Life-affirming music- songs and musicians with the power to lift souls into the heavens. They always manage to arrive when we need it most. Call these mini sermons of healing delivered by prophets with microphones, guitars, basses, drums, and keyboards. They are sonic balms that energize just as they soothe.
The Nashville-based Jason Lee McKinney Band offers up 16 of those spiritual infusions on One Last Thingthe group’s 11th studio album and its first to embrace a gospel vibe that seamlessly matches the band’s soulful stew of rock, R&B, folk, blues and country. One Last Thingset for release March 18th 2022 on Bonfire Records, takes lyrical inspiration from scripture and musical cues from the band’s previous 10 releases.
“One Last Thing brings out an overtone that has always been an undertone in our music in that it is drenched in gospel,” says McKinney, who self-penned all 16 songs on the record. “On this album, we brought both the musical style and the message of the gospel to the foreground. That vibe was always part of our foundation, but now it’s front and center. It really didn’t happen through some master plan, but rather organically. Between the political climate, the pandemic, and the general nihilistic dissent of the community, we found ourselves drawn to hope. Gospel music and the message it represents resonate that feeling.”
McKinney, who handles lead and background vocals, electric and acoustic guitars on One Last Thing is joined by band mates Barry Strauser on piano, organ, keyboards, and background vocals; Billy Wright on bass; Sam Berce on electric and acoustic guitars; and Logan Todd on drums and percussion. The record also features an array of guest musicians — Simon Alexander, Sebastian Falvo, Shannon Wickline, and Jules Belmont.
No gospel leaning album worth its weight in holy water would be complete without a roomful of rejuvenating voices. One Last Thing Includes vocals from McKinney’s family – daughter Zakyra, sons Zeke and Zion, and daughter-in-law Julianna. Also, a beautifully jubilant choir accentuate the powerful “Freedom.”
Other key tracks on One Last Thing include the R&B-soaked “Sing On;” the rhythmic roots number “Cross Over;” the lovely ballad “Lighthouse;” and the irresistible gospel rave-up “Voice for the Voiceless.” That clean, hearty, and passionate sound that permeates the entire disc comes from sterling production and engineering. For that we thank producer McKinney, who also pulled double-duty as part-time engineer, as well as engineers Justin Patton, Natalie Nabors, Cale Griffin, and Kevin Houston, who produced and engineered the band’s 2020 opus, Piecesand served as mix engineer for 2021’s Intentions and Interpretations.
The award-winning singer, songwriter, and musician McKinney has spent more than a decade cementing a name for himself and his band in the competitive world of modern-day roots music. He’s a tireless artist, a man who earned a Doctorate, MBA, and BA in Management and spent time as a college music professor. McKinney even has a philosophy book coming out in the spring. McKinney and company made it a point to not coast during the upheaval of the pandemic, instead of choosing to stay creative to keep the soul alive.
We got to sit with the band to talk about their new single, which we are pleased to premiere, as well as what else is in stores.
- We’re very honored to have with us today one of the best bands currently making the scene, the Jason Lee McKinney Band; greeting s and salutations, gentlemen! Before we dive right into our questions, could you all introduce yourselves for our reading audience?
The band is myself Jason on lead vocals and guitars, Barry Strauser on keys and bgvs, Billy Wright on bass and bgvs and Sebastian Falvo has been on guitar for the past couple of years.
- Major congratulations and kudos are in order for your upcoming March 18 release of the band’s eleventh studio album, One Last Thing! Jason, what’s the story behind the new album? How did this come into being?
We actually recorded most of the album in 2019 with the plan to release it in 2020 but when the pandemic hit, we decided to delay that. I actually think it ended up being for the best as the album’s themes of freedom, the problem of evil, faith, hope and endurance are more needed now than they would have been even just a few years ago
- What one thing are you most proud of with One Last Thing?
One thing I am most proud of is really hard. I am just proud of this album overall. I really believe it is our opus. Other bands might be able to create far superior albums but One Last Thing on all three levels- songwriting (lyrical and musical), playing, and recording/production is the best this band is capable of doing. In every way this is our best work and what I believe will be the best we ever do. I believe the guys agree with this.
- How does One Last Thing differ from the Jason Lee McKinney Band’s previous albums? How is it similar?
In most ways it is just a continuation of the soul-infused folk and blues of our past work. What is different is the lyrical depth and the gospel influence. We really lean into the gospel choir on this album. It just adds so much collective hope to the songs. Something about a large group of human voices singing together gives the feeling of our shared humanity and need for mending what is broken in us all. Lyrically I drew inspiration from old slave spirituals in form and content as well as pulled concepts from ancient philosophical minds like Aquinas, Augustine, Aristotle, Anselm… you know all the A’s lol as well as Leibniz, Bonaventure, and Kierkegaard.
- One Last Thing is a lovely antidote to some of the more depressing times that we’re living in. Was this always the intention of you and the other guys in the band, to sort of look up to the heavens while so many others are concentrating on the negative?
I really appreciate you saying that. Our only career long intention is to be honest to where we are at any given time. That being said with all the negativity going on over the past few years we did find ourselves being drawn to hope and wanting to be disseminators of that same hope we are drawn to. The hope we are drawn to is more than a wish or a feeling, it is more metaphysical and transcendent. It is a hope that does not deny things in life often are painful but rather a hope that searches for the good in the midst of the pain. Simone Weil in her book Waiting for God when she says, “The sea is not less beautiful in our eyes because we know that ships are sometimes. If it altered the movement of its waves to spare a ship it would be a creature gifted with discernment and choice, and not this fluid perfectly obedient to every external power. It is this obedience which makes the sea’s beauty”
- What special challenges did One Last Thing present in terms of producing a record during a pandemic? Did this project challenge you in ways you haven’t been in the past?
We didn’t actually record the album during the pandemic. We recorded it before the pandemic which brought its own challenges. Like Tom Petty said the waiting is the hardest part. LOL. For us that has been the toughest thing about this album is just waiting for the right time to release it. In retrospect I am really glad the album did not come out when it was originally intended to but it was a challenge to our patience for sure.
- What do you hope fans walk away with after listening to One Last Thing?
That is a great question. I think I can boil it down to three things. 1. Hope 2. Joy 3. Connection… connection to each other and connection to God.
- This album was self produced, yes? How does self producing a record shape the feel of the material vs. using an outsider?
This is another great question. The album was self-produced. I have produced several of our albums and we have hired in producers on several. I think it all depends on how defined the vision is for the album from the onset. The ones I had decided to produce are the ones where I knew clearly where I wanted the album to go from the onset. One Last Thing was like that, I knew from the first song where I wanted the album to go.
- Jason, you’re the wordsmith behind all sixteen of the lovely tracks on One Last Thing. From start to finish, how long did it take you to craft this gem?
Normally I am pretty fast, but this album took me about a year to write. The concepts in the lyrics are just so existential that boiling them down took a while to marinate. Once they began to come out though it flowed pretty easily.
- What led to your decision to really bring forward the band’s gospel influences in One Last Thing?
It honestly was a decision; it is just where the band is at. I think the crazier things get the more we as a band are drawn to hope, drawn to gospel music and drawn to the gospel message.
- One Last Thing Features some special guest musician in the form of Simon Alexander, Sebastian Falvo, Shannon Wickline, and Jules Belmont. What was it like to create this brilliant album alongside some of the brightest talents in the music industry?
Sebastian is an interesting case. He had just started playing with us live then we cut the album so he appeared as a guest but since that time he has been the bands full time guitar player. I love collaborating and we are a band that has no problems bringing in a friend to record a part if that friend will do a better job at it than any of us. That was the case with Jules. Jules is a brilliant lap steel player and on Doubters Prayer I knew I wanted that vibe. Instead of anyone in the band trying to muddle through it, we just brought in a guy we knew would kill it. The song always has to come before the ego.
- Bonfire Records is the home of One Last Thing and the Jason Lee McKinney Band. What makes Bonfire the perfect home for the band and its music?
Man, the label owner Lonnie is just such a cool dude. He believes in what we are doing and lets us completely drive the ship creatively. They are a label that does not meddle in the music and artistic vision.
- Ccan fans look forward to seeing the Jason Lee McKinney Band on tour in their neck of the woods in the near future?
Things are in recovery mode for touring with the pandemic still on its way out (hopefully) and with the situation with Russia and the Ukraine and its effects on gas in the US and potential travel abroad all I can say is “Lord willing and the creek don’t rise” We have historically toured extensively both nationally and internationally for each album and hope to with this one, especially this one, as well.
- Final – SILLY! Question (for all of you!): Favorite gospel group – The Soul Stirrers, the Angelic Gospel Singers or Mahalia Jackson?
Amazing question. I can narrow it down but not give you just one. On the black gospel side give me Blind Boys of Alabama or Sam Cooke era Soul Stirrers. On the folk side give me Rich Mullins all day every day.
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