Phil Wickham Steps Into King David’s Shoes With New EP ‘Psalm 8 (Hallé)’
Phil Wickham Steps Into King David’s Shoes With New EP ‘Psalm 8 (Hallé)’ In a year already brimming with spiritual soundtracks and cinematic triumphs, Grammy-nominated worship artist Phil Wickham has dropped a luminous new EP that feels like a shepherd’s harp strummed under starlit skies.
Titled Psalm 8 (Hallé), the three-track release, out now via Fair Trade/Columbia, serves as a heartfelt companion to Angel Studios’ highly anticipated animated musical DAVID, hitting theatres December 19. It’s not just music; it’s a sonic bridge between ancient psalms and modern movie magic, capturing the raw vulnerability of a boy who felled giants with faith alone.
Wickham, whose anthems like “What An Awesome God” have topped Christian charts and filled arenas worldwide, steps into uncharted territory here. Best known for his soaring vocals and introspective lyrics, the Encinitas-based singer-songwriter now lends his voice and soul to the adult David in DAVID, a breathtaking animated retelling of the biblical shepherd’s rise from humble fields to throne.
Directed by Phil Cunningham and Brent Dawes of Sunrise Animation Studios, the film boasts a star-studded voice cast including Brandon Engman as young David, Asim Chaudhry, Mick Wingert, and Lauren Daigle, with a score by The Greatest Showman composer Joseph Trapanese. Backed by Angel’s 1.6 million-strong Guild members, who rated the project a near-perfect 98/100, DAVID has already shattered pre-sale records, nearing $6 million domestically ahead of its global rollout across 43 markets.
But Wickham’s EP steals a quiet spotlight amid the film’s orchestral swells. Anchored by the title track “Psalm 8,” a direct adaptation of the biblical psalm marvelling at God’s majesty—”O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”—the song pulses with Wickham’s signature blend of intimate reflection and explosive praise.
Recorded in live “Hallé” sessions, a nod to the Hebrew “hallelujah,” evoking triumphant worship halls, it closes the film’s soundtrack as an emotional crescendo, Wickham’s voice cracking with the weight of wonder.
“This wasn’t just singing; it was stepping into David’s skin,” Wickham shared in an exclusive interview with CCM Magazine. “The animation was synced to songs written years ago, but Psalm 8? That was mine, born from late-night sessions where I wrestled with voicing a king who started as a kid with a sling.”
The EP expands on that spark with two bonus tracks: a stripped-down acoustic rendition of “Psalm 8” that whispers like a fireside prayer, and a behind-the-scenes devotional audio where Wickham unpacks the psalm’s themes of human frailty amid divine glory. “My kids are obsessed with the full soundtrack—they blast it on repeat and critique every note,” he laughed.
“They’re my toughest audience, but hearing them sing along? That’s the real win.” Indeed, the project marks a family affair for Wickham, whose own life echoes David’s: a man of melody navigating battles, from vocal challenges in the booth, “They told me I sounded too much like Phil Wickham at first—had to act more than sing!” to the joy of channelling a “man after God’s own heart.”
What elevates Psalm 8 (Hallé) beyond a mere tie-in is its timeliness. In an era of blockbuster animations chasing spectacle, this EP grounds DAVID‘s spectacle in scripture’s poetry. Cunningham, whose 30-year dream for the film was sparked by childhood Bible readings in Africa, praised Wickham’s contribution: “Phil embodies David’s duality, warrior and worshiper.
His voice carries adventure, energy, strength, and that beautiful vulnerability.” Early streams on Spotify and YouTube have surged, with fans hailing it as Wickham’s most cinematic work since his 2025 album Song of the Saints, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian charts.
As holiday lights flicker on and families seek stories of hope, Wickham’s EP arrives like manna. “David’s journey reminds us: Giants aren’t felled by swords, but by songs lifted to the heavens,” Wickham reflected. Stream Psalm 8 (Hallé) now on all platforms, and mark your calendars for DAVID, where faith meets frame, and a psalm becomes a powerhouse.
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