Photos by Ralph Freso
The Grand Collective EP is true to its name, with a grand, impressive collection of 100 Grand Canyon University students participating in the fifth release in the series.
That EP – "To the Throne" – came out on Friday and is available on such streaming services as Spotify and Apple Music.
“The hands-on aspect of this is embodied in what The Grand Collective is, from the executive leadership team all the way down to the marketing and the publishing of it,” GCU Recording Studio Manager Eric Johnson said.
In five years, the project has evolved from students re-imagining hymns, to original works produced by students, to a widescale production.
“As the years have progressed, we’ve really dialed in the process and the flow a lot more,” said Joseph Vaught, GCU Recording Studio lab coordinator and professional recording engineer on the project, who in the past has shared executive producer roles with Johnson. “I think every year it gets better because there’s something we can fixate on, like ‘All right, we did this really well, but how can we even take it to the next level?’"
The Grand Collective is one of two music compilation projects produced by the College of Theology's Center for Worship Arts – the other are the full-length Canyon Worship albums – and the EPs are created, published and produced as a zero-budget, passion project by and for the students.
Participants gain experience from all facets, from songwriting, to co-writing, to rehearsal practice, to song arrangements, to the recording process into the studio.
“When they cross the threshold into the professional recording studio, they are learning, as artists, how to be in a recording studio, in a professional environment and work with other professionals,” Johnson said. “That translates 100% to when they graduate and they pursue their music career.
“I hear stories from some of our alumni about their experiences in other studios and how they reflect on their education here and how it's prepared them for working out there in the real world. It's absolutely working.”
Cooper Mather is leaning on his three years of experience on the project, the last two as a recording engineer, and his connections to land a job in Nashville following graduation next month.
Mather credited the worship arts program, as well as Johnson, Vaught and recording studio coordinator Ryan Buckland, who was also a recording engineer for The Grand Collective, for providing leadership and giving him the experience industry looks for.
“And I'm now going to be going to Nashville and working on country music professionally because of the things that I've been able to learn and the people that I've been able to know,” said Mather, who collaborated on “Thanksgiving,” one of the EP's six songs.
This season, the process of producing the album starts at the end of the 2024 spring semester, when Johnson and his staff select a songwriting team of worship arts students deemed as their most prolific songwriters. They also are dedicated but want to refine their skills.
Those selected work on their songs during the summer in preparation for the fall, when they will spend about six weeks collaborating on their songs.
The leadership team will choose from about 20 songs for the final list, which includes songs with a smooth blend of rhythm and lyrics.
“The whole project tells the story of the journey that a believer takes and making that initial decision to follow Jesus, and then what that kind of takes you through life. And then the very last song you sing ends up with you in heaven, like at the throne with Jesus and God the Father,” Vaught said.
Two producers worked on each song, and they recruited different musicians to perform.
“There definitely have been some time crunches and meeting deadlines,” said Grant Baker, a sophomore who is part of the production team. “But we have a great community, working with people you go to school with and have a mission toward making sure these songs come out precisely and have meaning.”
Melody Henry, a junior marketing major, treats her worship arts minor as a major and has been songwriting since she was 11.
“The whole reason I'm really at GCU is the worship arts (program),” Henry said. “I just love coming up to the studio and songwriting, enjoying time with friends here. It's honestly so awesome.
“I make time for the worship arts because I really prioritize music. It's my life. It's my name. I love it. ... I love writing songs, just taking time in my room or with people just writing songs.”
Brooklynne Menezes, like Henry, hopes performing on The Grand Collective will lead to a spot on the Canyon Worship album – to be a part of both projects would be amazing, she said.
“Once I joined the worship arts community, I felt the Lord tell me this was the hard place where I needed to be,” said Menezes, a singer/songwriter. “He let me know that this is where I belong. As a vocalist on the worship team, I was given this gift to help lead others to have a better connection with the Lord, and I think that is where my path – my future – is going to go, hopefully a worship leader or maybe a side worship leader or something like that.
“It's been like a great passion. It's really opened my eyes to the fact that I get to use this to help other people.”
After serving on choir vocals last season, Phillip Babcock is delighted to serve on the leadership team and work with songwriters.
“I think it's helped me grow in leadership,” said Babcock, a junior worship arts major with an emphasis in ministry. “Hearing the first demos that were made over the summer and to where they are now, it's been really cool to see that progression.
“It’s been fun to be more involved in that, because I've been involved with my own music, but not much with others. I enjoy being able to collaborate with them," even if there are more writers, singers, engineers and producers.
College of Arts and Media professor Dr. Josh Luetkemeyer assisted with orchestral parts for one of the songs, and College of Arts and Media students contributed to the artwork for the album cover.
“I was kind of hoping we'd be able to hit 100 this year,” Babcock said. “That was actually one of my goals.”
Song list
"Beatitudes" – Silas Russell, Noah Bjorkman, Blake Breitler
"Give It All To You" – Melody Henry
"Thanksgiving" – Hayden Wayne Conway, Melody Henry, Shailen Stewart
"Sweeter Than Wine" – Shailen Stewart
"Like The Deer" – Shailen Stewart, Noah Bjorkman, Jonathan Raingruber, Grant Baker
"See You Soon" – Melody Henry, Noah Bjorkman, Zach Johnson.
GCU News senior writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at Mark.Gonzales@gcu.edu
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