What would it look like to pair the artists who launched the modern worship movement with the artists who are currently stewarding it? That question is answered in the form of new album “House of Worship.” The ambitious compilation brought 25 well-known artists and songwriters together in the same room to record a landmark 13-track collection.
Captured in a studio space just south of Nashville, the multigenerational project unites the original artists and writers of some of worship music’s earliest anthems with today’s genre leaders, all of whom have been influenced by these God-breathed songs. In addition to recording both audio and video of the entire session, the artists and songwriters filmed exclusive conversations, sharing the origin stories behind each timeless offering, as well as the profound impact these legacy-leaving selections made on the next generation. Executive produced by luminaries Michael W. Smith and Darlene Zschech, “House of Worship” boasts an incredible roster of talent, who combined, have garnered 142 GRAMMY® nominations, 50 GRAMMY® Awards and 183 GMA Dove Awards.
“When we first started dreaming about ‘House of Worship,’ we asked the question: What if the worship songs that really shaped our generation could bring new generations together? There were so many of us… We’ve all led people in these anthems for decades, but this time, we just wanted to do something a little different,” Zschech offers. “We wanted to gather our voices and the next generation…and come and worship together as one. It’s been incredible, really, to watch what God has done and how He has brought this together; and we are just so honored to be involved.”
Breathing fresh life into worship classics, “House of Worship” delivers innovative pairings and new recordings of groundbreaking songs like “Everlasting God,” featuring Brenton Brown and Pat Barrett; “I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever,” featuring Martin Smith and Josh Baldwin; “Here I Am To Worship,” featuring Tim Hughes and Cody Carnes; “Breathe,” featuring Kari Jobe and Brian & Jenn Johnson; and “How Great Is Our God,” featuring Ed Cash (We The Kingdom) and Charity Gayle.
The landmark recording is rounded out by penultimate track “Shout To The Lord,” led by Zschech and the incomparable CeCe Winans. Meanwhile, Michael W. Smith and Elevation Worship’s Chris Brown close out the set with an unforgettable rendering of Smith’s “Agnus Dei.”
“House of Worship” is available now with accompanying video and interview components continuing to be rolled out in the coming months.
