By Austin Lindner | Echo
Josh Garrels has never been a conventional Christian music artist. In fact, in multiple interviews, the singer-songwriter refused the contemporary Christian label entirely.
Garrels prefers to think of his music as an expression of his faith, hope and longing rather than a brand of music engineered specifically for Christian audiences. Declining to sign with a major record label, Garrels has been independently producing and distributing his uniquely-styled music since the early 2000s.
Consistent with his unconventional way of tackling the Christian music industry is his unconventional rise to recognition. Both stylistically and visually, Garrels is far from the typical clean-cut stereotypical Christian singer. He is a self-proclaimed former skate punk from South Bend, Ind., who struggled through adolescence and was involved with dealing drugs in high school, according to an interview with NPR. Music became Garrels' artistic outlet for times of personal crisis, hurt and spiritual need. This comes out in the surprising honesty of his lyrics.
Garrels has continued to achieve recognition within both secular and Christian music communities, especially since the release of his first "bedroom recording" album in 2002. In 2005, the songwriter co-founded his label, Small Voice Records, and released eight albums to date. Garrels' latest full-length album "Love & War & the Sea in Between" was named the No. 1 album of 2011 by Christianity Today.
Garrels resonates with such a large audience of Christians and non-Christians alike because of his vulnerable, melodic songwriting style. Although his main genre is folk, he has been able to successfully blend a variety of influences from hip-hop to bluegrass into his sound throughout his career.
The main reasons Garrels seems to garner such fan loyalty is his outlook on lyrical honesty, music and faith. Shying away from the Christian clichés so often used in the contemporary Christian genre, Garrels prefers to use personal lyrics, viewing his music as his expression of faith.
"The two things are so fused that it's not just one feeding off the other or complimenting the other, but they're sort of synonymous," he said in an interview with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. "(My music) is not the picture of my faith, it's the thing itself."
Garrels is currently touring the Midwest with special guest performer Will Reagan. He will be taking the stage of The Deluxe at Old National Centre in Indianapolis on Oct. 23.
