It is rare that a gospel album arrives and genuinely changes the conversation about what contemporary gospel music can sound like. Jonathan McReynolds new project, Closer (Live in Chicago), released on March 27, 2026, is exactly that kind of album. Recorded live in his hometown of Chicago and featuring an extraordinary fusion of gospel, soul, Afrobeats, and — perhaps most surprisingly — 1980s pop, Closer is McReynolds at his most creative, most personal, and most spiritually searching.
What Inspired “Closer”?
The album’s genesis is as compelling as the music itself. McReynolds, a two-time Grammy-winning artist who broke out in 2012 with the dorm-room viral hit “No Gray,” entered this season not with a desire to be bigger or better — but simply to draw closer to God. That spiritual hunger permeates every track.
“I think that reaching is probably the best term,” McReynolds told The Christian Post. “We can do all the churchy things, all the spiritual disciplines. But while you’re doing it, is there something from your heart that’s truly reaching for God?”
That question became the album’s guiding light.
The ’80s Connection — And Why It Works
The most immediately striking thing about Closer is its sonic palette. Jonathan McReynolds spent months studying Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, and the broader soundscape of 1980s pop — synthesizers, punchy bass, Phil Collins-esque crashing drums, soaring power ballad harmonies — and wove those textures throughout a gospel album. The result is something genuinely fresh and surprisingly cohesive.
The opening track “Echo” is driven by a pulsing guitar groove that builds with infectious energy. “About Your Love” lands as a synth-pop earworm that would not feel out of place on an ’80s radio playlist — except that its lyrical content is rooted in pure devotion to God. And the title track, “Closer,” a duet featuring the incomparable Tasha Cobbs Leonard, is an unmistakable homage to the ’80s power ballad — complete with soaring harmonies, bombastic percussion, and a spiritual depth that makes it one of the most moving gospel duets in recent memory.
Key Tracks to Know
“Closer” (ft. Tasha Cobbs Leonard) — The album’s centrepiece and its most powerful statement. Two of gospel’s greatest voices, united by a single prayer: draw me nearer, Lord.
“One Good God” — A worship anthem built for congregational moments, anchored in the unshakeable goodness of God.
“Still” (ft. Jamal Roberts) — The chart-climbing single that has already captured hearts across gospel radio, featuring Season 23 American Idol winner Jamal Roberts.
“Own Advice” — A quiet, piano-driven moment of self-reflection where McReynolds sings about the gap between what we know and what we live. Honest, vulnerable, and deeply relatable.
Chicago as Sacred Ground
Recording Closer live in Chicago adds another layer of meaning. For McReynolds, Chicago is more than a city — it is the place where his story began, where he failed and grew, where God proved faithful through every season. “Chicago is like grandma’s house for me,” he said. “It’s the place where I can see how much I’ve grown.”
Our Verdict
Closer is one of the most important gospel albums of 2026 — not just because of its sonic ambition, but because of the sincerity at its core. Jonathan McReynolds is not making music to impress; he is making music to press in. And in doing so, he has created something that will outlast trends and speak to anyone genuinely seeking God.
🎵 Stream Closer on Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal — available now.
For more great gospel album coverage, read our review of Neon Adejo’s “Sonship” EP and Lummyyy’s “Tales & Testimonies”. Stay current with all gospel music news at Gospelbuzz.
