Michael W Smith: The CCM star and worship leader talks about his new DVD

Friday 10th April 2009

Tony Cummings quizzed one of America's most popular Christian singers, MICHAEL W SMITH



Continued from page 1

Tony: Why was it decided to release the 'A New Hallelujah' DVD a considerable time after the CD release?

Michael W Smith: The CCM star and worship leader talks about his new DVD

Michael: Well, I'm sure there are a lot of different reasons. The main reason for me not releasing the DVD when the CD came out was I didn't think we could get it done quickly enough. We recorded and filmed on June 20th and I did a really quick turnaround on the CD. To do that and to do the DVD would have been absolutely impossible. So [we decided to bring] it out in 2009. From a business standpoint it gives it a bit more lift, gives you something to look forward to but really the main thing was that I'm not Superman. I didn't think I could pull it off. And I'm glad we waited because it's really paid off. It's given us a great piece of product, it's all in high def, it's really something else. I'm really, really happy with it.

Tony: With something like a DVD, so much is in the editing, isn't it?

Michael: Yes, it is. And we had a great director - Steve Gilreath, who I've worked with in the past. That whole night in Houston was an amazing night. But we also wanted to let people see how this whole thing came down, with lots of behind the scenes footage. And all that sort of stuff takes a long time to edit. It's time consuming. But I'm glad we waited.

Tony: In the past, worship music, and a lot of CCM, has been criticised for being too focused on the West, as if all music was American or British. But you've certainly gone outside the loop this time with African and Latin influences. How did that come about?

Michael: I think really it was my experience two years ago, travelling around the world - not only to Europe but to South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, to the Pacific, South Korea - and so that's when I thought this record has got to be global. Obviously, I've got a heart for Africa. The African Children's Choir bring something beautiful to it. They're all orphans - almost every one of them - which sort of relates to the AIDS epidemic which I've been involved in and trying to help alleviate. Then we have a large Hispanic community in America and all round the world as well. That's why we pulled in the worship leader from Houston, Israel Houghton. He brought a whole other dynamic to the evening too. Although, I don't think we did anything in Japanese. . .

Tony: You've got to start somewhere.

Michael: You've got to start somewhere and I think the DVD at least gives a flavour that this [worship] thing is international, this thing is global.

Tony: Did you know Israel before this album?

Michael: I did. I've known him for a while. We really got to know each other working on the 'CompassionArt' project in Scotland and at Abbey Road. Matter of fact it was Israel's idea to record 'A New Hallelujah' in his church, which is Lakewood in Houston, because they had everything there - all the cameras and stuff. It made a whole lot of sense. It was just a bit of a challenge: how could we turn Lakewood into something a bit different from Lakewood for the DVD? They were very gracious to let us change some things. We camped out there for a week. Then I finally just said, 'Israel, if I'm coming to Lakewood, you've got to be on the record.' So it was sort of a no-brainer and he was very happy to do it.

Tony: And, of course, you were familiar with the African Children's Choir.

Michael: Yes, I've worked with them on a couple of other projects - "Seed To Sow", "Go West Young Man". And then they sang on "This is Your Time", I think.

Tony: They've change the personnel rather a lot.

Michael: Yeah, all those kids are all grown up now.

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