BENJAMIN WILLIAM HASTINGS AND AODHÁN KING RELEASE COLLABORATIVE ALBUM, HAPPY TO BE HERE
2026/05/29.AodhanKingandBenjaminWilliamHastingsDropFullAlbumHappyToBeHereToday.asp NEWS SOURCE: Merge PR May 29, 2026
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 29, 2026) — Award-winning worship leaders and songwriters Benjamin William Hastings and Aodhán King release their special collaborative album, Happy To Be Here, available everywhere today (Anotherland/Capitol CMG).
Created during a 10-day studio session, Happy To Be Here captures the honesty, friendship, and faith shared by two longtime collaborators. What began as a simple idea of locking themselves in a studio together with little preparation and complete trust in God quickly became one of the most meaningful projects either artist has created.
“This is honestly one of our favorite things we’ve ever done,” the two artists shared.
The 12-track album leans deeply into connection, vulnerability, and reflection. Throughout the project, Hastings and King explore themes of waiting, surrender, hope, and gratitude, all anchored by the album’s central message: simply being thankful to be here.
“Hastings is one of my best mates,” shares Aodhán King. “We’ve written so much together over the years with Young & Free, UNITED and each other’s solo projects. We’ve always talked about making something that was just ‘ours.’ This was that moment.”
Benjamin William Hastings adds, “We are so thankful for God bringing us all here together. We thank God that we get to do this with our lives.”
Both artists openly acknowledge the pressure and vulnerability that came with creating an album so quickly. Walking into the studio without a detailed roadmap forced them to rely fully on faith and trust God to meet them in the process. And He did.
The album includes already released tracks “Hollow Grave” and “Saturday,” alongside standout collaborations including “Yahweh” featuring Elevation Worship’s Tiffany Hudson and “Wondrous Cross (When I Survey)” featuring Cody Carnes.
Happy To Be Here Track Listing: 1. Happy To Be Here 2. Hollow Grave 3. Saturday 4. Yahweh (feat. Tiffany Hudson) 5. Waiting To See What God Does 6. Wondrous Cross (When I Survey) (feat. Cody Carnes) 7. Holy Jesus 8. Convinced 9. Separate 10. Never 11. God Thing 12. Guiding Light
ABOUT BENJAMIN WILLIAM HASTINGS & AODHÁN KING: Benjamin William Hastings and Aodhán King are globally recognized worship leaders, songwriters, and artists whose roots trace back to the Hillsong music movement. Hastings, a key contributor to Hillsong Worship and Hillsong UNITED, and King, a founding member and leading voice of Hillsong Young & Free, have helped shape the sound of modern worship over the past decade.
Between them, they have received multiple GRAMMY® nominations, with Hastings earning his first GRAMMY® win in 2026 as a co-writer alongside Brandon Lake.
King has been instrumental in the success of Hillsong Young & Free, a twice GRAMMY®-nominated group with over 1.2 billion streams in North America and eight No. 1 singles.
Hastings is known for his poetic songwriting and contributions to songs like “So Will I (100 Billion X),” and his catalog has surpassed 2.5 billion streams globally. Now based in Nashville, he continues to write and collaborate across the worship and broader Christian music space.
Longtime friends and collaborators, Hastings and King have partnered across multiple projects throughout their careers. Their latest collaboration marks a new chapter, bringing together their shared passion for writing songs for the Church with a fresh, community-driven approach.
This Friday, July 24
ALBUMS Leanna Crawford Thank God [Provident] Charles Wesley Godwin Christian Name [Big Loud] eddieM UnReleased - EP [Syntax] Ezra Worship Initiative Great and Glorious God EP [NCS] The Inspirations Songs For Our American Culture [Horizon] Madison Street Worship Who Is Like The Lord [Pure Mosaic] Josh Snodgrass Acoustic Worship (independent) Tyraels Ascension Grave Seeker [Rottweiler] Jean Watson When I Was Fearless (independent)
SINGLES ANTHNY Prepare Me - Single [SONY/Provident] Bill B. Here & Home (ft. Davion Morye) - Single [Syntax] Joe L Barnes Road Less Traveled (feat. Seph Schlueter) - Single [SONY/Provident] Beach Chapel Give You The World - Single (independent) LamonTT Blackshire WORLD CUP - Single [Syntax] CalledOut Music What A Life - Single [Integrity] Chris Caro BRICK! - Single [Syntax] Franni Cash The Real Thing - Single [Capitol CMG] dex the nerd who loves Jesus Dance Like David (ft. Drea LP) - Single [Syntax] DOE High Praise - Single [SONY/Provident] Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, Ellie Holcomb, NEEDTOBREATHE Promised Land - Single [Magnolia] Noah Paul Harrison The Lifter Of My Head (Live) [feat. Aubree Archibeck] - Single [Bethel] Koryn Hawthorne His Favorite - Single [Motown Gospel] Mat Kearney Fall On Me - Single (independent) The Kingdom Heirs Jesus Never Met A Sinner (That He Couldn't Save) - Single [Sonlite] Elle Limebear Give Me Joy - Single [Decca] Autumn Nelon I'll Find You - Single [Gaither] Lloyd Nicks Paper-Maché - Single [Wings] Andy Riemersma Holding Me Down - Single [Dream] Troy Patterson The Nikes (ft. Mont Pringle) - Single [Syntax] Troy Patterson Blood & Crypt (ft. Semaj Spitz) - Single [Syntax] Sabyn Worthy (feat. Callie Twisselman) - Single [Owepar] Sam's The Hero In the Absence of Applause - Single [Small Step] Sleeping At Last Echo - Single (independent) Mackenna Swann Surrender - Single [Rixon] Tru-Serva and OneStepMoore Don't Knock It (feat. De La Cruz & Xay Hill) - Single (independent) Colton Vance Feeling Okay - Single (independent) Joel Vaughn Like God Does - Single (independent) Tauren Wells What A Miracle Feels Like (Live) [feat. Naomi Raine] - Single [Capitol CMG] Phil Wickham Everyday Hallelujah - Single [Fair Trade]
Next Friday, July 31
ALBUMS Pat Barrett, Worship Together Burn in Us [Capitol CMG] Joseph Habedank The Worship Album [Gaither] Sower Contrast (independent) Starflyer 59 Disappointed EP [Velvet Blue]
SINGLES Hillside Recording Come Back Home - Single (independent) KNGDM REVIVAL OPEN MY EYES - Single [Dream] We Are Messengers Room For You - Single [Wings]
Elle Limebear Signs with Decca Records with New Song Out Today
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Leanna Crawford Thank God [Provident]
