Delirious? lead singer Martin Smith hates when people suggest that his band’s music started the “praise and worship movement.” The British rocker doesn’t even think his band aided in the beginnings of a “worship movement,” despite declarations to the contrary from the media and the band’s American record label. Perhaps it’s semantics, but the way Smith sees it, when his band’s brand of praise music began taking shape in a small recording studio in West Sussex, England, in 1992, as three of the five original members gathered to write and practice worship songs for a youth event called Cutting Edge, they were simply joining a movement. A movement that, Smith says, really started when God created humanity.
Technically, he’s right. People have worshiped God using various forms of music since the beginning of time. But considering that worship music has gone from King David’s harp playing to Handel’s big orchestrations to Bill Gaither’s churchy torch songs, the practice of “praise and worship” has certainly changed since then. And it’s hard to deny the significant impact the Delirious? sound, songwriting, and live show played in the change that began in churches on both sides of the pond in the late 1990s.
Perhaps best known for praise and worship songs like “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever,” “History Maker,” and “Majesty,” Delirious? began its journey toward major success and influence in the Christian community in 1997 with Cutting Edge, a double-disc worship album. Since then, the band’s stateside impact has continued with the release of numerous hit albums, including 1998’s King of Fools and 2008’s Kingdom of Comfort. However, perhaps most intriguing about Delirious? is the international influence its music has garnered. As one of the few “Christian” bands that can pull large audiences in countries like Malaysia, South Africa, or New York City, and considering that it’s latest, and likely final, album (the band plans the retire at the end of 2009) is a live recording from Bogota, Colombia, Martin Smith and Co. might be the first Christian band with true international appeal.
Recently, I talked with Smith about the band’s international following, worship music, the heart of God, and the band’s impending final bow.
COLLIDE: In a lot of ways, it seems that Delirious? is making its most passionate and meaningful music to date, and yet you guys are retiring at the end of 2009. Why now?
MARTIN SMITH: We’re going to finish Delirious? at the end of this year. We’re both sad and happy about that. It’s always hard to come to the end of a season, but we think it’s time. We’re going to rest and spend time with our families. Be quiet for a bit. You know, it’s easy to get into a rush isn’t it? And we’ve been rushing around on tour for 15 years. So we’re going to get quiet and listen for God and see what he would like us to do next.
COLLIDE: More so than most worship/Christian bands, you guys have had a lot of success internationally. Why do you think your music has connected so well with the international community?
SMITH: A part of that has to do with our living in the UK. It’s easy for us to go west toward the US or east toward Asia, mainland Europe, and Australia. But it’s also the mindset that comes with living on an island. We’ve always had a global view. I think that has come out in our music and also the things we’ve said, too. We’re very thankful to have that international perspective.
COLLIDE: One of the things I’ve noticed about a lot of the worshipful songs you guys have released recently compared to some of your older songs is a switch in focus. The songs seem to be less “praise Jesus-y” and more “this is what God wants us to be doing, so let’s do it.” The word I keep coming back to, even though I rarely use it in conversation, is prophetic. Is that intentional?
SMITH: A few years ago, somebody came up and told me that very same thing. And at the time, I wasn’t sure what he meant by “prophetic.” [Laughs] But I looked it up, and one of the definitions was “to communicate the heart of God.” So if that’s what you mean by prophetic, then yes, we do hope and desire that our music communicates God’s heart, you know, the things that are really important to him. That’s what all of our goals should be, right? Whether we’re preachers, teachers, doctors, or singers—to communicate the things that God is passionate about.
COLLIDE: Has the meaning of “worship” changed for you since the mid-90s when your music was first being heard?
SMITH: Well, I think in the early days it was all about songs and leading people into the tangible presence of God. And that is amazing. To have seen that happen all around the world was fantastic. But I think as you read the Scriptures and grow up, you realize that there’s a lot more to it than just singing the tunes and walking away feeling fantastic. I think we’ve been on that journey of seeing extreme poverty and feeling like what we do didn’t quite connect to that. And you know, God is so big and has such love and care for every person on the planet, and yet we hadn’t really communicated that with our music. So we have been on a journey and still are, really, toward learning how to communicate that the gospel is about serving people. We want our music, in every lyric, in every barre chord, to call Heaven to earth. We’ve desired that God be inside the music. But when God comes into the music, you then have to reflect God’s heart for people, which includes everything from the environment to kids being trafficked around the planet to how the coffee we drink is being made. But I’m still a baby in all of this, on a journey; I’m sure there will be more lessons and lyrics to come.
COLLIDE: What advice do you have for the church worship leader? How can they keep the experience of leading worship in the same place, week after week, real and authentic?
SMITH: Well, first of all, I think leading worship is the greatest job in the world. Being in a room full of people who want to worship God is a powerful thing. So, my first advice would be to be extremely grateful to have the opportunity to be in that position. Secondly, keeping it fresh and authentic is all about a person’s heart. Which means you need to get away and find solitude once in a while. Stay healthy—body, soul, and spirit—that’s how you keep it fresh. Of course, that’s something we’re all trying to learn. But I don’t think it’s the job itself that ever gets boring; it’s our approach to it.
COLLIDE: According to some recent statistics, while Christianity is on the decline here in the US, it’s on the rise in the UK. Any thoughts on why that is?
SMITH: I think it has a lot to do with the church here coming together, uniting, and not dividing over things. And there are a lot of churches like Soul Survivor and Alpha and others that are coming together to do large international projects on behalf of the poor. That’s been a great unifier here in the UK. And I think God is up to something, and I think people know that life can’t work without God. Isn’t that what the journey teaches us? That we need God.
Matthew Paul Turner is a writer, humorist, speaker, and the author of Churched: One Kid’s Journey Toward God Despite A Holy Mess. Follow his world at www.twitter.com/JesusNeedsNewPR.