E2: Singing The Good News – Featuring Scylard Smith

(Lively gospel music plays with soulful vocals and a groovy bass line)

Dr. Dave: (In an upbeat and welcoming tone) Hello, hello, thank you for tuning into the KnowShare with Dr. Dave podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Dave A. Cornelius, affectionately known as Dr. Dave. This new series is called "Singing the Good News." Within the "Singing the Good News" podcast series, we go beyond the melody to explore the heart and soul that moves us. We're here to see how worship leaders find their own voices to deliver the Good News. Let's move into the booth and have a conversation with Scylard Smith, a worship leader at The Gathering at Tucson.

(Music continues as a transition)

Dr. Dave: Scylard, Scylard, it's so glad to see you. Welcome to the KnowShare with Dr. Dave podcast. I'm so glad that you're here today.

Scylard: Thank you, Dr. Dave. Thanks for having me.

Dr. Dave: Yeah, for sure. Um, you know, this new series we're kicking off called "Singing the Good News."

Scylard: Yeah.

Dr. Dave: And I love when you sing the Good News.

Scylard: I'm excited to sing it.

Dr. Dave: Yeah. Yeah. So, hey, a quick 30-second elevator statement about who you are as a worship leader?

Scylard: Well, I'm just a guy who... who first of all, who loves to sing. Um, and when... God gives us all gifts, we know that. And when we decide to use it for His glory, He even, you know, He moves and He just... He just allows us to... to take, you know, His praise to a higher level. You know, and to me, when I'm there doing what He has created me to do, it just gives me a sense of accomplishment, you know, and a... just a peace that I can't even... I can't even explain how... how exciting it is to do that. You know, um, it wasn't always easy to do when I, you know, first started out like that. Um, but hearing His voice just saying, "If you just, you know, speak out and do what I gave you, for me, I'll expand you, let you know, and everything like you'll never know." So, that's what it was about for me, for jumping off that precipice, you know, and just trusting Him to do what He said He's going to do, you know, and just to decrease and let Him do His work for me. It took me a while to get there, you know, um, but hey, look what He can do, you know? And I give Him all the glory. You know?

Dr. Dave: That's right. That's right. Amen. Yeah. So, when you first read the lyrics to "The Living Water," you know, was there a specific line that made you say, "Man, I really need to sing this song"?

Scylard: It just... just the... just the part, "I met a man, you know, with holes in His hands." You know, it just took me back to meeting Him. It just describes, puts it in detail, how He was, you know, what He went through for us. You know, the sacrifice that He made, the... the suffering that He made for us. And it was like, "Wow, that really, you know, that really says something." And it should say something to everyone who hears it. It reminds us of what He did for us. It reminds us of His sacrifice, you know, of His obedience, and that He didn't have to do this for us, but He chose to go through this suffering for us. And so it was like, "Man, this is an inspiring song, and I just want to be a part of it." And I just thank you for the opportunity to do it.

Dr. Dave: Well, I'm grateful that you accepted. (Laughs) You could have said no!

Scylard: (Laughs) Yeah, but I knew there was something to it, you know? God just told me, "Let's go with that," you know? "Let's go with that." And yeah, I just enjoy being a part of it, Dr. Dave.

Dr. Dave: Likewise, man. So, sometimes when we need to get prepared for a worship-focused session, like getting into a studio, you know, did you do anything specific to just prepare to be in the right heart space, the right mind space, um, to be able to sing that song?

Scylard: Meditation. Yeah, just meditation beforehand, and just... you gotta prepare your voice for that, you know? It was rough for me because I was really just getting over a cold, so it was like, "Oh!" You know? "Okay, God, You're gonna have to do this because I don't have it within me," you know? But He always shows up and He always shows out, you know? He... He gives you what you need when you need it when you ask, you know? But um, preparation is important and just getting the words and knowing, you know, how to... how to bring them out. And um, yeah, it was great though. It was great once we got through there, and then, you know, the singing and just the voice, you know, elevation. Yeah, it was... once we got through that, it was like, "Hey, this is... this is gonna work out great." Like, "Yeah!" (Laughs)

Dr. Dave: No, that was great. Yeah. Yeah, it was a lot of fun. Yeah. Was there a specific space in "The Living Water" that was technically... technically difficult to capture? And, you know, how did prayer help to focus um, you to push through it?

Scylard: Um, the technical... I'm more like used to singing in an open space, I guess, um, like in a... in a church, you know, so I'm used to just being free to let my volume just go, you know. But studio is... is different. I'm in a small space, so my brain wants to say, "Don't be so loud." Yeah. But with your encouragement, to tell me, "Hey, it's okay, sing out, sing out!" And that helped me a lot to just go ahead and just let it out. And breathing. Yeah. Proper breathing when you're singing to get those high notes, because um, when we went to that one part with the (vocalizes), and um, it was rough, I tell you, but I'm telling you, your encouragement helped me a lot and your coaching really helped me to bring that out. So, thanks to you a lot for helping me do that, and you just, you know, I'm learning. I'm not there, you know, I'm no better than anyone else, you know, but I'm learning. And with people like you in my life to help me out, it just makes me better with God's help. So thank you.

Dr. Dave: Yeah, the Holy Spirit is... is present, right? I mean, He really helps all of us out, right?

Scylard: Yes, He does. He does so much, you know, even we don't think about it, He's always helping, you know? It's great.

Dr. Dave: You know, after hearing the final mix for the first time, did the song take on a new meaning for you that you didn't see during the right... what we're going through the recording phase?

Scylard: Oh, yeah! (Laughs) Oh, yeah, when we're just listening and picking up, you know, the keys and it's like, "Whoa! Oh, man, how's this gonna sound?" You know? "When we get to the end?" But yeah, but that final recording, it was like, "Look at this, this is amazing!" And like I said, this is my first time really being a part of a production and doing something more on the upper scale like this, and so it's all amazing to me when it comes together. It's like the sound is so rich and so perfectly put together. You know, Dr. D, you do a great job on that. So kudos to you for that. Man, that's great. Yeah, I love it.

Dr. Dave: (Laughs) Give... give God thanks, right? I mean, for all of His inspiration and having... having Him be present.

Scylard: All of His inspiration. He works through us in a... in a great way. Yes. That's right.

Dr. Dave: Well, when you think about aspiring singers, you know, looking to sing the Good News, right? I mean, what is one thing they should remember when they step in in front of the microphone? Because that's... that's like, that's the big thing I struggle with singing, so, you know.

Scylard: Yeah, and that's the main thing. Realize it's... is that my gift? You know, that's number one. Is that my gift? Is that where God's calling me to do? And that's realizing that, and that's number one, first of all. And once you've established that and realized that, "Yes, this is what He wants me to do," it's about decreasing, first of all. I mean, He's given you... us talent, but He's given us the talent. It's not us doing it, and that's the main part about it. When we're up there, it's not about us, it's about giving Him glory, it's about just lifting up His name. And when you... when the Spirit of God is... is so strong, you know, and... and you know that this is, you know, He's working through me, you know? This is Him doing this, it's not me, it's not my fame, it's nothing about me. It's about giving Him glory, you know? And it's just... we have to remember that when you're starting out and you may sound great, you may have all the talent in the world, but without the Holy Spirit, it's nothing. It's nothing, and... and you can sound great all you want, but what are you doing? We... our goal as leaders, worship leader, is to bring the people to God. And that's all we... that's all we're about, you know? So it's not about a performance, it's about worship. It's about just praising Him, giving Him glory, and letting Him move and let Him touch the hearts of the people. So, young aspiring singers, remember that: it's not about us, it's about giving God glory, no matter how talented you are, give Him glory and use your talents for His Kingdom. And that's what it's about.

Dr. Dave: Brother Scylard, you know, thank you so much for, you know, doing this work of the Lord with us, right? You know, I call it "God's work" when we do, you know, anything to glorify His name. So, you know, thank you for leaning into God's work with me, and we get to do it together, right?

Scylard: Right.

Dr. Dave: Yeah.

Scylard: Amen. Amen to that.

Dr. Dave: Amen to that.

Scylard: Yeah, we're better together, brother.

Dr. Dave: Always, you know? They say two or three of us come together in His name, He's present, right?

Scylard: In the midst. Yes, sir.

Dr. Dave: Yes, sir.

Scylard: Yes, sir, brother.

Dr. Dave: Yes, sir, brother.

Scylard: Yes, sir, brother.

(Music fades back in as the main focus)

Dr. Dave: Thank you for listening to the KnowShare with Dr. Dave podcast with my guest and brother Scylard Smith. As we finish this episode of "Singing the Good News," one thing is clear: the music continues even after the fader goes down. The Good News lives through our actions, leadership, and love for each other. And if you want to carry the Good News with you, listen to Scylard sing "The Living Water," now available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your streaming music from. Just search for "The Living Water" by Kingdom Living Shalom. Yes, that's Kingdom Living Shalom, search for "The Living Water." So let the rhythm and thanksgiving become the soundtracks of your day. Until next time, keep your heart in tune and your spirit in rhythm. This is Dr. Dave, and you've been listening to the KnowShare with Dr. Dave podcast, "Singing the Good News." Be joyful always.

(The song "The Living Water" plays as the podcast ends)