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Phil Robbins
Phil Robbins grew up on the Eastside of Mt. Clemens, about 40 minutes from Detroit. His pursuit of music started with piano lessons at the age of 6, learning a classical style. Between the Mt. Clemens Church of God and the Maranatha Church of God in Warren (where his grandparents attended), Phil grew up in church.
He would bellow out the songs that the choirs would sing and enjoyed singing special solos. Everything having to do with music was of interest to Phil. Throughout school he enjoyed playing various instruments in the school symphony orchestra, along with making time for other interests, like SPORTS! They were the two loves in Phil’s life throughout his teen years.
Later, when he was established in his career, he began a singing group with friends that he met at the Church of God Youth Camp. Together they toured the state and nation singing God’s love to anyone that would take the time to listen. They made several contacts with musicians and Phil decided to learn the art of Audio Engineering. With this new knowledge he made several recordings for himself and his friends from the group Dunamis Praise, this is a practice they still do to this day.
While in Dunamis Praise, Phil felt a calling on his life to lead praise and worship corporately in a church congregation. “A calling is not something that goes away,” said Phil, when asked how long he planned on leading worship. “I guess I’ll continue until God tells me to stop!”
That’s where Phil has been for the past several years. Of course there’s been ups and downs, breaks and changing churches, but Phil continues to do what the Lord called him to do those several years ago. His music is an extension of his leading in his local church. “I pray that the whole world is singing my songs in the future,” says Phil. “My dream would be to visit a church, completely unknown and hear the worship leader do one of my songs and never know I’m even in the audience. The music is not about me. I will and always have, played to an audience of one. If people want to worship with me, they’re more than welcome!"
WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE
You know those songs that seem to change the outcome of an entire generation? This is one of those songs! It started when our Pastor made the statement. And soon it became a mantra over the entire church, a chant that would start with him saying “With God...” and the congregations response would be shouted back to him, almost as if to say nothing’s too big for our God, we’d say, “All things are possible!” The reason I wrote a song about is to scream it to the world in art form. I don’t care what we’re going through in America, with doubts around our election and people worried about rising costs and more expenditures. No matter what we go through, WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! It makes you feel better saying it. If that was all it was, that would be enough! To the world, who doesn’t relate to our issues here in America, they face problems of their own. Hunger, money problems, disease, war, etc. At the heart of it, with God all things are possible. He can deliver them, He can bring them out and He can give you a testimony that will eat at you everyday of your life if you don’t tell others about Him. This mantra brings people closer to God and thusly, God closer to people. People have a need to place credit, much like the need of placing blame. If we all gave God His proper praise for all he’s done for us, God would get a more adequate amount of worship. Still not enough, but more! Praise the Lord! For with God, all things are possible!
ALL THE PRAISE
(FEATURING GAYLE BRANNAN)
All praises go straight to the most high God from whom are all things that are or have ever been! I wanted to incorporate some of the happiness in God that I imagine King David had when the Ark was returning to its rightful place. The King danced right out of his clothes. I always imagined the people’s faces as they looked on. What could they have been thinking? All the ceremony that is associated with royalty with their courts, and special called people, the musicians and soldiers, they all were performing their duties to the King, and there he is, foolishy hopping around with complete joy and serenity. There’s probably a certain way they’re supposed to act. He was not cooperating with ceremony. He went his own way and couldn’t control himself, and danced in happiness of the promises of God being fulfilled to him and his lineage. We get so caught up in the problems of society and it doesn’t feel like dancing time. Now think about a person that just found out their cancer is gone and they’ve gotten a new chance at life. A person that just paid off the last of their debt and saved their family from ruination. There’s ALWAYS a reason to dance. As Christians, this is one of the pivotal things the world is looking for from us. God’s promises are “Yes” and “Amen.” We’ve been taught that though we may be in darkness, joy comes in the morning. Please, please, please find your reason to dance so we can show the world God’s love in us, through us and for us!!
BE WHERE YOU ARE
This is the most personal song on the album, what I mean is, the most intimate between God and us. This song is that Saturday morning prayer closet time designed specifically to sit down and chop it up with God Himself. We get too much in our own way worried about everything in the world more than we worry about what the Lord says concerning those situations and listening for instruction. I do it all the t ime. Sometimes when I pray I find myself worrying about how to pray more than what I’m actually praying for. Have you ever read a page in a book and moments later forget what you just read? Its kind of like that. I get impressed with myself that I took the time to pray and I congratulate myself for a bit as part of my prayer. Then I go rogue, I get off the rails in a big way and its no longer about praying, but more like a to-do list of things I need to get done. Finally, I catch myself, I apologize to God that I took my mind off of Him and I get back to listening. I like to think God just sits there admiring me when I go rogue like a baby playing happily by himself and locked in to the game. I do the same thing with my grandson every chance I get. He’ll be mouthing the words to a song my wife taught him and playing with one of his cars, just as happy and content as ever. Its intoxicating to think about what is going through his head in those moments and he honestly could not care less that I’m watching him at all. Do you think God thinks about us in those ways also? I mean, because we are fearfully and wonderfully made, we have a special place in God’s heart. That makes me wonder how much we truly have in common with our God, and if we’ll get along as great as I do with my grandson. What I’ve noticed about that relationship is that he has zero fear of me. He doesn’t look side-eyed at me as though I’m gonna do something to him when he least expects it. He barely notices me at all in the room during those moments. We are told to have a child-like faith and not be afraid in His presence. But sometimes, because I’m an adult with reason, I get scared of the situation I’m going thru. Even if I say I’m fully trusting of God, I cant help noticing that big cliff I’m about to go over with Him. If I tell my grandson to come with me, even at his young age he’s starting to decide if he wants to go or not. If its a trip outside, he’s all the way down! If its in the bedroom to take a nap with Pops, he gets hesitant and tries to convince me why I should go on ahead without him. Lol How tired God must get having to convince us that the plans He has for us are FOR OUR GOOD! This song is a representation of that struggle in all of us. The struggle to stay locked in with God, the struggle to follow Him and listen to what He has to say. It reassures us that if we trust Him, there is reward for us at the end, a reward we didn’t even know we had in store. Stay in there with God and engaged in what He has to say concerning your life. Then, He’ll give you wisdom to deal with problems before they even present themselves to you!
I KNOW A GOD
(FEATURING SHAUNEE BRANNAN)
A song of promise, a song of love and thanksgiving, and a song of authority. I KNOW A GOD is my version of reintroducing God to his children who are lost in the world and searching for answers. There is so much uncertainty in the world right now. In America, we are facing a crucial election that so much emphasis has been put on, as though our democracy will cease to exist following the results. People are scared by what might happen and we need something to set the whole nation at rest, that something is GOD! He can calm the problems and make them seem small. Our perception of the problem is like a mountain, but with God, it can seem like a mole hill because we are reassured by His promises to take care of us as His children. I put my grandson on the countertop in the kitchen from time to time and say, “Jump to Pops!” He looks around and gets scared because he sees that he is off the ground and it would hurt him to fall. I reassure him everything will be ok and that I’ll catch him as soon as he takes the leap. If he didn’t trust me, the whole playtime wouldn’t work. The same can be said of us in the world. We look around and our vantage point can look scary. If we are willing to put our trust in God, we can take the leap into His arms free of all our fears of falling and hurting ourselves. Faith should not be a hindrance for Christians. It should be the reason we excel! Out of our victories, we realize that there was never a reason to be scared in the first place. That’s why this song ends with a powerful statement that reassures the people of the world to take the leap, HIS NAME REMAINS THE SAME IT’S ALWAYS BEEN!! Hallelujah! Let me say a few words about Shaunee Brannan now. There have only been a few people in my life that truly take me into that special type of worship. Shaunee is one of those people. Firstly, the way she sings is just an effortless walk in the park, or that’s how she makes it seem to be. A thing that I have been trying to improve in my own life, and it is child’s play to her. Shaunee is who I consider when thinking of “my” praise and worship leader. I’ve told her this personally and she is very graceful about it, but the impact of her praise and worship in my life has brought me back from some dark places! Ever heard someone speak or sing, and you knew instantly that there was still hope for the world? That’s her. And I mean a deeper type of hope. Not just about the situations going on right now, but problems that have plagued humankind for years and years. Shaunee is a wonderfully gifted vocalist, an anointed prophetess of God and a caring friend that’ll make you feel special. I am honored she blessed my album with her talents and grateful for the friendship I have formed with my sister in Christ!
HOW HE LOVES
(FEATURING BARNABY MITCHELL JONES II)
Doing this cover on an album packed with originals was like a perfect cherry on top of an amazing sundae! I got a chance to sing with one of the most anointed men in the industry, Barnaby Mitchell Jones II (BJ). My connection to BJ came through my brother Gayle, producer of the album and one of my longest standing friendships. BJ was a gift from God with his smooth, anointed vocals. I heard BJ sing solo at Gayle’s church and I was instantly ushered into the Presence of God. There are people out there who can do that without even trying. Don’t let me forget to mention that Gayle has that similar ability when it comes to my ears! I always joke that they have the type of voices that make me so MAD! Lol When you hear voices like these men take off and begin to paint art with their vocal talents, you are swept away to a wonderful place of peace and it feels to me, like I’m right in the throne room of God Himself. If you ever find yourself able to buy music BJ or Gayle are doing or have done, SNATCH IT UP! You will not be disappointed with your decision. Just a small word of advice to other music lovers out there! It seems incredibly hard for me to be able to do that. It’s not a natural talent for me. I have to work at it if I want people to feel anything when I sing (opinions vary, but I am usually my worst critic!). This song was so well produced that it felt wrong to only have my vocal on it. It was almost as though the song demanded having someone “bring it home” as they say. That’s why I say BJ was a gift from God. His addition helps elevate the song to greater heights than ever and I’m so grateful he was willing to be a part of this journey with me. That and the fact that Gayle put together some of the most AMAZING background vocals, are why I had to have it on the project. I’ve always loved this song and the message that it sends out to the world. I truly believe He DOES love us, and His love is a beautiful comfort in our lives of turmoil and worry. I can say this personally, I don’t know where I’d be without the love of the Lord.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU
Special Thanks to Gayle Brannan for producing and his addition to this project. I would've struggled to do this project without you. I am grateful you are here to share in this adventure with me!
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To the musicians that played on this project, thank you for all the amazing inspiration you put forth on my music. It means more than you will ever know!
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To Katrina Campbell, your help on this project is invaluable to me. Your voice is amazing and your spirit is intoxicating. It's like I can hear your love for the Lord! Thank you for being a part of this album. I would like to speak into your life that you are on deck! It's your time and you will spread the message of God all over the world!
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To Latreesha Gardner, it was an honor for me to watch you work. When I think of the term "studio musician," you are who comes to mind. Your voice is your instrument and you play effortlessly as you've been called to do. I am proud to tell people you sang on my album and I wish you all the happiness this life can give you!