on the king's road i'm bound.

i love mixing. i really do.

like photography, it's an artful expression. mixing brings me much joy. also, i do it well. this is not a brag. this is a gift and i'm walking within it. this service is in line with Him and it is one of His many wills for me. how does one know? line it up with the fruit it bears... and this is how you will know. i am so thankful for this gift. i am so thankful for the curiosity in me that led me to this act of worship.

i need to acknowledge something else here too, the men: the professionally trained sound engineer who mentored me and the two producers/worship leaders who encouraged me during my vineyard days. ultimately, thank you to all the men involved, past and present that took me seriously when i expressed this interest. you didn't laugh. you didn't doubt. you didn't judge. you approached me. you taught me. you were patient with me. you believed in me. you asked my opinion and you valued what i had to offer. you never once referenced my sex in this male-dominated area. you never once made me feel inadequate. like i was a little girl trying to play amongst the big boys.

i will never forget that. and i don't know if you realised, and it's only recently i've realised this...but it was this style of teaching that encouraged me to keep going. and now i'm mixing in the country i live in, england and for my church community. what a privilege.

i was your equal and you were keen to share your knowledge, your experience. you took your time to help me along the technical and what i gained was not only an understanding, but also a listening ear and a watchful eye. worship with a kingdom perspective.

worship is a team effort towards all things Him. satan knows this and he wants a divide. one of the best things you can do as a sound person is to keep the servant mentality, to pray for the musicians, to pray for His will for sunday mornings and for His hand to bless everything from His people to the pa system.  it's not about you and your massive soundboard or disagreeing with a musician over a technical issue. it's about encouragement, laughter, and demonstrating His love. and, i often find myself praying for unity and for the Holy Spirit to come join us.

my personal view on mixing for worship is that the music should be aiding, not distracting. this is where your listening ear and sensitivities come into play and this is one of my favourite bits. it's about mixing the music in such a style which would make it easy for a person to enter into His presence. you need a melody and clear vocals to lead. you need the dynamic of electric and keys and harmony. you need the anchor of kick and bass. you also need the music to sit slightly above the drums and not the other way around. and, it's easier said than done. lastly, people in the audience need to hear themselves singing His praise. this helps to keep us connected.

there is a definite technical aspect involved with mixing. and, it is important to capture quality sounds in order to get to a place where one can mix well. this is where i could use more training, however in the meantime He has provided people to serve that gap and i am so thankful for those people in my church. mixing is not about the need to have the greatest and latest of equipment. it's what you do, and are able to do with what you have, or with what He's given you. it is much more organic and tangible than you may think and it's beautiful.