Luke Wareham On His New EP, Writing Congregational Songs, and Singing the Bible

Christ is Lord is the highly anticipated new EP from UK worship leader Luke Wareham featuring Noel Robinson, Dai Woolridge, Joe Hardy, Millie Ferguson, and Molly Skaggs. Dan Stirling produced the EP, and it is mastered by Jonny Bird. The overall theme to the songs is about how having Jesus as the centre of our life changes everything! Luke loves to write songs straight from the Bible and for the local church to sing.

Download and Stream here - https://wingsmusic.lnk.to/ChristIsLord 

Q: Congratulations on the release of your new record. You mentioned that you like to base your songs on the Bible. Why is the Bible important to your songwriting?  

Thank you and thanks so much for all your encouragements. The Bible is important to me as it is God's living word. Every time we read the Bible it changes us, inspire us, helps us to become more like Jesus and teaches us truths. I think it is really important for us to be singing and listening to songs that are Biblically inspired and about who Jesus is. One of the main ways I song write is by singing out the Bible in my bedroom and through journaling as I listen to talks at church or online. One of my heoes is Corrie Ten Boom she says 'I've experienced His presence in the deepest hell that man can create... I have tested the promises of the Bible, and believe me, you can count on them'.  

Q: Can you give us an example of how you used a Bible passage to craft one of the songs on your new EP? 

I wrote 'God of the impossible' with my friend Matt Caddick whilst reflecting on a Bible passage in Matthew. The song is based on when Jesus says in Matthew 19:26 'with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible'. This has been my story of God working in my family's life over the past year in situations which seemed hopeless and desperate. It was a privilege to have American songwriter and worship leader Molly Skaggs collaborate on the song as I have found her music inspiring over the years. I particularly love the way Dan Stirling has produced this song as I wanted it to be soothing to our souls. It was also great to have Jonny Bird mastering and Tim Cooke playing drums on the song.  

Q: Another criterion you used in writing your songs is that they are meant for the church to sing. In your opinion, what makes a song congregationally focused? 

For me three things:-  
1. Ultimately the song helps people to encounter Jesus and to fix their eyes on Jesus.  
2. A song that is Biblically focussed - I love using the Bible in my worship writing 
3. The song is easy to sing to and lift our praises too.  

Q: What were some highlights of writing songs for this new EP? 

One of the highlights was being able to spend a week up in Manchester with Dan in his studio and to be able to be creative as we spent time praying about how each song should sound. I really enjoyed having Tim Cooke come and drum on the songs as he is a great drummer and brought a lot to the songs. We wrote two of the songs 'All my life' and 'Set me apart' thinking about some youth festivals I have been leading at in the UK this year and we got to sing the songs with thousands of young people whom are a generation who seem 'all in' for Jesus and who want to live a life set apart for Him.  

Q: You also have a few distinguished guests on the record. Could you tell us more about them? 

I love to work with other great songwriters and worship leaders and this EP features collaborations with Dai Woolridge, Joe Hardy, Noel Robinson, Molly Skaggs, and Millie Ferguson all who bring something different to each song. I have got to know these guys by serving at different events with them and by cheering each other on in our creativity. I always look to encourage other songwriters in the Christian music sphere and to be inspired by them too. I love unity in worship music and the church and us all bringing our own praise and worship to God.  

Q: How do you hope these songs will minister to those who hear and sing them? 

The overall theme for the songs is about how having Jesus as the centre of our life changes everything! I hope these songs help people to have life change encounters with Jesus that will help them in their everyday life situations! Psalm 146:2 has inspired me in recording these new songs when it says, 'I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live'.   

 

 

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