Q&A with singer-songwriter Mike Rathke

Courtesy of Mike Rathke

Singer-songwriter Mike Rathke will be playing the Inner Bean on Wednesday.

Local singer-songwriter Mike Rathke has been playing guitar since he was a teenager. Wednesday he is scheduled to play The Inner Bean campus coffee house where he will share his music and his faith.

First off, how did you get started playing music?

When I was 14, this kid named Jason moved out to my trailer court. We found out that he played guitar, so my best friend and I would go over there and hang out with him for hours listening to him play all these licks from Megadeath and Metallica. My friend somehow acquired this cheesy electric guitar with a built in speaker and he would bring it over and Jason would teach us little things here and there. This went on for about a year until Jason moved out of town. By then, I was hooked.

I managed to get twenty bucks from my Mom and bought a crappy acoustic guitar from a neighbor and it became my travel mate…anywhere I went, that thing went with me. I had a lot of freedom in my teenage years, so it wasn’t uncommon for me to end up stranded at a friend’s house in the country for a day or two by myself. When that happened, I’d just hang out and play my guitar until my friends came back. I still have that guitar. It’s the only one I’ve never pawned.

What drew you to acoustic music?

I guess initially, I started to appreciate the acoustic sound when all the bands started doing “unplugged” albums. There’s just a rich, intimate feel to it that I think is attractive.

Who are some of your influences?

Well, I guess I have two sides to that because I’m not only a songwriter, but I’m mostly a worshiper. There are artists that influence me in how I write what I call “teaching songs” (songs where I’m trying to relate some truth or challenge) and there are artists who influence me in how I write “worship songs” (songs that are projected solely to God). For “teaching songs” I get inspiration from artists like Derek Webb and Jason Upton. For worship songs, I’ve learned a lot from Hillsong, Christ for the Nations, Charlie Hall and several others.

How has your faith influenced your music?

I watched an interview with Derek Webb last night where he was talking about the Christian music industry. He said “…most of the Christian music out there these days only deals with the most spiritual two percent of life’s issues. The scriptures deal with a hundred percent of the issues we face in life; everything from government, to family, to sexuality.”

That’s an interesting statement. If we as professing Christians truly hold that the Word of God has the real answers to real questions, why does Christian music leave so many questions untouched? The songs I write are designed to glorify Jesus Christ and direct the gaze of those who hear the songs to Him.

You’re a husband and a father, has that affected your music or your music career?

Well, I’d be hesitant to say I have a ‘career’ in music at this point, but having a family has impacted my music for sure. The joys and struggles of having a family make real, all the things I profess in my faith. Having a family has caused me to grow in ways that would have never happened if I were single. Without them, I’d probably still be hanging out at that house in the country with my twenty dollar guitar.

Do you have any records out?

At this point I don’t have a complete album. I do have a three song demo that I made in a college class.

Someday though.

What do you hope to accomplish with your music?

There are times when I hear a song that makes me realize in a new way, some truth or aspect of Christ and it strengthens me in my spirit somehow. I’d like to be used in that capacity.

Future plans?

I’m chasing after God. I’m running with this as far He leads me.

Mike Rathke is schedule to play The Inner Bean, 1328 Exchange, on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. For more on Rathke’s music, check out his MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/mikerathke.