Mike Rathke Music

***“There are plenty of people in the folk-rock category but not many of them are bringing open-hearted worship in this way.”***
- **Rob Allwright, One Man in the Middle**

Kansas native singer-songwriter Mike Rathke learned the value of art and music early in life. At age twelve, he left home, couch-surfing with friends throughout his teens. On his fourteenth birthday, he bought a $20 acoustic from a girl in the neighboring trailer and began teaching himself guitar. Music became a welcome reprieve that carried him through the hardships of his childhood.

At age nineteen, Mike came into the Christian faith and began using his love of music to serve the local church. Faith has remained central to his life. However, he kindly avoids the label of “Christian artist,” choosing rather to let his art speak for itself.

His first adventure in music production came with three self-produced albums: Letters from the Father, Spoken Words and the Word That’s Spoken, and Never Change. In 2019, he recorded The Dawning Fire with producers Billy Chapin (Backstreet Boys, Sister Hazel, Edwin McCain) and Brandon Bailey in Studio A at The Sound Emporium in Nashville.

Since then, Mike has self-released multiple projects, singles, and albums, including a ticketed live-stream concert on VEEPS.

In 2022, Mike earned his Masters degree in Screenwriting at Regent University. His Master Thesis was a screenplay version of his 2022 album, The Harlot and the Bride. He is currently working on his doctoral degree in Communications.

NOTABLES:

2009

Mike graduated from Christ For the Nations’ School of Worship and Technical Arts program.

2015

Mike completed his undergraduate studies at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon. He received his B.A. in Film and Communications.

2019

Mike’s debut studio EP, The Dawning Fire, was recorded at The Sound Emporium in Nashville with producer Billy Chapin and co-producer Brandon Bailey. The release features some of the industry’s best musicians and garnered over a million streams.

2019

Mike performed The Dawning Fire to over 5,000 festival-goers at Gracefest 2019 alongside Jeremy Riddle, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and MercyMe.

2020

Mike wrote, recorded, and produced the opening track for a four-part documentary, Sacrificing Liberty. The film tells the story of the attack on the USS Liberty on June 8, 1967, from the perspective of the brave sailors who survived. In 2021, the survivors honored Mike and the film’s producers as honorary shipmates in response to the film. The song can be heard on Mike’s 2021 release, The Discipline of Dismay.

2022

In the Summer of 2022, Mike returned to the music festival scene by headlining the Fringe Stage at Creationfest in PA. In the fall of the same year, Mike graduated with his M.A. in Screenwriting and began transitioning to full-time music. He launched the new season with a tour of house concerts in the Midwest. He also released his first live-stream concert on Veeps.com. The Harlot and the Bride Live Stream Folk Opera was released on January 13th.

2024

Mike’s single, “Apple Tree,” was featured on the Your Favorite Thing Podcast by hosts Adam Wells and Brandi Cyrus.

Currently

Mike is currently working on his doctoral degree in Strategic Communications. He has several music projects in the works and is releasing music on a monthly basis throughout the year.