Phil Wickham

What makes Phil Wickham such a singular talent in contemporary praise & worship is his ability to reaffirm the genre’s mission while at the same time transcending it. This is a big reason the singer and worship leader blew up with the release of his third album, 2007’s Cannons. Drawing inspiration from fantasy author and theologian C. S. Lewis, the music comes packed with precisely the kind of emotionally concise poetry required of church service sing-alongs. Yet it also doubles as a set of catchy alt-rock—as melodic as it is thought-provoking—that Christians can meditate upon while engaged in their daily activities. This emphasis on versatility reflects the influence of the like-minded Chris Tomlin; both are blessed with gorgeously soaring voices as well as a genius for impeccable songcraft. Christian music is a family affair for Wickham. Born in San Diego in 1984, he was raised by supportive parents, John and Lisa Wickham, who are excellent musicians themselves, having performed in the pioneering Jesus-movement band Parable. One lesson Wickham learned from them was the importance of creating new musical expressions for faith’s timeless messages. No better example exists than the 2013 single “This Is Amazing Grace.” One of the decade’s most popular anthems, with countless churches incorporating it into their repertoires, its novel use of EDM-influenced synthesizers and effects rippled throughout the praise & worship world, helping to pave the way for Christian electronic dance music (CEDM). Wickham, who rebounded from major surgery on his vocal cords in 2016, continued to experiment with electronic-music textures on 2018’s Living Hope, once again proving that while his faith in Jesus Christ is perennial, his musical outlook always pushes forward.