Even though the band has been inactive for half a decade, Delirious? remains one of the most influential worship bands of all time, as the defacto founding fathers of the modern worship movement. 

After Delirious? played their last show in 2009, the void in Christian music came with lots of questions: Were the great Brits done making music? Quickly, guitarist Stuart "Stu G" Garrard answered that, joining Jason Ingram for the great-in-their-own-right worship band One Sonic Society. 

But what about frontman Martin Smith? Fresh from many life changes, including the growth of his family, planting a new church in Brighton and becoming a mentor to the next generation of worshipers, one of Christian music's most distinct voices is back with God's Great Dance Floor - Step 01, an all new collection of relevant worship tunes birthed out of this new season. (Read our five-star album review here.)

I caught up with Martin about the changes in his life, the new album, and about what God's doing across the earth in worship.

We've been really excited about the new album, Step 01. I've been enjoying it. You have these new collections of songs, cutting edge worship sweeping the globe. From the outside looking in, you might think Martin Smith's mission seems pretty similar to the Delirious days--but really, a ton has changed, hasn't it?

 

Yeah (laughs). That was 20 years ago! I think it's been an amazing season of putting out music over the years. And this has been a brand-new experience, really being on my own, and letting all these songs come out-- and starting with a brand new team again. So it has been a new experience, but something very joyful actually. It's been great. 

Right. So while music still is very much a part of your calling and mission, how you walk out that calling has changed, hasn't it?

 

I just think it's a different season. I've got lots of children, and they're grown up now, and it's a whole different thing than it was in the early days. We are in a brand-new church plant now, and we're just so excited about all that means to us as a family. The whole music thing isn't the be-all and end-all, and I think that serving people locally is what really excites you, doesn't it? Of course music is a massive part of my life. And do have the record that's coming out. It's all exciting.

So many different areas for you to serve and pour into. Now, you have six children; what are the spans of their ages?

 

Our youngest is five, Mary, and then we go up to Ellie who's 16. Two boys and four girls, every two years. 

Wow, that's great! I have three and my oldest is five; we have yet to get our sleep back. 

 

We're just beginning to (laughs). I know, it's been a long stretch. 
 

You mentioned the church plant in Brighton, and that's obviously a huge part of your life. Tell us a little bit about that. What's God doing in Brighton? 
 

Well, Brighton is a big city on the south coast of England, and it's a very creative place--quite tough, spiritually. The church started three years ago with 40 people, and it's growing and growing, and I'm really glad to be part of the worship team there. And so it's just been a joy, you know, to be part of that and these new songs have really come out of being in that new environment.

How would you describe the spiritual climate not only of the region you're in, but in the country itself, in England?

 

I think that the U.K., for the last 30, 40, 50 years has pretty much been a post-Christian secular culture, really. That's the way it is, but within that, there are pockets of amazing God stuff. That's all you can do, is keep having faith that God has a heart for your country, and that He's going to pour His power out. And you keep hanging in there, believing, blessing people, singing these God songs, in faith that God's going to move in power. 

 

It's an old Anglican cathedral that's been around quite a few years. We've been planted out of Holy Trinity Brompton in London, where the whole Alpha Course originated and Nicky Gumbel. It's a plant from there. My friend, Tim Hughes, is up there, and we're part of that whole network. Yeah, so that's great. 

I read that you've been very involved as a mentor in your church. Explain that role a bit.

 

I don't know whether I'm doing it or not, but I think you've got to have a heart to give what you've got away, haven't you? I think that's the main thing. Very simply, for me, it started with just having a bunch of music students around for dinner, and hanging out, and then all of the sudden, we thought, "Why don't we make some music together?" And I think throughout that process you get the chance to do life with people. Then in the midst of that then they see you as you are, with your family, and in all the areas that you do life, and so I think that's how it works. It's not some sort of thing where we're going to start a big worship school. For me that's not where it's at. For me, it's that we're going to do life together. 

 

 

It's really exciting when you see people that, you know, have not really played on a record before, or never really feel confident. And then they're just growing and growing and they're leading worship and writing their own songs, and they've got their own dreams, and I think that is incredibly exciting. It's a little bit like being a dad, isn't it? It's on a slightly different, bigger scale. Suddenly they're growing and you're thinking, "Wow, this is amazing!" That's very rewarding isn't it? It brings a lot of joy.

Now regarding the record, "Fire Never Sleeps" has obviously caught on a single, being on the Jesus Culture album and with Audio Adrenaline covering it. Talk about that song a little bit.

 

We were on holiday actually in Greece as a family, and there was a big forest fire at the top of one of the mountains. The kids were asking me about that. I said it's amazing to think that in the morning, when we wake up, that fire will still be going--just keep burning through the night. And it's amazing to think that fire never sleeps. And I was like wow, there's a song. There's a real powerful image of the Holy Spirit and how He works, and it's great to get an uptempo Holy Spirit song. 

Yeah, those are hard to find! One line in the song that particularly grabs me is, "I never want to miss You / Something new is being born / And we were born for this."

 

It's that sense, isn't it? God, I never ever want to miss what you're doing. I never want to be too busy to be doing my own thing and missing what you're doing in this country, on the earth. And it's also the sense that we were born for something. We weren't just born to do what we do, put records out and have a job and buy a house and whatever. We were born to see the Kingdom come. It's sort of touching on that sense. We're here to raise a flag, and that's the main reason we are here, to worship the living God and see His glory come. 

And speaking of what God is doing, what's happening out there? What are you sensing? What is God doing out there in the Church and in worship?

 

Yeah that's a great question. I think that another generation is going to pick this up and take it on again. And you know, I just think that musicially they're going to bring a new thing. I'm very excited about that. I think we'll probably to see more signs and wonders again--more power in the worship, and I think we're ready for that now. And I think that the record is kind of inferring that really, it's the foolish things that will shame the wise. It's not the high-effect screen and the great sound system--although I love those things. But church doesn't need to be professional; it just needs to be family. You know, provide an environment where people can come and meet God--as simple as that. If we want to do that, it's going to give more space for God. 
 

On your news release you're quoted as saying that God has given you new things to say, and you're extremely grateful for that. What are those new things?

 

Did I really say that? That's quite bold, isn't it? I don't think I've got anything new to say, but I think God is always saying these things, isn't he? The scriptures, of course, talk about about things to come, prophetically, and I think like I was saying before, that church needs to be a place of freedom. It needs to be explosive; it needs to be creative. I think, you know, that's the sound that the world needs to hear is a church on fire, full of celebration. The great thing about the Prodigal Son is that when he came back to his father, he could hear the sound of music playing in the distance. There's a draw about that; we must make the places that we meet exciting and alive. You know, freedom is at the heart of the Gospel, and if we're not people that are free and love to worship and spirit in truth, then we've got lots of questions. 

That's so true. And really, it's the battle against complacency, isn't it? Now, are you going to be bringing these new songs on a tour with this record?

 

I'd like to think so. In October I'm going to tour Europe. In November I'm going to tour the U.K. I'm in California in July. But as far as a whole sort of American tour, who knows? I think that's something that might come in time. But for now, it'd be great to get the songs out. The record's coming out Tuesday, and it's very scary and exciting all at the same time.

Do you feel like you're starting all over again--like the old days?

 

It really feels like I'm starting again. It's a funny feeling, but, it's exciting. 

 

 

Yes, thank you. To be wise as these decisions come along... what things to do, what things not to do. I need some wisdom with that. And yeah, I think they're the main things, really. How you use your time is very important, isn't it?