Jesus Made A Way
In July of 2008 I had an encounter with God that dramatically altered the course of my life and creative pursuits. And after nearly 7 years of dedication to spiritual growth I returned to the studio to begin recording and producing music again. During this period (2008-2015) I wrote and accumulated many songs that could be described as psalms that were born out of extended times of worship, prayer, and meditation; all of which honestly express the spirit’s desire and search for belonging and connection with the Creator. It’s a challenge to decide what songs should go on an album, yet I did my best to narrow down a selection of music that spans and documents this 7 year chapter well. So in Autumn of 2014, starting in Prescott, WI with its beautiful bluffs and where the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers intersect, I began tracking and laying the foundation of what would become the album "Jesus Made a Way" alongside close friend and engineer/producer Joe Diethelm.
I have had numerous friends and musicians remark that my music has a certain classic vibe to it that is reminiscent of artists like the Beatles, Rich Mullins, and Cat Stevens. I’ve definitely been influenced by these sounds and many others, but I also endeavor to discover and express my own unique, creative voice in every dimension. I think you will find that in our era where music in the christian sphere has a tendency to be over-produced, hyped, repetitious, and recycled that my work is a refreshing and original experience.
After a wonderful year of weekend sessions in Prescott tracking most of my acoustic guitars, pianos, and vocals I transitioned the project to Aerial View Studio in Minneapolis where some additional tracking and the post production was completed with the very talented producer and mixing engineer Aaron Ankrum. I am so pleased with how this collection turned out, and I want to give a big thanks to my friends and contributors: Reese Kling (drums), Andrew J. Kurzweg (electric guitars), and Christian Ankrum (bass).
The album is complete and out now on Itunes, Apple music, Spotify, Amazon, and most other streaming apps and digital music platforms. Check it out and share!
℗ by Jon Arthur Schmidt