I’m not trying to convert you.
But I think listening to Jon Watts’ Quaker hip-hop will convince you that there’s some kind of Spirit out there.
Generally, I don’t find religious music all that interesting, although I did write about one Christian band here way back when.
However, Watts’ work is so utterly imbued with conviction and honesty — he is literally baring his soul — that it’s hard not to sit up straight and listen. If you are someone who is constantly in search of music that will give you goosebumps, Jon Watts should be your next stop.
Clothe Yourself in Righteousness is Watts’ latest project, developed in conjunction with seminary student Maggie Harrison. Their thesis is that literally stripping oneself will allow for a more spiritual experience. I think — I haven’t read the pamphlet yet. But whether you’re into nudity or not, it provides some thought-provoking material about how we can all be better people.
I chose Clothe Yourself in Righteousness for the blog because the acoustic instrumentation on the album is more in line with what you’d generally find here. However, I also recommend poking through his back catalog. Songs like “I’m Sorry Brian” make Micah Schnabel’s self-flagellation seem like trite emo.