Phil Joel is the former bassist for Newsboys, but for those who are wondering where he is now, we have the answers. He’s been right here in Franklin for the last 21 years and he has a new project called Zealand Worship. We sat down with Phil to learn more about Zealand Worship, family life in Franklin, and what it is like working with his wife on a daily basis.
Can you tell us how Zealand Worship came together?
Well, since leaving Newsboys, I’ve found myself in all kinds of places and situations singing and sharing – it’s been really wild and a heap of fun. Consistently, one of my favorite situations has been leading worship for youth conferences and camps. Leading worship for teenagers, especially the way we do it which is kinda loud and energetic, has actually reminded why I got into Christian music in the first place. The purity and simplicity of playing music in a band with guys who share the passion for what is being communicated is amazing, and getting to see the lights come on for kids who have never experienced God in that context before is super fun. Anyway, the band grew out of these opportunities and we began to write specifically for that purpose. Before we knew it, we were Zealand Worship.
Why the name Zealand Worship?
Originally I’m from New Zealand, the land of the Hobbits. But as fun and as beautiful as my homeland is it’s not the reason for the band name. The truth is that we want to see people become ‘Zealous for the Land’, meaning we want people to get excited about the life God has for each of us – He has real life for us if we want it. Zealand’s mission is to communicate and proclaim the truth that God wants us to know Him, walk with Him and enjoy Him everyday.
As a band traveling on the road how do you manage family and career?
It’s easy to get caught in the trap of taking all the “great ministry opportunities” at the expense of family time that you’ll never get back. We decided a number of years back to only do a certain number of dates a year in order to be home consistently. We also felt that we always want our kids to be able to travel with me as well, so we home school which gives us flexibility with their schedules for travel. It also means that when I’m home, they are too, which explains why we’re often roaming the streets of downtown Franklin in the middle of a school day. It works out really well.
We hear that Zealand Worship is a family affair, how is it working as a husband and wife on a project?
You mean, how is it having your wife as your manager? The answer is that it’s pretty darn great – can’t beat working with your best friend everyday! Heather has such a pure and straightforward management style but at the same time she knows what needs to happen in order for what we are doing to work well and remain authentic. She’s the hardest working girl I know and I love everything about her and how she operates and communicates. She’s also co-written a number of the songs on the EP with me…we really love writing together. What can I say, I’m a fan, so getting to work with and create with her like this is a dream come true.
As residents of Franklin, can you tell us what makes Franklin home?
Franklin is one of America’s best keep secrets although I think the secret just might have started to leak. When Heather and I had our first date we drove out from Nashville to Franklin and we instantly fell in love with it. It immediately felt like home and we both knew that this was where we were going to put down our roots someday. After 21 years, Franklin has made an indelible mark on our hearts. It’s a really special place. Quite seriously, every time I drive home from the airport after a weekend out somewhere and I get back to Franklin, I feel a peace come over me and I thank the Lord for the privilege of living in such a wonderful place.
Thanks so much to Phil Joel for taking time out to answer our questions. Visit the Zealand Worship website for more information about tour dates and new music.
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