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Recording A Worship Album
An Interview with Whitney Engle
Whitney Engle has been leading worship for numerous youth groups and churches from her hometown of Durant, OK for several years. Now 18 years old, Whitney has recently started traveling and recording to greater leverage her musical gifts for the glory of God. She has just released a modern worship album called Overflow, which is already experiencing play on Christian airwaves. She recently took the time to tell us about the album’s creation process and inspiration:
What factor or influence caused you to finally decide to take these worship songs into a studio to create a record?
Well, my dad kept asking my uncle, Joel Engle, if I could hang out in the studio with him—just to see how it worked. But to all of our surprise, Joel asked me to come down to Dallas and record [some vocal tracks]! So after I had my first taste of studio work, Joel really encouraged me to get a record going. And it’s all history from there.
What all did you need to have in order to start your project?
The main need that I remember was songs. I didn’t have a whole lot of anything written, so the first thing we needed to get together was a great compilation of music! And that came together with a lot of careful and prayerful consideration. Secondly, we needed finances. My parents, grandparents, and dear friends greatly contributed to the funding needed to support this record. The other thing we needed was a time frame, and Joel got on that real quick! He set deadlines that I had to have all my songs finished by, then dates to record scratch vocals and dates for the final recording.
Creating a great sounding album like Overflow usually requires collaboration with several talented people. Who else played major roles in bringing this project to life?
There are so many people who helped out! First, Joel Engle was my coach and advisor the whole way through. Then my incredible producer, Chris Clayton, brought the whole record together. He choreographed every step of the album-making process, along with laying down the electric guitar tracks to all the songs. Ben Phillips and Chris Donohue from Nashville, TN, played drums and bass. Lee Bridges mixed the project and Bob Boyd made the finishing touches by mastering it. There are so many people who played a part. Last but not least, Dave Wright did all of the artwork for the project.
What did you learn from the album-making process?
Well, there is so much I learned! I had no idea that there was so much that went into a record. First of all, the commitment was greater than I thought it would be. I spent a huge amount of time preparing spiritually and physically for the actual recording process. Secondly, I learned the importance of practice! Joel encouraged me to practice singing for hours each day. That was something I never really had to do before! You can never be too prepared to sing. And thirdly, I knew very little about the “business” side of the industry. I learned there’s a difference between the Christian music industry and the Christian music ministry. I was never concerned about the record making the charts; I just wanted it to be relevant to my generation.
How do you think the process of creating your worship-centered project might differ from most secular recordings?
Well, obviously there is a lot of prayer and God-seeking involved in worship-centered music. I’m not saying that you don’t prepare in secular recordings, but that has to be the major difference. The inspiration behind a song on the secular charts may be inspired by some common, everyday experience, whereas my inspiration in music is solely God and what He has done in my life. That is anything but common!
Do you have a favorite song on Overflow?
My favorite song is probably “I Am Listening” because it paints a realistic picture of what we all go through at times. It talks about how we can so easily let the things of this world clutter our hearts and minds, making it hard to hear our Father. It reminds me that I need to slow down, set my mind on things above, and just listen to my King. This song has really helped me understand God’s love for us as His children.
How has your album affected your ministry?
It has definitely encouraged me to bring my worship to a higher level. I feel that throughout the making of this record God has been calling me to be more bold in my worship leading. So the album-making process changed my ministry in the sense that now I feel a higher calling on my life. I feel like God is calling me “up” and even though it’s a little bit intimidating, I know God will equip me.
How have you seen Overflow impact others?
I have seen God move in amazing ways when it comes to impacting people with this record! One song off the record has been getting some radio play throughout the nation! So I know the music is blessing people that I don’t even know about. Another song is also being used at my school in corporate worship! It blesses me to know that other people are seeing God through these songs. My prayer is that people will simply know His love when they listen to the music. That is all the impact I long to make!
Where do you see your music / ministry heading in the upcoming years?
I’m not really sure at this point where God is going to lead us with this record. But the Lord has definitely revealed to me that my music will be used to impact my generation. I know the years that I’m attending Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas will grow me and challenge me in my worship leading.
Is there a scripture that God has impressed on you lately that you’d like to share with other worship leaders?
Philippians 1:21 says, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (NIV). Lately God has been showing me what it really means to “live” for Him. I know it’s something we pray often: “Lord I want to live for You!” But do we really know what we’re praying? When you really think about it, that is a dangerous prayer to pray! God has showed me that in order to live for Him, we have to die for Him. Our calling as Christians is a call to die. Not exactly the most popular message, but what better way to live than this? We live to die for the One who died for us. That is the ultimate act of love.
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