about the album, of course, and we're gonna have a great time. So before we get started, though, I wanna show you. Look what I have. I have a really cool hoodie. You guys like this?

Yes.

Here's the front, in case you want to see. It's this nice, like, purple color, but not too girly for the guys. You can still wear it. And we're going to be giving one of these away and talking about the merch and where you can get the album and all of that at the end of our conversation. So if you want a chance to win this hoodie, make sure you watch all the way to the end. All right, let's get to know each other. All right, so we'll start with you, Naomi. Tell me where you're from and what was your church background growing up. Okay.

I'm from Queens, New York. That's New York City. But I spent a lot of time in Brooklyn, and that's how the boroughs are. We just kind of like, drift through. So I grew up. I grew up in a megachurch in Brooklyn, New York. A lot of. As an African American, mostly not very culturally diverse in that way, but definitely intergenerational. My parents were on the worship team. There were worship leaders there. And so I got to know, like, all the inner workings and be a part of all the things. So, yeah, it was a really. It was a really great experience. I love my. My home church.

Okay, and is that the same church that you're a part of now? No.

No.

Okay.

So moved a little on, and now I'm pastoring at a church in Mount Vernon, New York. It's called Fresh Start Christian Center. I really people. And it's a little smaller. It's about maybe two to 300 members. Okay. But I. I like that it's, like, small enough that I can feel, like, really connected.

That's. That's amazing.

I love it.

All right, Tiff.

Yes. So I grew up in Pennsylvania.

Okay.

My family originally started kind of as, like, traveling evangelists.

So I know that we have this in common. Okay.

It's so rare, too.

It is very rare. So tell us a little bit about this traveling evangelism.

So my family lived in a camper for the first, like, 10 years of my life and just went church to.

Church, state to state, basically doing just your family?

My family and then my cousins and my grandparents. So we like to say we're like, just a traveling family circus.

So, like, how many campers?

So there was three total.

Three campers.

And I was homeschooled. Go to, you know, go to grandparents, camper, and they would teach me phonics, then go to my cousin's camper and they would teach me science or whatever. So it was just, like, how life was. And so, yeah, that's how I grew up for the first, like, 10 years, which I know you can relate to.

I. I actually, a lot of people don't know this about me, but I, too, lived in a camper. We would have a couple of campers, and then we had, like, a whole team of. Of more like single people and people without kids that would stay in people's homes in the church. And then we would stay at the church for. For two weeks.

Wow.

And do revival ministry every night for two weeks. And then we'd move on and we did that. My family did that for three years while I was in high school. So then after that 10 years, how old were you?

So I was actually around 10. So I was born just like, wherever on the road we were. It happened to be Wisconsin.

Okay.

So, yeah, it's just kind of. My parents would always say, wherever. You know, the pain came when we were on the road. That's where the girls were born. Oh, so random. But I was born in Wisconsin. And then after the 10 years, family kind of felt called to plant a church in a very small town in Pennsylvania. So my parents still pastor that church. I was kind of raised in that church. And, yeah, I loved it. Kind of pastor's kid being at church every night of the week, and that's how I was raised.

Did you have an old church basement?

Absolutely. Yes, Absolutely.

Okay. We're going to talk more about that later, but I have some lightning round questions for you guys. So these Are, like, one word answers. You have to pick one. Okay. All right. Cook at home or takeout?

Cook at home.

Cook at home.

Same.

I get sick of takeout.

I get stressed ordering takeout. Like, I get so stressed on doordash, and I can't find what I want. And then everybody in my family, like, trying to figure out what they want to eat.

Yeah.

It's too much easier to.

Yes.

And it's cold when you get it. Now, I do like to eat out. Yeah.

Yes.

See?

But I would rather cook than have takeout. Okay. Sweet or salty?

Sweet. Salty. Hmm.

I'm gonna go with French fries.

Yes.

Got to.

And potato chips. I'm like a potato person with salt on the potatoes. Anything.

Me too. Although I do like sweet. Just.

Just a little bit.

All right. Would you rather read the Old Testament or the New Testament?

Actually, Old Testament.

New Testament.

Okay.

The stories are great, though. Oh, no, but Acts. Okay.

No, okay, you're right.

You got stories in Access.

Yeah.

Okay, you're right. I would. I might trade it for Acts. I love that book. And just.

Yeah, but if you give up the Old Testament, which you don't have to. You don't get the Psalms.

Oh. Or the proverbs. I love proverbs.

All right, I only have one more speed round question. Online shopping or in store?

In store. I said it.

Yeah, but you can't be a package on your front door with clothes in it.

You can't beat it.

That's true. Especially when you forgot.

Yes. And you're like, what is this? And everything's like, I ordered this.

I don't even remember.

So I picked that.

Yeah. I'm gonna go with online shopping as well. All right. But let's talk about what people want to hear you talk about. So I want to ask you guys, do you remember? Because both of you are incredible songwriters, do you remember the first song that you ever wrote?

Oh, Lord, I do.

Okay, go.

So it's called. Okay, I'll just sing it. I was seven.

Okay. You were seven years old.

I was seven. And I'll sing it in my seven year old voice. Okay. It goes. Everything begins as a seed and grows into an experience.

Everything.

Everything begins as a seed and grows into an experience. There was a whole, like, other verse, but I sang it.

Music and lyrics written by Naomi.

Yes. It was a principle that they taught us in school. I was in private school at my church that I grew up in, in my old church basement.

Okay.

Even though it was really nice. But yeah, we. That was the principle they gave us and then I remember walking online and I had that song in my head, and so I sang it to my friend, and then we ended up singing it for like a week in our circle time. And. And I'm like, my song is getting played already. And I was 7, so I was excited.

So it was a thing. Okay, before I get to you, Tiffany, tell me more about this. At that point, did you think I might be good at this? I might want to write more songs? Did you feel it? When did you know that you wanted to write songs and worship for a living?

So I think I really knew it. When I was about 10, my parents got me a keyboard I must have liked. They must have known, and I knew it. But in that. When I was 7, I was like, wow, people want to sing the song that I. That just came to me and I felt like I had a gift. I never thought I was good at it, but, yeah, it was around then.

Do you think you're good at it now?

I wasn't going to cry. No. I'm starting to see that I probably am good at this. I don't know if I fully believe it.

Well, I mean, I think that's something people need to hear because I think people look at those that they see on a stage and they see their perceived success and they see their confidence, and they think, I just. She must. How could she not know? How could she not think, wow, I'm so good at this? But I think the thing that makes you. The thing that drives you is that feeling that I'm not good at this. I need to do better. This song needs to be better. This song could, you know, wanting to collaborate with people, I think that's sort of what drives you, is that feeling. You need that feeling.

Definitely. And I think without that, you kind of take on this, like, arrogance almost. And there's no. There is no push. To me, it takes the fun out of. Out of it, even. You know, I think I didn't realize I could sing until American Idol came out. And I saw that people actually couldn't sing. You know, Like, I was like, oh, wait, there are some people that really can't sing. And I was like, maybe I can. You know, Like, I think it's like sometimes seeing the contrast and being in environments and pushing yourself, I think it helps you say, okay, no, that is actually not good, what I wrote. And this. This one actually is. And I feel like in this space, I've been able to see a little more and go, okay, maybe I can be objective.

But, yeah, do you remember the first time you ever led worship?

I do. I was. I was 12, I think, and I sang Shout to the Lord. Yeah. It was good. That my Jesus, my savior. Yeah, I remember that. It was fun.

That's awesome.

I was scared, of course.

Are you. Are you not scared anymore?

Still scared. Still scared, but not the same way. Not in the same way. Yeah. It's more like now I'm like. Like this kind of. I don't know, like, energy. I wanna. I wanna. It's like an anxious energy. But I'm no longer, like, afraid because I'm. Now I'm not in the place where I'm like, I have to hit all the nodes. I have to do everything right. I've come out of that. It's like, okay, come on. You'll literally drive yourself crazy if you're trying to be perfect.

Right?

That's not my thing. I used to be like, people might think things, and now I'm like, it's just okay. Yeah, I'm okay, but I'm still a little like, okay, Lord, like, are you gonna speak? Are you gonna do, like. You know, you just want it to go well and to. If you're leading with someone else, you know, that's more of what it is.

What did you say? Anxious excitement.

Yeah.

I like that.

I relate. Totally.

All right, Tiff, first song you ever wrote.

I'm trying to remember. I don't think I was seven the first. I wrote a lot of, like, really silly little songs that I can't remember. The first one I remember was called Cover Me, kind of based on, like, Psalm 91.

Are you gonna sing it for us?

I mean, I feel something along the lines of COVID me under your wings, finding rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Something like that. So I just remember.

And you were how old? I mean, I must have been like, were you still in the camper? No.

Nothing.

Okay.

So we were over 10. Must have been, like, 13, 14.

Ish.

And I just dealt with tons of fear as a kid. And that was just my song. I read every night, memorized, and so just kind of sang this, like, song, cover me under your wings as this, like, safety, protection kind of song.

So you wrote this song for yourself?

It was totally for myself. Totally for myself.

Something to that, yeah. Okay. Do you remember the first time that you ever live worship?

Well, like I said, I'd been singing songs on a stage from the time I grew up. But leading worship was new. Whenever my parents kind of planted a church and I was kind of like, being the pastor's kid kind of like, just put into a position before I was even ready to be there, just out of a need. So me and my sister would kind of lead for our youth group. I think I. I think probably the first song I loved was, like, Revelation song. Oh, Carrie Joe, Kerry Jo, Lover.

That's it.

So Revelation song and Shout to the Lord. I'm feeling a little old that these are the first songs that you guys lead, but we. We don't have to talk about that. All right, A few questions from people on Instagram. Lizzy. Lizzy, FC12 says, When are you two doing a song together?

When. When we do that.

If they do it, we will give you a writer's credit.

Yeah.

Like, think a person path. 01% is what you will get featuring Lizzy.

Lizzy's idea.

Maybe you can work Lizzy's name into the.

I like it. I like it.

Jen Marie, 41, wants to know what is your favorite song to lead right now? Hmm.

Okay. I think my favorite song to lead right now is Be Praised. It's a song we did on Maverick with Aaron Moses. Not really the verses, but the chorus and the bridge is just super vertical, and it's blessing me right now. And Worthy, like, Worthy is like the song I just sing around. I was gonna say worthy.

Yeah, we used to sing it a lot, and then recently, it's just, like, found a whole new meaning.

Well, Worthy is a song that my husband wrote as he was walking onto the stage to preach. Not the whole song, but the chorus. Worthy is your name. See, I'm not a great singer, actually.

That was really good.

Thank you.

Fun fact. You don't know this.

I don't.

You probably know this about me. I was a background singer when we first started for, like, the first 18 months of our church.

Yes.

And would occasionally lead songs. And I tell people it's only because we didn't have anyone better yet. As soon as we got some better people, I was out of there. And also, this was back before we had monitors with the lyrics. And I am my husband. Okay. I am not. I never know the words to songs ever. I could know everything about a song and literally have no idea what it's about. Not know the words. Especially, like 90s rock music or whatever. I know all the songs. I have no idea what they're about. And so when I would lead songs, he would give me songs to lead. A lot of times I just would not put in the work to memorize the lyrics, and I would often bomb them and the last one of the last songs that I think I ever led was at Christmas time. He had me sing Angels we have heard on high. And I. There's a lot of words.

There's a lot of words.

And I really botched it. And we got home, he was like, ollie, I. I just don't understand. It's like, one song. I was like, I'm sorry.

That's so funny. That is a hard one.

Yeah, that is. The Christmas songs are usually, like, the worst.

And it's Celsius Deo.

What is it?

Yeah, it was like, a really fast version, too. It was like a. Like an upbeat version of Angels we've heard on High. I'm not. I don't even remember it. I'm not gonna sing it, but. Okay, wait, we're talking about worthy. We're talking about worthy. So in that particular song he wrote the. He heard the chorus as he was walking on stage, and he kind of talked. He told the band what to play, and then he pulled one of the singers and said, sing this. But I feel like he's done that to you as well.

Yeah, it was. No one beside.

Oh, no one beside. Yep, that's a great one, too.

But, yeah, you always got to stay on your toes. Pastor might just call you right up. Sing a brand new song.

Yes.

Say, sing this. Which I. Whenever he does that, I'm always like, how are they going to remember the words? But you have people that are, like, typing them out for you.

He said that to me, too, when we were here after, I think I was, like, praying and talking, and he was like, okay, now go sing this. I was like, I don't remember what it was, but I think it was after.

I do vaguely remember that.

After build your church.

Yeah, I do remember that. Naomi Mataher asked this question. She said, what advice would you give to your teenage self?

Oh.

It'S okay to be sad. It's okay to be sad. I think this year I've been. Oh, no. In the last two years, I've been experiencing the full range of emotion, and I think it's been good in helping, like, deal with transition and all the things that have happened. I think sometimes we just move from sadness and we think it's bad. It's not bad. I think there are reasons to be sad, and you have to do that. And I think when I was younger, I just kind of skipped over everything. I was like, oh, no, that doesn't exist. And I was, like, walking around like that, and I think it made me a little awkward. And weird with people. And I realized that relationships are the actual currency of life. It's how you move, how you grow, how you need relationships. And so I would say it's okay to be sad and feel your emotions so that you can be a person and relate to people.

Yeah. What do you think?

I would say, like, enjoy the journey and don't just like, wait for the destination. Because when you're young, all you want to do is be old and all you want to do is drive or get out of high school. But I would just say, like, you just miss so much of like that season, wanting to be in the next one. Yep. Like, you only get that once. Like, enjoy not paying for the bills and enjoy getting meals cooked for you.

And all these things.

So I would tell my teenage self, like, don't skip over this season because it's really special and you only get it once.

I love both of those. Somebody wants to to know this is journey with two Y's. Wants to know what is your vocal warm up routine?

In this current season, it is non existent. But when I am warming up, I do a 13 minute warm up with this guy, Chuck Gilmore. He does a warm up because I usually my larynx comes up too high and chokes off. And so I was loose losing my voice a lot. And so I started doing that thing and it worked. I try to limit how much I speak and try to get good sleep and drink lots of the water and no caffeine, no dairy. Like I'm. I try to really stay off of that. No gluten. That's how I take care of my voice.

Goodness.

I want to do what you do because you hit some notes that are just crazy.

Tiffany, are you serious?

No.

You sing so much higher than me. What are we actually talking about?

Okay, we'll do a song together and.

Then we'll see who gets sing higher.

Who gets the high part.

Honestly, I just do like a 10 minute little warm up, little bit of and little like scales and that's about it.

So do you. Okay. You said you're not doing it right now, so when was the last time that you did it?

I have to say, honestly, like six months ago.

Okay. And do you do that religiously every time before you go on stage?

Yes. If I don't afterwards, I'm like immediately hoarse. So if I don't, I'm losing my voice. So I found that out lately.

Well, you know what? I'm not. I used to be very like over singing. Over singing. I'm singing smarter now. And I'm. I'm actually, I think also the places that you sing, the sound systems, all of that matters, right? On how you use your voice and how you. So I don't. My voice doesn't shred anymore. It used to, but it doesn't anymore.

I think it's also interesting that you talked about water because you can't just. The funny thing about keeping yourself hydrating, hydrated and hydrating yourself is you can't just be like, oh, shoot, I'm about to go on stage, let me chug a bottle of water.

Right.

All that does is make you have to pee while you're singing, which we've already established is not a good thing. Okay, so when you say stay hydrated, like how, how much water, do you have like a system in that or are you. Do you track it? Do you track how much water you drink?

I do. I don't always get it, but I try to drink half my body weight in water and I usually get about half that.

Every day?

Yeah, every day.

Wow.

Yeah. I just have this bottle that tells me to fill it up twice. I usually drink two bottles of it every day. Every day. It just says like 9am yeah, like it tells you how much to drink.

How many ounces is this bottle? It's one of those big, big ones.

No, it's like, it's like this.

Okay, so it's probably 32 ounces, probably. So you're drinking 64 ounces of water.

I am, yeah.

That's a gallon, right?

I'm drinking about that because mine is like double that. It's like a two gallon big boy.

Wow.

And it's like wide.

I'm not gonna say how much water I drink because it's not 64 ounces.

Well, I don't give up the cream and the coffee or anything like that.

Oh, I can't do it anymore.

What's one piece of advice you would give to young worship leaders?

I would say, maybe as cliche as it might sound, I would say, let Jesus hear your worship before anybody else does. That's something I've really felt convicted about. And just, I don't know, the first time, like Jesus hears that you love him and that you trust him and saying all these things, I would hope that that isn't the first time, like he's hearing that when everybody else gets to hear that as well, you know. So that's what I would say.

Yeah, I would agree with that. I think along those lines, I would say, just let your worship be real. Don't worry about the people. Actually worship God, you know, actually worship him as you're. As you're leading. I think sometimes we get so focused on I've gotta remember the words or I've gotta do this presentation and, yeah, worship God. And if that is your goal, if that's your point, you'll do it. And you'll be leading others in worship because you can only lead people to where you're going.

Right?

Yeah.

So if you don't actually do that Right, then you've led them nowhere.

And if you're caught up in yourself.

Right.

Okay. So my husband always says that the first. I'm not going to say this right, because, you know, he says everything so great. But the idea is basically, when you're starting out, we talk about this a lot in the context of preaching. When you're starting out, it's okay for you to imitate someone because imitation is how you learn. So it's great to have a hero and somebody that you imitate, but then it's important to find yourself. So what do you think about, like, is there someone that you had that's a hero of yours that you say, oh, I totally imitated them. And then how do you allow yourself to break away from that? Because I think one thing that makes the two of you both so unique is that when I'm watching you worship you 100% feel like you're comfortable in your own sense. Skin from the. From your outward appearance and the way that you dress, it feels like you. It's not. I mean, it's not about being stylish. It's not like you're stylish or not stylish. You're both very stylish. But you feel you're like you. You don't feel like you're trying to wear some trend that doesn't fit fit your personality. But it's. It's not just the outside. It's like everything. The way your voice sounds, the. The way that you lead, the way that you express yourself, all of that is completely authentic to both of you. And I think that shines through. How did you get to that place? Like, who did you start out imitating? And then how did you get there?

You can go.

Mine was my mommy. I watched my mom sing, and that was who I looked to. I think I imitated her. And I think it's good because I've got half her DNA. Well, half of my DNA is hers. And so it just was. It was natural. I listened to a lot of. A lot of singers growing up, But I didn't really. There weren't. There weren't, like, worship leaders that I really followed outside of. I think when I heard Jen Johnson, that she was one of the first worship leaders, I was like, oh, wow. Like, this is, like, dynamic. And, like, there's something about her. Even STEPHANIE GRETZ SINGER and the thing.

About Jen is, like, she's so herself, too. Like, she's barefoot on the stage, and she's, you know, all over, dancing and doing all these amazing things, and it feels authentic to her. And she can be your hero, but you're not kicking your shoes off and. Because then it wouldn't feel like Naomi. It would feel like Naomi trying to be Jen.

Right. I think there was a point. Point, though, in my life where I just. I don't know what that is. Where it's like, just release your own sound like who you are. I spend a lot of time in the prayer room, leading worship in a prayer room. And when you're in a. They're not praying for, like, 20 minutes. It's two, three hours. It's a long set. When you do that, you have no choice at some point but to be yourself.

Right.

You know, and so it just kind of grooms. This incorporates this relationship with. With you and God. And I'm. I felt like I was just able to be me. I don't. I don't know. I never really struggled with, like, being myself, you know, it was just kind of like, who else are you gonna be? Like, why put energy into this? Like, when this is natural, this is already happening? And I'm grateful. I actually think it's because people were. They were affirming me as it went on. And so I think you do need people around you that go, man, I love when you are, you know, and continue to do that. I think it gives you the freedom, freedom and space to do that.

Which I think is a great answer for both of our questions earlier about what would you say to your teenage self who's around you, you know, who's. Who's encouraging you, who's telling you, like, hey, you're really good at this, but you might want to work on this, this, and this. Or, you know, maybe don't kick your shoes off. You need people in your life that will say that to you. All right, Tiff.

Yeah, there's, like, a lot of people I looked up to that I. That I one day hopefully get a chance to, like, truly thank for, like, what they've invested into my life. People I don't even know. But definitely Stephanie was one, like, just her worship. Carrie is one. And then honestly, Kim Walker was one of her first albums was so, like, foundational for my own finding my own voice in worship because it was a song. And then the next song was called Spontaneous Song one, Spontaneous Song two, Spontaneous Song three. And, like, listening to her just, like, sing whatever she wanted to, the Lord taught me how to do the same. And I just feel like looking up to people like that, that it wasn't just about what they were singing, but it was about, now you can do this in your own way. And finding that. That own, like, your own worship, like, on your own. So those people for sure, like, helps me do that.

It's so funny that you say that, because I've told my husband multiple times, I've said to him, I'm like, when Tiffany leads, when she really gets. Goes to that place, I almost feel like I'm intruding on your, like, private space with God. And it's. It's really cool. I've definitely. I've definitely felt you go there multiple times. And it brings everybody. You bring everybody along with you into this, like, almost like a secret space. It's like you kind of are opening the door, but it feels like you do that at home and not like you're just trying to manifest it on a stage in front of people. And I feel like that really shines through.

That's sweet.

Now.

Thanks for saying that. I think I heard on some podcast someone said, like, the nature of the Holy Spirit is not learned on a platform.

Oh.

Like, unless you're learning it behind the scenes in. In private spaces. Like, you can't just get up there and lead people to a place you've never been. It's like, it's not learned there. It's got to be learned somewhere else that. That can. Over in those spaces. So something I've been learning, but which.

I think is also a great answer to the question of what would you say to young worship leaders? It's like, are you worshiping in your car? Are you worshiping in the shower? Are you worshiping in your bedroom? Or are you just imagining, you know, there's a difference between worshiping in your bedroom and singing into your hairbrush?

Yes.

You know, yes, there's a difference. And I think that it really. You can feel it in both of you when you lead worship that you have your own living, breathing relationship with God, and you're just there and you're singing and you're using your gift, but your Gift. Your relationship with God is not growing. Your faith isn't growing on stage, your faith grows.

Yeah.

At home. I was just telling someone this the other day, like, we're working on a project that's different. It's not. It's not like worship music that we sing in a church. But the point was, like, you don't get platform worship by doing platform worship. You get it with car worship. You get it by washing the dishes. You get it with conversations with your children and your husband and your sister and your brother and having to forgive people and being cut off when you're driving down the street and trying not to cuss the person out and say, lord, just bless them. You know, Those are the things. And to me, that's like, the real worship. These are moments where you actually are building and cultivating a relationship with this God that we sing about on a platform or in a pew. You. You don't. You can't build a relationship with God in those. In those moments. Not. Not anything that's really sustainable and worthwhile.

Right.

Those are monuments. Those are moments. That's like the. The wedding, it's not the marriage.

Right?

And so those moments are beautiful, and they can help. They can shift you. They can spark something. They can pivot you, you know, and those are beautiful. But if we're not having a debt where we wake up and we're like, good morning, Holy Spirit, like, I love you. I love to be with you when you speak to me. I don't know how the Lord speaks to you, but he's nice to.

To me.

Yeah.

He's kind to me. And even when he's. Even when he's rebuking me or he's telling me, naomi, why are you doing this? You know, there's. There's a way that he speaks to me. There's a real relationship. So I don't know. I. I think we have to sing from that place. We have to love people and live from that place, and that has to show up everywhere. And whether you're not. You might not be a worship leader. You might be a plumber. You might be a business person or a salesman. Like, let that. That will show up in every space that you. You show up, you know?

So true.

So true. Can we talk about the album for.

A minute.

You guys? I love this album so much. I love it so much. I feel like it is fresh. Like, it is a fresh sound that is just being released in our world. And I. I really. When I say I'm excited for people to get to listen to it. I really, really, really am. So here's what I want to ask you. First, give us a little bts. Okay. Is there a moment in the writing room from any of the songs that just really sticks out to you? Something that you're like, ah, I'll never forget that moment. Or every time you sing the song, you remember how this part came to be.

That's you.

Oh, you're answering it too.

For me it's Jira. For me it is Jyra. We were in that basement of that house and just chilling. Okay? So, like, in your mind, you're like, I'm writing a song with Stephen Furtick. I don't know what to do. You know? I'm like, this is crazy.

This is the first time that you had written together.

First time.

Okay.

And he's just chill. I'm like, oh, my God, he's a person. So you're like. You're just trying to get past that stuff. But as we got into it, it was like a dope writing session, champ. We didn't even get that Gyra part. Gyra you are. That didn't come till, like, after we wrote the verses. Yeah, after we wrote I'm already loved. I'm already chill. It came afterwards. But that section when we sang, we were doing a reference for it. We had written the song, and I think we went to another song, shall not want. And we were singing I'm already loved, I'm already chosen. And that. I don't know what it was about the melody, about the rock room, like, us looking at each other. It just felt like, oh, wait, this is something that I need. And it's something that the church needs.

Yep.

This is something that we need. We have to come to grips with this for once and for all. That this is just his will. He loves us and that's it. And singing that. And that is enough.

Yeah.

What? Because, you know, how many times, how many days do we live like it's.

Not enough and feeling like it's not enough or you're not enough. And then the song takes you there too. Like, just when you're, like, thinking about how you don't have enough, your mind starts to be like, well, not only do I not have enough, I'm not enough. And then the song goes, I am enough. And you're like, oh, so good. Yes.

God, I will never forget that moment. And sometimes I listen back to the voice note of that. You know, the recording of that session where we sang and we talked about dry bones and Wet bones and, like, just weird, random things that. That got us to that. You know, it's like, what, this. This project?

Yep.

Okay.

Yes. That song is so special. I would say a moment that sticks out to me is we got together to write that one day. It was Pastor Stephen, Chris Chandler, and then myself. And that's when, like, the chorus and the bridge of Wait on you came to be. And I. I remember Pastor kind of saying, like, he was like, didn't. Like, that's all it kind of was right when nothing else came. And so I guess we all kind of felt like, well, like, it's awesome, it's catchy, but, like, it didn't go anywhere.

How much of the song had you written that day, do you remember?

It was only the chorus and the bridge.

Okay.

Lord, and then I'm gonna wait on you. Just those pieces. It wasn't any of the verses or anything, but. And I've kind of mentioned to Pastor before, I feel like I'm always the rookie in the room that is just totally mystified to hear, like, a song on an acoustic and then to see where it goes, like.

Right.

I'm always shocked. I'm always like, how did this happen? Not that I don't believe in it, and it's like, smallest form, but I just, like, am so amazed at, like, what can happen with a song. And so then they had taken it, you know, to Dante and Brandon and finished it, and it became, like, my absolute favorite, like, worship anthem. But what sticks out to me every time we worship to it and I hear it, it's like the. Like the process of the song so accurately reflect, like, reflects the message of the song. Like, it didn't happen easily. It's like we had to kind of wait on the side. Yeah. And, like, it's. It's exactly what the song message happened.

I'm like, it didn't happen easily.

It, like, it needed its time. It needed its process.

Yeah.

To become what it was and involved, like, a lot of different people, which I think is so beautiful. Before the song came to be what it is now. So it's just like, I'm always reminded, like, that song needed the process because of what that song carries, you know?

Yes.

So.

Okay, so keep going, because my next question is, what moments were special to you on the night of the recording? And I know that this was the song that you said was super special to you too, so. All right, we're with you. You guys wrote the chorus and the bridge, and everybody went home being like, it was Good. But I don't know. Then we have. Everybody comes in. So was it the day that. The days before. Right before we recorded where Dante got on it and Brandon. Okay, so they come in, they add the verses, and then couple days later we go to record it. So tell us about that moment.

So, like I said, like, I loved the song, but I just always, like, I didn't know what was going to happen with it. And when they just started to lead the song, it was kind of just this overwhelming, like, atmosphere to me. And when they kind of went into all, just like they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up on wings like eagles and sword. Like, it's just like one of those moments. And I don't even think it's like a you had to be there moment. I think, like, it completely is reflected on the videos. And when you listen to the song, you feel strength rising over you. I. I listen to it. I've listened to it every single day since it's been out and probably will continue to do that. But it just was one of those moments that, like, I can't put, like, accurately in, like, words. It just was like when God speaks something so deeply in your spirit and, like, it just fills the atmosphere. It just felt like, so special.

Let's watch a clip of it that.

Let's do it.

Prematurely. I'm going away so you open the door I'm going away and while I'm waiting I'll be worshiping While I'm waiting waiting I'll be praising While I'm waiting I'll be praising While I'm waiting I'll be praising oh, oh it's about what you do when you wait why complain when you can pray about just waiting?

That was. That was such a special moment, Such a special night. I. I remember when we were. I got to be there. There weren't. There weren't hardly. There wasn't hardly anybody in the. There was no crowd. There was just a few family members. And I'd taken this video. I was real careful not to take videos because I wanted to experience it. And I didn't want to be with my phone half the night and not worshiping and getting to be in this special place. But it got so special that I grabbed my phone and I took a video. And one of the things that I will never forget and that I loved was as I kind of panned around, I actually got a clip of you standing off the side because you weren't. You don't lead on this Song standing off to the side, and you're just worshiping God and you're in this other place. I mean, as all of us in the room were. And I think it was just such a moment for everybody and every. That's why everybody that watches this. This song is able to feel the presence of God because it was just. It's tangible. When you put this song on, you can just feel just courage and confidence and patience and hope. Yeah, hope.

Yeah, absolutely. It's not about just waiting. It's about what you do when you're waiting.

Yeah.

That summed up the entire song to me. Like, it's so beautiful.

There was, like, this fire, this electricity that was moving through the room, and it wasn't just what we would call, like, the anointing or the whole. It was like. It was this agreement. It was this agreement, like, we're gonna wait on God.

Wow.

And that is just. And I'm going to be honest, as much as we can feel in the. In. In the. When we watch back, you can feel it. I honestly will never forget the moment in the room, you know, and. And that, to me, speaks to what was actually happening, because I felt like the Lord was showing us all that this project was different and that he was going to do something with it that we didn't even plan on when we said we were doing these songs. I think there was a moment where we all kind of, like, were looking at each other like, wait, do y' all understand what's happening here?

Right?

Something's happening.

Something special is happening.

Yeah. So that, to me, was like, the icing on top of this amazing red velvet cake.

There was a shift, for sure. I felt it. It's like, in the room, it's like something's happening.

Jesus.

All right, what was a special moment for you that night?

Okay, I have two. They're quick. Million little miracles. Blessed my socks off.

Such a. Such a little. What would you. Just a little surprise there?

It was so different. It was simple.

Yeah.

It's. You just repeat it, but then you realize you're literally thinking over your life. Like, oh, my God, you've been so good to me. Like, what is actually happening? How did I miss this? And how did I miss that? How did I miss. You know, it. That was crazy. And the way Joelle led that, it just. I was. I was finished. I was, like, hiding out in the back on that one. Just on my face. And the second one was.

Let's see a clip. Miracles.

Miracles on miracles. Count your miracles. 1, 2, 3, 4, I can't even count them all Miracles, miracles A million little miracles Miracles on miracles count your miracles 1, 2, 3, 4 I can't even count them all.

All right, so what's your second one?

My second one. Okay, now I just thought of another one. What am I gonna do? I'm going to go with. Because I already posted about Chandler crying during Jira, but that was, like, a deep moment.

Oh, yeah, that was. That was special.

It was like, no, like, God's singing this song to you. But after we sang Used to this, we, like, went into this, like, flow, and to me, it helped. It was one of those other moments where I felt, like, solidified and, like.

Talk about Used to this for a minute because, like, people are going to be super familiar with talking to Jesus. Obviously, Old Church Basement is the first song. So I, I, I worry about the songs that are 6, 7, 8. Because I worry about them, because I want everybody to hear every song on this album. I truly feel like every time, I'm like, no, this one's my favorite. Oh, wait, but this one's my favorite. No, this one's my favorite. I really love all of them. I particularly love Come Again and Used to this Together. I think that there. I don't know, there's just something. I can't stop playing those two songs together. When I have a moment alone or when I'm getting ready to. Sometimes when I'm getting ready to, like, study for a sermon or read. Just read my Bible or whatever, I'll just play a worship song just to sort of get my mind and my heart. And right now, those two songs together are my thing. So Talk about Used to this.

So Used to this. We wrote that. Brandon, Pastor Stephen, Aaron, Moses, and myself, we wrote that together. And it kind of came up out of nowhere. It was the second song we had written for the day, and Brandon just started singing something, and he was like, minutes turning into hours, and we were all like, what? We have to keep. So we just started, like, flowing, flowing. And I think what, what you're saying about the song, there's an intimacy.

Yes.

In it that's just like, oh, it's me and Jesus. And it's like from the beginning, like, when you first were like, you're amazing, and you're my savior and you're everything. There's that thing in there. And I remember just being like, I could get used to this. And Pastor Steven was like, that that what I can get you. And so we were like, oh. And so we decided to, like, scramble around It. But it's something that came about so beautifully. Yeah, we. We switched rooms, and usually when you change locations, it could either, like, refresh you. It's like changing your socks and it's a good thing, or it's like, oh, man, it kills everything. But when we. We switched rooms, went to the sanctuary and began to sing it, it was like, beautiful. I almost felt like. Like this incense that was rising. And when we sang it that night, we actually, like, kind of just sang the song. You know, usually, you know, us mad folks, we float on everything. We kind of, like, just sang the song pretty succinctly, and it was like, a thing. And then there was this flow that came out of it that I don't know that anybody outside of that room will ever really get to experience, but to me, it helped, like, prophetically line up some things for, like, what this album is going to do in the earth. And isn't that just like, God, like, he just, like, does things like, it's not for everybody. This is, like, for you. This is for us. And, like, you're saved when you.

You get into this moment where you're like, oh, I just. I think you had to be there. I think people feel that when they watch these songs. I think they. They. They. They feel something about the fact that you were there and you were giving your all and you were worshiping and there was no crowd, and you're. You're just in the. Truly in the moment. I think that translates. We have a clip of it. Let's watch.

Spirit calming Power. I just. Just want you say minutes turning into minutes turning into hours. Does it really matter?

I just want you.

You're the only one I matter. Spirit coming Power. I just want you.

I love that one. I love how you're, like, softly singing Spirit, Come in Power. Because a lot of times that's something that you sing in an anthemic song like Spirit Come in Power, but in this, and you're like. It just feels so personal and so intimate and so beautiful. Guys, I'm so excited about this album. I love it so much, and I am so thankful for you guys and the work that you put into writing these songs and living these songs and then bringing them to life and setting aside your egos and being able to come together. I mean, talk about unity. We want unity in our country so bad, but I feel like we keep missing the point that unity starts with me and with you and with you and the people that are in the room and just. And coming together and being able to Collaborate with Elevation Worship in Maverick City and bring this beautiful offering to God that I think is just kind of gonna bless so many people. I didn't get to share my favorite clip, which, again, every song is my favorite. They're like my children. Graham actually asks me all the time. Graham's my middle son. He's like, mom, am I your favorite? And, like, I'm always just like, whatever, Graham, but. And I know these aren't my songs. They're not my. They're not my children. I didn't write them. I just listen to them and get to enjoy them. But I truly feel like they're all my favorites. But I wanted to talk about the opening song, Old Church Basement, for right now. We'll call it my favorite song. But I have this memory of my husband and I were driving back from a trip, and it was just after Christmas, and we were just having a great time in the car, having great conversations. Our kids weren't there, so they. So that was always nice. And he started asking me. He's like, I wanna write a song about the church basement. He was like, what do you remember about your youth group? And we just had. We laughed. We just had the best time remembering metal folding chairs and lemonade and Gatorade junks and powdered lemonade in Gatorade jugs, those big orange things, and motions, hand motions to songs that we would do. And even talking about overhead projectors. And I remembered. It's so amazing when you start to have a conversation with somebody and you're remembering all of these things that essentially you'd forgotten. I remember the first time I ever sang Shout to the Lord while we were having that conversation. And I literally know exactly where I was when I heard Shout to the Lord for the first time. And it wasn't in a big, fancy auditorium. It was a tiny little, like, fellowship hall type room with an overhead projector. And that'll tell you how old I am. 41. But we just had the best time reminiscing about it. And then, like, three days later, he comes home and he plays this demo for me. And I'm like, oh, my gosh. You actually pulled this off. You actually did it. And it's a. It's like, it's. It tells a story, but yet it leads me to worship. And it's just so cool. So check this clip out.

Wednesday night, about 30 teenagers, my friend Josh bought a cheap guitar and barely knew how to play it. He wasn't putting on a show, wasn't well known, wasn't Trying to be famous, but we sure touched heaven in that old church basement. Hallelujah. When I think of your goodness and your love for me, for the joy of my salvation with the new melody and I sing it.

Oh, goodness, I love that one so much.

It just. Your memories just flood back to you. Sometimes when I am struggling, I will put on an old, old, old song. Like a song from 10, 20, 15, a song from 10, 20 years ago that was like my song at that time. And it'll just minister to me. And I believe that these songs are going to. They're going to have a life, a really long life that truly touches people and brings them to worship. And I think they're going to touch people who maybe have never been even introduced to worship music. I think. I think the album is that good and it's that special. So thank you. Thank you for everything that you put into this project and for just continually blessing me and blessing everyone that you guys lead and for coming and chatting with me today. This is so much fun.

I'm so glad you invited us.

I love it. Okay, so a couple things. We have some merch, so don't forget to go to. I think it's. I'm gonna put it down in the. What do you call it? The description. I'm gonna put it in the description. It's store.enlevationchurch.org and we have awesome Elevation and Mav City merch. This one is Gyra. And guys, check out the back of this.

Love it.

Don't you love this?

There's all kinds of great merchandise. We're gonna give one away. So here's what I'm gonna do. Put in the chat, what is your favorite song on the album? And we're Gonna let this YouTube video live for about 24 hours, and then we're gonna pick a winner. And we'll let you know. We'll find you and we'll let you know that you've won. Just let us know in the chat what your favorite song is. And we're gonna give away one of these hoodies. But be sure to go and check out all the amazing merchandise. And then also make sure you download the album. Make sure you thumbs up on Elevation Worship. Maverick City. Subscribe to Elevation Worship. Maverick City Worship. Is that what it's called? The YouTube channel, Maverick, Maverick City Music. And then we've got Naomi Rain on Instagram, Tiff Hudson on Instagram. We're gonna put all the things for you to subscribe and follow. It'll all be in the description. If you liked this interview and you want to see more like this, make sure you give me a thumbs up. Make sure you subscribe to my channel. And I hope you have a great day and that you enjoy this album as much as we have. See you back here next time.