Hillsong UNITED — history and songs

History and Sound

Hillsong UNITED grew out of Hillsong’s youth ministry in Australia.

The band’s turning point was the 2013 album “Zion.” It featured “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail),” with Taya on vocals, while the image of stepping onto the water alludes to the Gospel account of Peter. The studio and live versions are interesting to compare for the way the music gradually builds. Another example of this sound is “So Will I (100 Billion X)” from the album “Wonder.”

Albums and Recordings

The band’s early recordings are noticeably more guitar-driven than the later “Zion.” For example, “Hosanna” from the album “All of the Above” gradually grows from a quiet opening into a full-group chorus, while on “Zion,” the same transitions are often supported by electronic layers. On “Empires,” the song “Touch the Sky” offers another version of this form: Taya’s voice remains at the center even as the arrangement becomes denser. This makes it easier to hear how the band changed its sound while preserving the structure of worship songs.