Young and Free, a new band with a new style of music from Hillsong has been number one on Billboard Magazine’s “Hot AC (Adult Contemporary)” chart for the last three weeks.

That doesn’t mean that the Hillsong group has simply sold a lot of downloads, but that Young And Free’s tracks have been the most played on US Adult Contemporary radio stations. That’s secular radio—this chart success shows that this new music style has broken out of the Christian radio slot. And Billboard’s AC chart reflects what is happening on cutting edge youth radio stations.

Young and Free is a radical shift in the sound of Hillsong music. It is aimed much younger. Pressed to provide a description, manager of Hillsong Music Tim Whincop said “It’s a mix of pop, electro pop and dance… is the closest to the genre.”

But it’s church music too. The strong rhythm, and electronics back a lyric designed to be heard and sung by a crowd. On paper it might seem an odd combination, but having heard it played live, it works.”It’s the latest version of General William Booth (the Salvation Army founder) saying “Why should the Devil have all the best tunes?””

“Just like other Hillsong music, the focus is on pointing people to Jesus,” Whincop told Eternity.

Here is a sample of how they do that:

SINKING DEEP

Words and Music by Joel Davies & Aodhan King

VERSE 1:

Standing here in Your presence
In a grace so relentless
I am won
By perfect love
Wrapped within the arms of heaven
In a peace that lasts forever
Sinking deep
In mercy’s sea

CHORUS:

I’m wide awake
Drawing close
Stirred by grace
All my heart is Yours
All fear removed
I breathe You in
I lean into
Your love

VERSE 2:

When I’m lost You pursue me
Lift my head to see Your glory
Lord of all
So beautiful
Here in You I find shelter
Captivated by the splendour
Of Your face
My secret place

BRIDGE:

Your love so deep
Is washing over me
Your face is all I seek
You are my everything
Jesus Christ
You are my one desire
Lord hear my only cry
To know You all my life

The singles  ‘Alive’ and ‘Back To Life’, have kept Young & Free at the top of TRAA/TCM chart in Australia too for 18 weeks.

“Our first album is a message and a movement. Our songs are the expression of our love for Jesus Christ straight out of the heart of our Youth Ministry here at Hillsong Church,” youth pastor Laura Toggs explains.

She said they were genuinely humbled by the success and grateful to everyone who has supported the new team.

“We really wanted to make sure that we captured the sound of our current youth generation. The best part about this is that these songs seem to have transcended age, culture, language and even denominational boundaries.

“The feedback about ‘Alive’ is that it enables people to celebrate life and freedom that can only be found through faith in Jesus Christ”.