Matt Redman releases a brand-new Christmas EP titled “In Excelsis,” his first seasonal project since 2016. Noticing that Christmas worship has tended to lean heavily toward classic heritage songs, he introduces two originals on this new project.
“Matthew 13:52 talks about, ‘someone who brings out new and old treasures from the storeroom,'” Redman shared. “I truly love Christmas carols, but I also love to challenge myself and others to brings some newly created songs of worship around the Christmas season… this project is an attempt at that.”
The three-song EP is marked by collaborative creativity, featuring Jon Guerra and Leonard Jarman as well as various musical contributions on intricate backing vocal arrangements, brass and string accompaniments, and the inclusion of a vocoder.
“In Excelsis” is an attempt to invite people into mystery. As Redman explained, “this is no ordinary story – that the Creator entered into His world, at great cost, for the sake of love.” With this project, he is telling the Christmas story through songs imprinted with beauty, resisting a sense of familiarity by bringing people into wonder.
Listen to “In Excelsis” on all streaming platforms here