The Delirious? Success Factor
The news has been out and caused a stir amongst the Christian worshippers. Delirious?, one of the most successful Christian band with best-selling albums topping the secular world music charts, will be disbanding at the end of 2009. One of their final stops behind the end of their legendary music journey was to our International G12 Conference 2009. Thousands present were blessed and ministered by their worship music, including some of their new to old favourites like ‘My Soul Sings’, ‘Majesty’, ‘History Maker’, ‘I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever’. Before we say good-bye to this incredible band of musicians, we had the exclusive interview privilege with them and got them* to share about their experience at the conference, their song inspiration, their favourite Delirious? songs – and plans after their disbandment, if it is a delirious move.
You’ve been here for three days. How do you find performing at the G12 Conference in Singapore so far for the first time?
It’s a fantastic time. There’s always a lot of passion when you come to Asia each time... It’s just great to build relations. When you travel half way around the world to learn extraordinary things. We love playing music. So we’re happy doing that. We’ve always loved coming to Singapore. We’ve a relationship with Pastor Cesar and have been to Colombia a few times. So it’s a great connection to come somewhere you love with people... It’s been great.
We all know that the band is going its separate ways. Is it going to be the end or is the band just taking a break?
November 29th is probably going to be our last show together. That’s going to be at London Hemisphere Park. It’s (a) sad and happy occasion. We’ll work through that individually and together. It’s a big decision.
What are your plans – will you still carry on doing music, writing songs, performing in churches?
I think the future is unknown for the minute. We’ve had 12 great years together. Some of us are related or are friends. So I think the future is very open. But the structure of Delirious? is going to die. And I think we’re just going to see what happens post that.
Coming back to your songs, do you have anyone in particular that you really enjoy playing or singing?
There’re so many songs. It’s quite a difficult question to answer. I think the one that we just did a few minutes ago, "My Soul Sings", is our current favourite.
So it’s like this from week to week?
Sometimes, yes, it’s like that. There’re so many different songs, all reflecting different things. They’re all kind of (our) favourites in their own way.
Was there a time when you were worshipping the Lord that you sensed His presence particularly strong, that the song had really touched His Heart?
Well, I think it’s an amazing thing when you’re in a band. Because the sum of all the parts is greater than any individual. There’re moments on the stage where we’ve had this time and time again, where everything just blended into one. You lose track of who’s playing what. That’s when you hit gold. And during those times you feel that the room could collapse and anything could happen. That is quite a special thing and I think that we will miss that electricity. I think that comes out of our relationship. It comes out from the good times and the bad times...
When you’re writing your songs, do you usually have them penned in a flash? Were there times where you would sit for days with nothing on your mind?
Typically, we get inspired all year round. We set aside time to focus on any ideas. Two or three of us will get together, and put (together) all the things that we’ve been thinking about.
So you would come together to get your song ideas out in the air. Any songs that you did which was like that? 'My Soul Sings'?
They’re all pretty much like that... That’s pretty much how it works. There’re some formula. Some songs are written more quickly. Some demand more time.
Any fond memories that you have?
A lot of those. I suppose we remember some of the countries we’ve been to for the first time. I remember the first time in Singapore, in Indonesia. And I remember some of the huge things we’ve done in India with hundreds of thousands of people. We remember some of the small things we do in the tiny clubs where people don’t know. So many different things.
Likewise, can you recall any unpleasant memories?
(Unanimous reply): There was a time when Tim disappeared from the stage. It was one of those moments that we don’t know whether to laugh or cry. We’re all on stage. We were live for a minute. We were in Denmark. He lived to tell the tale...
(The band members also shared tales of being left behind in the airport, in the hotel.)
In our church, we have a School of Modern Levites. It is to train songwriters, worshippers to bring the pulpit up another notch. Do you have any special encouragement that you can give to them?
I think it’s going to be easy for people who come up with a system, know how to say the same thing. I don’t think God really wants that. He wants another generation to come through a different way, prophesy a different way. Each generation has a different way of saying it. I think my encouragement is to learn from the past, but don’t use that as a model. It’s time to do their own things.
Looking back at when you first started out, are you satisfied with your success and achievement today? Do you think that you have blessed people with your songs?
I think we feel incredibly humbled for what has gone on. We feel incredibly honoured and humbled that we are asked to do these things... People come to sing (our) songs. All these songs become in a part of people’s lives... I think that is really amazing. I don’t think we ever realized that – what happened. People say to us all the time, "how do you stay humble all the years? You’ve had quite a lot of success." But actually for us, it had probably been the opposite process. I think we started off cockier. But now we actually feel genuinely amazed that we are still doing it, that God is still using us. The older you get as well, you become more and more amazed at the chances that you’ve been allowed to have. It’s been an amazing journey.
What is the one thing that you’ll do after the final concert?
(One band member’s reply): I’ll like to carry on writing songs. (I) still want to see some of my dreams there.
* Interview responses above were consolidated from all of their replies.
Posted on: 22 April 2009 |
| |
|
