Hillsong United: complete biography and discography with all their albums and songs

Few names have taken contemporary worship as far as Hillsong United: the youth band of Hillsong Church in Sydney that, with anthems like “Oceans”, “Touch the Sky”, and “So Will I”, filled stadiums around the world and marked an entire generation. In this post we tell their complete story and go through their entire discography, album by album. If you want to listen to Hillsong United with their videos, here we also tell you where to find their Hillsong United songs gathered on Christian music.

1. Complete biography

From Powerhouse Youth to United Live (1998-2002)

Hillsong United was born in 1998 in the Hillsong Church youth ministry in Sydney, Australia, known as Powerhouse Youth. A group of friends leading worship for the youth began writing their own songs, and the church’s worship pastor, Darlene Zschech, suggested they record their own albums. Thus first came the EP One (1998) and then the live album Everyday (1999), recorded at the Hillsong Conference. Their first leaders were Reuben Morgan and Marty Sampson, and for years the annual album was recorded at the Encounterfest youth gathering.

The global phenomenon: All of the Above, Zion and People (2007-2019)

When Reuben Morgan left the group in 2002, Joel Houston —son of Hillsong Church founders Brian and Bobbie Houston— took over leadership alongside Marty Sampson, and the band adopted the name Hillsong United. In 2007 came All of the Above, their first fully studio-recorded album, with classics like “Hosanna” and “Lead Me to the Cross”. The global breakthrough came with Zion (2013): it debuted at number 1 in Australia and number 5 on the US Billboard 200, and its song “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)”, sung by Taya Smith, became a global phenomenon —61 weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Christian chart, 4× Platinum in the United States, and Billboard’s Christian song of the decade—. It was followed by Empires (2015) with “Touch the Sky”, the documentary film Hillsong: Let Hope Rise (2016), and Wonder (2017) with “So Will I”. In 2019, People debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 —the highest position of their career— with “Good Grace”, “Whole Heart”, and “Another in the Fire”, and the band sold out Madison Square Garden in New York.

Hiatus and solo projects (2022-2026)

Their sixth studio album, Are We There Yet?, was released on April 29, 2022. Since then the band has been on hiatus: no albums, tours, or announced comebacks, while its members pursue solo projects —Joel Houston as AMXNRADIO, Taya Gaukrodger (formerly Taya Smith) with her solo career, Brooke Ligertwood, Matt Crocker, and Benjamin Hastings—. With 11 Dove Awards, two Billboard Music Awards as Top Christian Artist, and an American Music Award, Hillsong United remains one of the most influential worship bands in history.

2. Complete discography

Complete discography of Hillsong United

This is the complete list of their releases, in chronological order. Tap an album name to jump straight to its block, with its cover and song list: studio albums are in section 3, and live albums, EPs, and special editions in section 8. Singles are in section 5.

• Everyday (1999) — live album
• Best Friend (2000) — live album
• King of Majesty (2001) — live album
• To the Ends of the Earth (2002) — live album
• More Than Life (2004) — live album
• Look to You (2005) — live album
• United We Stand (2006) — live album
• Unidos Permanecemos (2006) — live album in Spanish
• All of the Above (2007) — studio album
• The I Heart Revolution: With Hearts as One (2008) — double live album
• Across the Earth: Tear Down the Walls (2009) — live album
• Aftermath (2011) — studio album
• Live in Miami (2012) — live album
• Zion (2013) — studio album
• Zion Acoustic Sessions (2013) — acoustic live album
• Empires (2015) — studio album
• Of Dirt and Grace (2016) — live album
• Wonder (2017) — studio album
• People (2019) — live album
• The People Tour: Live from Madison Square Garden (2021) — live album
• Are We There Yet? (2022) — studio album
• One (1998) — debut EP
• In a Valley by the Sea (2007) — EP
• Con Todo (2009) — album in Spanish
• Oceans EP (2013) — EP
• The White Album (2014) — remix album
• Let Hope Rise (2016) — soundtrack
• So Will I EP (2018) — EP
• People En Español (2019) — EP in Spanish
• (In the Meantime) (2020) — EP
• Zion (X) (2023) — 10th anniversary edition of Zion

3. Studio albums

Each studio album with its year, its official cover, and its song list.

All of the Above (2007) — Studio album

Their first fully studio-recorded album, released on March 17, 2007. It debuted at number 6 in Australia and at number 1 on the Billboard Christian chart. It includes the classics “Hosanna”, “Lead Me to the Cross”, and “The Stand”.

• Point Of Difference
• Break Free
• Desperate People
• Devotion
• Draw Me Closer (Interlude)
• Lead Me To The Cross
• Found
• Hosanna
• For All Who Are To Come (Interlude)
• Solution
• My Future Decided
• Never Let Me Go
• You
• Saviour King

Aftermath (2011) — Studio album

Second studio album, released on February 15, 2011. It debuted at number 4 in Australia and at number 17 on the Billboard 200. It was the last album with Marty Sampson as the band’s leader.

• Take Heart
• Go
• Like An Avalanche
• Rhythms Of Grace
• Aftermath
• B.E. (Interlude)
• Bones
• Father
• Nova
• Light Will Shine
• Search My Heart
• Awakening
• Search My Heart (Radio Version)

Zion (2013) — Studio album

Third studio album, released on February 22, 2013. Number 1 in Australia, number 5 on the Billboard 200, and certified Gold in the United States. It includes “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)”, 4× Platinum and one of the greatest Christian songs of all time.

• Relentless
• Up In Arms
• Scandal Of Grace
• Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)
• Stay And Wait
• Mercy Mercy
• Love Is War
• Nothing Like Your Love
• Zion (Interlude)
• Heartbeats
• A Million Suns
• Tapestry
• King Of Heaven

Empires (2015) — Studio album

Fourth studio album, released on May 26, 2015. Number 1 in Australia and number 5 on the Billboard 200. Its cover was revealed at 95,000 feet up, from space. It includes “Touch the Sky”, certified Platinum.

• Here Now (Madness)
• Say the Word
• Heart Like Heaven
• Touch the Sky
• Street Called Mercy
• When I Lost My Heart to You (Hallelujah)
• Even When It Hurts (Praise Song)
• Prince of Peace
• Empires
• Rule
• Captain
• Closer Than You Know

Wonder (2017) — Studio album

Fifth studio album, released on June 9, 2017. It reached number 4 in Australia and number 21 on the Billboard 200. It includes “So Will I (100 Billion X)”, certified Platinum and winner of the Dove for worship song of the year.

• Wonder
• Shadow Step
• Future Marches In
• So Will I (100 Billion X)
• Splinters and Stones
• Glimmer in the Dust
• Greatest of These
• Shape of Your Heart
• Not Today
• Life
• Rain / Reign
• Water to Wine

Are We There Yet? (2022) — Studio album

Sixth and latest studio album, released on April 29, 2022. It includes the singles “Know You Will”, “Sure Thing”, and “On Repeat”.

• Days Like These (Trust U)
• All This Future
• Deeper Water
• Show Me Your Heart
• On Repeat
• Delightful (The Sower Never Wastes a Tear)
• God Song
• Have Mercy on Me Now
• Blown Away
• What Love Is (Because You Died)
• Know You Will
• Sure Thing
• Not Afraid
• MMXXII (Interlude)
• Chariot

4. Most listened and recommended songs

Their biggest hits and most beloved songs:

• Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)
• Touch the Sky
• So Will I (100 Billion X)
• From the Inside Out
• Hosanna
• Lead Me to the Cross
• The Stand
• Good Grace
• Whole Heart (Hold Me Now)
• Another in the Fire
• Wonder
• Know You Will
• Even When It Hurts (Praise Song)
• Highlands (Song of Ascent)
• Break Free
• Take It All
• Came to My Rescue
• All I Need Is You
• Shout Unto God
• Salvation Is Here

5. Music singles

Songs released individually or highlighted outside their albums:

• Lead Me to the Cross (2011)
• Bones (2011)
• Like an Avalanche (2011)
• Search My Heart (2011)
• Scandal of Grace (2013)
• Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) (2013)
• Relentless (2013)
• From the Inside Out (2013)
• Love Is War (2014)
• Touch the Sky (2015)
• Say the Word (2015)
• Prince of Peace (2016)
• Even When It Hurts (Praise Song) (2017)
• Wonder (2017)
• So Will I (100 Billion X) (2018)
• Not Today (2018)
• Good Grace (2019)
• Whole Heart (Hold Me Now) (2019)
• As You Find Me (2019)
• Another in the Fire (2019)
• Know You Will (2021)
• Sure Thing (2021)
• On Repeat (2022)

6. Album and single covers

These are the official covers of their albums and singles. Tap a cover to listen: if it’s on Música Cristiana it plays right here; if not, it opens in Apple Music.

7. Musical collaborations

Songs recorded with other artists and special projects:

• Unidos Permanecemos (2006) — live album in Spanish with Hillsong en Español
• Con Todo (2009) — album in Spanish featuring Hillsong United
• Hillsong Global Project (2012) — project with 9 churches around the world in 9 languages
• People – En Español (2019) — EP with Spanish versions of the People album
• Hillsong: Let Hope Rise (2016) — documentary about the band distributed by PureFlix
• The I Heart Revolution (2008) — social justice movement born from their album

8. Live albums and compilations

Recorded concerts, EPs, remixes, and special editions.

Everyday (1999) — Live album

Their first live album, recorded at the 1999 Hillsong Conference. It includes the title track, one of the band’s first youth anthems.

• Everyday
• Jesus I Long
• On The Lord’s Day
• More
• Heaven
• Seeking You
• You Take Me Higher
• Hear Our Prayer
• Prayer To The King
• God Is Moving

Best Friend (2000) — Live album

Second live album, released on November 10, 2000.

• My Best Friend
• Stronger Than
• Saving Grace
• Forever
• God of All Creation
• I Live for You
• Jesus Generation
• I Will Sing
• Jesus, Lover of My Soul
• The Reason I Live

King of Majesty (2001) — Live album

Third live album, released on October 15, 2001.

• King Of Majesty
• Most High
• Everything To Me
• Your Spirit
• I Adore
• Fall
• God Is Great
• Lift
• Perfect King
• Holy, Holy, Holy
• Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?

To the Ends of the Earth (2002) — Live album

Recorded on September 6 and 7, 2002 at the Hillsong Church Encounterfest and released on November 21, 2002. It was the first album already under the name Hillsong United.

• Data (Introduction)
• All About You
• Free
• Unify
• All
• To The Ends Of The Earth
• Need You Here
• Glory
• Father, I…
• My God
• Now That You’re Near
• Am I To Believe?
• All About You (Radio Mix)
• My God (Radio Mix)

More Than Life (2004) — Live album

Recorded on October 2 and 3, 2003 and released on March 23, 2004.

• One Way
• Light
• Evermore
• Open Up The Heavens
• Take All Of Me
• Majesty
• Always
• Sing (Your Love)
• Where The Love Lasts Forever
• Consuming Fire
• More Than Life
• Jesus’ Blood
• Shine For You
• Soldier
• All Day

Look to You (2005) — Live album

Recorded on October 9, 2004 at Encounterfest and released on February 28, 2005. It reached number 30 in Australia.

• Salvation Is Here
• Tell The World
• Look To You
• All I Need Is You
• All For Love
• Shout Unto God
• There Is Nothing Like
• What The World Will Never Take
• Only One
• Deeper
• ‘Til I See You
• Rest In You
• Awesome God

United We Stand (2006) — Live album

Recorded on October 8, 2005 at Encounterfest and released on March 11, 2006. It includes the anthems “From the Inside Out”, “Came to My Rescue”, and “The Stand”.

• An Introduction
• The Time Has Come
• Take It All
• From God Above
• From The Inside Out
• Came To My Rescue
• A Reprise
• None But Jesus
• Selah
• Fire Fall Down
• Revolution
• Kingdom Come
• No One Like You
• Sovereign Hands
• The Stand
• Selah
• Hallelujah

Unidos Permanecemos (2006) — Live album in Spanish

Spanish version of United We Stand, recorded live with Hillsong en Español and released in 2006.

• Introducción
• Es Tiempo
• Tómalo
• Su Hijo Dio
• Desde Mi Interior
• Me Viniste a Rescatar
• Repetición
• Solo Cristo
• Selah
• Fuego De Dios
• La Revolución
• Venga Tu Reino
• Nadie Hay Como Tú
• Soberano
• Aquí Estoy
• Selah
• Aleluya

The I Heart Revolution: With Hearts as One (2008) — Double live album

Released on March 8, 2008. It gave rise to the I Heart Revolution social justice movement. Double live edition.

Disc 1:

• The Time Has Come
• One Way
• What the World Will Never Take
• ‘Til I See You
• Take All of Me
• The Stand
• You’ll Come
• Break Free
• Look to You
• Where the Love Lasts Forever
• Forever
• There Is Nothing Like
• Tell the World
• All Day

Disc 2:

• Take It All
• My Future Decided
• All I Need Is You
• Mighty to Save
• Nothing but the Blood / Hosanna
• Hosanna
• Fuego De Dios
• Shout unto God
• Salvation Is Here
• Love Enough
• More than Life
• None but Jesus
• From the Inside Out
• Came to My Rescue
• Saviour King
• Solution

Across the Earth: Tear Down the Walls (2009) — Live album

Recorded over three nights between October 2008 and March 2009 and released on May 9, 2009. It reached number 1 on the Billboard Christian chart and was the first religious album to reach number 1 on the US iTunes Top Albums.

• Freedom Is Here
• No Reason To Hide
• More Than Anything
• King Of All Days
• Desert Song
• Oh You Bring
• Tear Down The Walls
• Soon
• You Hold Me Now
• Arms Open Wide
• Your Name High
• Yours Forever

Live in Miami (2012) — Live album

Released on February 14, 2012. It reached number 1 on the Billboard Christian chart.

• Go
• Break Free
• You
• Search My Heart
• Mighty to Save
• Hosanna
• All I Need Is You
• Bones
• Nova
• Aftermath
• Freedom Is Here / Shout unto God
• Like an Avalanche
• Rhythms of Grace
• Oh You Bring
• The Stand
• From the Inside Out
• A Song to Sing
• With Everything
• Your Name High
• Take It All
• Yours Forever
• Take Heart

Zion Acoustic Sessions (2013) — Acoustic live album

Released on October 29, 2013: the Zion songs in live acoustic versions.

• Relentless (acoustic version)
• Up in Arms (acoustic version)
• Scandal of Grace (acoustic version)
• Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) (acoustic version)
• Stay and Wait (acoustic version)
• Mercy Mercy (acoustic version)
• Love Is War (acoustic version)
• Nothing Like Your Love (acoustic version)
• Heartbeats (acoustic version)
• A Million Suns (acoustic version)
• Tapestry (acoustic version)
• King of Heaven (acoustic version)

Of Dirt and Grace (2016) — Live album

Recorded live in Israel and released on July 15, 2016. It brings together songs from Empires performed in biblical locations.

• Here Now (Madness)
• Say the Word
• Heart Like Heaven
• Touch the Sky
• Street Called Mercy
• When I Lost My Heart to You (Hallelujah)
• Even When It Hurts (Praise Song)
• Prince of Peace
• Empires
• Rule
• Captain
• Closer than You Know
• I Surrender
• Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)
• Scandal of Grace

People (2019) — Live album

Recorded on November 18, 2018 at the Hills Campus in Sydney and released on April 26, 2019. It debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 —the highest position of their career— with 107,000 units in its first week.

• Ready or Not
• Here’s to the One
• Might Sound Wild
• Whole Heart (Hold Me Now)
• As You Find Me
• Clean
• Starts and Ends
• Highlands (Song of Ascent)
• Holy Ground
• Another in the Fire
• Good Grace
• Echoes (Till We See the Other Side)

The People Tour: Live from Madison Square Garden (2021) — Live album

Released on January 29, 2021: the complete concert of The People Tour at Madison Square Garden in New York, also released as a concert film.

• Ready Or Not
• Wonder
• Touch the Sky
• Behold (Then Sings My Soul)
• Whole Heart (Hold Me Now)
• Highlands (Song of Ascent)
• Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace)
• Another in the Fire
• What a Beautiful Name
• Not Today
• As You Find Me
• The Stand
• From the Inside Out / Came to My Rescue
• Rain / Reign
• O Praise the Name (Anástasis)
• Starts and Ends
• So Will I (100 Billion X)
• With Everything
• Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)
• Good Grace
• Echoes (Till We See the Other Side)

One (1998) — EP

Their recording debut: an EP released in 1998 alongside the Hillsong Worship album Touching Heaven Changing Earth.

In a Valley by the Sea (2007) — EP

EP released on October 2, 2007.

Con Todo (2009) — Album in Spanish

Album in Spanish featuring Hillsong United, released on October 21, 2009.

• Para Exaltarte
• Correré
• Hosanna
• Desde Mi Interior
• Canción Del Desierto
• En La Cruz
• Rey Salvador
• Poderoso Para Salvar
• Soy Libre
• Poderoso
• Solo Cristo
• Es Nuestro Dios
• Eres Mi Fortaleza
• Con Todo

Oceans EP (2013) — EP

EP released in 2013 with “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” and its versions.

The White Album (2014) — Remix album

Remix project released on March 4, 2014. It reached number 1 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic chart.

Let Hope Rise (2016) — Soundtrack

Soundtrack of the documentary about the band, released on August 12, 2016.

So Will I EP (2018) — EP

EP released in 2018 with “So Will I (100 Billion X)” and its versions.

People En Español (2019) — EP in Spanish

EP released on November 8, 2019 with Spanish versions of the People album.

(In the Meantime) (2020) — EP

EP released in 2020.

Zion (X) (2023) — 10th anniversary edition

Edition for the tenth anniversary of Zion, released in 2023 with new versions of its songs.

9. Awards and recognitions

Awards, nominations, and major achievements:

• 2014 — 5 GMA Dove Awards: Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (“Oceans”), and three more awards for “Oceans”
• 2015 — Billboard Music Award for Top Christian Artist
• 2016 — Billboard Music Award for Top Christian Artist (second consecutive year) and for Top Christian Song (“Oceans”); American Music Award for Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational; 2 Dove Awards for Empires (worship album and packaging of the year)
• 2018 — Dove Award for worship song of the year for “So Will I (100 Billion X)”
• 11 GMA Dove Awards in total
• RIAA certifications: “Oceans” 4× Platinum; “Touch the Sky” Platinum; “So Will I” Platinum; “Lead Me to the Cross” Gold; “Hosanna” Gold; “Another in the Fire” Gold; Zion album Gold
• “Oceans”: 61 weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Christian chart and Billboard’s Christian song of the 2010s decade
• More than 4.7 million albums sold and more than 3.1 billion streams

10. Official music videos

Videos and performances from the band on their official YouTube channel:

• Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) (official video)
• Touch the Sky (official video)
• So Will I (100 Billion X) (official video)
• From the Inside Out (official video)
• Hosanna – Live in Miami (official video)
• Wonder (official video)
• Whole Heart (Hold Me Now) (official video)
• Another in the Fire (official video)

11. Band members

Band members in their final lineup: Joel Houston (worship leader, guitars, keyboards), Jonathon “JD” Douglass (worship leader), Jad Gillies (worship leader, guitars), Matt Crocker (worship leader, guitars), Michael Guy Chislett (guitars, keyboards, musical director), Dylan Thomas (guitars, keyboards), Benjamin “Ben” Tennikoff (keyboards), Jihea Oh (bass), Dan McMurray (drums), Jeriana Baptiste (worship leader), and Tahisha Hunt (worship leader). Notable former members: Reuben Morgan, Marty Sampson, Brooke Fraser (today Brooke Ligertwood), Taya Gaukrodger (formerly Taya Smith), and Benjamin William Hastings.

12. Where to listen to their music

Listen to their music on their official platforms:

• their official website
• their YouTube channel
• their music on Spotify
• their Apple Music page
• And also on Música Cristiana, with their songs and videos all in one place.