Jonathan Rundman is a Midwest-based songwriter, performer and recording artist whose music has been called “a welcome return to the simple essence of rock and roll.” His songs have been acclaimed in the pages of BILLBOARD magazine, and heard on radio stations from coast to coast. One of Jonathan’s new songs entitled “The Serious Kind” has been selected as a program song for the 2003 ELCA Youth Gathering…listen for it if your youth group plans on going to Atlanta for the gathering! Jonathan also has a long history in youth ministry. He has toured nationally and overseas with Youth Encounter’s Captive Free teams, worked as Outreach Director at Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and spent four years as youth director at Emmaus Lutheran Church in Eugene, Oregon. Jonathan lives in Minneapolis with his wife Dawn who is an editor at Augsburg Fortress publishers.
 
Jonathan was kind enough to take some time to share some of his current adventures in music and ministry:
 
YE: What do you enjoy most about being an independent artist?
 
Jonathan: I really like the freedom I have to play any kind of event or venue that I want. I perform everywhere and anywhere: churches, conventions, colleges, bars, nursing homes, theaters, camps, hockey arenas, basements, and flatbed trucks. Nobody bosses me around and tells me where I should and should not play. Also...being independent is the only way I can afford to do this full time. If I had a record deal, or manager, or agent, or booker, or lawyer, or anyone else who demanded a percentage of my income, I probably couldn't survive.
 
YE: How did your team experiences with Youth Encounter (Captive Free North Central ‘89-90, Captive Free to the West Coast and Germany, 90-91) impact your current ministry?
 
Jonathan: Touring with Youth Encounter teams was very helpful for practical/technical reasons like overcoming stagefright, learning about sound equipment, developing stage presence, and learning how to live out of a suitcase. BUT the greatest thing my Youth Encounter years gave to me was a whole world (literally!) of friendships and connections throughout the Lutheran Church Community. I still play many many gigs booked by folks who knew me from my days with the Captive Free teams.
 
YE: What has been your favorite project so far? Why?
 
Jonathan: Good question. The most satisfying project I've ever worked on has been my 52-song double-CD album SOUND THEOLOGY. It features one song for each week of the church's liturgical calendar, and many many folks have really responded well to it. I feel like it was a musical and thematic risk to make that music, but the risk paid off, and my audience appreciated a more nerdy and liturgical take on faith-based rock & roll.
 
YE: As a songwriter, what inspires you?
 
Jonathan: Geography, movies, cars, politics and romance.
 
YE: What's next for you?
 
Jonathan: I've been executive producing a Tribute Album for the classic rock band STYX. STYX was my favorite band in elementary school, so I asked a bunch of musical friends of mine to record a Styx song and submit it to me...the CD should be out by June of 2003. It features Styx covers by myself, and other Youth Encounter bands like Echelon and Lost And Found, plus a lot of other great indie rock bands.
 
For information about Jonathan’s music, tours, booking info, and more, log on to www.saltlady.com/jonathan.htm. Or check out Jonathan and other artists at www.churchnoise.com!