10 Questions with ... Shawn McDonald

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

LABEL:

• Sparrow Records

DISCOGRAPHY:

• Closer (2011)
• Roots (2008)
• Ripen (2006)
• Simply Nothing (2004)

1. What is the story behind the new single "Closer"?

"Closer" is a song about coming back to the basics, pretty straightforward. I wrote it with a buddy of mine and we kind of just came to this common ground that in order to get away from the darkness you have to draw near the light. It is easy to find our selves in the blah of life, going through the motions. "Closer" is a hope and need to push through that in hopes of a deeper communion with God.

2. What is the message or theme that you hope is conveyed through the new album?

There is not really one theme on this record. I write from a personal place but try real hard to write in a way that others can make it personal to there own lives. This record I would say is mostly about brokenness to redemption. It's a cry for the need of God and a celebration of his showing up.

3. What do you hope someone walks away from a Shawn McDonald show with (other than maybe a t-shirt or CD)?

I have prayed for years that God would use my life and my music to meet and heal broken people, and quite honestly I have seen and heard so many stories of how God shows up. I really don't know what I want people to leave with because I really don't know what and where they are with life. But what I do hope for is that my music and life can help them along in there own journey home. I just want to be used and most importantly. I just want God to be pleased with who I am. I feel that as long as I am after his heart then I will trust God to meet those who have come in to my path.

4. Do you have a favorite song on the new album?

My fav song on the record is "Don't Give Up" and "Something Real."

5. Who inspires you personally, spiritually and/or professionally?

John Mayer is one of my favorite songwriters. John Eldredge is my favorite author. And well the professional one, I am still working on.

6. Which do you enjoy more: the studio or the stage, the writing, recording or performing?

I probably enjoy creating the most. I am not much of an up-in-front-of-people kind of guy, but I love to make music.

7. Where is your favorite place to play? Any favorite venues?

I love to play theaters the most. They bring such a good atmosphere for the type of music I make. My all time favorite show was in a monastery in the heart of Paris. The building must have been a 1000 years old or more, still stone and dirt floors and all candle lit. We had about 200 people that night and the mood was epic.

8. What song do you wish you had written?

I really don't know how to answer this question. I write the songs that are personal to me. I am content with my musical journey.

9. Do you have any humorous or interesting or inspiring stories from visits with radio stations?

I once was blindfolded on-air on a station in Germany. They put the mic in front of me and made me drink random things and then had me say in the mic what it was I was drinking. They found this quite funny. They ended the blindfolding by having me drink some nasty dark German beer. I think next time I might say "no" to a blind taste-testing.

10. Do you have much time to check out other artists' music? What are you listening to right now?

I love music, always checking out as much as I can. My favorite artist of the last year I would have to say was Andrew Belle's "The Ladder."