Former Delirious? frontman Martin Smith will be releasing his first full-length solo album on 23 April.
God's Great Dance Floor,Step 01 is a 12-song collection calling out to prodigals and the faithful alike to receive God's grace.
The invitation to the prodigals is embodied in the pop track "Back to the Start", co-written by Martin and 2013 Grammy winner Jonas Myrin ("10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)").
"It's a prodigal song about finding my way back to everything that matters most; finding God in it all again," Martin says.
The modern rock anthem "Fire Never Sleeps" was the opener to the recent critically acclaimed Jesus Culture With Martin Smith:Live From New York album.
Martin also co-wrote four of the songs on God's Great Dancefloor with Chris Tomlin, including "Waiting Here For You" about the fragility of humanity and how waiting is perhaps the most difficult act of worship.
From a youngster in his early 20s to a married father of six, Delirious? spanned a significant chapter of his life.
When the band decided to call it a day, Martin and his wife Anna made a fresh start and moved the family to Brighton, where Martin joined Matt Redman in worship ministry at St Peter's, a Holy Trinity Brompton church plant.
"When you enter a transition period, there's a lot of uncertainty," Martin admits.
"You're letting go of a lot of things, bit by bit—the microphone, your finances, even some sense of your identity—but as you find yourself more dependent on God, you begin to really experience his kindness. You see him show up in incredible ways, you see his provision, discover new opportunities and favour.
"Things you thought were lost start to reappear. Three years on, God has given me some new things to say, and I'm so incredibly grateful."
These new things have found expression in his latest studio project, written in part with young worship leaders and musicians from St Peter's.
Passing on all the wisdom and experience he has accumulated over his decades in music ministry is a big thing for him now.
"I see my role as different now," he says. "I want to invest in the next generation coming through, reminding everyone of what it really is to worship with our lives, serving, keeping your hands clean—I feel the responsibility of those things more and more."
Delirious? were one of the founders of the modern worship movement, giving the global church songs like "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" and "Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?".
Embracing this latest chapter of life and ministry, Martin's mind is on what it's always been on - keeping his heart right before God and sharing His love and goodness with people everywhere.
"I don't think God is worried about the platform he's given me in the past," he says.
"He's worried most about my heart. If that's in a good place, he'll use it... at church, in stadiums, wherever he will.
"All you want to do is be someone of influence, but it doesn't have to be on a global stage. It never did. Having said that, it's part of my life, to have that voice.
"And my prayer is that God will use this new music to remind people of his grace, to remind them of his heart for the poor and broken and of his Kingdom coming on Earth."
