Michael Gungor

Michael Gungor (born September 14, 1980) also known as Vishnu Dass[1] is an American singer-songwriter, producer, music editor, author, and podcast host. He led the musical collective Gungor, which received multiple Grammy nominations.[2] The group's music has been compared to that of Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver, and Arcade Fire.[3] Aside from his work with the band, Gungor has written and produced music for several other artists, and is a co-founder of the art collective The Liturgists.

Michael Gungor
Also known asGungor
Born (1980-09-14) September 14, 1980
Wisconsin, U.S.
GenresExperimental, post-rock, folk, alternative, worship
Years active1999–present
LabelsIndependent
Websitegungormusic.com

Music career

Early career

As early as 2002, Gungor began producing albums with his church, Resurrection Life Church, in Grandville, Michigan. The albums garnered the attention of Integrity music, who signed Gungor for a solo album. In 2003, he released "Bigger Than My Imagination" under Integrity Media.[4] The album included the single "Friend of God", a Dove Award-nominated song that Gungor wrote with Gospel artist Israel Houghton. The album also enjoyed some radio play.

In 2005, Gungor toured with Teen Mania's Acquire the Fire traveling youth rally event. That same year, he and his wife Lisa released a live album titled Battle Cry: Worship from the Frontlines, through Integrity Media.[5] Gungor would later retire most of the songs on this album, tweeting a link to his blog[6] that can no longer be located. The blog stated that Gungor no longer preferred to associate military imagery with Christian belief.

The Michael Gungor Band

In 2006, Gungor parted ways with Integrity Music, seeking more creative control over his music. He then formed the Michael Gungor Band, consisting of himself on guitar and vocals, his wife Lisa on vocals, his brother David Gungor on bass, John Arndt on piano, Josh Eatmon on drums, and former Desperation Band member Michael Rossback as a guitarist and producer.[7]

Gungor rented a house down the road from his church in Grandville and turned it into a recording studio. It was there that Gungor and Rossback produced their 2007 release, All I Need is Here.[8] This was Gungor's first independent project, and was a great departure from the predictable CCM box of his two releases with Integrity.

In 2008, the Michael Gungor Band signed with Brash Records. The label re-released their album in 2008 as Ancient Skies, omitting two songs and adding the upbeat rock opener "Say So", as well as a song sung by Lisa, "You Are The Light".[9]

Gungor
Main article: Gungor

After touring with his sophomore release, Michael Gungor renamed the group from "The Michael Gungor Band" to simply "Gungor" (styled as güngör). This reflected another change, both in the direction of his music and in the evolving number of band members.[10] The first album release under the new name was Beautiful Things in 2010. This album was yet another departure from Gungor's old style, involving indie-folk instrumentation reminiscent of Sufjan Stevens, and ambient soundscapes. The album featured a short gospel-blues jam featuring Israel Houghton titled "Heaven". In 2011, the album and its title track, "Beautiful Things", were nominated for the Grammy categories Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album and Best Gospel Song, respectively.

In 2011, Gungor released Ghosts Upon the Earth, and followed this with a live album, A Creation Liturgy in 2012. The band's third studio album, I Am Mountain, was released on September 24, 2013.[11] On October 24, 2013, the band began its 60-city headline tour across the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.[12][13]

Though Gungor's music is filled with Christian themes and language and is spiritual in nature, the collective has attempted to distance itself from being labeled simply a "Christian" band due to the problematic way the term is often used.[14][15] Michael Gungor refers to Gungor as a collective because at any given time the group is composed of 3–10 members. He and his wife believe that their music transcends any one genre.[16][17] Gungor writes songs that are a mix of indie rock, post rock, prog, soft rock and more. When asked, Gungor describes his style as "alternative, folk, textured and experimental."[18] They performed at SXSW 2014.[16][19]

Gungor announced the end of their journey as a band in early 2019.[20] The "End of the World" tour became their farewell tour.

The Liturgists

In 2014, Gungor, together with Michael's wife and sister, began collaborating with other artists and releasing music as "The Liturgists", which he calls "an experimental art collective".[21] This is also the title of their podcast, which discusses topics through the lenses of science, art and faith.[22]

Writing

Gungor published his first book The Crowd, the Critic and the Muse in 2012.[23]

In April 2019, Gungor published his second book This. He is currently the host to a podcast, which shares the name with the book,[24] that explores the spiritual themes of clinging and suffering.[25]

Personal life

Michael Gungor grew up in Marshfield, Wisconsin. He is the son of pastor and author Ed Gungor. He began writing and playing music at a young age and went on to study jazz guitar at both Western Michigan University and the University of North Texas while also touring and working as a multi-instrumentalist musician. He met his wife Lisa at Oral Roberts University during their first year, and she, also a musician, later became his music partner and serves as the other primary vocalist and songwriter for Gungor.

Michael and Lisa live in Los Angeles, California with their two daughters, Amelie and Lucette.[16] They wrote the song "Light" for their younger daughter, born in May 2014, who has Down syndrome.[26]

In 2007, Michael and Lisa Gungor founded a non-denominational church community called Bloom, but have since dissociated themselves from the church.[27]

Discography

Michael Gungor

Michael Gungor Band
  • Ancient Skies EP (March 24, 2006)
  • All I Need Is Here (October 9, 2007)
  • Ancient Skies (September 9, 2008)

Gungor

The Liturgists
  • Vapor EP (February 28, 2014)
  • Garden EP (April 8, 2014)
  • God Our Mother EP (May 6, 2014)
  • Pentecost EP (June 6, 2014)
  • Oh Light (December 20, 2015)
  • Holy Week (March 2016)

Awards
  • GMA Dove Awards 2008: "Say So" – Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year[28]
  • Independent Music Awards 2013: A Creation Liturgy (Live) – Best Live Performance Album[29]

Publications
  • The Crowd, the Critic, and the Muse: A Book for Creators – (2012)
  • This: Becoming Free – (2019)

References
  1. "The Mystical Practice of Receiving a New Name". thymindoman.com. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  2. "Song Premiere: Gungor, "Wayward & Torn"". americansongwriter.com. August 26, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  3. Mansfield, Brian (August 16, 2013). "Song debut: Gungor's 'I Am Mountain'". Usatoday.com. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  4. "iTunes Music – Bigger Than My Imagination by Michael Gungor". itunes.com. January 2003.
  5. "iTunes Music – Battlecry: Worship From the Frontlines". iTunes. January 2005.
  6. "Michael Gungor on Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  7. "D'Addario Strings: Artist Details: Michael Rossback". D'Adarrio. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  8. "All I Need is Here – Michael Gungor". AllMusic. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  9. "Ancient Skies – Michael Gungor". AllMusic. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  10. "Gungor Biography". TodaysChristianMusic.com. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  11. Irvine, Nate (August 22, 2013). "Gungor's Long Awaited New Release: I Am Mountain | Metro Youth Network | Connect. Experience. Grow.Metro Youth Network". Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  12. Mansfield, Brian (August 16, 2013). "Song debut: Gungor's 'I Am Mountain'". usatoday.com. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  13. "Song Premiere: Gungor, "Wayward & Torn"". American Songwriter. August 26, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  14. "Gungor". Gungor.
  15. "Gungor Talks With FaithVillage – FaithVillage | MOVE YOUR FAITH HERE". FaithVillage. May 14, 2012. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  16. Puga, Kristina. "Grammy-nominated Gungor, label-less in music and life". Nbclatino.com. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  17. "Music: Gungor". Citybeat.com. October 22, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  18. "Alt-Folk Collective Gungor Launches 60+ City Headlining Tour Oct. 24 at The Madison Theater". Cincy Groove. October 9, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  19. "SXSW 2014". SXSW LLC. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  20. "Gungor says 'journey is over' for band, announces farewell tour: 'It's time for something new'". Christian Post. February 4, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  21. "The Liturgists | Gungor". Archived from the original on June 1, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  22. "The Podcast". Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  23. "Books". Michael Gungor.
  24. "About". Michael Gungor.
  25. "Michael Gungor". Michael Gungor.
  26. "Gungor Music Blog". Gungormusic.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  27. "Interview on music and Bloom community". The Collision Podcast. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  28. "Dove Awards History Artist: Michael Gungor". Gospel Music Association. Archived from the original on June 5, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2009.
  29. "12th Annual Independent Music Awards Winners Announced!" Independent Music Awards, June 11, 2013. Retrieved on September 4, 2013.
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