The worship team from Planetshakers Church, one of Australia’s fastest growing churches in history, released Outback Worship Sessions globally yesterday through Integrity Music and amidst acclaim. What started as a project to re-craft Planetshakers’ most-loved worship anthems into a form accessible to worship teams representing the wider church body grew into an 11-track studio recording that also features three brand new songs.
“The Outback Worship Sessions is about capturing the heart and simplicity of passion in our worship, unhindered, unrestrained,” shares worship leader and Planetshakers Church co-senior pastor, Sam Evans.
“There’s beauty in simplicity,” adds Planetshakers Lead Singer and Music Director Joth Hunt. “We’ve stripped back our normal style, leaving this raw, organic sound.”
Taking Outback Worship Sessions under his wing, and with church worship teams in mind, Grammy- and Dove-Award winning Ed Cash produced the album, giving a new, intimate ‘voice’ to Planetshakers’ best-loved anthems. He also co-wrote “Spirit Of God” and “Father” for the album with Bj Pridham, who is one of several featured vocalists from Planetshakers’ worship team on the album. Cash further penned the new song, “My Soul Longs For Jesus,” which NewReleaseTuesday.com (NRT) calls “an incredible song for the Church.”
“Scripture is very clear that when we draw near to God, He will draw near to us,” says Cash in a recent interview with NRT. “The lyrics ‘my soul longs for Jesus and He longs for me’ move me. I love the thought that the God of the Heavens longs for me…. I think there are so many voices out there in this world calling out for attention, and there is One that stands out above them all. I long to hear His voice, His direction, His peace and His guidance. This song came out of my faith walk with God.”
Brand new videos for “My Soul Longs for Jesus,” as well as “Like A Fire” and “Nothing Is Impossible” from Outback Worship Sessions, have been recorded organically in a small church in the heart of Australia’s Outback. NRT is exclusively premiering the “My Soul Longs for Jesus” video today, as well as featuring a behind the song devotional. Following the premiere, all three new videos will be available as free resources for churches and worship leaders around the globe.
Integrity Music is also offering a companion digital Outback Worship Sessions songbook free of charge through www.weareworship.com. Further, and for a limited time, UPtv.com and LouderThanTheMusic.com are offering a free download of the song, “Like A Fire,” and JesusFreakHideout.com is featuring a free download of “Spirit Of God” from the album.
Here is how the critics are responding to Outback Worship Sessions so far:
“Carrying the electricity of Planetshakers most beloved songs, but delivered with a simplicity and richness many bands strive for, the Outback Worship Sessions is a carefully crafted album that will usher in a new generation of fans. Showing the breadth of the talent within the band both vocally, in musicianship and in the level of song writing, listeners will come away with a deeper awareness of God’s great love for them and the world.” – FDRMX.com
“Outback Worship Sessions manages to combine the best of Planetshakers and makes it even better. Recreating these songs within more accessible frameworks has actually helped to enhance the performances, highlighting the vertically aimed lyrics, and giving them added weight, making them perfect for church worship teams or times of personal worship as well.” – Soul-Audio.com
“There are so many great moments on this album…these songs are top quality…If you are a fan of the songs that have come out of Planetshakers over the years then this album is one to get hold of straight away.” – LouderThanTheMusic.com
Having led over 200,000 people at a single event in Asia and sharing new music and other favorite Planetshakers worship anthems around the world, Planetshakers recently completed a 10-day tour of South Africa and will be featured May 23 during the Big Church Day Out in West Sussex, UK along with Switchfoot, NEEDTOBREATHE, Lecrae and more. Planetshakers will also be the featured worship leader June 28-29 during several events at CBA’s International Christian Retail Show 2015 (ICRS) that will included appearances by Lee Greenwood, Josh McDowell, Steve Green (Hobby Lobby) and others. Planetshakers will further be featured during the National Worship Leader Conference June 23-25 and headlining along with Casting Crowns and Jesus Culture “Florida’s biggest Christian music festival,” Rock The Universe, Sept. 12.
