Jonathan McReynolds – Make Room

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) It really depends on who is listening and from what context they hear it from. Normally people who are gospel lovers and soul lovers hear my music as something of fusion with folk and even country and definitely some people. But if you’re from a context of more pop and rock then you hear my music as very soulful and very passionate. It’s all of the things you would expect from a gospel, but I think the greatness of it is how it sits firmly in the middle of it all and appeals to people from different kinds of backgrounds, even though the sound you can’t put much of a genre to it. Well, I think you couldn’t get everybody to agree on a genre.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) They run across the board, which is probably the issue here. I always say my top six are James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Sam Cook, India Arie, John Mayer and Bonnie Raitt.

Q) What is the message behind your recent single “Not Lucky, I’m Loved?”

A) It’s the first single from the new album that just came out in March called Make Room, which is my first ever live record. So, of course I’m really excited about that. The song is really the perfect statement for the first seven years of my career. There have been times where it’s very easy to get a little superstitious. I had some lucky underwear I would wear where the shows were great and phenomenally successful. I’ve had little dumb rituals like stretching or walking off stage three times instead of twice. Weird stuff like that. It’s just amazing how someone who is not superstitious and hasn’t really ever dabbled into that type of stuff you can start collecting little things to try to give you insight, give you an explanation and (most importantly) give you a little control over the things that happen when in actually what really holds all the “good luck” and “bad luck” together is God’s love for us. I just had to declare that for myself. It’s a product of his love. I don’t need to be lucky. I’m loved.

Q) How does the video play into that message of the song?

A) We knew that we had some incredible live footage that eventually got put on TV and will be on Tidal later this month. So, we wanted to save that. We wanted to make sure we had some visual. We elected to go the route of showing people around the country to be able to join in with the mantra that the song gives. It’s very important that it’s not just me who says it. It’s not just a declaration that goes over my life and my head. People around the world do that and they can kind of debunk the American idea that we are lucky sometimes and unlucky other times. It’s really something greater and more permanent that holds all of our lives together.

Q) Where do you get the inspiration for your lyrics?

A) Just life. I joke at my concerts and interviews that most of my songs are either “shower songs” or “toilet songs.” [laughs] But it’s all about me being still and just kind of let my mind go to an incredibly crazy or active place. As long as I let things go and begin to pray or talk. Sometimes I’ll hear a line in my prayer or a conversation and I’ll just throw it up in the air and see how the music responds to it or how it responds to music. When I put a melody to it how does it react? If it’s positive, then I’ll keep going. It’s an amazing experience that I probably need to chronicle how I write a little more now since I’m always asked. It’s very spontaneous, but normally it comes straight out of a prayer or a conversation I’m having.

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) I have too much of a hand. [laughs] That’s why I took a break. Ever since leading up to my recent live performance and through the record, I have been so much a part of creating the music, writing the music, singing it, recording it and arranging it. I do have an incredible band, but I’m meticulous with things. So, even after the recording is over I’m arranging it on the computer for twelve, thirteen or fifteen hours a day for a month trying to make sure it all fits and makes sense. I take a crazy amazing night of worshipping, yelling and crying and turning that into an album. So, I had a lot to do with it, but I don’t ever want to take away that my team is pretty special, too.

Q) What songs off Make Room are you most looking to performing for a live audience?

A) I’ve had a good time with all of it. That’s the wonderful thing about this particular album. The way it’s framed in my mind is as a live performance. With other albums I’ve had to adapt some of the songs and turn it into a live performance and reimagine it as a live performance. This time I’ve already done that and can’t imagine it anyway else. So, I’ve had a really good time with all of songs. “Not Lucky, I’m Loved” is fun and “Make Room.” There is really no song on there that I would not sing live and not enjoy it.

Q) With that in mind, what can fans expect from a live Jonathan McReynolds show?

A) We have a new concept that we call “life room.” Of course, we know gospel music, but unfortunately our expression of the crucifixion sometimes only resides in church. As you move outside of church there really isn’t much room for it, so it doesn’t come up unless there is a tragedy, or we need a promotion. So, what we’ve been doing is decking the shows out like a living room and we kind of have an experience that takes the shape of whatever is called for in that city. Sometimes it is extremely exuberant and exciting. Sometimes it is slower and contemplative. Sometimes I’m a comedian. Sometimes we’re just talking.