Joel Houston Says Christian Music Is Getting Weird -- in a Good Way

Joel Houston, co-founder of Hillsong United, says Christian music is getting “weird” again—but “in a good way.” After spending nearly three years making music alone, he released his solo project AMXNradio in 2024 and returned with a second album, Silhouettes. Houston argues United broke through partly because it didn’t follow expected rules: he points to listening to Radiohead and Blink-182 instead of only traditional Christian acts. He believes today’s shift is driven by a new generation making Christian-leaning music organically, including a TikTok indie movement that creates without asking whether it fits a “Christian lane.” He also wants music to cover everyday Psalms-like moments beyond Sunday services.