Interview: Tim Mann
Canadian worship leader Tim Mann has just released his new album 'The Dream Is Ended, This Is The Morning'. LTTM had the opportunity to speak to him about his album and his thoughts on writing worships songs.
For those who haven't heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got involved in making music?
Yeah, I'm a guy from just outside Toronto, Canada who loves to write songs that the church can sing and that hopefully inspire people to meet with their God. My family is musical so I grew up in it. I loved music, and it kind of grew into a passion for worship.
Tell us a little bit about your new album 'The Dream is Ended, This is The Morning' and what the inspiration behind it was?
Yeah, its my first full length release and I'm excited about it! The title comes from 'The Last Battle' by C.S. Lewis. Near the end of the book, Aslan tells Lucy that "The term is over, summer is here. The dream is ended, This is the morning" He is speaking about the reality of heaven compared to the world we live in now. I kind of took a little liberty with it in interpreting it talk about our hope and new life we have in Christ, compared to the dream or past life when we weren't saved.
We recorded it over about a week in total. I had some great friends (Tom Lang, Tim Davidson, Alisha Mann and Iain Kennedy) play on the record and i think it turned out great.
Which is your favourite track off your new album and why?
Probably 'Oh God, Our Refuge'. I spent a lot of time on that one, just adding extra parts and getting the different instruments to create the feel of that song. Really works well live as well.
What's your song writing process?
It changes all the time. Sometimes it comes fast but sometimes I'll talk years to finish a song. It depends really.
If you could work with any song writer, who would it be and why?
Hard question to narrow down but I think I would say Neil Young. Far and away Canada's best musical export. Love his guitar playing. I love his chords and melody. I would love to write with him.
Who are your musical influences?
Well it started with Weezer, Smashing Pumpkins, but soon after that I heard Radiohead, Jeff Buckley and Oasis for the first time and my musical head was turned upside down. Currently what is inspiring me are The National, Arcade Fire, The Replacements, Mumford and Sons, John Mark McMillan, Mew, M83, Brian Eno, jonsi and alex, The Black Keys and so many more.
You spent a year studying at the Hillsong College in Australia - what was that like?
Great! Such a good year. Met some amazing people. Got some amazing opportunities to play and lead people in worship. I met the holy spirit there, and I really felt I learned how to worship at that church. There is such an anointing on the church to lead and to usher people in to the presence of God. It's contagious.
In your opinion, what makes the perfect worship song?
I don't think I can answer that properly but I'll try! I think any song that allows people to meet with God is a good worship song. More and more though, I want the music I write to be worship in it's self. By that I mean that I want to use the God given creativity to write and create sounds that are fresh> A unique sound that is directly from me. Using new chords in new ways. Different sounds, rhythms, etc… What are we sacrificing in worship if we are just playing the same chords over the same beats and reusing the same melodies. Not much I don't think. I read a quote from John Mark McMillan where he said something like it's time to write dangerous music. Its time to stop putting new clothes on the dead. I agree.
You're stuck on an island, it's hot, you only have enough battery life left to listen to one song on your mp3 player. What track is it?
'Letdown' by Radiohead off of OK Computer. First song that I listened to that made me realize how beautiful music could be.
What does the next year hold for Tim Mann?
Well, I just put out the album on September 14th. After that, I'm not totally sure yet but hopefully great times with my God, my wife, my family and hopefully some music thrown in the mix too!
Find out more about Tim Mann at www.timothy-mann.com
