The True Tunes Podcast

On this second installment of our conversation with Terry Scott Taylor, we take a deep and careful listen to his expansive new solo project, This Beautiful Mystery. Over two discs, and 21 songs, we uncover a wide range of thoughts, metaphors, emotions, and sounds - but what are the guiding images and ideas behind it all? Taylor has been perfecting his craft as a writer, musician, and producer, for over fifty years. On This Beautiful Mystery, he dug deep, so we will too. We'll explore his literary influences, the tangible ways his musical friends contributed to the project, and how Covid-19 and quarantines contributed to the entire experience. Whether you are already a fan or just enjoy songwriting brilliance, soulful eloquence, and a dramatic, half-century-long underdog story, this one's for you! Full music notes, links to a mix of Terry's early musical influences and favorite records (curated by him for our weekly Spotify Gallery Stage Mixtape,) our own mix of songs from under all of his various hats, and a hidden mash-up of DA/Eddies/Solo/LostDogs moments created by Bruce A. Brown specially for subscribers to our email list, can all be found at TrueTunes.com/TST2 . Sponsored by VisionTrust.org. Join us on the sponsorship journey today. Click HERE to make a secure donation in support of this show.

On the eve of the release of his long-awaited and almost overwhelming 21-song solo masterwork, This Beautiful Mystery, singer/songwriter Terry Scott Taylor gives us a remarkably transparent and vulnerable look into his creative and spiritual formation as an artist. It’s impressive enough for any musician to be producing the best work of their career in their seventies, but what keeps a “restless creative” pushing so hard, and digging so deep, after decades of relative obscurity and even direct opposition? Between his work with the ground-breaking band Daniel Amos, the collaborative Lost Dogs project, the light-hearted Swirling Eddies spin-off, or his more personal solo work, Taylor has set, and re-set, standards as a writer, an artist, and a producer of others’ work. And yet so few people even know his name. In this first of two installments, we hear about Terry's roots, his influences, and his general formation. In Part Two we will explore This Beautiful Mystery in great detail; as both the present culmination of a well-traveled journey and as a roadmap for another generation of restless creatives looking to make soulful sense in these crazy days. Full music list available on the Show Notes page at TrueTunes.com/TST1. Click HERE to make a secure donation in support of this show.

The successful indie folk/pop group The Gray Havens, originally from the Chicago area, have built their entire new album around a 66-year-old autobiographical reflection by a British theologian and children’s author. Blue Flower is the band’s most literarily specific, and yet accessible, project yet – and that’s saying something! We visit with songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist David Radford to hear all about it, and then we push the Jukebox to her limits as we explore 50 years of music inspired by Clives Staples Lewis. What is it about this Oxford Don that allows his work to continue to inspire artists and songwriters today? We go further up and further in on this episode of the True Tunes Podcast! (Hear the special Spotify "mixtape" playlist HERE. Full Show Notes at TrueTunes.com/GrayHavens-Lewis

Lately, it seems Jesus not only rocks, but He’s also a movie star too. The Jesus Music, a documentary written, directed, and produced by The Erwin Brothers (“I Can Only Imagine,” “I Still Believe,” “Woodlawn,”) traces the roots of Contemporary Christian Music back to the Jesus Movement of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s via archival footage and new interviews with Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Kirk Franklin, Michael Sweet, Toby Mac, and scores of other Christian artists and insiders. Electric Jesus is the fictional story of a Christian heavy metal band and the young ingenue that stows away on their RV and manages to steal the show. Starring Brian Baumgartner (Kevin Malone of NBC’s The Office) and Judd Nelson of The Breakfast Club, Electric Jesus has billed itself as “the 80s Hair Band Music-Comedy You’ve Been Saving Yourself For,” as it has crisscrossed the US on a tour of film festivals. (True Tunes featured the cast on an earlier episode and produced an entire special podcast series on the film as well.) True Tunes’ founder and host John J. Thompson is featured in The Jesus Music as an interview subject and historian and served Electric Jesus as Music Supervisor and as a historical consultant. On this episode of the podcast, Thompson brings Andy Erwin (Director of The Jesus Music) and Chris White (Writer and Director of Electric Jesus) together for a wide-ranging conversation about their films in particular, the subject of Jesus Music in general, and the challenges surrounding faithful art-making in the marketplace today. And on the Jukebox, we contemplate a slew of Jesus Music that did not come from the Evangelical underground and did not stay put in the Christian marketplace. This look at “Jesus On The Mainline” seeks to expand the conversation about just how influential Jesus has been in popular culture over the last fifty years – especially as far as music is concerned. Was CCM music the only, or even most obvious path for people of faith to take? (Don’t miss the companion article for this episode: Jesus Music Rediscovered? A Reflection by John J. Thompson at TrueTunes.com) Full Show Notes available at TrueTunes.com/JesusMusicMovies

Gospel writer, producer, artist, and worship pastor, Myron Butler shares his amazing story – from getting his first cut with Kirk Franklin as a teenager to being a part of Kirk’s smash crossover hit, “Stomp,” all the way through to his recent tribute to the songs of the amazing trailblazer, Andrae Crouch. Myron guides us not only through the essence of Andrae's influence but of Gospel music in general. Then, on the jukebox, we spin the epic 1972 live Gospel smash, Amazing Grace by Aretha Franklin – discovering a highly intentional hybrid of progressive and traditional sounds that defined a new expression of the genre right when a generation needed it. It's a long-overdue Gospel Music Meltdown on the True Tunes Podcast! Full show notes, with links, a complete song list, and photos, are available at TrueTunes.com/GospelMeltdown1 .Don't miss Myron's special Gospel Primer Playlist - also linked in the Show Notes.

On this unexpected Part 3 of our exploration of the music behind the first episodic drama about the life and ministry of Jesus, we get to hear from Dallas Jenkins himself. Jenkins created "The Chosen" after a devastating failure as a filmmaker. He didn’t know if he’d ever get to make another project again. We’ll hear about how that failure prepared him to approach "The Chosen" with a certain punk spirit. Who is "The Chosen" for? Where is the harshest criticism coming from? Are there similarities between the way this – the most successful crowd-funded media project in history – is growing and the way Christian music detached from the mainstream, or is there something else going on here? And how has the careful use of music supported the storytelling all along? This “bonus episode” closes out our conversation about the music behind "The Chosen" by exploring some of the most challenging issues that face faith-based artists in the marketplace today, including some core questions about what it means to be "faith-based" in the first place. Full Show Notes are available at TrueTunes.com. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH! Special thanks to VisionTrust.org. Please consider joining us on the sponsorship journey today. Don't miss our conversations with the artists behind the score and songs of "The Chosen," Dan Haseltine and Matthew S. Nelson on Parts 1 and 2 of this series.

When Dan Haseltine agreed to score The Chosen, a new episodic drama based on the life and ministry of Jesus and his disciples, he immediately turned to his friend and frequent musical collaborator, Matthew S. Nelson for help. Nelson, an accomplished cellist, guitarist, and songwriter had backed up Jars of Clay, Michael W. Smith, and other Christian artists in the past, but is currently more associated with mainstream indie, country, and alternative artists such as RaeLynn, Sleeping at Last, and Cheap Trick. In this episode, we’ll hear about the musical and spiritual journey that prepared Nelson for this moment. We’ll also hear what it was like for him to learn on the job at his first scoring-to-picture project. In the end, we consider the sound behind the sound – the emotional and even spiritual role music plays in film – and what that might teach us about how we compose the soundtrack of our lives. Produced by John J. Thompson and Bruce A. Brown for Gyroscope Productions Full Show Notes available at TrueTunes.com/Chosen-Matt Special thanks to @TheChosenTV @scribblepotemus and @thebanksnelson If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Dan Haseltine (Jars of Clay) joins host John J. Thompson to talk about musical roots, finding a mission, and how past experiences prepared him for his current work scoring the massively successful and critically acclaimed television drama The Chosen. From the technical and creative challenges inherent in this kind of work to spiritual and theological concerns, this in-depth conversation is about listening carefully to the sound beneath the sound. Plus, in part 2, (coming soon) we talk with Haseltine’s musical partner in The Chosen, Matthew S. Nelson. Support Blood:Water More info about JARS OF CLAY Special thanks to @TheChosenTV @scribblepotemus and @thebanksnelson Also, don't forget that long-time child sponsor Jimmy Abegg is throwing his wholehearted support behind VisionTrust and offering anyone who sponsors a child a hand-painted, one-of-a-kind print for free. Full music notes, links, photos, and more on the SHOW NOTES PAGE at TrueTunes.com. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Listen to better music, and listen to music better. After a twenty-year break – True Tunes is back! The tools are different this time. There’s no store, no venue, and no sponsored stages at a major festival. What we have now are lots of stories to tell about lessons learned, visions caught, questions articulated, and community embraced. Join host John J. Thompson and his wide range of guests as we dig for the good stuff. And whether you were a part of the journey with us the first time around, or you’re brand new to this conversation, if you’re ready to dive into the deep end of the musical pool – where the sounds resonate in ways that defy our labels, then this conversation is for you. Join us as we converse with musicians, songwriters, producers, and music industry leaders – from legends and obscure geniuses of the past to some of the freshest new voices emerging today. Some examples of the voices you’ve heard so far include Buddy Miller, Amy Grant, Steve Taylor, Charlie Peacock, Ian Fitchuk, Natalie Bergman, The Choir, Kevin Max, Waterdeep, Gungor, Liz Vice, Sandra McCracken, Eddie DeGarmo, Taylor Leonhardt, Jimmy Abegg, Michael McDermott, Christa Wells, Ella Mine, and rare archive interviews with Larry Norman and Rich Mullins. We also crank up our trusty Jukebox and listen carefully to some amazing music along the way. And we are truly just getting started. So get yourself something to drink, pull up a chair, and make yourself comfortable, or maybe get your favorite headphones and head outside for a nice walk with us - as we listen to better music, and listen to music better, together. On the True Tunes Podcast Produced by John J. Thompson and Bruce A. Brown for Gyroscope Productions. Available on all podcast platforms. Full show notes and episode list are available at TrueTunes.com/podcast-show-notes/ If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

The Choir has been crafting their own unique brand of otherworldly alternative rock for nearly four decades now. While it’s not uncommon for big-time acts to keep at it – playing their hits and cashing in on nostalgia – most artists who have endured the perpetual uphill climb that guitarist/vocalist Derri Daugherty, drummer/lyricist Steve Hindalong, and sax/lyricon/atmosphericist Dan Michaels have faced would have given up long ago. But The Choir has just released an album many fans count among the strongest of their inspired career. Deep Cuts contemplates the journey, the wounds, the healing, and the scars of life with a remarkable amount of humor, joy, and grace. On this episode of the True Tunes Podcast we sit down with The Choir to talk about their roots, their new music, and what keeps them going this far into such a challenging journey. (You'll also hear the debut of a new recording of their 1986 single "Render Love" created especially for the Electric Jesus film.) PS: We also find out that long-time child sponsor Jimmy Abegg is throwing his wholehearted support behind VisionTrust and offering anyone who sponsors a child a hand-painted, one-of-a-kind print for free! Full music notes, links, photos, and more on the SHOW NOTES PAGE at TrueTunes.com If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Call him a creative polymath or the quintessential Soul Man, but Jimmy Abegg (Rich Mullins' Ragamuffin Band, Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil, The Charlie Peacock Group, Vector, etc) has been a reliable source of musical and visual beauty and coolness for over forty years. And now, with his vision fading, this veteran side-man and accomplished craftsman is settling into his new role as a blind visionary; still painting – still making music – and still offering graceful sketches of beauty in a damaged world. Join us as we visit with him in the brand new East Nashville studio built for him by friends far and wide who have been blessed by his work. You'll hear what a few of them have to say as Amy Grant, Charlie Peacock, and Steve Taylor drop by to offer a few words on Jimmy as well. On the Jukebox, we consider the massively successful, and yet still somehow meaningful, 1986 mainstream breakthrough by Peter Gabriel. What secrets might So have for us to unpack 35 years after its release, and what mysteries might indie-folk artists Lowland Hum have uncovered in their recent homage to the classic LP. Full song list and Show Notes available at TrueTunes.com. Produced by John J. Thompson and Bruce A. Brown for Gyroscope Productions. Please consider sponsoring a child through VisionTrust.org. If you do, Jimmy will send you a personally signed, hand-made, one-of-a-kind print (valued at between $100 and $150!) For more info visit VisionTrust.org/JimmyA. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Through countless slings and arrows, and her own mainstream pop superstardom, Amy Grant has remained the defining face and voice of contemporary Christian music for over forty years. She was the first CCM artist to have a platinum record, (followed by five more platinum albums, three multi-platinum albums, and four gold albums.) She was also the first CCM artist to have a #1 pop single and has placed 17 hits on the Top 40 Adult Contemporary chart. She has earned 6 Grammy Awards and numerous Dove and other statues. With sales in excess of 30 million units, Amy Grant is the best-selling contemporary Christian singer of all time. But beyond all that, she crafted and delivered songs that spoke honestly, and vulnerably, to a generation. Amy Grant is currently marking the 30th anniversary of her breakthrough Heart In Motion album as well as a brand new collaborative worship album, Faithful that finds her working alongside a slew of talented young women, including True Tunes Podcast alums Taylor Leonhardt, Christa Wells, and Sandra McCracken. She graced the cover of the original True Tunes News in 1993 and is back with us for this very special episode of the True Tunes Podcast. As the Christian subculture seems to have become defined by that to which it is opposed, its political meanderings, and any number of culture wars and distractions, Grant’s legacy as a person of warmth, generosity, grace, and hospitality only continues to grow. What might young artists, songwriters, and listeners have to learn from someone with such an unlikely story? And on a special extended edition of the True Tunes Jukebox, we welcome two guest commentators to reflect on many of Grant’s most significant songs from very different perspectives. Industry veteran and radio expert Chris Hauser and singer-songwriter (and childhood Amy fan) Michelle Lynn Thompson join host John J. Thompson for a comprehensive dive into the deep cuts and musical watermarks of Grant’s amazing career. Plus guitarist and visual artist Jimmy Abegg (you can hear his whole story on his own episode, including a special contribution from Amy, AND you can hear him on our 2-part special with his former bandmate Rich Mullins,) is offering a hand-made, one-of-a-kind, personally signed painting to ANYONE who sponsors a child through Vision Trust! It’s our longest, fullest, episode yet. Click HERE to make a secure donation in support of this show. Full Show Notes, including a list of all songs and a special Spotify mix, available at TrueTunes.com. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Third Man Records artist Natalie Bergman joins host John J. Thompson to talk about her stirring, vulnerable, and exceptionally cool new album, Mercy, and the heartbreaking tragedy that inspired it. Bergman, who until recently was best known as one-half of the alt-pop band Wild Belle, has crafted a collection of songs that has more in common with the Jesus Music of a half-century ago than anything released since. With that inspiration, we have loaded up the Jukebox with long-lost Jesus Music obscurities and will get a first-person account of what those days were like from our own producer, Bruce A. Brown. Fifty years ago, a generation of young people was reeling with confusion and pain as the American Dream unraveled at the seams. Millions turned to a counter-cultural understanding of the rebel Jesus and found comfort, peace, and community in his words and story. Bergman, who is navigating a devastating loss of her own, reminds us of a time before Christian music became a subculture or industry and offers a new way for us to understand the potential of Gospel music. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH! Sign Up On Our EMAIL LIST! SPONSOR A CHILD THROUGH VISION TRUST

This episode, which was originally released months ago, has now been RE-MIXED with music from Taylor Leonhardt's latest album, "Hold Me." This young singer-songwriter has been on some big stages lately, playing guitar with Amy Grant, Andrew Peterson, and others, and has a slew of collaborations over the last couple of years. Her “star” is certainly on the rise. But with the release of her third independent solo album, this Texas-born, Carolina-bred, new Nashville resident is leaning into her Americana roots, and her circle of friends, for both her songs and her sound. In this episode, we get to know this engaging artist as we explore the power of community and influences in the pursuit of our voice. We also talk about the difference between taking some classes, and really learning a language, and what Taylor’s adventure in Paris might teach us about listening to understand. On the Jukebox, we survey four of the artists cited as influences by Leonhardt and featured in her specially curated and corresponding playlist. Carole King’s Tapestry, Emmylou Harris's Wrecking Ball, Patty Griffin’s 1,000 Kisses, and Krauss & Plant’s Raising Sand. We also consider some wisdom about Southern Writers from Flannery O’Connor on our Soapbox feature. It’s a full episode, for sure, but you can handle it. We believe in you. (Full Show Notes available at TrueTunes.com) If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

In Part 2 of this special episode we hear from our late friend, mentor, and guide, Rich Mullins via a long-lost interview conducted at the old True Tunes record store in Wheaton Illinois in 1995. We also check in with Mitch McVicker, Phil Madeira, and Derek Webb, and we listen to Andrew Peterson on the Jukebox. Rich’s Ragamuffin bandmates Jimmy Abegg, Aaron Smith, and Mark Robertson come back to close things out as well. It’s our longest and fullest episode yet and we are excited for everyone to hear it. This newly restored interview is 25 years old, but as we hear host John J. Thompson and Mullins talk about the struggle to pursue honest artistry and personal spiritual growth amidst evangelical fundamentalism and the benefits and beauty of exposing ourselves to challenging ideas and people, it seems like it could have been recorded yesterday. Visit TrueTunes.com for the full show notes and please spread the word. (And don't miss Part 1, where the Ragamuffins set the stage so beautifully.) If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

To many, singer and songwriter Rich Mullins was a favorite artist; the man behind songs like “Awesome God,” “Creed,” and “Hold Me Jesus.” To others, he was an enigma—a beautifully inscrutable amalgam of passion, authenticity, vulnerability, and transcendence. To some, he was a friend, a benefactor, or even a brother. On this special two-part episode of the True Tunes Podcast we will revisit the legacy of this unlikely pilgrim through conversations with some of his closest compatriots, and by hearing from the man himself – in the form of a previously unheard, and recently unearthed interview conducted in the old True Tunes record store in 1995. In Part 1 John J. Thompson visits with Rich’s Ragamuffin Band members, Jimmy Abegg, Aaron Smith, and Mark Robertson to help put it all in perspective. On Part 2 (coming soon) he sits down with Mitch McVicker and Phil Madeira, and talks with singer-songwriter Derek Webb who, though he has moved away from Christian music, recently released a cover of Mullins’ “We Are Not As Strong As We Think We Are.” On the Jukebox, we dive into the obviously Mullins-haunted career of Andrew Peterson. 24 years since his passing, might we find some guidance from Rich about navigating the complexities of faith, doubt, and mystery by asking better questions and listening more carefully to the sounds around us? If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Host John J. Thompson is back in the living room of writer, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and artist Phil Madeira (Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, John Scofield,) to talk about his recent solo projects, Providence, Crickets, Open Heart, and Hornet’s Nest as they wrap up this wide-ranging chat. The conversation gets into pretty deep waters right out of the gate, with Phil sharing some very vulnerable context about personal relationship challenges, the pain that came with the loss of a loved one, his own search for answers, and his commitment to staying true to his calling and how that has shaped his work as an artist. We’ll ruffle some feathers on this one, no doubt, but that’s what art is supposed to do, right? On the True Tunes Jukebox, we’ll take a deep dive into those recent solo albums, listening closely to some really interesting, and complicated, contemporary jazz-inflected Americana music and how it might help us find resolution in the midst of these complicated times. Full show notes are at TrueTunes.com - and don't miss the special corresponding "mixtape" curated by Madeira for this episode! Thanks to our sponsors - VisionTrust.org. Please consider sponsoring a child today. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

He’s been a go-to side-man for too many A-listers to count and is currently a member of Emmylou Harris’ Red Dirt Boys. When he’s not in the studio or on the road with any number of amazing Americana, country, blues, or rock artists, he’s writing songs and recording his own albums or collaborating and producing amazing compilation projects. In Part 1 of this two-part deep dive into the life and work of multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and artist, Phil Madeira, we learn about this musical polymath’s roots, evolution, and determination to shed limitations. Along the way, you’ll hear examples of his music, cuts he wrote for other artists, examples of his production work, and just a handful of the hundreds of tracks made so much cooler by the presence of his B3, lap-steel, or other instruments of soul. In Part Two, we’ll wrap up this wide-ranging conversation and listen through Madeira’s most recent solo work, including his brand new project, Hornet’s Nest. Born from conflict, pain, and loss, these beautiful songs could only have been crafted by someone who has been there and back and lived to tell about it. Full Show Notes, including song list, links, and contact info is available at TrueTunes.com or by clicking HERE. Thanks to our sponsors - VisionTrust.org. Please consider sponsoring a child today. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Kevin Max has been kicking against boundaries for over thirty years, first as one-third of a platinum-selling pop-rap group, (DC Talk,) and then as a poet and genre testing indie artist. Now he’s leaving his solo career behind to launch a new band, Sad Astronauts, right after releasing an acclaimed tribute to Larry Norman’s celebrated Only Visiting This Planet album. What might we be able to glean from an artist like Kevin when it comes to pushing into new territory, redefining success, and becoming more mindful of the boundaries we work within – or allow to define us? And on the jukebox we crank up the legendary Mark Heard’s tentpole album, Dry Bones Dance, as we anticipate Lo-Fidelity Records’ upcoming super deluxe reissue, by talking with two of the artists who worked with Heard on that album, vocalist Kate Miner and bassist and Chapman Stick maestro, Fergus Marsh. We are also excited to present the late Mark Heard himself in the form of some vintage interview tape-recorded around the time of the album's original release in 1990. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

We’re not calling these the BEST ALBUMS of the YEAR – but they are all pretty great. Yes, there are several other amazing records that are on other lists, or that everyone is talking about. But these are 20 albums that really stuck with us from 2020. What are yours? Make sure to FOLLOW our weekly Gallery Stage Mixtape for a blend of great music, new and old, of diverse genres, that is updated weekly. And if you want to see what you have missed over the last few years, check out the massive ARCHIVE list. If you have an “album of the year” that we did not touch on, drop us a line and let us know. We may include it on THIS EXTENDED LIST of great albums from 2020. And don’t miss this extended list of SINGLES from 2020. When we call this whole thing a conversation, we are serious! Join us at TrueTunes.com. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this special “Christmas Jukebox Takeover” edition of the podcast, we take a look at the three Christmas music releases by Over The Rhine, as well as their live-streamed 2020 Concert Special and Fundraiser, and talk about their long example of intentionally making space for beauty and grace, and how Christmas might serve as a sort of artistic and liturgical example for all of us during these cold days. Pour yourself something cheerful, make yourself comfortable, and join us by the speakers for a musical Christmas card that we hope might propel us all into, and through, the darkness that we know cannot overcome us.

This is an out-of-sequence "bonus track" from the conversation with Marc Byrd (Hammock, Common Children) that was hidden on the Show Notes page for the previous episode, and only a handful of folks found it. If you have not heard that episode check it out first. Here, Marc and John talk about the possible return of Hammock, and maybe even Common Children, in concert - and riff a bit more on the challenge of pursuing theological understanding. This "bonus track" also represents the launch of the new True Tunes PATREON program. In the future, extended conversations such as this will be available to our patrons! Find more information at Patreon.com/TrueTunes. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

As one half of the instrumental duo Hammock, Marc Byrd has been crafting some of the most influential ambient music of the last 20 years. His songs have found their way into major films, the stunning Ricky Gervais Netflix show After Life, and many more amazing places. But prior to his current career in the post-rock vanguard, Byrd wrote one of the biggest “worship” songs of the last couple of decades (“God of Wonders,”) and got his start in the alternative Christian rock world. And all along he has been haunted by the lingering effects of abuse, addiction, and trauma. On this episode of the True Tunes Podcast, we engage in an extended conversation with a man who is learning how to listen to the sounds resonating deeply within his heart, soul, and mind, and is inviting us to do the same. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

The late Larry Norman has been called the “father of Christian Rock,” though he said he never intended to create an alternate genre. U2, The Pixies’ Frank Black, and Dylan have called themselves fans. However, many who worked closely with him, came away seriously wounded in one way or another. What are we to make of messy, painful stories like his? Might the lasting legacy of Larry Norman have something to teach us about listening for the good, and discerning our own path to healing and beauty amongst damage? In this episode of the True Tunes Podcast, we visit with Larry’s son Mike Norman and hear what it was like to live with Larry and how he has come to terms with his father’s complicated legacy. We also unearth some previously unheard interview clips with Larry himself in which he talks about his regrets, offers advice for artists coming up behind him, and more. We'll also hear a lot of music, including an All Norman Jukebox takeover, and some Larry rarities. Full Show Notes at https://truetunes.com/ep-17-larry-norman-its-complicated/ If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Billed as "The 80's Hair Band Music Comedy You've Been Saving Yourself For," Electric Jesus is making its way across the country, appearing at film festivals and special screenings. In this episode, we visit with writer/producer Chris White, and composer of both the original songs and the score, Daniel Smith (Danielson Famile.) We also go back to last summer and visit the set of the film to talk with cast members, including Brian Baumgartner (a.k.a Kevin Malone from The Office) and the rest of the key actors. Along the way, we discuss the strange beauty of failure and the difference between propaganda and art that explores the nature of faith. We also offer an advance listen to a lot of the new music from the film, including a brand new track from Steve Taylor and the Danielson Foil. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Buddy Miller is a true master. He has spent his award-winning career as an artist, guitarist, songwriter, and producer, transcending trends, honoring history, pointing out beauty, and serving others well. On this episode, we visit Miller in his legendary home studio- the very space that has captured musical moments crafted by not only Buddy and Julie Miller, but Emmylou Harris, Jim Lauderdale, Robert Plant, Steve Earle, Carolina Chocolate Drops, The War and Treaty, and so many more. We talk about his earliest memories of music, how it captivated him, and how his professional path emerged. On the Jukebox, we survey his various solo albums and collaborations. What does it take to become a good listener? Buddy’s got “big ears,” as you’ll soon come to understand. With some discipline and effort, we might develop big ears, and big hearts, as well. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Why is it that some of the most compelling art is the dark stuff? Likewise – why is it that when it gets too dark, it becomes less interesting, and not more? And why is it so difficult for spiritually anchored music to get this right? We’re diving into the deep end on this episode of the podcast, with a look at pain and darkness and just how important they can be to genuinely redemptive art. Join us as we visit with Ella Mine, a brand new artist who recently released her debut album and left us all slack-jawed. Dream War blends progressive rock, classical, folk, and modern pop elements into something that sounds timeless, fresh, and enveloping. Conceived as a live performance piece, it plays like the soundtrack to an epic film or Broadway experience – and yet is as intimate and immediate as a breath. And the whole thing was birthed in and deals with tremendous pain. You’ll hear all about it, including a guided tour through the entire album when Ella takes over the Jukebox. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

We wrap up our wide-ranging conversation with veteran artists, songwriters, and producers, Don and Lori Chaffer, with a look at their latest Waterdeep album, Tandem, and some practical and inspirational words for young artists and producers looking for a path in these challenging days. The Chaffers have confronted all manners of challenges in their 25+ years as artists and have re-defined "success" in this new creative economy. Tandem demonstrates their artfulness and excellence in ways that remind us of specific radical, Biblical ideas about love. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

In this conversation we explore the unique challenges and opportunities of "adult music" as we catch up with Don and Lori Chaffer of Waterdeep and reflect upon all three albums by Buddy & Julie Miller on the Jukebox. Independent artists and aspiring songwriters and producers take note, the Chaffers are a thriving creative cottage industry unto themselves and they offer a fascinating example of what success looks like these days. (Part 1 of 2) If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

What about when you don't feel like singing? Is "Worship Music" exciting to you, frustrating, both? We’re “Singing a New Song” on this episode, with songwriter, artist, worship pastor and fountain of wisdom and grace, Sandra McCracken, including some sneak peeks into her not yet released album Patient Kingdom. We also re-visit one of the most important “modern worship” albums ever – 1991's At The Foot of the Cross on the True Tunes Jukebox as we contemplate the worship/music conundrum this time on the True Tunes Podcast. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

In Part Two of our discussion with songwriter, musician, and theological philosopher Michael Gungor we wrap up our exploration of the idea of the re-embodiment of our spirituality and what the implications of that might be for our music and the role artists might play in these disconnected and divided days. We also take deep dives into Bob Dylan’s stunning new Rough and Rowdy Ways LP and Daniel Amos’ groundbreaking 1983 album Doppelgänger – both of which have something important to say about disconnection, disembodiment, and... zombies!? If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

In his first musical release since the disbanding of his acclaimed Alternative Worship band Gungor, singer, songwriter, author, and spiritual philosopher Michael Gungor visits the podcast to talk about “the flow,” mindfulness, re-embodying our faith and art, and his new experimental solo release under the creative moniker Weiwu: Are You Perfect Yet? We also spin the new EP Miami by veteran indie band Starflyer 59 on the Jukebox on Part One of this Two-Part episode. (Part Two, with the rest of our conversation with Michael, plus Bob Dylan’s Rough and Rowdy Ways and Daniel Amos’ Doppelganger coming soon!) Sign up for updates and the chance to win cool stuff at TrueTunes.com - and visit VisionTrust.org to learn about how you can change the world for one child. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

In this episode we visit with songwriter, singer, artist, and worship leader, Liz Vice who gets real with us about the challenges, joys, discouragement, and hope she has experienced since the 37-year old Portland native launched a full-time music career, almost by accident, five years ago. She offers her unique perspective and wisdom as a woman of color in these challenging days and we take a listen to her music and a sampling of some of the incredible collaborations she has done with artists like Propaganda, Blitzen Trapper, Sandra McCracken, John Mark McMillan, and others. See the FULL SHOW NOTES HERE or at: https://truetunes.com/episode-ten-liz-vice-show-notes/ If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this Special Edition of the True Tunes Podcast we continued the "Enchantment" theme from Episode Nine by looking at four albums that had that effect, in very different ways, on our host, John J. Thompson. It's an all music episode - the first of its kind - an original of the species. (Make sure to listen to the conversation with Producer and Songwriter Ian Fitchuk on Episode Nine if this is your first time with us!) If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Grammy, CMA, and ACM Award-winning songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Ian Fitchuk (Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, Mindy Smith, Amy Grant, Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, etc) about his journey in music, serving artists, and pursuing musical "enchantment." We also take a listen to Madison Cunningham's Who Are You Now on the Jukebox. Check out the FULL SHOW NOTES HERE, or here: https://truetunes.com/grammy-acm-and-cma-award-winning-producer-and-songwriter-ian-fitchuk-joins-the-podcast-to-talk-about-enchantment-creativity-and-soul/ If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Join us for this wide-ranging conversation with singer, songwriter, producer, and artist Daniel Smith of Danielson / Danielson Famile / Brother Danielson “fame,” with Jukebox reflections on the 1986 debut album by Adam Again and the surprise new murder ballad by Bob Dylan. We also pay tribute to John Prine and Bill Withers in this reflection on the power, and beauty, of music by, and for, outsiders. Find the COMPLETE SHOW NOTES HERE or here: https://truetunes.com/episode-eight-daniel-smith-of-danielson-adam-again-dylans-foul-murder-salute-to-prine-and-withers/ If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

SPECIAL EDITION #1: Happy Birthday, Phil Keaggy! – Listen to the uncut conversation between Phil Keaggy, Rex Paul, and host John J. Thompson, conducted shortly before the release of their blistering rock project, Illumination, last year. How did a piece of long-lost tape and 20 seconds of audio from fifty years ago become a whole new song? How does an artist as accomplished as Keaggy approach life as an indie? How does collaboration speak into his work after all these years? You heard some short clips of this on the Pilot episode of the podcast last year, but now you get to hear the whole conversation in honor of Phil’s birthday AND to mark his 50 years in the faith. We all seem to have some more “Time” on our hands these days. Use yours wisely. Phil Keaggy sure has. (Includes excellent advice for up-and-coming artists and producers!) This uncut interview is a sneak peek of what's coming for folks joining our patron program. There's a lot more where this came from. Check out the SHOW NOTES PAGE HERE, or here: https://truetunes.com/special-edition-1-phil-keaggy-uncut-with-rex-paul-and-john-j-thompson-happy-birthday-phil/ If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this episode we visit with artist, songwriter, producer, film-maker, and now teacher Steve Taylor to talk about telling better stories, and telling stories better. Plus we take a look at The Lost Dogs' classic 1993 album Little Red Riding Hood and The Innocence Mission's brand new release See You Tomorrow on the Jukebox. We also get an advance listen to a brand new cut from Terry Scott Taylor's forthcoming LP. Check out the FULL SHOW NOTES HERE, or here: https://truetunes.com/podcast-ep-7-steve-taylor-show-notes/ And a big thanks to our new sponsor, VisionTrust! Check out their awesome work at VisionTrust.org. If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this episode of the True Tunes Podcast host, John J. Thompson visits with pioneering artist and music industry leader Eddie DeGarmo for a wide-ranging conversation. We also take a look back at some of the best albums of 2019 and give a toast to our good friend, the late, great Brian Healy of Dead Artist Syndrome. Full Show Notes Available Here or here: https://truetunes.com/episode-six-eddie-degarmo-best-albums-of-2019-brian-healy-tribute/ If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

In Part Two of our "live" True Tunes 30-Year Reunion we listen in on JJT’s conversation with singer-songwriter Michael McDermott, and Jeff Elbel’s interview of JJT, plus we get After The Fire and Avett brothers on the Jukebox. Check out the FULL SHOW NOTES HERE, or here: https://truetunes.com/podcast-ep-5-michael-mcdermott-jjt-after-the-fire-avett-brothers/ If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

The original True Tunes opened in June of 1989, and in the summer of 2019 a group of friends – including Glenn Kaiser, Michael McDermott, Jeff Elbel, Josiah Viland, and The Wayside, gathered in the Chicago area to celebrate that 30 Year Anniversary and to talk about new all-new True Tunes as well. On Episode Four of the True Tunes Podcast, we re-visit that gathering with excerpts from the conversations with Jesus Music pioneer Glenn Kaiser, and rock journalist for the Illinois Entertainer and the Chicago Sun-Times, Jeff Elbel. (Don’t worry, the rest will be included in Part 2. In the Jukebox, we take a listen to Threads, the brand new album by Sheryl Crow, and the 1976 classic Welcome To Paradise by Randy Stonehill. Find the FULL SHOW NOTES HERE, or here: https://truetunes.com/episode-four-30-year-reunion-part-1-glenn-kaiser-jeff-elbel-plus-sheryl-crow-randy-stonehill/ If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Host John J. Thompson talks with independent singer, songwriter Christa Wells and reflects on the latest album by Sam Phillips (World On Sticks) and the 1979 classic, Straight On, by DeGarmo and Key on the True Tunes Jukebox. Listeners also get a sneak peek at a song from the film Electric Jesus and a listen to a song from the very first performance by The 77s in 1979 (as The Scratch Band) in honor of their 40th Anniversary! Check out THE FULL SHOW NOTES HERE, or here: https://truetunes.com/true-tunes-podcast-episode-three-show-notes/ If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Tommee Profitt may not be a "household name," but you've heard his music. As the producer and co-writer of hit rapper NF's music, and as the composer and producer behind some of the most successful film and TV music out there, Profitt has been quietly - and not so quietly - finding a new way to be successful in today's music scene. And it all started by giving up on a dream. This episode also looks back on two of the greatest pop records of the 80s by one of the most under-appreciated bands of the modern era, Bourgeois Tagg. Check out the FULL SHOW NOTES PAGE HERE, or here: https://truetunes.com/episode-two-tommee-profitt-bourgeois-tagg/ If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Grammy Award winning producer, songwriter, and artist Charlie Peacock has worked with artists like Civil Wars, Switchfoot, Ruby Amanfu, and others, and his songs have been recorded by Amy Grant, dc Talk, Bela Fleck and more, but back when True Tunes' founder John J Thompson was just getting his idea out of the blocks Charlie was one of his favorite artists and deepest inspirations. One night, at the Cornerstone Festival in 1989, Charlie offered John some advice that shaped his life and work in profound ways. Recently, 30 years on since that initial meeting, the two got back together to talk about music, theology, success, and the unnecessary limitations many artists place on themselves. The "Jukebox" feature takes a look at Charlie's 1984 album Lie Down In The Grass and The Raconteurs' newest, Help Us Stranger, and the News feature explores Buddy & Julie Miller, The Beatles, and Ireland's Inhaler. Check out the FULL SHOW NOTES HERE, or here: https://truetunes.com/episode-one-charlie-peacock/ If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!