A powerful new chapter is unfolding for Aodhan King and Benjamin William Hastings, as the longtime collaborators and key voices within the global Hillsong Church music movement prepare to release their joint album Happy to Be Here on May 29.
The project is more than just another release-it's the culmination of years of shared history shaped within the influential worship ecosystem of Hillsong Young & Free and Hillsong UNITED. Both King and Hastings have played defining roles in crafting the sound, theology, and lyrical identity that has impacted churches and listeners worldwide.
King, a central member of Young & Free, helped pioneer a fresh, youth-driven expression of worship-one marked by energetic production and bold declarations of faith. Meanwhile, Hastings, widely recognised for his songwriting and leadership within UNITED, has been instrumental in shaping some of the movement's most enduring and globally sung worship anthems. Together, their creative fingerprints are found across a generation of modern worship music.
Despite this extensive shared legacy, Happy to Be Here marks a first: a project that belongs entirely to them.
The album was born out of a spontaneous idea-what would happen if they stepped away from their usual contexts and created something from the ground up? That idea became reality as the pair committed to an intense 10-day writing and recording process, isolating themselves to focus solely on the music.
"We've written so much together over the years... Young & Free, UNITED, each other's solo projects," King reflected. "But we've always talked about making something just ours. This was finally that moment."
The process itself became an act of faith. Stripped of expectations and external structure, King and Hastings leaned fully into dependence on God for inspiration and direction. "You walk in without much, and you have to trust He shows up. And He did," King shared.
That spiritual posture shapes the heart of the album. Happy to Be Here is not just a creative experiment-it's a reflection of gratitude, surrender, and presence. The title captures the atmosphere of the sessions: two friends, deeply formed by their Hillsong journey, rediscovering the joy of simply creating together in God's presence.
While their Hillsong roots remain foundational, this album signals something distinct-an unfiltered expression of their artistry, friendship, and faith outside the framework of a collective movement. It carries the DNA of everything they've built together, yet steps into new, more personal territory.
With anticipation building across the global worship community, Happy to Be Here is set to resonate with listeners who have followed their journey from Hillsong's stages to this intimate collaboration.
The album arrives May 29, with pre-save and pre-add options now available.
