NEWS SOURCE: Merge PR
September 19, 2013

NASHVILLE, TENN. - Sept. 19, 2013 - This past July during Hillsong's Annual Conference in Sydney, Australia, the church introduced an exciting and new generation of worship music. Welcome Hillsong Young & Free, who will officially release their debut CD "We Are Young & Free" on September 30 (Capitol CMG). A pre-sale for the project starts today. Click here for more information.

Creating such a new sound is a bold move for Hillsong, who has a unique sound and worship style the world has come to know and love through their UNITED and LIVE brands. With Young & Free, this worship is stylistically more of a reflection of what youth are listening to now.

This expression of worship from the youth of the church released their debut single "Alive" in July on iTunes, which hit No. 1 on the iTunes Christian & Gospel single chart. The single also had an immediate response in their home country as it become the second Hillsong song to hit the Australian ARIA singles chart.

"Young & Free is more than a label, it is also our message and mission," shares Laura Toggs, team leader for Young & Free. "This is a generation called to stand strong in their youth and in their freedom, refusing to allow others to dismiss them for their age. Songs arising from Young & Free are unlike anything that we have ever done before, and we believe that through them young people will find life and deep, unending joy in Jesus. We are the voice of THIS generation."

Young & Free will also be traveling to the U.S. to perform at the first-ever Hillsong U.S. Conferences in New York City (Oct. 4 & 5) and Los Angeles (Oct. 18 & 19). Young & Free members will also join UNITED on their fall leg of the WELCOMEZION tour.

About Hillsong Church:
In August 1983, Brian and Bobbie Houston founded the Hills Christian Life Centre in the Hills District of Sydney, Australia. It has grown from a congregation of 45 to what is said to be the largest local church in Australian history. It has now expanded to be a global church with local expressions in significant cities; with churches in Australia, London, New York, Paris, Cape Town, Stockholm, Germany, Kiev, Amsterdam and Copenhagen. Each week, tens of thousands of people across the globe call Hillsong Church 'home' and the reach, impact and influence of this local congregation is seen across many nations.

About YOUNG & FREE:
Young & Free is the sound of Hillsong Youth. They are a youth ministry by name, but by identity they are individuals who have found hope, salvation, joy, forgiveness and a future in Jesus Christ. Their songs are the overflow of their hearts and a reflection of life in Jesus.