Interview: Rend Collective Experiment
The release of the new album from Northern Ireland worship band Rend Collective Experience has been one of the most eagerly anticipated in a long time. LTTM caught up with band member Chris Llewellyn ahead of the release of 'Homemade Worship By Handmade People' to find out what all the fuss is about.
Tell us a little bit about your new album 'Homemade Worship By Handmade People' and what the inspiration behind it was?
HWBHP is a collection of songs and hymns, written and recorded in the context of the family home. The concept behind the project was to bring an album of worship songs for the church to sing, which were born out of normal life and ordinary, universal human experiences rather than detached "spiritual" ones. We wrote and recorded the album in Gareth's house: the same place we share meals together, drink cups of tea together, talk through our break ups and disappointments together and celebrate successes, birthdays and New Year's eve together. We even built the fence together!
We have found that something homemade is always better than the slick, factory-made alternative, and this album is our handmade expression of raw faith and intimacy with Jesus.
Which is your favourite track on the album and why?
We discussed this on the road and it turns out every member of the core band has a different idea! My personal favourite at the moment is probably our opening track "Praise Like Fireworks". I just love the energy and the old-school rock n roll vibe. I also really resonate with the idea of "leaving behind the cynic in my soul" and finding liberty in simple praise, as someone who struggles sometimes with being a little jaded in my outlook. (I'm working on it!!!)
Your previous album, 'Organic Family Hymnal', went down incredibly well - has that success taken you by surprise?
We have been so shocked at how well reviewers and listeners received the last album. With it being kind of "left of field" in terms of approach, we were completely prepared for people not to 'get it'. The most rewarding and humbling thing has been seeing congregations joining the collective in worship, singing our simple little songs and encountering God through them. If that's not a miracle I don't know what is.
It seems the church is far more prepared to embrace varied and diverse creative expressions of worship than we sometimes give her credit for!
How does your new album compare to 'Organic Family Hymnal'?
The album is really an extension and expansion of the 'Organic worship' concept that we began developing on the first album. We feel like HWBHP is a massive step up from the last album in terms of songwriting and focus on the church, while continuing to push the boundaries in terms of creativity and freshness. Sonically things have definitely moved on for us, but the sound is still distinctly and recognisably "Rend".
How would you describe your style of music and what are your influences?
We always describe our music as simply as this: worship music. Our songs are very intentionally written to be hymns and songs for the church to sing together, even if stylistically we sometimes, in a tongue-in-cheek way, challenge some of the conventions of the modern worship movement.
We are very intentional about listening to a wide range of music for inspiration. Some of our favourite bands include Sigur Ros, Jonsi, Bon Iver, Arcade Fire, Noah and the Whale, Death Cab for Cutie, Future of Forestry, the Frames, Phoenix... and the list goes on. Influences within the Christian music sphere include Matt Redman, Tim Hughes and Chris Tomlin, who have written songs which are produced very differently to ours in terms of sound, but have the same heart for helping the church encounter God.
Back in the Spring you joined Chris Tomlin for his US tour - how did that come about and what was the experience like?
It was an incredible experience! The worship times were amazing but the lasting impact of the tour has been the development of genuine friendships with the Tomlin band and crew. We intend to make Passion City Church in Atlanta our home away from home when we spend time there in 2012.
How would you define success in your career as a band?
This has been a really hot topic for us as a band recently so I'm glad you asked! We would call our career successful if we manage to (in no order of importance):
Have a lasting, meaningful theological impact on the church. We would love to help people move away from individualistic, celebrity-focused models of worship towards the freedom we have found in biblical community. We want to reach out to the disillusioned and marginalised 20-somethings who have lost faith in the local church and help them to rediscover the wonder of the messy, dysfunctional, yet beautiful church family. We want to help build God's Kingdom here on earth while never forgetting that the best is yet to come.
Have a social impact on behalf of the poor and oppressed. We are desperate for our songs to be only the crest of a wave of justice and mercy that flows from our ministry. We love Amos 5:23-24 which says: Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!Keep relationships within the band tight and stay as a close-knit community without back-biting or malice. This is part of a quote form the original Rend student ministry from which the band emerged and we have always felt that relationships take precedence over music.
In your opinion, what makes the perfect worship song?
As Matt Redman would say, you'd probably need to ask God, since they're for Him!! ; )
In seriousness I think worship songs are at their best when they're written from a place of authenticity, intimacy and honesty. The music is secondary.
You're stuck on an island, it's hot, you only have enough battery life left to listen to one song on your mp3 player. What track is it?
Freewheel by Duke Special. It's as close to perfect as a pop song should ever be!
What does the next year hold for Rend Collective Experiment?
2012 will be a year of serious hard work for the Collective! We begin the year by launching the new album, the music video and radio single for Second Chance, and touring with the Rock and Worship Roadshow in the states alongside Mercy Me and Tenth Avenue North. The rest of the year is looking very exciting... but I don't want to reveal too much too soon!!
