Following a string of singles, Aodhán King delighted fans with the release of his first full-length solo effort, “Beyond Us.” Inspired by a transformative trip to Ireland, the LP curates King’s questions and emotions born from a challenging season that saw the Australia native moving to the U.S. by himself, healing from the disintegration of his church community and attempting to wrap his heart around a “new normal” when everything he once considered certain began unraveling. His inaugural studio offering bears witness to the process of living in the tension of uncertainty, learning to accept the things we can’t control and embracing change.
“God’s extravagant love and kindness aren’t just beyond me, they’re beyond all of us,” King shares of the universal idea behind the personal record. “This album is my attempt to unite us under a God who is greater than anything we could ever imagine and to invite everyone into a space of worship, surrender, and community.”
Feeling aimless, it wasn’t until King penned the crescendoing “Made to Worship” with Josh Grimmett, a member of British house music band Goodboys, that he discovered a compass — not just for the record he wanted to make, but also for the direction he wanted to pursue in his professional life. With his True North pointed unanimously toward Jesus, the 13-track project finds the former Young & Free member working out his faith one alt-pop melody at a time.
King somehow manages to strike that ever-elusive balance of creating something that’s definitively Christian and effortlessly cool on “Beyond Us.” The songs fit just as comfortably in a congregational setting as they do an intimate moment of worship, while simultaneously offering a music bed that can just as easily fold into alt-pop playlists. Maybe it’s the avant-garde sonic flourishes that make this record attractive to both believers and seekers alike. Maybe it’s the simple, pure lyricism behind King’s warm vocal. Maybe it’s the caliber of collaborators he assembled. Regardless of the reason, “Beyond Us” belies the 32-year-old’s age and experience.
Perhaps part of the magic lies in the fact that he kept his inner creative circle small. Benjamin William Hastings, Ben Tan, Jimmy James and Jason Ingram helm the majority of songwriting and production duties, with additional contributions from Bede Benjamin-Korporaal, Tim Fitz and Grimmett. Furthermore, all of the album’s featured artists hold co-writing credit on their respective tracks. In fact, King’s list of special guests might just possess the record’s secret sauce.
Honestly, “Beyond Us” feels like an indie record King made with his friends…except the production is next level, and King’s “friends” have more street cred than most. While the “What a Friend” singer naturally runs in worship circles, he can just as easily hang with the fringe crowd. And that’s the group of unsuspecting characters you’ll find on “Beyond Us” — artists who share King’s faith but don’t always share his genre.
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Paul Klein, one-half of alternative mainstream duo LANY, helps King deliver alt-pop perfection on gratitude-filled “Thank You So Much Jesus.” Multi-GRAMMY® winner Lauren Daigle lends seamless harmony to album standout “Time,” a breezy, horn-laced selection rooted in the truth of Ecclesiastes 3:11: “Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”
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British singer-songwriter Sarah Griffiths, who records under the moniker Griff, joins King on “Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow,” reminding listeners God’s faithfulness never changes. Elsewhere, TikTok sensation and “Camp Hideout” actress Jenna Raine appears on anchor track “Still Worthy,” and Hannah Joy — from Sydney-based trio Middle Kids — makes a cameo on acoustic-grounded ballad “How Can It Be?”
Meanwhile, King shines just as bright on his own — especially on jubilant opener “Prepare the Way” and yearning anthem “Without You,” the latter of which reveals his whole-hearted pursuit of Jesus.
Reminiscent of early artistic-driven releases from Phil Wickham and Leeland, “Beyond Us” hints at greatness still yet to come. King’s excellent debut is undoubtedly only the beginning, as it barely scratches the surface of what feels like a deep well of artistry, skill and passion. And if he continues the pattern he’s established with the album’s trendy vibe, thoughtful musings and pure-hearted praise, the newcomer is well on his way to becoming one of worship music’s most respected ambassadors.
