Building Your Band

A better conversation about music, with David Loftis and Peter Bulanow

Peter James | Clashing With Every Single Person

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We’re joined by legendary Hillsong keyboardist and sound designer Peter James. Peter has been playing piano/keys for the last 25+ years, and has been heavily involved with Hillsong Church as a volunteer on the weekends, as well as being employed by Hillsong United and Hillsong International Leadership College as a lecturer for the past 13 years. Additionally, he has played on 40+ Hillsong albums.

In this episode, we get inside Peter James headspace on everything from Sound Design -> Writing Parts -> Arranging -> Synth Bass. We hear how he pushes himself to continually try something new, the relationship of keyboard parts to sounds, a trick for coming up with parts, and how to incorporate synth base into your band. We hear about the influence of Hillsong producer, Joel Houston, and the reference material he pushed out ahead of tracking, such as: M83, Passion Pit, & Radiohead, that influence modern worship music today.

Go to Peter James Productions, check out his stuff at Multitracks (including his sounds for Oceans), don’t miss his Youtube Channel, and follow him on Facebook, and Twitter.

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Grant Norsworthy | Prancing, Stancing, Left And Right Glancing

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A Grammy-nominated, Dove Award-winning musician (formerly with Sonicflood and Paul Colman Trio), Grant Norsworthy is also the founder, owner, content developer and principal instructor for More Than Music Mentor, providing online and on-site training to equip church singers, instrumentalists and technicians for artistic excellence and authentic worship.

In this captivating podcast episode, we talk about why Grant wants to use music to connect with people more than he wants to just play cool music that interests himself. He deconstructs the word “worship” for us, and reminds us of a larger definition for the idea (Romans 12:1-2, James 1:26-27 ). This larger meaning impacts our lives most directly offstage, but also informs our music in very significant ways – how we perform it, voice it, arrange it, and even how we prepare for it.

Grant shares two overarching lessons from his time with Sonicflood:

First, music is more powerful than I ever realized, and more capable than I ever realized, at helping people connect with God…. in a way that has eternal significance.

Secondly, the act of singing songs to God in and of itself is not worship. To call us a worship band singing worship songs is actually to misuse the word worship. “To worship God” is a lot bigger than that.

Also, Grant confirms what I thought was my idea ;-), that the sound engineer is the MOST IMPORTANT member of the band.

Grant’s youtube channel is an incredible resource. For more Grant goodness follow him on Twitter @grantnorsworthy, Facebook /grantnorsworthy, visit MoreThanMusicMentor.com / GrantNorsworthy.com and check out the GrantNorsworthy/Blog.

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Christian Nuckels | Open Up Your Hands

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Christian Nuckels joins us to talk about his unlikely journey into ministry and songwriting, the process of songwriting, how production is part of that (but can also get in the way), and how collaboration can mature a song and invest others in it. Christian show us a more generous way of creating- a way that is very much informed by the Gospel of loving God and loving others.

We also discuss his first SKA band, Six Foot Midget, his follow-on acoustic project, and his latest band, Grace Rising, and The Sozo Sessions – EP.

Shout out to: Ben Mellot of Nothing But Noise studio

Influences Christian mentioned include: Cake, Dave Matthews Band, Radiohead The Bends (High and Dry, Fake Plastic Trees) and OK Computer, as well as Dashboard Confesionnals – Chris Corrabba.

A song is not birthed fully until it is birthed in the hearts of the congregation. Jennie Lee Riddle

Don’t miss Christian’s Drummer’s episode with Brew.

To find out more, visit Grace Rising Band and Sozo Children. If you’re interested in collaborating with Christian Nuckels on songwriting, you may contact him at iamnuckels at me dot com.

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Dan Cuomo | Something’s Wrong With That Click Track

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Dan Cuomo joins the show to share his thoughts, wisdom and experience playing rock drums, getting signed to a major label (40 Records) and touring Europe, and then deciding what’s next. Today you will find Dan playing modern worship drums in churches all over the DC/MD/VA area.

I hold Dan up as an example of exactly the kind of drummer you should see in your local church. By Dan’s own admission, he isn’t a technical drummer – which is precisely the point: you don’t need a technically trained jazz fusion drummer with intricate grooves and insane chops to sound great. Rarely do I see a situation where I think a musician needs more skills / more chops for the band or song to sound better. Rather, I often think a musician needs to better understand the essentials of what needs to be played, and needs to understand their role with respect to keeping time and creating space. Dan is your encouragement that you don’t need better players, you just need to find folks willing to play less and listen more in order to serve the song.

He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:30

For more of Dan Cuomo, find him on Facebook & Twitter, and pick up Steph Cuomo’s latest project on iTunes.

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Nikki Lerner | You All Know The Words

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With Nikki Lerner as our guest, we immediately get to the heart of doing multicultural worship. Nikki helps us explore our motivations, ask better questions, and avoid common pitfalls. She gives us a way to think about multicultural worship that has nothing to do with meeting quotas. Instead, she asks us to be deliberate and base our actions in relationship and questioning. By framing the conversation as “third culture“, she challenges all churches to find their unique voice instead of copying something that has already been done.

Her most recent studio project puts these ideas into practice, as do the live adaptations of the studio versions, as Nikki takes us behind the scenes on the her latest project “The Things We Never Say“.

Nikki Lerner – Can We Start Over (Lyric Video)

Nikki Lerner – Can We Start Over (Brooklyn Sessions)

Nikki Lerner – Tell Me (Lyric Video)

Nikki Lerner – Tell Me (Live – Living Room Sessions)

Culture Coaches: Find one. Be one.

Also mentioned in this episode:

Sting – All This Time

And the Snarky Puppy tune featured in this episode:

Nikki’s studio projects produced by Kevin “131” Gutierrez (Raven, Deceased, While Heaven Wept, Believer) at Assembly Line Studios. Featured tune from Walpyrgus.

For more Nikki goodness, follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, listen to her music on Soundcloud, Spotify, iTunes, Youtube, and buy her book on Amazon.

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Jon Waller | Destroyed an Entire Genre

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Jon joins the show discussing a range of genres based around Jazz to include Gospel and Neo Soul. Along the way, he shares samples from some projects he has done. We wrap up with his thoughts on the kinds of music that belongs in church, the role the church plays in moving music forward, as well as his thoughts on playing outside of the church. Find Jon on Facebook.

Let each one according to the gift that he has received, administer it unto the others, as a good steward of the diverse graces of God. I Peter 4:10

A few recent products from Jon on video:

This episode is sponsored by Johnny Flash Productions, a creative agency based in the Washington D.C. area that was founded 16 years ago by John Falke. I can’t speak highly enough about the quality of his service. If you have the need, I think you’d really enjoy working with him and be pleased with the results.

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If you like this episode, you may also like “Dave Tauler – Not Enough Bassoon Gigs“, “Justin Pinkney, ‘Translating CCM’”, and “William Brew IV | The Way It Is“.

William Brew IV | The Way It Is

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William Brew IVWilliam Brew joins us for an enlightening episode of drumming and discovery. Along the way we discuss his love of the CCM genre, what he really thinks of when he thinks of “space”, and how you get there overnight.

If you aren’t allowed to have a drum kit in the house, Brew recommends Vater Double Sided Practice Pads. #noexcuses

Reach out to Brew on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

If you’re interested in how Building Your Band can support a workshop in your area possibly including Brew, please contact us.

This episode is sponsored by Johnny Flash Productions, a creative agency based in the Washington D.C. area that was founded 16 years ago by John Falke. I took a photoshop class from John a few years back and can’t speak highly enough about the quality of his service. If you have the need, I think you’d really enjoy working with him and be really pleased with the results.

Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher and support the show by rating us and leaving a comment. Thanks!

David Loftis | Diverse By Design

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LoftisFriend of the show, David Loftis, talks to us about about the challenges of producing three very different worship services each week: one old school featuring a choir, one new school with a band, and one somewhere in between with multiple (SAT / SATB) voices.

If that isn’t enough, Dave is has a heart for growing the next generation of worship leaders and has strong focus on his student music ministries. In fact, he is partnering with us to host an entry level Building Your Band event for students in 5th to 9th grades in just a few weeks.

You’ll be inspired when you hear more about the intentionality behind producing completely different worship services in order to serve the local community.  Dave also discusses where style preference typically comes from, and reminds us how important it is (e.g. in missionary work) to speak to the culture and not impose “our way” of doing things on the local population, which serves as a powerful reminder of how to apply style choices back home.

In related news, I’m happy to report that Kishore from Episode 1 was offered and accepted a position as a full time worship pastor at a nearby church. Congratulations to Kishore! Dave also mentioned that he is looking for assistance, so if you are interested after listening to this episode, you should be sure to connect with him (Facebook | About.me).

If you’re interested in how Building Your Band can support an event in your area, please contact us.

This episode is sponsored by Johnny Flash Productions, a creative agency based in the Washington D.C. area that was founded 16 years ago by John Falke. I took a photoshop class from John himself a few years back and can’t speak highly enough about the quality of his service. If you have the need, I think you’d really enjoy working with him and be really pleased with the results.

Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher and support the show by rating us and leaving a comment. Thanks!

Trent Walker | Experts in Photoshop

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Trent Walker talks to us about stepping out in faith- leaving a perfectly good job as a church worship leader to take the show on the road with his wife, Siobhan, and their five kids.

Obviously passionate about the mission of the Church, Trent challenges us in simple but direct ways with profound implications: to put away the music stands and play to a click and in order to better engage with the congregation in our times of worship.

To learn more about Trent or book him for your church, visit Trent and Siobhan or go to Facebook.

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Gavin Morris | Never Really Said Anything

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Gavin MorrisAs the frontman and lead songwriter of Break The Fall, Gavin walks us through the process of creating their latest EP “The Wanderers“. From the preproduction writing, to choosing a producer, to packing up a van and driving eight hours to Nashville to record, it’s fantastic to hear the intentionality behind their creation.

Break The Fall: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Reverb Nation | Youtube | iTunes | Amazon

Produced by Lester Estelle II Website | Facebook | Twitter | Wikipedia

Mixed and Mastered by Robert Venable: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Wikipedia

Brandon‘s Cassette Preview/Teaser:

Song writers, musicians, band leaders, worship team members etc. . . Look at what instruments you have to work with on your team. Your guitar player doesn’t always have to play all the time, every song, start to finish. There doesn’t always have to be a lead guitar player noodling lead lines and melody riffs. Learn to tell them to lay out a section (Guitarists-learn to be ok with not playing and being told to lay out from time to time, it will make what you DO play sound more important.) Use every instrument on stage to build some diversity in your songs. And start finding new instruments to use to freshen things up. You have options; start experimenting on how to utilize your team members and not just one instrument. Also, dynamics still matter. Learn how soft and full you can really play and actually utilize it when the show/service/performance starts. Retention matters.
Posted by Gavin Morris

Kings Kaleidoscope (iTunes | Amazon) has Trombone in it!

For King and Country (iTunes | Amazon) ha Horn Players!

Who else should we know about who uses non-traditional instruments? Please post in the comments!

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