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TEAM PODCAST 7

Arguably the very best one yet! Yinka, George, Angel, Faith, Karl and Phil talk about the things we all talk about but never admit!
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Hmmm... I think that are songs focus on giving God praise without asking him for stuff…

There are so many songs written about getting our stuff back and asking God to do this our that for us.

We decided not to do that and just to touch the heart of God with worship. When a genuine worshipper encounters this the response is worship, that’s why I think so many love the album worldwide

And how much do you think being in the UK influenced the project?

Well, we have been singing some of the songs on the project in our church for many years, so we had already seen how God was moving whilst the songs were being delivered, so our church in London had a very big role to play in influencing the songs that made the album.

And what would you say are your musical influences...?

Wow, lots of people.. The Clarke Sisters, Winans, Commissioned, Take Six, Kirk Franklin, Noel Robinson, Mark Beswick, Fred Hammond, Donald Lawrence (Sam loves him)

You won the Caribbean Marlin 'Live CD Recording of the Year' Award recently. Thoughts on that...?

We feel really honoured that our music is being recognised. We don’t really get too caught up with awards as we know that we are really working towards God saying well done.

When he finally says well done? It won’t be based on a popular vote or record sales but it will be based on whether we lived what we sang about... Now that’s something to work towards

We are also up for a Maaja award in Canada for Best International Artist so we will see what happens with that 

Having been on the outside of the UK scene for a while now what have you found yourself liking about how we do things in the UK...?

That’s a good question actually... I like the fact that we are still all trying to make our mark on the world, so we are kind of all in the same boat..

In the states its a little more intimidating... However that does not phase us, as we know our calling...

And conversely having been exposed to that many more industries, marketplaces and scenes outside the UK what are some of the best practice attitudes and ideas that we could learn from?

We should look after our own! It’s great to have all the Americans flown [in for UK events] first class, entourage and all, but, what about the local artist?

One of the reasons that the industry works here is because they use the tools they have in front of them. The local artist here really gets used! And they get the chance to develop and improve their craft.

If we can learn anything from the US, it would certainly be let’s all come together to make the industry work for everyone. If you can afford to pay musicians, pay them. Maybe you can’t afford to pay them, but call them everyone now and then and give them a love offering, show them that you appreciate them.

We are currently working with another producer/artist called Sean Simmonds, and we find that working with him has upped our game as far as producing and being professional.

I think we have a lot to learn when it comes to getting things done with excellence. Now to be clear: I’m not saying we are not professional in the UK, but I think the Americans have a lot we could learn from. Too much to go into in this short interview

I hear that... On the same theme what have we got right...?

We believe what we sing about, and we should continue to do so....

'Live in London' is a classic. Simple as that. What's your take on where the contemporary Praise & Worship sound is in the UK right now?

Thanks for the compliment. We just need to be ourselves, as I said before, we don’t need to be anyone else than who we are. In terms of the P&W sound, the artist that are around right now all sound different, that’s a good thing. Long may it continue

And what do we need to work on...? 

Song writing, we need to write songs that the church will and can sing, even if they don’t have a 10 piece band with 5 singers!

Musically UK gospel music is driven by a very young sound at the moment.... Have you got a feel for it, and if so what are your thoughts...?

Honestly I don’t get to hear too much UK gospel, but i hear that there are quite a lot of new young cats out at the moment. I like that... It means that there is new blood in the system. That can only be a good thing. What’s important is that they pay respect to the ones who have gone on before and have set the stage for them to do what they now do. 

What's next for Roger & Sam?

We are currently producing three new albums here in Atlanta for other artists, which has taken a lot of our time.

But don’t worry the new Roger and Sam album is on the way, produced by Sean Simmonds along with Roger and Sam which will be a live and studio record at the same time. We are expecting to have it ready b4 the close of the year.

The single will be out in the summer, so that will be the UK's introduction to the new sound of Roger and Sam. The new single will also be out on iTunes.

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Ekklesia - Happy (new single)

In March 2010 Ekklesia wrote and performed a new song HAPPY with over 2000 children at the Queen Elizabeth Hall - its success led to Ekklesia rerecording it for release on 23 May 2011 - Get it on iTunes!!

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Published: 1st June 2009