Every so often a new artist comes around that not only presents a fresh wind of artistry and creativity, but has a genuine passion and zest for presenting the gospel of Jesus to all of God’s people. The diversity in his music (contemporary worship, urban gospel and pop) and an amazing gift for songwriting and musicality sets Orlando “Substance” Rodriguez and his music ministry in position for global impact.
“Substance stands for going beyond what the eyes can see - beneath the surface and dealing with what is real,” explains Substance. “Regardless of what others see on the outside, we should have the Substance of Jesus Christ on the inside. In essence it’s all about living life from the inside out versus living life from the outside in.”
Mostly known for his sincere passion for the Lord, and his ability to reflect this passion for Jesus Christ, Substance has in a short time developed a committed following that crosses genres from Gospel Hip Hop to Contemporary Worship. His performance resume rivals some of the most successful artists in music today as he has shared the stage with notables Out of Eden, Donnie McClurkin, and Ben Tankard.
The singer/songwriter has developed his skills over the years penning an extensive catalog of music and launching his own production studio. Although gifted with piano/keyboard skills, he doesn’t essentially consider himself a pure musician. But anyone who has experienced the worshipper’s creatively flow, understands the anointed combination of his singing and musicianship which evokes the sweet presence of God.
Substance doesn’t categorize himself to just one particular genre within Christian music. He represents a well-balanced blend of Urban Inspirational, Urban Gospel and Contemporary Worship. “As a music producer I have to know many different styles of music in order stay relevant,” Substance shares. “After having toured hundreds of dates across the country, I have realized that most people, just like me, enjoy a variety of flavors in the music that they listen to.”
Substance is a diverse artist crossing cultural barriers with his presentation of gospel music. His fusion of sound began as he was raised in the west suburbs of Grand Rapids, Michigan in a Puerto Rican household. His diverse upbringing has not only cultivated an instinctive flavor for a variety of music, but a comfort and passion for multi-cultural interaction. “People who love Jesus Christ are going to be attracted to each other because of the love we have for God and each other,” Substance expounds. “The more we focus on God and our common goals of building His Kingdom, the easier it is to interact and bridge cultural divides. I absolutely love the people of God and enjoy doing the work as a servant to the church and the community.”
Unlike many young artists who chase after a major record label contract, Substance has invested time in and understands the road of artist development. Through this growth, he has been able to work behind other artists in music production. Substance is the appreciative owner of a recording studio where he has spent years developing and capturing a unique sound that is both lyrically and musically magnetic. “My songwriting and music production skills are definitely my areas of strength,” Substance explains. “I am blessed to be in music as my full time vocation and I own my production studio where I work collaborating with other writers and studios every day.”
His music artistry and production ministry is offered and executed in excellence with Jesus as the nucleus. “I think excellence in many ways is a state of mind more so than a particular style or approach,” he explains. "At the same time, I take my time with my projects and I am not afraid to commit the appropriate resources to get the quality that I am looking for. I have grown organically, so my audience has helped me dictate what is relevant and what they want to hear.”
Substance’s fan base has patiently awaited his new project Turn The World Off. Substance has tapped the skills of producer Chuck Alkazian (Percy Bady, Desmond Pringle, Christina Aguilera) at Pearl Sound Studios in Canton, MI to capture his high energy performances, diverse styling and prolific songwriting talents. As a collaborator Substance has written songs with some of the industries’ most sought after songwriters – Eddie Tucker, Steve Siler, Dwight Liles and Tony Wood to name a few.
Turn The World Off will feature songs like “Reach Out”, an expressively endearing song that invokes a call to action – for the body of Christ to not only be concerned, but to offer hope and to serve those in need. “This song is an encouragement to impact outside the four walls of the church,” says Substance. “When we extend our hand to help those in need we can show God’s love in a practical way. This is my anthem on what ministry is all about to me, which is serving others with the love of Jesus Christ.”
Orlando “Substance” Rodriguez is musically inclined, lyrically complete, and approachable. He daily seeks more of Jesus so he can impact more people with Jesus through his music. He is a true administer of music that a listener can both feel and listen to with the expectancy of receiving an experience that will activate an atmosphere of expectancy and worship.