We had a fantastic talk with Jonsal from Elevation Worship about their new album, Lion.
Interview Transcript
Jonsal Barrientes 0:10
So we just released our brand new record lion. And so it’s something that Pastor Steven, Chris, some of the team have been working on for the last, honestly, like year and a half, I feel like some of the songs go back from when they started writing. And so yeah, we just have, we broke that up into two nights of worship. And we were able to kind of get with our church back in one room together and just go for it with just the brand new songs, introducing some of the new songs that we did on the record. And then also, just spending some time together, just fostering what we love, a culture of worship, culture of God’s presence. And so, yeah, we’re really pumped on that. So that’s a lot of work. Our churches that too, since just released, but they’ve been living with some of these phones for a time. So yeah, we have to celebrate with just the rest of our community who hasn’t been a part.
Ryan Loche 1:07
Sure. I guess that that was my question to like, kind of speak to how What’s been the process of developing the songs? I’m assuming it’s all been kind of in the midst of quarantine, quarantine kind of quarantine, like, what’s it been like?
Jonsal Barrientes 1:21
So, I mean, the team that’s been writing, we’ve had, you know, Brandon, come and help, we’ve had Pat who’s been involved in some of the writing. And so they’ve just kind of gotten together and worked on a few of these songs, and have just gotten to this point where, hey, this is it may feel like a big wide range of what the music in one collection feels like. But yeah, I mean, that’s just been a little bit of the process, even just getting behind the theme of this, which is, you know, Lion and kind of even the artwork, you know, lamb, it’s, I feel like a beautiful picture of what this album sonically kind of takes you through, it’s a little bit of that juxtaposition. And we’re just kind of tried to look through the lens of, Hey, God can meet us in both spaces. And he looks different. And he, you know, is the character of who he is can kind of be represented through some of this style of music. So that’s great. Yeah, that’s been a lot of the process getting to this point with that record.
Chris Bellamy 2:27
What venue Did you record it in?
Jonsal Barrientes 2:30
So we are here in Charlotte, North Carolina, and we met at our broadcast location. So we’re over at Valentine. And we recorded both, both of those nights there.
Chris Bellamy 2:44
It’s hard to I was actually at you’re the one recording when you guys did the arena, or Charlotte? Hornets play? Is it Hornets? Yeah.
Jonsal Barrientes 2:53
It’s called spectrum now, I think it was. I forget the name before. But yeah, that we we did two recordings there.
Chris Bellamy 3:03
Yeah, that was an awesome. So you guys, you guys are just recording in in your actual, like, your own venue. Now.
Jonsal Barrientes 3:14
Pretty much. So where we’re set up to where we’re able to, you know, even at church and at home, we’re kind of sending a broadcast out to our online community. And so audio wise, were set up to kind of capture any weekend or and that’s kind of some of what like, the blessing look like, you know, we were announcing that we introduced that on a weekend at church. And then they ended up deciding, you know, this, this probably, you know, should go out and we just need to release what God did in that moment. And that weekend, so same with this project. We, you know, we’ll record in house and we do everything here at the church.
Chris Bellamy 3:55
Do you do like get your guests to come in all at the same time? Or is it different? Are they like, spaced out?
Jonsal Barrientes 4:04
Yeah, so we’re set up right now where we’ve had, you know, we did the collaboration album with NAB city. And so that was bringing everyone in for a week, riding together, workshopping together. And then right now currently, we’re just with churches, like bringing some friends over through the weekends and having them you know, whether they’ve written with Pastor Steven and Chris, or the introduce, you know, some of the songs that had been maybe worked on in the year prior. And so it just depends on where we are. But, you know, we’re, we’re kind of back in the flow of like, weekends and having our friends come and help us co lead at the church. Yeah.
Chris Bellamy 4:45
How could like a local church, like, do a smaller scale of that? Like, you know, like, it seems like you guys are very, like, open with who comes in and out, you know, like collaborating and see that Like level, like, how could How could that translate?
Jonsal Barrientes 5:07
Yeah, I honestly feel like it if it’s serving the vision of your house, and I would really encourage almost that be the priority. And not just the goal of like collaboration and doing music in a new way that might shift some of the expectation of your context in church. But I think if if leadership is open to that, and leadership is open to, hey, this may serve our community and our people really well, to bring guests in, or maybe to bring in another style and another genre. And that could shake up some of the culture. And I feel like that’s the healthiest place to kind of be within collaboration. And so what we’ve seen is, you know, with just some of our friends who are leading, there’s some really strong anointing a really powerful songs that are really like hitting home. And so that has been important to allow open up the space for that to happen, and allow God to kind of come in and speak maybe in a new way through some of these moments. And so I would just encourage, you know, if that if that’s gonna serve your your church, well, having a having a chat and saying, Hey, I’d love to partner with you know, what you’re doing, or how you’re growing or what you know, your team is winning at, and maybe getting that infuse in your another, another local context.
Ryan Loche 6:31
I’d love to pick your brain a little bit you talk about, like the online community. And I’m just like, really fascinated with, like, worship leadership, but then people like joining worship, like when we’re leading people in worship online, I’d love to kind of just hear like, are you thinking about that, while you’re leading, knowing that there’s, you know, so many people streaming in, maybe just speak a little bit to that.
Jonsal Barrientes 6:55
Yeah, you know, obviously, as this is probably been chatted about so many times, but when 2020 hit it cause everything to kind of changed. And I feel like everybody has their version story of that. But what I’m so thankful for, in our church here is, you know, Pastor Steven, years ago was, you know, casting that we set almost an expectation for ourselves to make sure that the broadcast was at a level of excellence, and that we could serve people who are only watching from outside of Charlotte. And so little did we know, a few years later, that would turn into all and the only way we could serve our people. And so, to go from 20 campuses to just strictly online was a big shift. And I think that not it not only taught us the importance of serving those that you know, are on the other side of the screen, but it reinforced a lot of the heart behind that as well. And so hearing stories, people sending in just testimonies of what that impact has been, or what a song, how it’s hitting and how it’s administered. And, and so I love to try and always remind my team and just, you know, whenever I’m visiting at a campus and say, Hey, you may never understand or never imagine, like someone across the globe, but they need what we’re doing. And so to keep them in mind, and to keep the spirit, just a conversation with the Holy Spirit to say, hey, Lord, even though it’s technology, even though, I get that there’s a performance aspect with a camera, There literally is someone’s life on the other end that needs this song. And they need us to prepare the way that we do, and they need us to, to be clear about our message. And so that’s been a big, big cultural shift. But I feel like it’s reinforced in the best way. And so we care a lot about our global audience right now.
Ryan Loche 8:51
Yeah. Do you do you feel like you guys have shifted like, you guys have obviously been trendsetters for this for a long time? Do you guys feel like there’s an even bigger emphasis online online now? Or has it kind of settled back into the campuses plus online? Or like, what’s that tension like for you guys?
Jonsal Barrientes 9:08
Yeah, with the amount that is grown, and our church community online in the presence online, is, it’s been a big focus. And so to see, we’ll need, you know, it has to be we have to rise to that and also serve them in that sense and capacity. And so we’ve put a lot of our staff and a lot of our team and resources towards what the online experience looks like. And so it’s it’s two in the same, you know, it’s not just about the local room anymore, it’s about serving someone in their living room. And so we, you know, we’re trying to balance at the same time, hey, we have nine campuses here, even in Charlotte and so getting people back plugged into their groups plugged into serving is a big value of ours. But to answer that question, like we for sure, put a lot of focus in on one Experience.
Chris Bellamy 10:03
Something, I’ve actually been wanting to talk to you guys, you and your wife, for a while we have, we have a lot of mutual friends. So I know, like kind of your story, but I would love to hear because I at my home church, my wife is on staff with me. And so I would love to hear just like how you like navigate being on staff and and ministering alongside your wife, you know? Yeah, a lot of people do that. And it’s yeah, it’s an interesting dynamic.
Jonsal Barrientes 10:37
It is the greatest blessing that I never knew to expect. And so the fact that, you know, our story is interesting, because we met here at the church, I moved from San Antonio to be a part of elevation through the apprenticeship. And so in that she was almost, you know, a mentor to me just getting involved in into the church. And so little did I know, Okay, God, you had a clear plan of us to be together. And so the fact that we get to serve now is, is, like I said, one of the biggest blessings I never knew, I could experience. And so what I do love about our content, specifically is we’ve in seasons led together and I, what I loved about almost the craziness of 2020 is like more than ever, we were leading side by side than we had in the last few years, and so on, on one end, to see a unique dynamic of us singing songs and ministering together, it’s like, we can kind of just gauge each other’s like direction. And we can sense like, Oh, I’m supporting you where I need to, I’m stepping in where I need to, on that end. And then in seasons, we’ve led campuses and on our own. And so getting on the platform, as leaders and individuals, I think is a really important value for us as well, because God has gifted us with our own strengths and with our own style and our own leadership. And so balancing that has been fun. Right now, we’re kind of doing half and half throughout the month. And so we’ll lead together twice a month, and then we’ll lead individually because we’re supporting, we’re in a support role within our church as as far as our worship department. So that’s been good, I think there is, there is so much blessing and honoring each other, even on a platform like that. It’s a different, it’s a different way to show love. And it’s a different way to lead together. It’s like bringing that I think God honors as well. And so yeah, it’s been it’s been a wild journey in our five years so far.
Chris Bellamy 12:42
You guys talk about it at home, or you do like, decide to like not talk about it at home.
Jonsal Barrientes 12:49
We definitely bring it home, that’s the balance I’m talking about. It’s like, hey, you know, if I feel like I didn’t do well, or if I feel like I messed something up, you know, I don’t feel like a pressure. But I think being able to just express that, like, hey, this wasn’t my best, or I feel bummed out, getting to be encouraged in real time feeling something together is helpful. But too much of that is going to be way too much. So, you know, trying to balance that has has been our journey as well.
Ryan Loche 13:18
I’d Love to hear, love to hear just your story a little bit like coming from Texas and getting involved. Like, I’m sure there’s some massive stuff for you know, young worship leaders to glean from that. So could you just tell us like, how, how’d you get into all this?
Jonsal Barrientes 13:34
So I grew up born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, my, my grandfather was a pastor of a small, Independent Baptist, Spanish church, and I don’t speak Spanish. So this is the extreme that I was coming from. I understand it, I was able to pick it up over the year, the 14 years have been at the church but um, you know, I, my family’s been musical in some sense and asked like, they’ve sung together and my brothers play guitar and piano and so it’s definitely in the blood. And so I’ve always kind of been exposed to music, but through that I felt like God calling my life and not in a that’s such a weird phrase to me, but just in a way where it’s like obvious, hey, you have something in you that I would love for you to use. Let’s see what that looks like. And so through the years, I felt like okay, like I’m gonna start leading worship in youth group and kind of that story of getting my reps and starting to lead in that context. But 22 I applied for the worship apprenticeship here at elevation which changed my life in the sense of I had no experience of kind of a bigger platform or musical excellence and just kind of arranging and leading teams at that level. So I felt like it really helped just where it wasn’t before. And some, just the process on came on staff at elevation. And so eight and a half years later, here I am. And so it’s been a crazy journey of growth in in the best way. Like, you know, we care so much about standards, because we want to serve people so well. And so in that it’s been a healthy challenge to say, Hey, your musicality has grown from year to year, your, your skill, like as a vocalist has grown your awareness of how to gauge and lead a congregation has that changed. And so I’ve felt that year after year. And I still feel that same attitude like I want to continue to grow in the context that I’m serving.
Ryan Loche 15:49
Yeah. What kind of growth engines have you used for like musicality, your leadership? Like, I’d love to hear like, what do you guys do? How do you guys make sure you’re actually growing? musically? Yeah, go to Resources?
Jonsal Barrientes 16:02
Yeah, well, you know, the, the awesome aspect of a larger team is we have our music directors that are on staff. And so they really help kind of set the standard for, when music is written when parts are kind of established. That’s what we do. And so just even that level of accountability, and that level of just like, oh, this is where I need to kind of work towards, within my tone. And so we kind of challenge our team with a lot of that. And then we have the we have, we use them as resources and tools to kind of coach and mentor. So same with our worship leaders. It’s like, we’re, we’re so blessed to have a vocal Director here at the church. And so even that, like, one on one vocal lessons, and it’s a crazy blessing to be able to, to offer that to even our volunteers and those that are wanting to learn to get better within our church.
Ryan Loche 17:02
So yeah, what, what’s your week to week look like? Like, I’m sure people would love to hear like, what does it look like to work in elevation? Yeah,
Jonsal Barrientes 17:11
it’s very different for so many of us, but my wife and I serve, as you know, some of the pastors and PAs, we handle some of the pastoral care within our worship department. So we’re developers and coaches for our staff. And then, you know, that trickles down into like, our contract worship leaders, our volunteers, band members, when we’re out just visiting different locations. And so that’s a certain part of the week, you know, spending times with one on ones and just checking in helping coach and navigate just platform development. And the other side is, you know, we’re involved with elevation worship. And so that could look like, you know, one offs or some of the Torian or some of the recording and being involved on projects on that side of it. So that’s, that’s a little bit of my week to week, just as we are.
Chris Bellamy 18:23
What mic do you prefer, and like, what endears you prefer and what is your in-ear mix? Like, what do you like in your mix?
Jonsal Barrientes 18:34
Alright, let me start with the in-ear situation, I have had some 60 folders that I cracked my right ear. And I’ve been rocking those for about a year. So I put a little gaff tape, put a little clear nail polish hold it together. I’ve I’ve kind of always just been like them super minimal, just three driver 64 That’s kind of my go to. I’ve replaced them like one time but to build a mix Super Bass for key reference. That’s where I live ton of bass ton of actual keys, my vocal and then you know, I really love like a, what is it? Like Front of House type of monitor mix, which is pretty complicated. But if I’m not being complicated, I’m like, Just give me bass keys, my vocal click, and I’ll just make it work. It’s it’s interesting, because we’ll go from like a stereo mix at the broadcast to, you know, a mono mix at just different locations or depending on where we’re at. And so even that I’ve kind of like adjusted some of the expectation of I just I’m going to keep it super minimal but from a mic standpoint, that’s that’s a great question. I I don’t even know I wouldn’t even be be able to answer. We’re kind of on the road. They have a set For all of us and so but I can’t remember the name of it right now.
Chris Bellamy 20:08
How about in the studio Do you are you like, into like studio mics or anything or just whatever’s in front of you?
Jonsal Barrientes 20:14
Whatever’s in front of me, honestly. I’m like, Hey, this is giving me the vibe and the tone and helping with that. I’m good.
Chris Bellamy 20:24
So what’s your what’s your best embarrassing story as far as like something just going wrong on stage?
Jonsal Barrientes 20:34
One of my favorites would be a I don’t even remember the year but we were doing a Joyce Meyer one off, leading for one of her conferences, and I’m singing won’t stop now. You know, kind of enjoying and getting into the song that maybe the chorus read the course. Lo and behold, our drummers drum shield completely fell over.
Chris Bellamy 21:00
That’s the one that’s online. Right the video. And we’ve seen this everywhere?
Jonsal Barrientes 21:06
That is it. I think the most embarrassing thing is the fact that I had no clue other than Everyone’s looking at me in that moment. like, Yo, did you just see what happened? So finally, like, I’m like, oh, okay, this is what’s going on. And so the fact that he kept time and, you know, it was the PERT that crash landed so perfectly was is probably one of the most embarrassing things. I’m oblivious to it. I was like, I need to learn a lesson from this. Like, take better note what’s happening behind me in front of me. So that’s a good one. I love that story. We don’t like that.
Chris Bellamy 21:44
Watch that and see, look for your facial expression.
Jonsal Barrientes 21:47
Yeah, that in the blonde hair alone is probably equally embarrassing. So got the bus? Blonde.
Ryan Loche 22:01
What advice would you have for? I mean, I’m sure there’s so many people that want to follow your path, you know, maybe not? Well, I mean, some of them, I’m sure we’d love to go to elevation to like, follow your path to like be a worship leader. What advice do you have for that? You know, 18 year old getting their reps in and youth ministry, they want to go into full time worship pastoring? Like, what what would you tell them?
Jonsal Barrientes 22:23
This is an important question that I feel like needs to be talked about so much more, I would tell my 22 year old self, again, my 18 year old self like it is worth you falling in love with Jesus. And that is not an over spiritual thing. You’re not going to be able to serve and help people without you being okay. And so we all come in with baggage we all come in with just our our stuff that we deal with. And so I just think that you can’t skip from point A at 18 years old to your a 45 year old with the experience and wisdom and biblical knowledge and pastoral all everything in skill. Like you have to like start at that ground level, just making the priority the thing and so it’s not about what you can accomplish. It’s not about the record that you produce. It’s not about the songs. It’s not about the highest level of execution, if you don’t have the substance. And so I I would absolutely say like, it’s not a cliche, it’s worth it. Like you won’t be able to minister without just you being okay first and without your love for Jesus being the most evident thing. And so everything flows from there, the oil flows from there, the performance flows from there, you being used is kind of just the overflow. And I used to think those words were very like, Oh, they’re going over my head feels. And I’m starting to see now being, you know, serving a few years like no, that matters, that really does matter. So that’s what I would encourage anyone who’s in that spot.
Ryan Loche 24:12
Yeah. What would you define like a worship pastor? Like, what does that mean for you? Yeah,
Jonsal Barrientes 24:19
we’re shepherds. And at the same time, we’re sheep. And so coming to terms with Hey, like, I know where I’m at, I know what my testimony might be. Here is an example of how I can kind of give that an offer to God. And he’s like turn something around right so we start there, but a worship pastor cares for those that are entrusted to them. But that comes with you know, hey, I have a your team may have desires to grow your team may have desires to serve and like creating a safe space. Is the thing challenging when There needs to be some challenging. And then uplifts are all the things and qualities that I feel like a worship pastor should operate in. And so yeah, that’s that. Like, again, keeping the priority of Jesus Christ, in a world where it can just so be about performance is what I feel. worship pastors, you know, should operate in. And that’s how I would define it.
Ryan Loche 25:27
Awesome, do you have any, like books or anything like that, that, like really impacted you? That would be good for people to check out?
Jonsal Barrientes 25:35
Um, I don’t have that off the top of my head. I’ve been the ruthless elimination of hurry. Have you all read that? Yeah, it’s a great book. I think that’s that’s been a recent one that’s helped me to slow down. Again, to prioritize the quiet in the Sabbath and making sure that it’s not a it’s not just go go go perform, perform, perform, execute, like, slowing down with an understanding that that’s okay. is great. And so that’s, that’s probably one I would recommend. A good one, right.
Chris Bellamy 26:15
All right, this complete different subject, like off the wall, but are you aware of like people talking about how stylish you are?
Jonsal Barrientes 26:29
No, but that’s a compliment.
Chris Bellamy 26:31
Okay, because I saw a thread on some worship forum. And somebody said, This guy is so far ahead of style. You can’t even tell if he’s in style or not. Like, like, and then and there was a whole thread about like, how like you would be like, so far ahead that like, two years later, people would start be wearing, like, the things you’re wearing.
Jonsal Barrientes 26:57
Funny, funny thing about that, I just turned 30 This past year, but look, let me show you this. Look at these dad’s shoes right here. Okay, that’s not trial is a balance. That’s full on. Admiral, I’m not a dad. So I don’t know. That’s a compliment. But I love that. That’s hilarious. I don’t know that I would call myself fashion forward like that. But it’ll be I’m trying to decide if I’m like a lawn dad mode. And I’m asking Jenna all the time. So and we’ve gotten to the point in our marriage where we’re matching every day so that’s the fun the fun thing.
Chris Bellamy 27:33
Are you into it or you just kind of let it happen.
Jonsal Barrientes 27:42
I do love fashion I do love like just street wear brands but I don’t know it’s it gets a bit pricey so we I can try my best with what I’m inspired. Yeah, so yeah, I do I mean I do I’m a if I would kind of define my style would be streetstyle so I love like rude fear of God anything like New York la those styles of kind of the extremes of fashion.
Ryan Loche 28:12
Two years from now we’ll look back now the new balance on everybody will be on stage with a balance. Like we’ll have record of
Chris Bellamy 28:28
what will be the 90s that vibe so maybe we can call it.