Tony Cummings quizzed the popular and hard working worship songsmith BRENTON BROWN

Brenton: Yes, these days the only thing I use is a phone, I always have that with me.

Tony: Tell me a bit about the recording sessions for 'Our God Is Near'.

Brenton: We produced it in January 2009 in Nashville and the guys who helped us out were Jason Ingram and Rusty Varenkamp. They recorded a song called "Adoration" which was great. We had such a good time and we recorded the record in a week. It felt like an old '60s session because so many musicians were just hanging out whilst others were recording. Whilst somebody was working and the technician was helping out, there seemed to be two or three conversations going on in the room. It was very festive. Marty Sampson from Australia was there, and old friends kept coming through. It was the most fun I have had in the studio.

Tony: Presumably you were very pleased with the results?

Brenton: I am, and I never really know what it will be like. It's like having children in some respects because you have hopes for all of them and love all of them. But it was such a joy to do the record, we had so much fun and I am really happy about it.

Tony: You settled in Malibu, California is that right?

Brenton: Yes that was in 2005.

Tony: That makes it the third continent you have lived in. Any plans to relocate to Asia?

Brenton: (Laughing) Funnily enough, I have something of a love affair with Asia. We have only played there once, but the cultures are very rich and amazing. It's not beyond the realms of possibility I'll get there. But I'm not sure my family will let me do another move!

Tony: The church you attend now, is that part of the Vineyard stream?

Brenton: No, it's just a community church called Calvary Community. It's great. I think after the second continent you start to accommodate the differences a little quicker than your first trip from home. Somebody said to me a while ago people are people. Often when you arrive in a new church, you notice things that are different, but after a while you notice all the similarities. The main things are still there; these are people who love the Lord, are trying to make it through the week and their days, they have a need for friendship just as we do. That's what keeps us strong and keeps us grounded.

Tony: Down the years, the modern worship movement has had quite a few criticisms from some people in the Church, usually those who prefer the old hymns. They think that some of the songs don't have the same theological content. What do you think about that?

Brenton: I think there is some validity to those claims. The form of the modern song doesn't allow for the same lyrical depth as the older hymns, so you can't get as much in there. But on the flipside, people say the hymns are theologically richer and deeper. I'm not sure that's true, because there is more poetry and lyric in those songs. The beauty of the Gospel is its simplicity; even the most challenging theological themes such as the Trinity can be stated really simply. So I think this is our particular generation's offering to the Lord. No doubt there have been and will be better ones. But I think that the heart of the movement is good, to lift God up.

Tony: Go through a couple of the songs on the album and just explain what inspired them and what the situations were around you at the time.