Christian Music News & Reviews

Jadon Lavik: Dueling Musician

Author: Andrew Greer, CCMMagazine.com

Trekking around the country as a touring musician and regularly leading worship at his home church in California, BEC singer/songwriter Jadon Lavik takes a break to talk about his dual roles of Christian recording artist and local worship leader. He also reveals the inspiration behind The Road (BEC), his newly released record featuring all acoustic renditions of fan favorites—and gives a sneak peek into his fourth studio album, due out next spring.

CCM: Was The Road inspired by the acoustic impressions of last year's hymns record?

Jadon Lavik: Not really. This record captures what I do in a live acoustic set. As you're out on the road doing concerts, you gravitate to new arrangements of songs. The vibe is different because of the instrumentation. There are just two guitars and two vocals on the entire record, so it has that real, stripped-down, simplistic, natural vibe sound. There are only two new songs on the album, but the arrangements are new.

CCM: So you have accomplished a "best of" and a "live" record all in one, without doing either.

Lavik: [Laughs] It was the label's idea to handpick songs that have been "popular" off of previous records. They wanted to call it a "best of." I was like, "I don't know. I only have three records out." The vibe of the record is different [though]. I don't think you can get any more under-produced than this album. That's kind of the goal, to throw out something that's live sounding.

The hymns record (Roots Run Deep, BEC) had an acoustic vibe [but] it was more produced than this album.

CCM: A few of those hymn renditions are included on this record. What role have hymns played in your spiritual life?

Lavik: Hymns were a big part of my upbringing. Early on in my development as a believer, I recall my most worshipful moments being around these songs. Lately they are making a resurgence, which is rad.

CCM: Is your congregation resistant to learn the new hymn arrangements, or are the new versions helping the old hymns regain popularity?

Lavik: The purists will balk at a complete rearrangement, but I haven't encountered that much. People love the lyrical content of hymns and are excited about hearing these old songs in a fresh way. From a worship leader perspective, as we train our congregations to get beyond musical preference and see the bigger picture about what we're doing in worship, a lot of those issues get thrown by the wayside. We're discussing truths about God and entering into a time of worship that transcends musical styles, genres and alterations to melodies, and all those nuances of music that we talk about.

CCM: You lead worship at home as well as touring the states. Is there a tug-of-war between artist life on the road and the need to be centered in home and community?

Lavik: Definitely. It's funny that you ask that question. I start my first recording session for an all-new, all-original record tomorrow [due out next spring]. The record is literally split down the middle between worship songs and artist songs. I didn't plan it that way. When I talk to my network of friends and artists, the recurring topic is how to balance that creative side of being an artist with the desire to be a normal guy and plugged into the local church.

CCM: How do you strike a balance?

Lavik: It starts with my personal spiritual walk and prayer life, not seeking out what I want to do with every day, but what the Lord wants me to do. If I'm getting tons of offers, I view that as God opening that door, to use it. If that's slowing, and the industry is saying, "Hey, we're sick and tired of Jadon Lavik," that's just a part of the scenario.

My first priority is listening to my wife and family's needs. This last season has been a home season for me. Having our first child, being newly married, I've been turning down a lot of concert opportunities. And when I do take an opportunity, really focusing on if it's really something I believe in.

CCM: When you perform a concert, what is the goal for yourself, for the music and for the audience?

Lavik: I try to unpack what it means to walk with Christ over a series of songs, and get people to a place of realizing that this is much more than music. It's about a guy's relationship with the Lord that he's trying to express through song and lyric.

The goal is to encourage other believers in their walk, to paint an honest picture about what it means to follow Christ and also be an attraction to a non-believer who is seeking and asking questions. Allow them to hear, if they haven't already heard, the message of the hope we have in Christ and that God desires to be the bearer of our burdens. We can have rest for our souls when we place trust in Him.

For more info on Jadon Lavik, visit jadonlavik.com.

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