Louder Than The Music

KDMusic has released his latest single, 'How lovely is thy Dwelling Place (Psalm 84)', available now on all streaming platforms.



"This tune was very special to me as a teenager", he explains. "From the age of 15 I had to care for both my parents at home, after they were both disabled in a road traffic accident, and left with severe brain injuries. Home was not a happy or secure place. My safe place was at church in, 'The house of the Lord' where I could laugh and sing and be a kid with friends and trusted leaders.

I would sing this one a lot on the way to get the bus to school, and I'd sense the Lord's hand on my shoulder when I sang it. I always sing it now with thankful tears in my eyes, it's a very happy, comforting song for me. I hope you sense that in the recording as you listen.

This is a new version of Psalm 84 to a much loved N.Irish tune "The Homes of Donegal". A tune about visiting friendly homes, is a great fit for a Psalm about wanting to 'linger in the house of the Lord'. This combination has been done before, but I’ve only heard it done in a very sanitised ‘church' way. We wanted it to be more like the house gatherings or seisiuns you get in houses and pubs in Donegal, with lots of folk instruments and big loose, rich group vocals. It's a heartwarming sound.

This is one of the last few songs leading up to an album of worship songs and hymns with a Scots-Irish flavour, designed for ordinary churches to sing, because the tunes are easy to pick up and bring home when you leave church. It’ll be called "The Grace ~ Scots Irish worship from Lisnabreeny Hill Fort”."