Fall 2019 U-Church kicks off with Tauren Wells
Photo by Taylor Baker.
U-church kicked off Sunday with Grammy-nominated singer Tauren Wells.
“It was pretty surreal—it felt like it was a big concert,” said sophomore public relations major Josh Olufelo. As a chapel usher, Olufelo said working the event was something he had never experienced before.
Photo by Taylor Baker.
Photo by Sydney Pressley.
Photo by Sydney Pressley.
Before he became a household name of Christian pop, Wells spent much of his childhood immersed in a musical household.
“My dad was a musician, so there were instruments around the house—keyboards, drums and people coming in and out of the house writing songs and stuff,” Wells said. “It was a part of life when I was little.”
Despite growing up in and around the creative process of music, Wells’ infatuation with music came from his intrigue in the Church.
“We started going to church when I was nine years old, and the music experience really captivated me,” Wells said. “I got in to the church choir and sang in the Christmas play; I just really loved it.”
Though Wells enjoyed his youth in music, he never put much thought into it until he became older and realized the music industry reached further than the sanctuary
“I never thought about a career in music or anything like that; I didn’t know that those things really existed,” Wells said. “It wasn’t until my 20s that I realized there was a whole industry and system around making music and getting it out to people. I like to say I kind of just stumbled into it a little bit.”
Photo by Sydney Pressley.
Whether an accident or divine intervention, Wells believes God ordered his steps and continues to do so as his career and recognition grows. Despite the recent attention his music has received, Wells continues to remain grounded in his faith, and knows his purpose goes beyond the awards.
Photo by Taylor Baker.
“It sounds like a Jesus-juke-humble-brag, but my heart is just not set on that stuff,” Wells said. “It’s really cool and I’ve got awards at home, but they’re in boxes and all my plaques [are sitting on the floor]. I am grateful and I appreciate what they do for the ministry and for the career, but I’m always acting more excited than I [actually] am.”
The energy felt at Sunday’s U-Church is only a glimpse of what is to come next from the artist. Wells’ upcoming album Citizen of Heaven releases in January, but several singles drop between now and then.
“I’ve got three different collaborations with people—Rascal Flatts, Kirk Franklin and Jenn Johnson from Bethel Music,” Wells said. “We’ve got some fresh fire for everybody.”
