Gungor

Gungor is a musical collective formed by husband and wife duo Michael Gungor and Lisa Gungor. The group's music has been compared to the music of Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver and Arcade Fire.^[1]

Michael renamed the group from The Michael Gungor Band to simply Gungor in 2010. The first album release under the new name was Beautiful Things in 2010 that features a short gospel-blues jam featuring Israel Houghton titled "Heaven". In 2011, the album and its title track, "Beautiful Things", were nominated for the Grammy categories Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album and Best Gospel Song, respectively.

In 2011, Gungor released Ghosts Upon the Earth. Gungor followed up with a live album, A Creation Liturgy in 2012. The band's third studio album, I Am Mountain, was released on September 24, 2013.^[2] On October 24, 2013 the band began its 60-city headline tour across the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.^[3][4]

Though Gungor's music is filled with Christian themes and language and is spiritual in nature, the collective has attempted to distance itself from being labeled simply a "Christian" band due to the problematic way the term is often used.^[5][6] Michael refers to Gungor as a collective because at any given time the group is composed of 3-10 members. He and his wife believe that their music transcends one genre.^[7][8] Gungor write songs that are a mix of Indie Rock, Post Rock, Prog, Soft Rock and more. If asked, Michael describes his song style as "alternative, folk, textured and experimental."^[9] They performed at SXSW 2014.^[7][10]

In 2015, Gungor embarked on their most ambitious creative project thus far: One Wild Life. The band will release three full-length albums - Soul, Spirit and Body - over the next 12 months. One Wild Life: Soul kicked off the trilogy on August 7, 2015. While each record will carry a distinct vibe, the album series presents a body of work that celebrates the adventure and challenges faced by Michael and Lisa Gungor since the release of their previous album "I Am Mountain".^[11] One Wild Life: Soul charted on multiple Billboard charts the first week of release, including Billboard 200.^{[12][13][14][15][16]}

The Liturgists

In 2014, Gungor and friend "Science" Mike McHargue, together with Michael's wife and sister, began collaborating with other artists and releasing music as "The Liturgists", which he calls "an experimental art collective".^[17] This is also a podcast that discusses topics through the lenses of science, art and faith.^[18]

Personal life

Michael Gungor grew up in Marshfield, Wisconsin. He is the son of pastor and author Ed Gungor. He began writing and playing music at a young age and went on to study jazz guitar at both Western Michigan University and the University of North Texas while also touring and working as a multi-instrumentalist musician.

Lisa Gungor grew up in Deming, New Mexico.^[19] She came from a "sports-crazed" family and didn't fully commit to her musical abilities until her senior year in high school.^[19]

Michael and Lisa met at Oral Roberts University during their first year.

In 2007, the couple founded a non-denominational church community called Bloom.^[20]

Michael and Lisa lived in Denver, Colorado with their two daughters, Amelie and Lucie.^[7] In 2014, Michael and Lisa relocated to Los Angeles, CA. In May of that year, their second daughter, Lucette, was born. She was diagnosed with Down Syndrome.^[21] In their album release One Wild Life: Soul, Michael and Lisa wrote a song dedicated to Lucie.^[22]

Discography

Gungor

The Liturgists

• Vapor EP (February 28, 2014)
• Garden EP (April 8, 2014)
• God Our Mother EP (May 6, 2014)
• Pentecost EP (June 6, 2014)
• Oh Light (December 20, 2014)

Awards

• Independent Music Awards 2013: A Creation Liturgy (Live) - Best Live Performance Album^[25]

References

External links

• Official website
• Gungor at AllMusic
• The Michael Gungor Band at AllMusic

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