Australian Icon Colin Buchanan Records New Project During Covid 19 Pandemic
It's a season of landmarks for Colin Buchanan, Australia’s #1 kid’s Christian artist. His all-new album 'Colin Buchanan's Old Testament Sing-a-long' released on November 6.
This is the 20th album in his remarkable series of Aussie Praise projects which have become beloved classics to generations of kids across the globe.
As 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of his breakout kids Christian debut album, Remember The Lord, Colin clearly shows no signs of slowing!
The former ABC TV Playschool presenter and ten times Golden Guitar country music award winner says he’s popped aside all the Old Testament songs he’s written along the way, “waiting for the shoebox to fill up”.
“I headed away on a songwriting retreat earlier this year and was amazed just how many songs were in the box waiting to be recorded! The time had come,” Colin says.
As COVID-19 put an end to touring and live performances (a UK tour, Colin’s annual national Koorong tour and a host of other events falling victim to restrictions), he turned his creative attention to recording.
“There was a lot of adjustment to be made. The uncertainty of 2020 really hit in a multitude of ways. Heading into the studio was a challenge to put the situation to the back of my mind and just focus on the songs and the truths behind them.”
In a surprise move, Colin enlisted the services of award-winning super-producer Matt Fell for his 2016 Calvary Road album. This time, the duo worked in a different creative space, crafting songs for kids.
“Matt is a remarkable, talented, and unique record producer. He wanted to capture the live feel of the performances, a more acoustic sound, something that has echoes of my early records, like Remember The Lord and Follow The Saviour.”
Working with Fell in a different studio with different musicians in the midst of a season unlike any other, meant the process of making Old Testament Singalong wasn’t without its challenges.
“I’m really grateful that my long-time recording collaborator, Terry Cox, was able to be involved along the way, too. Terry’s talent, enthusiasm and encouragement have found their way into every kids album I’ve made,” he says. And singing the message with Colin was a lively and talented group of Old Testament sing-a-long singers!
“After the incredible success of my collaboration with the group, CityAlight on Jesus Strong And Kind last year, it was such a delight to turn the tables and have them add their voices to these songs.
“I love the sound of big people participating in the tunes. The backing vocals are like an invitation to everyone to join in - regardless of age!” Then, his young friends from Covenant Christian School added their vocals. “That totally blew me away! They sang so well!
“It can be hard work learning the songs, recording them over and over, making each performance something special. But that’s just what they did!” The finished result of Colin Buchanan’s Old Testament Sing-a-long is a 25-track album of musical and lyrical shades that blurs the lines between Colin’s audience, regardless of age.
There’s the trademark energy, fun and playfulness we’ve come to expect - the reimagined Father Abraham (Had Lots Of Kids), Great Is His Name (Babel), the rollicking Who’s Gonna Be A Caleb? plus Colin’s epic version of Joshua Fought The Battle Of Jericho.
And there’s a bunch of new memory verses all built around Psalms to help get God’s word into hearts and minds. As well as clever story songs like God Is The Biggest Of All (David and Goliath), Envy, Esther, Esther and Mr Noah. But it’s songs like the touching Hannah Prays, Walk By Faith and Psalm 23 (All Is Mine) that take the listener to a place of reflection, devotion and vulnerability.
“Sometimes it sounds like a kid’s album for ‘grown ups’, sometimes it’s like a ‘grown ups’ album for kids,” Colin quips. "Ultimately, the message of this record is about family and community under the great Grace of a good God."
“I love that my career has given me the opportunity to play across such a broad range of styles and such a wide audience. It’s actually really rare, to be able to record and perform for families.”
