Jonathan McReynolds is a Gospel/Christian music performer, singer, and songwriter from Chicago. He has garnered millions of fans worldwide and broken new ground for gospel in mainstream media. Jonathan has had multiple songs and albums chart on the Billboard Gospel Charts, as well as received multiple Stellar Awards, a GMA Dove Award and three Grammy Award nominations. Get to know Jonathan McReynold with the CCM Exclusive Q&A interview.

 

Artist Name:
Jonathan McReynolds

Age:
30

Genres:
Gospel/Christian

Hometown:
Chicago

Label:
eOne

Hobbies/Interests Apart from Music:
Basketball, Crafts, General nerdiness

Last Netflix Binge:
You

Very First Musical Purchase:
CASIO Keyboard

CCM: Do you have a favorite song from the new album? Why?
JM: “People” is like an introvert’s anthem and I’m glad that God has allowed me the space in gospel to write stuff like this. One of my best written songs yet, IMO.

CCM: What led you to pursue a career or ministry in music?
JM: In college, God just put my name in the wind and the calls started pouring in. The music I was making in my dorm room was never meant to be released. I think I just did it for the pure enjoyment. I didn’t think I was anywhere close to ready, nor what I was supposed to be ready for, but God had His own plans.

CCM: What are your hopes for the new project?
JM: I pray listeners see that not only do they get grace, but they need to give grace too. We are both victims and (often unintentional) perpetrators of “people problems.”

CCM: If you could potentially tour with any other artist or band (that you haven’t already), who would you choose and why?
JM: I have a crazy tour coming in the Fall with one of Christian music’s greatest ever but one day I would love to tour with my brothers Travis Greene and Tauren Wells.

CCM: What was the last song you listened to on your playlist or stereo?
JM: “Say” by John Mayer

CCM: What was the last book you read?
JM: Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

CCM: If you could tell the world about another artist/band to check out, who would it be?
JM: Watch out for DOE, formerly Dominique Jones of Forever Jones. She’s one of my favorite songwriters and vocalists ever.

CCM: Name a song that you wish you’d written (and why).
JM: Every Mia Fieldes song. One of the greatest writers ever.

CCM: How did you arrive at the name of your new album?
JM: In writing seasons I keep praying and writing until I look up and have an albums worth of songs done. It has always been a perfect snapshot of that particular year or season in my life. So far, there has always been a song that every other song pivots around. A concept or idea that caused every other idea. It’s been “Maintain” or “Make Room” in the past, but this time it is absolutely “People.”

CCM: What can listeners expect in terms of the sound, style and lyrics?
JM: I’ve always given a lot of different flavors in an album. From pop and R&B to a good ol’ gospel choir. Lyrically, I think I’m known for deep ones that make you want to actively listen and reflect.

CCM: Who are your biggest musical influences?
JM: John Mayer, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Sam Cooke, and India.Arie.

CCM: What was the songwriting process like on this record?
JM: Just like every other: some songs written in the shower, some written on the plane, and some written, well, on the toilet.

CCM: What message do you hope listeners will take away from your music, regardless of what they believe?
JM: Grace is such a necessary element of this life. We NEED it from God, but people also need it from us.

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