Britain's top worship leader MATT REDMAN talked to Tony Cummings about his new album, his children and being a face-to-the-ground worshipper.

Tony: You're on your way to South Africa. What are you going to do there?

Matt: We're travelling to Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town to lead some worship at some gatherings of the local churches there. Terry Virgo will be speaking and we'll be weaving the meetings around the theme of 'Gods' Lavish Grace'. In Cape Town we'll also be joining in a huge prayer meeting - they're hoping to gather up to 20,000 people together to celebrate God's goodness, 10 years after the new found freedom that occurred a decade ago. And to intercede together for the future. It's been a few years since I've been out to South Africa, and it's an exciting season to be going.

Tony: What was the last Christian book you read and what did it say to you?

Matt: I've just read How Sweet The Sound by George Beverly Shea, the singing voice behind a lot of the music at the Billy Graham missions over the years. I actually met George a few years back and was inspired by his passion and perseverance at his ripe old age! I'm so used to thinking about music as the voice of the worshipping Church, but this book reminded me what a powerful and essential force that musical voice can be in conveying God to those who don't recognise him.

Tony: What was the last Christian album you listened to and why did you enjoy it?

Matt: Tree63's new album 'The Answer To The Question' - I love the music, and more than anything I love the worship it conveys. Even on top of that, John is also a brilliant lyric writer.

Tony: What was the last non-Christian album you listened to and why did you like it?

Matt: I've just been re-visiting (yet again!) some mid-'70s Stevie Wonder stuff. Just this morning my daughter Maisey and I had "He's Misstra Know It All" blaring out on the car stereo on the way to her pre-school - I'm educating her in the finer things in life! Stevie Wonder just has an incredible sense of how to write melody - and what's more, there's a lot of joy in these melodies - hardly anyone manages to do that.