Justin Unger
http://www.acrossthesky.com
Across the Sky
By: Jessica

CS: Please share with us how your music career started.

JU: I started writing music when I was 17 Years old. I would write with my grandfather Larry Wright. The two of us became a pretty good team and I started wondering where the Lord wanted me to take this gift He gave me. I competed in a competition in Estes park CO. in july of 2000. I ended up winning the Vocal Grand Prize that week. And thats when It all started. The Lord opened a lot of doors for me and it was my job to walk through the right one. So after a lot of prayer, I decided to climb on board with the warner music group. They had Ideas for me and I had Ideas for me, but God had the ulitmate Idea for me, and that was to Sign on with Ben Kolarcik, which now makes up the DUO Across The Sky.

CS: What keeps you motivated?

JU: I am motivated by Jesus Christ and knowing that I am in the Lords will. Even if it sometimes goes against my own will. I am motivated knowing that this world is not my home, but while I am here I want to be used by God in any way I can.

CS: What is the main focus in your ministry? Teens? The lost? The hurting? Why did you decide up on this as a focus?

JU: My Focus is to Live a life beyond reproach so others would be blessed and encouraged and See Christ's love. If that is unbelievers, believers, and even those who are suffering. I want to be real and the same on stage as I am off.

I feel that God is calling me to be a light in the dark even if that means losing everything I have on this earth.

CS: Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten? The future?

JU: In 5 years I see myself mostlikly doing what I am doing now, moreso a lot more. In 10 Years maybe leaving the country and doing some cool missions around the world for a while.

But in the meantime I am living for today, cause tomorrow may never come.

CS: Do you ever worry about getting caught up in the world of show biz? That success will change your group?

JU: I dont worry about it at all, as long as I am focused on Jesus and what he has called me to do in this world.

CS: What kind of relationship do you maintain with your audiences? Do you fellowship with them? Or do you remain distant as the performer?

JU: I love meeting new people and becomeing a part of their lives as much as I can. If that is encouragment or even prayer. I love hanging out with our audiences after and before the show and hearing their stories and what the Lord has done in their lives. I dont ever want to be known as a Distant person. It is hard sometimes to fellowship with everyone everynight, but I try to be as real and open as I can.

CS: Do you write your own music? Where do you get ideas for your music?

JU: Yes I write my own music. I normally co write with one or two others. The Ideas mainly just come to me from the Lord. It is a very cool thing to see what the Lord puts in my head.

CS: How would you describe your music style?

JU: Pop/Rock

CS: Who, or what, are your biggest musical influences?

JU: Michael W. Smith was and still is my all time favorite artist. I also really like steven curtis Chapman and fernando ortega.

CS: What is your musical background? Did you take lessons to gain the musical skills you have now?

JU: I have been playing piano for 12 years now, I took 3 years of lessons when I started but then went off on my own and taught myself. The singing from out of the blue, I didn;t have any vocal lessons.

CS: Do you find it strange to hear yourself singing on the radio or to see yourself in a video?

JU: It use to be wierd hearing the radio, but now it is really fun and still exciting. It is cool to think about how many people are listening at that same time.

CS: Any plans to sign with a major Label in the near future?

JU: I am already signed with Word Records/Warner Music Group.

I signed with them about a year ago.

CS: Do you have any advice to give to the youth of our world?

JU: HEY YOUTH OF OUR WORLD......Remember that the things of this world will fail you and fade. But always know that Jesus Christ will never fail you. HOLD ON TO HIM AWAYS. He is our strength and our refuge in this broken world that we live in. Trust Him and pull yourself as close To Him as you can.