Have you seen the preview for our new sermon series, The Seven? That song in the background is kinda catchy, no? That is an original recording by our very own Dustin Kensrue. Here he explains how the song came about.
A little while ago, the creative team was putting together the trailer for the new Seven sermon series, much of which was filmed in Turkey. Some of the guys had the idea to mix the somewhat “Eastern” vibe of the background instrumental they had made for the clip with an old blues song called “John the Revelator.” They threw it out to a couple of the worship directors asking for feedback. I threw off a couple ideas about how it could work, and they responded with, “That sounds great! When can you record it?” That’ll teach me to open my mouth.
I told them I didn’t have the time or recording skill to do it well, so I sent them a demo of me recording it into my laptop’s built-in microphone, just to show them what I was thinking. Before I knew it, they’d started to edit the video to the demo and were threatening to use the recording as it was. At that point I had no choice but to actually give it a go and do a proper recording. And thus began the new and revolutionary genre now known as “Eastern blues” . . . or not.
The best part was recording all the response vocals in the office. I was in a room just wailing in and out of key trying to sound like different imaginary people so it didn’t sound like my own voice layered 20 times. I’m sure it sounded like I was doing some elaborate exorcism to anyone outside.
In the end, I do think it sounds pretty cool. I’m also excited for the Seven series starting soon, and hope you’ll be joining us.
Well who’s that writin’?
John the Revelator
Who’s that writin’?
John the Revelator
Who’s that writin’?
John the Revelator
A book of the seven seals
Tell me what’s John writin’?
Ask the Revelator
What’s John writin’?
Ask the Revelator
What’s John writin’?
Ask the Revelator
A book of the seven seals
Download Dustin’s rendition of “John the Revelator” by saving the link below on your computer.
Dustin Kensrue is the worship leader and a deacon at Mars Hill Orange County.
Below, Blind Willie Johnson sings the original “John the Revelator” back in 1930.
