Kevin Max: Yeah. I mean, the reason that I have continued to do that is because it inspires me to write. Like, if I had to constantly sing the answers over and over again to people, at a certain point you kind of run out of creativity and how you can say it.

I find it interesting that Christian labels and record companies are only looking for that the majority of the time. We can look in the Scriptures and see one of God’s favorites, King David. The majority of his writings were asking questions, probing the mind of God, and just saying, “Why am I here? What can I do?”

To me, it’s more interesting to kind of seek out the mystery and try to find out what draws us all together. You kind of have to look at it like this: I mean, if I’m creating music for the masses, why would I want to only sing about the answer when people out there are still questioning everything around them?

“The only way you’re really going to truly believe in something is if you chase it yourself.”

I really feel like I kind of answered this before. To me, it’s more interesting to seek out the mystery and try to find out what draws us all together. You kind of have to look at it like this: I mean, if I’m creating music for the masses, why would I want to only sing about the answer when people out there are still questioning everything around them?

I mean, it’s kind of like you have to write on everybody’s level to a degree. Not everyone out there believes in the Gospel, and not everybody out there believes that they have found truth. I think you have to meet people where they’re at.

Over time, let them know what this is all about—what you’re finding in life and why you believe the things you believe. A lot of people believe what they believe because their parents told them that, or because they grew up in religion. But I’ve always told people to set aside what they grew up hearing and find it for themselves.

The only way you’re really going to truly believe in something is if you chase it yourself.

KEVIN MAX ON THE BLOOD ALBUM

Jen G: Why is The Blood album personal to you?

Kevin Max: The Blood is personal because I grew up in the church, and I grew up listening to gospel music. I think as a white kid from Michigan, there were a lot of Black artists who influenced me. But at the same time, I’m still white. I’m not a white guy trying to be a Black guy.

I absolutely think that African American music has inspired me and pushed me toward creativity throughout the years. Gospel music isn’t entirely Black music, and it’s not entirely white music. There are lots of different styles of gospel music.

I kind of wanted to show that on this project—that it might have come from some of the early, early, early days of America. Some of our dark past, wrestling with the whole slavery issue and some of these painful things that are still difficult to even bring up.

I think the church has constantly been kind of outside of the loop when it comes to real gospel music. I think the whole modern worship thing is great and everything, but it doesn’t touch me like some of the really old, crying-out, crying-in-the-wilderness kind of songs. Songs from people who were going through really difficult circumstances and writing about it.

The one common denominator is the Blood of Christ. “Jesus’ blood is going to make me whole,” or “the blood will never lose its power,” or being fixated on the Christ who is going to come and heal them.

That’s kind of where the project lies—in that feeling that anybody who’s going through a rough period in their life can understand.

So when I talked about African American music as a heritage in this country, it’s like the African influence on our music today is huge. I think when I grew up as a kid, one of my first records was a white group called The Imperials. The Imperials led me to Elvis, and Elvis led me back to Chuck Berry, and then further back to people like Blind Willie Johnson, Curtis Mayfield, or Mahalia Jackson.

So it’s kind of like all those great voices of gospel—white and Black—are represented in this record. A lot of people are expecting me to throw out this R&B, you know, white guy trying to do a Black gospel record. And that’s just not what this is.

There are a lot of different styles of music, and we even get into country on this record, which I think some people will find very interesting—maybe disturbing. We’re playing with styles to let people know that gospel music has been a huge influence on music in general.

Jen G: Okay, I heard “That They Won’t Go When I Go,” which was really good.

Kevin Max: Oh, well, thank you.

Jen G: You posted that, and that was amazing. I want to know a little bit about DC Talk’s part of it. Have you guys already worked on the song that you’re going to be doing?

Kevin Max: Well, actually, I just cut Michael Tait yesterday.

Jen G: Oh, cool. And Mary Mary, they’re going to be involved, right?

Kevin Max: We believe so. We haven’t cut Mary Mary yet.

KEVIN MAX: THE BLOOD AND BEYOND — Page 5