Hillsong’s Benjamin Hastings Reflects On Time With The Band: ‘It’s Kind of Surreal’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Hillsong United member Benjamin Hastings is ready to launch his solo career.
In a recent interview, the singer-songwriter reflected on his musical success so far.
Hastings was born in Belfast, Ireland and spent his early years playing his guitar and singing on the street.
“When I was maybe 15 or 16, I was in a bookshop and I discovered a Hillsong United record and I fell in love with the music,” he shared. “And what was really cool was United came and played a show in Belfast and I got to meet all the guys and none of them remembered me. But I was so stoked.”
Shortly after, Hastings headed to Australia to be part of Hillsong.
So, when I was 19, I moved out there,” he explained. “Through this kind of crazy set of events, [I] ended up writing songs that I started using on records and became really good friends with all those guys that I met back in Belfast. It was a whirlwind.”
The songs Hastings wrote with other members of Hillsong went on to be played and sung in churches around the world.
“It’s kind of surreal,” Hastings marveled. “Like, if I ever get to be in a church and hear someone leading like a song that I got to play a part in, it’s this really surreal, beautiful moment where you’re like it feels like it doesn’t feel like mine. That makes sense. It feels like you. You create something, and then you hand it over to the church.”
Hastings’ musical success with Hillsong has continued, and this year, he and his co-writers are nominated for “Worship Song of The Year” for Know You Will at this year’s Dove Awards.
The story of Hillsong’s success is told in HILLSONG: LET HOPE RISE, a documentary about the group. A portion of the Movieguide® review reads:
HILLSONG: LET HOPE RISE is a wonderful, inspiring music worship documentary about the successful Christian worship group, Hillsong. The group has sold millions of records. Its songs are featured in most modern churches. Hillsong is not one group but several groups at several campuses, which come together to form the music team that plays and sings all over the world. The worship leader is Joel Huston, the son of the pastor, who started the Hillsong Church in the 1980s in a building in Sidney, Australia. The jeopardy arises during the last third of the movie when the group has to sing in the Los Angeles Forum while trying to write a new song. The clock ticks down from 77 minutes to the performance.
HILLSONG is a good worship music documentary. It could have been tweaked by emphasizing the plot problem, which creates the jeopardy, a lot more at the beginning of the movie. Even so, HILLSONG is entertaining worship music documentary that is so winsome that it is hard not to sing along. MOVIEGUIDE® commends the filmmakers behind HILLSONG: LET HOPE RISE
After his work with Hillsong, Hastings is ready to strike out on his own. His debut album will be released November 4. Listen to his latest single, “So Help Me God,” here.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
