Kevin Max: Well, I would absolutely support my kids getting into music. Music has been such a blessing for me to be involved in. It’s not the easiest career somebody can pursue, and I would probably let them know that it’s not without its problems and heartaches.

Today, after we’ve kind of moved on from DC Talk, it’s been more difficult from the business side to be successful because we’ve all kind of had to start over again in a way, with the exception of maybe Toby.

“…I just love music, and I want to continue to push myself and challenge myself as an artist to go beyond.”

Toby’s kind of picked up the same ideas of DC Talk and the same crowd and all of that. But I think we’ve all kind of had to start over, and it’s been a very difficult road. It’s also been a really amazing road.

I think one of the best things somebody can do is create—whether it’s music, words, film, or something that challenges people, gets people to think, and at the same time makes them happy in an emotional way. Music is like that. Music can touch people in so many different ways.

So absolutely, if my kid wanted to be a rock star, I’d say, “Yeah!” The thing is, I think music can go to so many different levels, and I’m sure that when my kids are experimenting with music in their teens, music will be so much different. So I’ll be curious to see where music is at that point.

Jen G: Through your music, have you had an experience you’d like to share where you just knew it was your song—or something in it—that really touched the person, or people, who listened to your music?

Kevin Max: Well, that happens to me constantly. I would say that my music isn’t as popular as, whatever…it’s not as popular as Third Day or Sean “Puffy” Combs or whoever else—Justin Timberlake. But for the people who listen to my music, it really connects with them, and I get feedback from that constantly.

So, to be affirmed by the people I’m making music for—I absolutely get affirmed all the time. But I do it even beyond affirmation because I just love music, and I want to continue to push myself and challenge myself as an artist to go beyond.

I’m always searching for what could be the best that I can create as an artist. I think I’m constantly in love with the questions of life.

“I mean, God’s DNA, if you will, is all around us, and we just kind of have to look for it.”

I’m kind of in love with the mystery of life, so I constantly have something to pull from. If I were constantly just telling people the Gospel story, or the answers from Scripture, or what Christ has told us—I mean, it’s kind of final, and it’s amazing. It should be said, and it should be said over and over. But I tend to dwell on the mystery of God, and that’s always more interesting to me.

Jen G: What inspires you to keep going back to God and the creativity, not only in your music, but also in your relationship with Him?

Kevin Max: I mean, it’s the obvious things—constantly being able to wake up, breathe, walk around, and see creation. See how He’s put together people. How He’s set things up for the future. There are just so many things we can draw from around us.

I mean, it’s kind of a huge question, but it’s a small answer because there are just so many things that inspire. There are also so many things that obviously have the fingerprint of God on them. I mean, God’s DNA, if you will, is all around us, and we just kind of have to look for it.

So, I mean, yeah…just kind of everything. You wake up, you go to work, you interact with people, you see nature constantly changing and evolving, and you kind of learn as you go. You constantly look around to see why He’s made this, what it has in store for you, and why you’re here in the first place. So that’s a big question.

Jen G: That was a great answer.

Kevin Max: I’m not, like, a theologian or anything. (Laughs.)

Jen G: That’s all right. How did you keep from adapting to the typical standards of Christian music? There are a lot of people who only talk about the Gospel, but your songs go beyond that. How did you keep from following that pattern? Did you feel like God was inspiring you not only to talk about the Gospel, but also to communicate through your music in other ways and offer that inspiration?

“…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?”

KEVIN MAX: THE BLOOD AND BEYOND — Page 4