Hillsong Young and Free is the youth arm of Hillsong Church, founded in 2012 in Sydney by pastors Peter Toganivalu and Laura Toggs. With worship shaped by pop and electro influences, the group carried songs like Alive and This Is Living, before stepping back in 2023 following the departure of its founders.
Hillsong Young and Free was born in 2012 in Sydney, as the youth branch of Hillsong Church, driven by pastors Peter Toganivalu and Laura Toggs, daughter of the church's founder Brian Houston. The goal was to bring worship to a generation raised on pop and electronic music, a step away from the more classic arrangements of Hillsong Worship, the church's longtime collective.
The group made a name for itself with songs like Alive as early as 2013, then This Is Living in 2015, a collaboration with Christian rapper Lecrae that reached number one on the Australian Christian charts. It received two Grammy Award nominations, in 2017 and in 2021, in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album category. The group has been on hiatus since 2023, following the departure of its founding pastors from Hillsong Church.
- Origin
- Sydney, Australia
- Style
- Pop worship, Christian electro
- Active since
- 2012 (activity paused since 2023)
- Good to know
- The group stepped back after its founding pastors left Hillsong Church in 2023, amid internal controversy; its future remains uncertain.
How did Hillsong Young and Free start?
In 2012, Hillsong Church entrusted a group of young musicians, gathered around Peter Toganivalu and Laura Toggs, with the mission of creating a worship expression built for teenagers and young adults. The name Young and Free summed up the project: a faith lived out with a freedom and musical energy closer to mainstream pop than to traditional church repertoire.
The first live album, We Are Young and Free, came out in 2013 and immediately established the group's electro-pop identity, carried over the years by voices like Aodhan King, Alexander Pappas and Tyler Douglass. Recognition grew with Youth Revival in 2016 and then III in 2018, two albums that placed the group among the most original musical offerings on the international evangelical scene.
What makes Hillsong Young and Free distinctive?
The group stands out for productions openly inspired by pop and commercial electronic music, with synths, danceable beats and choruses built for large youth gatherings. This Is Living, released in 2015 with Christian rapper Lecrae, illustrates this desire to engage with mainstream music culture while keeping an explicit message of worship.
Where should you start with Hillsong Young and Free?
At The Cross and Freedom Is Coming, taken from the album Out Here On A Friday Where It Began released in 2021, give a good sense of the group's move toward a more melodic pop sound. As I Am, a collaboration with American musician Peter CottonTale released the same year, rounds out your listening well and shows the range of styles Young and Free explored before its hiatus.
songs
At The Cross
An acoustic version of a song from the album Out Here On A Friday Where It Began (2021), on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Freedom Is Coming
Also from that album, this song in acoustic form celebrates the freedom offered by the gospel.
As I Am
Released in 2021 with American musician Peter CottonTale, this track blends soul and Christian pop influences.
Discography
- 2021Out Here On A Friday Where It Began· EP
- 2019III (Reimagined)
- 2018III
- 2016Youth Revival· Live album
- 2015This Is Living· EP
- 2013We Are Young and Free· First live album
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Frequently asked questions
Who is Hillsong Young and Free?
Hillsong Young and Free is the youth arm of Hillsong Church, founded in 2012 in Sydney by pastors Peter Toganivalu and Laura Toggs. The group offers worship shaped by pop and electro influences, built to speak to teenagers and young adults, with songs like Alive and This Is Living.
What is Hillsong Young and Free's best known song?
This Is Living, released in 2015 with Christian rapper Lecrae, remains the track most identified with the group. It reached number one on the Christian charts in Australia and helped introduce Young and Free to an audience beyond the usual worship crowd.
Does Hillsong Young and Free still exist?
The group has been on hiatus since 2023, following the departure of its founding pastors from Hillsong Church amid internal controversy. Its future has not been officially decided, but no new release has followed since then.
Is Hillsong Young and Free connected to Hillsong Worship?
Both groups belong to Hillsong Church, but with distinct roles: Hillsong Worship carries worship for the whole church, while Young and Free specifically targeted a young audience with a more pop and electronic style.
Where can you listen to Hillsong Young and Free?
The group's albums remain available on streaming platforms like Spotify, Deezer and Apple Music, as well as on its official YouTube channel, which keeps music videos, acoustic versions and live footage from past tours.
How long has Hillsong Young and Free been around?
The group was founded in 2012 and was most active between 2013 and 2022, before going on hiatus in 2023.