7th December, 2006

JONO PECH   

Justin Michael is the kind of guy that greets you as though you are his best friend. He cheerfully chats to you, not in a rush at all despite his packed schedule - and what a schedule it is.

Michael is best known in Geelong and Melbourne for hosting the breakfast show on the Geelong-based Christian radio station Rhema FM for the past three years. His fun, conversational style and friendly persona shows through on the show and as well as when he fronts his band, Compliments of Gus.

“Church is a heart thing. I play music in the church because that’s my skill, but I give it to the church because my heart is there."

Michael successfully began a solo musical career with the release of his debut album Songs For Ever in June. On top of his radio and performing schedule he has part time work at Kardinia Christian Church in Geelong which he describes as giving back to the community. There he is in charge of running the worship team, comprised of about 60 people.

“I am the music director,” Michael says and coughs, “with a sore throat.”

Throughout the interview he makes jokes, making it clear he has a sense of humour that tries to hide at times but still finds a way out. While most would be overwhelmed with the fully loaded timetable, the 28-year-old seems neither stressed or hurried but admits it isn’t easy.

“I don’t know too many people that are driven people that don’t find it hard to manage. On the other hand, I know lazy people that find it hard to manage as well.”

On top of his workload, Michael finds time for his growing family; his wife Jodi and son Noah - “one of the coolest kids in the world,” as he puts it. Although he loves each of his jobs, he makes it clear his family are his number one priority.

“How do you find time? A lot of it does come from people reminding you that you’ve got to find time. Honestly. It does come from prioritising the important stuff. The fact is that if the band stopped tomorrow I wouldn’t be less of a person, that’s a conclusion I came to many years ago. It doesn’t matter, but it’s fun and it’s great to make a contribution. In fact, none of the things I do matter much except for the contribution I make to the wider community.”

DEBUT: Justin Michael released his first solo album, 'Songs for Ever', in June.

The community work he speaks of is his work in the church. “Church is a heart thing. I play music in the church because that’s my skill, but I give it to the church because my heart is there. Not because I want us to sound great.”

This year Michael has been especially busy balancing his church and radio work with touring since the release of Songs For Ever. Clearly a motivated person in each of his lines of work, it is when he talks about performing music he’s written himself that he sounds most inspired.

“When I saw a person with a mic on stage it wasn’t a case of ‘that’s impossible and I want to do that’. It was a case of ‘I want to do that, and I’m going to do that’.

“All through high school I had lead roles in music and realised maybe I’m a singer...There’s something in you that gets excited when you hear a piece of music or see a piece of artwork. You can’t really explain to people.”

A career in music seemed to be a natural progression for Michael. He comes from a musical family and showed an early interest in music, learning several instruments and playing in church.

“I come from the point of view that music comes from the same place in everybody. It comes from the creative part of the soul. Whether someone recognises that there’s a God that created them or not probably depends on where they direct their music to. So my music is directed more with a spiritual angle.”

~ www.justinmichael.com.au