Exclusive Andy Hunter Interview

August 2005

It was refreshing to talk to club DJ/musician/worship leader Andy Hunter on 17th August, 2005. Andy has recently had huge success (“Amazing” became a crossover hit, while tracks such as “Go” and “Wonders of You” gained major placements in film and TV, including The Matrix: Reloaded (trailer), The Italian Job, ABC’s hit “Alias”, plus video games, including “The Matrix” and “Black Hawk Down”). Yet in talking to him, he sounded down to earth and humble, and he obviously hasn’t lost his focus. What is that focus? You’ll have to read on to find out…

Your first album, Exodus, was a full-length CD, but your latest, Life, is billed as an EP. Why a shorter album this time round?

It was the label’s decision to try and reach out to a wider audience. The price of an EP is cheaper, and maybe people who haven’t heard of me would be more likely to part with their cash. Exodus was a definite project and certainly an album. But on Life, I think the 6 tracks convey the message that I wanted them to.

Who would you say are your influences, both musically and spiritually?

Musically, it’s very eclectic. Electronica acts like Chicane and Leftield. And bands like Coldplay and Keen. Spiritually I look to the leaders of NGM (New Generation Ministries) and my leaders at my church in Swansea.

Do you see what you do as art or ministry, or can you do both at the same time?

I think both can be the same thing. Ministry is a term that that the church puts on things. I am a DJ and a producer and a worship leader and an evangelist, and they all go hand in hand. I want to live my life for God and for me that’s ministry.

I see you still lead worship at your local church in Wales. Do you see your DJ-ing and albums as worship too, and what is worship anyway?

For me, worship is about a lifestyle. I’d heard that in many seminars and struggled with it for a time. But then I read Song of Songs in the Bible. Basically, it is about this love relationship between a man and a woman, and in that relationship there’s a natural worship that takes place. The more we fall in love with Jesus, the more we have that love relationship. When you’re not spending time with Jesus you miss it. I guess I try and live my life to fall more in love with Jesus all the time. That spills out into my music in a holistic way, and as an artist I can express myself in my music.

I noticed in the booklet for the Exodus CD that you have included Bible references for all the tracks. What part does the Bible play in your life and work?

It’s a great book of inspiration. On Life there’s a track “To Life, To Love”, which came from Song of Songs. The man is going to the garden with his lover, going to toast life and toast love. He’s happy. It’s a celebration. Let’s raise our glasses and toast life that God’s given us. I’m trying to capture that scripture in my music. It’s in all my music, what I feel God and the scriptures are saying to me personally.

Where can our readers see you in the coming months?

Go to www.andyhunter.com and click on the Live page. I’m going out on tour in October and November, around the UK and Ireland. The tour’s called Hope and Glory and I’ll be with the band, Steve. It’s really a worship tour.

Is there anything else you would like to say?

Check out the music, and go for God!

Thank you very much for talking to us!