In April 2022, following months of controversy surrounding Hillsong Church, NewReleaseToday reported that Hillsong Worship had canceled its tour with Christian contemporary bands Casting Crowns and We the Kingdom. The decision came just days after Pastor Brian Houston resigned and amid increasing internal tensions within the church.
Since then, the Hillsong music brands have mostly been quiet. In September 2025, Hillsong Worship announced that new music was on the way for the first time since the September 2022 release of Team Night. Their upcoming EP, Great I AM, is set for release on October 10. Hillsong UNITED released Are We There Yet? in April 2022. Hillsong Young & Free hasn’t released new material since “As I Am” in September 2021.
For a collective that helped shape modern worship over the past twenty years—consistently releasing albums, remixes, acoustic sets, and singles—the silence has been noticeable. However, the story doesn’t end there. Although the Hillsong brand remains on hold, some of the creatives behind its most well-known songs are beginning to emerge from its large shadow—ready to shine on their own terms.
A new wave is emerging. Seven artists who originally contributed to the Hillsong sound are now establishing their own identities: Joel Houston, TAYA, Brooke Ligertwood, Benjamin William Hastings, Alexander Pappas, CXMMXNS (Ben Fielding and Reuben Morgan), Aodhán King, and Matt Crocker. From deeply personal worship anthems to genre-blending experiments, they’re not just continuing the legacy—they’re reshaping it.
This is more than a post-Hillsong moment. It’s the beginning of something new. (NRT’s Felicia Holt, Kevin Davis, and Bradden Ford contributed to this article.)
Joel Houston
Joel Houston was one of the founding voices of Hillsong UNITED, bringing us hit worship songs like “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail),” “Lead Me to the Cross,” and “The Stand.” In 2024, he started releasing music outside of Hillsong UNITED under the name AMXNRADIO. In 2025, AMXNRADIO released its debut album, The Profound Foolishness Of ~, featuring collaborations with many Hillsong artists like Matt Crocker, Benjamin William Hastings, and Aodhan King. - Felicia Holt, NRT Contributor
TAYA
Taya Gaukrodger’s voice was first heard through Hillsong UNITED’s iconic 2013 hit “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail).” She released her debut solo single, “For All My Life,” in 2022. Later that year, she unveiled her debut self-titled album. Since then, she has continued to release new music over the past few years, with her latest being her second full-length album, The Reminder, released in April 2025. The 12-track album includes songs like “Worship!,” “Come Into the Light,” and “Gonna Be Good.” Earlier this year, she made her Grand Ole Opry debut, performing the four-time RIAA platinum hit “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” along with the title track from The Reminder. - Felicia Holt, NRT Contributor
Benjamin William Hastings
Known for the hit Hillsong UNITED song “So Will I (100 Billion X),” Benjamin William Hastings has been releasing music as a solo artist since 2021, with his first full-length album released in 2022. Over the past few years, he has been featured in collaborations with fellow Christian artists, such as “Take You At Your Word” with contemporary Christian artist Cody Carnes and, most recently, “I’ll Fly Away” with Josiah Queen. - Felicia Holt, NRT Contributor
CXMMXNS (Ben Fielding & Reuben Morgan)
Consisting of Grammy and Dove award-winning songwriters Ben Fielding and Reuben Morgan, known for the songs “Cornerstone,” “Mighty to Save,” and “Hosanna,” CXMMXNS (pronounced commons) released their first songs in 2024. They debuted their full-length album, *All The Praise Belongs*, in August 2025, with collaborations from artists like Matt Maher and CAIN. A live album titled *Live in Manila* was released in October 2025. - Felicia Holt, NRT Contributor
Aodhán King
A key member of Hillsong Young & Free, Aodhán King co-wrote hits such as “Sinking Deep” and “Wake.” He released his debut solo album Beyond Us in 2024. Most recently, he and Abbie Gamboa, part of UPPERROOM, co-wrote and co-released the album Throwing Paint. - Felicia Holt, NRT Contributor
Matt Crocker
Vocalist of Hillsong UNITED and Hillsong Worship, Matt Crocker, released his debut solo album, 'Interlude,' in June 2025. Crocker co-wrote the hit songs “Oceans,” “I Surrender,” and “This I Believe (The Creed).” The album also features a collaboration with fellow Hillsong Worship member Brooke Ligertwood. - Felicia Holt, NRT Contributor
Brooke Ligertwood
Brooke Ligertwood has long been my favorite female worship leader, and it's wonderful to hear her continue writing and singing songs for the church. Following her outstanding worship anthems with Hillsong Worship, “What A Beautiful Name,” "Who You Say I Am," “King of Kings,” and “A Thousand Hallelujahs,” churches and believers worldwide celebrated the release of Brooke’s solo worship album, Eight.
The album features new recordings of her popular songs, "Lead Me To The Cross," "Desert Song," and "Soon," along with her latest anthem, "Fear of God." The title track delivers a message of hope, perseverance, and trust in God's protection despite the spiritual battles believers may face. It highlights the importance of staying vigilant, holding onto faith, and fulfilling one's purpose while awaiting Christ's return.
The song is a powerful way to prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming. You can be ready and sing along, “He’s coming with a trumpet sound/He’s coming with a flash of light/He’s coming for a pure and spotless blood-washed bride/Satan roams like a roaring lion, seeking to devour us, but the fear of God will keep us.” Amen to that. - Kevin Davis, NRT Lead Contributor
Alexander Pappas
Alexander Pappas was one of the leading voices in Hillsong's youth division, Hillsong Young & Free. He is recognized for leading popular songs like "Alive," "Love Won't Let Me Down," "Real Love," and "This Is Living" with the group. Alexander has continued producing music as a solo artist. He released two alternative-pop EPs, Idaho and American Dream, showcasing his voice and strong songwriting in new creative directions. Both projects are personal favorites of mine because of their indie-alt rock sound and sincere lyrics, which have helped him reach a broader audience. His latest song, "A Great Awakening," marks his return to the worship scene, following his recent signing to Integrity Music Group and he also appeared alongside Hillsong Worship on their comeback EP that released in October. He has also been an active contributor and featured artist with the Texas-based worship group Lakewood Music. - Bradden Ford, NRT Contributor
His latest single, “Everything With Breath,” was released in September 2025, following his transition to Integrity Music.
A New Chapter
Together, these artists remind us that even if Hillsong’s music machine is silent, its legacy remains strong. Every voice holds a history of songs that shaped modern worship—and each one now steps confidently into the future.
This is more than the end of an era. It’s the beginning of a new one.
OpenAI's ChatGPT helped with this article. Assembled from all corners of North America and many other places in between, the NRTeam includes staff members whose energy is equally dedicated to loving and writing about the music they cherish.
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