A RELAXING SUMMER PROJECT. Michael Rambo, second from right, and his eponymous band won’t be sitting around after their new album is released Aug. 1.

The first time I saw Michael Rambo perform, he was actually “Michael O’Claire,” the lead performer for the local “Irish” pub band, the Shillelagh Lads. My wife and I had the pleasure of attending their annual Christmas show at Houligans a couple of years back. It was obvious that he was a pretty talented guy. Since then, I’ve had the chance to listen to Things Within, the first EP from his band, The Michael Rambo Project and, more recently, the band’s upcoming release, What Do You Want? “Talented” now seems like an understatement.

Beyond multi-instrumental and vocal talent, Rambo is a man of conviction, creative expression and purpose.

Whether you are listening to his music, attending his church, where he leads the worship band, or having a conversation with him, it doesn’t take long to see how central Rambo’s faith is to his life and work. During my recent conversation with him, it was evident that he sees his music as a strategic medium for his message, which is centered on helping listeners connect with God. While the lyrical content of the band’s songs are heavily focused on Christian themes, Rambo is confident that his band will not be associated with “bland mediocrity,” which is how Rambo (and lots of folks) see much of what is considered “contemporary Christian” music.

“It was marinated long, or, if you prefer alcohol, aged like a nice wine. People will hear that. I am excited to move on to new material, but I couldn’t leave this material without due representation. We did it.”– Michael Rambo, on his band’s long-in-the-making album, What Do You Want?

Rambo’s musical style has been influenced by a broad swath of artists and relationships. When I asked him about this, he told me the following artists were among those who had most influenced him: Ray Lamontagne, the Doobie Brothers, U2, Stevie Wonder, and the Killers. This diverse group of sound and styles is complemented by Michael’s friendship with Yusef Kazemzadeh, one of his Shillelagh Lads compadres. Michael describes Yusef as his “gateway drug” into “new musical lands,” such as “dub-step, different forms of underground dance and electronic music.”

These musical influences, as well as Rambo’s main message, are brought to bear on What Do You Want? The album is a fun and funky combination of jazz, R&B, rock, funk, and other sounds. I first listened to the album while running errands with my 4-year-old son. Within a couple of minutes, I looked in the rear-view mirror and I could see him grooving to the first track. When I shared this with Rambo, he was pleased. He shared with me that he wants his music to make the listener move. He and his band have certainly accomplished this with What Do You Want? While most the album will keep you moving, one of the true highlights of the album is the ballad “Life Is Beautiful,” a moving and beautiful song that brought tears to my eyes the first time I heard it. For Rambo, it is a highly personal song. He describes it as “my story ... my attribution and testimony.”

Rambo is obviously very proud of What Do You Want? “I am excited to finally have a worthy offering after four years of hard work,” Rambo said. “It was marinated long, or, if you prefer alcohol, aged like a nice wine. People will hear that. I am excited to move on to new material, but I couldn’t leave this material without due representation. We did it.”

One of the more satisfying elements of the recording process for him was bringing these songs to maturity with the help of producer Evan Middlesworth of Pine Hollow Audio in Eau Claire, who he calls a “treasure.” Rambo, his band, and Middlesworth worked together to create, in Rambo’s words, “an engaging and enjoyable album” that offers “hope” and universal themes that “everybody can relate to.”

What Do You Want? will be released Aug. 1. The Michael Rambo Project will perform two shows in celebration of the album’s release. The first will be Thursday, Aug. 1, at Phoenix Park, as a part of Volume One’s Sounds Like Summer Concert Series. The next night, Friday, Aug. 2 the band will play at The Oxford (home of the Eau Claire Children’s Theatre, 1814 N. Oxford St.). That show will include a seven-piece band, multiple vocalists, string and brass accompanists, as well as multimedia aspects and a special Q&A session afterwards.

The Michael Rambo Project’s upcoming album, What Do You Want?, will be available Aug. 1 at The Local Store at Volume One World Headquarters, 205 N. Dewey St. Rambo’s previous discs are also available at the store. For more information or to connect with the Michael Rambo Project, go to The MichealRamboProject.com.