Introducing ...Jason Gray

Russ Breimeier : Copyright Christianity Today International

Some might remember you as an independent artist by your given name, Jason Gay. Jason Gray Right, some were concerned it would complicate my ministry. I was hesitant to change something as fundamental as my name in response to the culture wars.Unfortunately, [it became a necessity] with reports of people getting more than they bargained for searching my name on the Internet—it distressed me that kids were stumbling upon inappropriate material. Also, many people couldn't access my website or e-mails because of spam filters flagging the word "gay."Adding an "r" seemed an easy solution, so this is the year I went Gray (laughs).This is your official label debut after operating independently for a so long. Was it a timing issue or did it take this long to get noticed?Quick takes:

Where are you from originally?
Lynd, a small town of about 250 people in Southwestern, Minnesota

Favorite place you've traveled to?
Zimbabwe last year, meeting beautiful Otillia, the first girl we sponsored through World Vision

Best meal you prepare?
I've perfected making this over-medium fried egg with spices and melted cheese on it. I'm good at toast, too.

Pet peeve?
We used to have a pet fish named Peeve (R.I.P.)

Your most annoying habit?
My wife says I don't pick up after myself.

What makes you laugh?
My 3-year-old Gus, especially when he's acting out scenes from our favorite movie, "Nacho Libre."

Your favorite website?
That's easy: Christianitytoday.com

Last good book you read?
My Name Is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok

Last good movie you saw?
Blood Diamond

Band/artist you're listening to the most right now?
Over The Rhine and Mute Math

Band/artist that comes closest to your sound?
Bebo Norman

Age you became a Christian?
16

Your favorite Bible verse?
Isaiah 49:16

Last lesson God taught you?
Not to worry about money. I have a hard time learning that one, though.

Gray I'm glad it [took time], because with Centricity I've found a group of great people who aren't interested in changing me, but only want to help me be more effective at what I've been doing all along. For me to land here after all my years as an indie is among God's sweetest grace to me. Your music has always been fairly eclectic—pop, folk, rock, even some blues. Do you feel you've had to compromise your artistry to garner more attention?Gray I've had to become more focused.It's a question of what I'm called to do and where I can best serve. I try to write subtly intelligent songs that appeal to thoughtful believers. But I'm also trying to reach those who aren't necessarily looking to be challenged; that's where I think I can make the greatest difference. I'm willing to do my best to meet people where they're at, with humility and love, and prod them a little. I like to think of myself as politely subversive.How do you balance launching a music career at this stage in life with being a husband and father? Some have trouble balancing the two when starting out.Gray I'll let you know when I figure it out! I've been on the road for several years as an independent artist, but there are more demands now that I'm with a label. I'm blessed to have a family who supports me. My wife and kids are my biggest advocates and they make great sacrifices to help me answer this calling. But we all share in the rewards. One of our greatest passions is the work we do with World Vision. After a concert, my boys call to see how many kids got sponsored. We share those victories as a family and it's important to them that I'm on the road helping those [WV] kids. We've built our ministry over the years as something to do together, traveling with me about half the time. I think we have a pretty healthy balance.You've wrestled with a stuttering problem over the years, yet it certainly doesn't affect your singing. How have you overcome that?Gray Most stutterers don't have a problem when they sing—it's a breathing thing, different than speaking. The real thing to overcome was fear—the fear of sounding like a fool! Being a singer/songwriter means I tell stories between songs, and that's where I can get into trouble with my stuttering. I've decided to use it, though, making it an asset instead of a liability, because that's what God promises to do with our weaknesses. My inability to speak paired with my gift of singing is really a cool metaphor. I take my broken, stuttering life to God, and he's able to make music of it.What message do you want listeners to take away from All the Lovely Losers?Gray The album is really about the virtues of weakness and the wonderful reversal of fortunes that God offers the broken. I think most of us are like Moses (a famous stutterer!) standing before the burning bush with our long list of excuses for why God couldn't use us. We are tempted to believe that our weaknesses, handicaps, and failures disqualify us from doing anything significant in God's Kingdom. But Scripture begs to differ. If it's true that God's strength is perfected in our weakness, than isn't it the weak that have the advantage? My hope is that broken people will come away from listening to my record with a renewed sense of purpose that they are the ones God desires to use. Which song from the new album are you most proud of, and why?Gray "Grace" is the kind of lyric I most like to write, playing with a metaphor and seeing if it reveals something new about the subject—in this case, imagining the grace of God to be a girl named Grace who you can never be good enough for, but she takes you anyway. The line that hits me every time I sing it is, "I am the cheating kind, but she's changing my mind/The way she takes me back though I fail her every time." And that's what grace does when we surrender to it—it changes us.Check out our site's artist page for more about Jason Gray, and click here to read our review of his recent album, All the Lovely Losers. Go to Christianbook.com to listen to sound clips and buy the music.Copyright © Christian Music Today. Click for reprint information.

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