Liberty graduate opens up about his faith and music-making process

If you have been to Liberty University anytime in the last couple years, then there’s probably a good chance you’ve heard of Joseph O’Brien. And if you haven’t heard the name, then you’ve at least heard the voice. Well-known for his appearance on America’s Got Talent (AGT), O’Brien was a pianist and vocalist for Liberty’s Worship Collective and has since started his journey to becoming a breakout Christian music artist. 

It’s not too surprising that O’Brien was raised in a music-filled household being that his father, Michael O’Brien, was at one point the lead singer of NewSong, a contemporary Christian music group. 

“Basically, straight out of the womb, me and my three siblings were expected to sing. My parents assigned us all instruments. I was piano, my brother was drums, my older brother was guitar and my older sister was violin. Music was just natural for us,” O’Brien said.

As O’Brien grew up, his family sang and performed as a band all over his neighborhood. Whether it be Christmas carols or church gatherings, O’Brien found himself developing a huge passion for music, and he felt a sense of purpose every time he sang. 

“I was the only kid who wanted to take it more seriously than just for fun, so when I was around 12 … I felt like God was calling me to write songs, and I started pursuing that as a career,” O’Brien said.

Then, in 2018, a young and shy O’Brien stood in front of celebrities Heidi Klum, Simon Cowell, Howie Mandell and Mel B in an audition of a lifetime. Singing “Hello” by Lionel Richie, O’Brien blew away the judges and made it all the way to the quarterfinals in America’s Got Talent. However, the moment may not have been as delightful as the television portrayed. 

“I actually kind of block that moment (AGT) from my mind. I came in not very confident and very nervous, and I was      portrayed in ways that made me uncomfortable,” O’Brien said. “I think the best thing that came from it was that was how Liberty discovered me. If I didn’t go on the show, I’m not sure the Liberty Worship Collective would’ve ever saw me and reached out, so I guess some good did come from it.”

That’s how O’Brien ended up at Liberty. Fresh from being on national television, O’Brien thought that Liberty may give him the tools he needed to grow his musical skills. To his surprise, he quickly found out that he had a lot to learn when it came to being a musician.

“I would not consider myself a well-rounded musician or person without Liberty,” O’Brien said. “When I joined Liberty Worship Collective and the School of Music, I was so wide eyed and thought, ‘Wow, these people are so much better than I am.’ So, I felt like I was shaped mostly by being around other talented people and a caliber of musicianship I had never been around.”

Throughout his time at Liberty, O’Brien gained a depth of experience and knowledge of music and how to create it. While getting his degree in recording and sound engineering, O’Brien used the School of Music’s labs and courses to produce his own songs. O’Brien carries all that he has learned at Liberty throughout his daily life. 

“I feel like a lot of times what I learned from my major helps me in my day-to-day life. Every time I wake up, I get into my songwriting and present the song the best way I can through a demo, and so far, the recording company is liking everything I’m giving them, so I attribute that to Liberty,” O’Brien said.

While giving himself three hours a day to work on songwriting and digital mixing, O’Brien also records and films his new Christian podcast called “CoJo.” Partnering with his friend Coby James, they created their own spin on “Good Mythical Morning” to bring upbeat Christian content to their viewers. 

“I feel like a lot of younger people like me or the younger generation don’t have this really fun but also Christian-themed show that’s coming out that’s edited well. So, that’s why we started ‘CoJo.’  We’re trying to find our voice right now and create content for people that are similar to us and our upbringings,” O’Brien said.

As O’Brien continues to grow his passion for music and his skills as an artist, he said he is very excited to announce the release of multiple songs in the upcoming year. While he can’t divulge all the details, O’Brien is currently working on some highly anticipated projects and can’t wait to share them with his fans. 

“We’re in the process of making a lot of songs for next year. For the past four to five years, I’ve put out one to two songs a year, but this upcoming year is going to be the most consecutive music I’ve ever (created),” O’Brien said.

 O’Brien wants to continue making Christian music and podcasts, and he said he feels called by God to help spread the Gospel by singing and performing. 

Wallace is a feature reporter for the Liberty Champion