Interview: HTC Music
Will Herron from HTC Music, from Holy Trinity Church in McLean, Virginia, talks to LTTM about their debut album 'Everything We Have Is Yours' and their inspiration as a church, plus Will's plans for his own solo record.
Tell us a little bit about this new HTC album?
This album is a few years in the making. We started off writing family worship songs for our children’s ministry and then quite naturally began writing for the rest of our congregation. These are songs that have come out of conversations, shared experiences and what we feel God has been teaching us over the last while. We are excited to have the opportunity to release this expression of our church community.
Which is your favourite track on the album and why?
I would say Love Like You - if there is one thing that we as the church need to excel in it's loving God and others. This song came out of a realization that it's easy to fall in love with the idea of love and to use words like "family" and "community" but never truly love people. The bridge at the end of the song is a prayer “Come, make us like You, to love like You do”. That's the prayer of our community here at Holy Trinity Church.
If you could work with any songwriter, who would it be and why?
Two Martins - Chris Martin of Coldplay and Martin Smith. Both gifted song writers in their own right!
Do you prefer playing live or working in the studio?
I have to say I’m growing to enjoy the studio, but it's taken intentional effort. Your musicianship is, in some way, under a microscope when you sit/stand before a mic! The live performance is a joy - getting to share songs with people that you feel God has shared with you. I feel privileged to be able to do it.
How would you describe your style of music and what are your influences?
The roots of our music are actually quite diverse. Influences range from Death Cab for Cutie, Coldplay and Copeland to people like Son Lux. We probably fall in the genre of pop/rock/folk, but hopefully when people listen they feel they are hearing something unique and original!
What is your favorite album of all time?
I’d have to say Delirious? Glo - it inspired me musically and spiritually at the time and was also formative in the early years of my relationship with Jesus.
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?
I recently listened to the song Stars by Switchfoot for the first time in a while and had forgotten how ridiculously good it is! I’ll say Stars by Switchfoot.
What does the next year hold for HTC & Will Herron?
We are currently recording a Family Worship album of songs that we’ve written for our children’s ministry. That should be out around May/June. Then we’ll begin recording other songs we’ve written for our congregation to release later in the year. I’m personally continuing to lead the worship team at HTC, develop the worship leader community in Washington DC and write toward my own solo record.
