Kevin Max: The Imposter?

Wednesday 10th May 2006

Mike Rimmer conducts the most in depth interview the American singer, songwriter and poet KEVIN MAX has ever undertaken.

Kevin Max: The Imposter?

Is Kevin Max the most misunderstood artist ever to have worked within the Christian music scene? Read on and decide for yourself! A free thinker and fiercely intelligent with an edgy sense of humour, these are three qualities that you don't always immediately associate with Christian music where Kevin by his own admission has struggled to deal with the scene's cultural norms. In recent years he's learned to express more of his true feelings about life, spirituality, creativity, art and a hundred other subjects but found himself rejected and perhaps deliberately misunderstood.

As a solo artist he's felt free to express more of his observations and questions but equally these haven't always been welcomed. His latest album 'The Imposter' is the best of his solo work to date following on from the artsy 'Stereotype B' which although the most musically satisfying, was sadly the least successful of the former dc Talk members' debut solo projects. Having said that, none of the group members have come close to dc Talk's level of sales. Currently Toby is closest, selling nearly half a million copies of his two solo albums but this is dwarfed when you consider 'Jesus Freak' has sold nearly 1.7 million and 'Supernatural' nearly a million. And Kevin? 'Stereotype B' racked up just over 60,000 sales. Unlike Tait, at least Kevin is making some interesting music and he'll later tell me that he feels like a debut artist and his best work is two or three albums in the future, and I'll believe him!

The conversation takes place in Nashville at Gospel Music Week. To be honest, I'd been trying to set something up with the singer since I heard the magnificent 'The Imposter' album but time differences, touring commitments, etc, etc have proved difficult. I didn't even want to set something up at GMA because my experience of Kevin at the event is that it's difficult to get a decent amount of time with him and I had some serious questions to ask. So when we met in his publicist's suite, I deliberately didn't set out to corner him for an interview and instead we ended up talking about Elvis, old gospel music and Kevin's diverse art collection. In the end we decided to record an interview in rather strange circumstances. I would chat to him while he drove to the airport to fly home to LA.

A couple of days later I'm standing outside the entrance of the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Nashville where he is picking me up thinking that this is a strange way to do an interview but I'm learning with Kevin that nothing is ever quite straight forward. He seems to have spent an entire career doing things that have been misunderstood or misrepresented. I suspect it's not always deliberate but simply part of his character. "Absolutely," he agrees. "I just think that, without sounding really, really egotistical, intelligent people understand what I'm trying to do. I think the people that are looking for the cookie-cutter widgets that the industry produces are not going to want to understand me, and/or take the time to understand me. So I think because of that, fluff pieces are written on me and so we're still talking about me wearing a feather boa back in 2001! People who really have a goal and a vision of what they want to do, what they want to talk about, usually get along pretty well with me. We see eye to eye because I'm a pretty easygoing guy when to comes to wearing everything on my sleeve and talking about my problems and my solutions if you will, to life."

Over the course of the conversation, I'll discover that this is true as Kevin opens up about some of the very personal things in his life. In a CCM scene where everybody seems to be talking and singing answers at each other, Kevin finds himself asking questions through his music and sometimes people don't like those questions or feel he's asking the wrong questions and so little room is given for his kind of artistry. He observes, "I think I like to ask a lot of questions when I write because I think we all have to go on that journey of understanding what we believe in over and over again. Challenging, testing the spirits if you will, constantly trying to figure out, do we truly believe in this? But a lot of people really are looking for a certain thing and when something comes about that's different, they don't want to take the time to investigate."

He continues, "I think it's changing though. I see a revolution if you will, of artists that are thinking outside of what their Christian marketing gurus are telling them to do and what the executives and big labels are telling them what to do. To be honest with you, Christian music is such a ghetto anyway that it's kind of like.it's irrelevant to the whole music world unless you're creating something that gets the whole world to buzz. So really we come back to great song writing. We come back to great content. If the content is there then you've got a story and you can talk about something."

The content of his current album, 'The Imposter', is very influenced by author and speaker Brennan Manning. Kevin explains, "I wanted to write a concept piece that was about the battle between the flesh and the spirit. And the flesh usually wins. To be honest with you, our fleshly man versus our spiritual man? Our fleshly man is a lot more muscular I think. I wanted to show that in a project but offer that glimmer of hope to say that we have the opportunity, we have the strength within us to overcome the flesh when we want to. It's the decision that we make. It's what separates us from the animals. So I kind of got to that place where I was looking for a title and I was going over one of Brennan's books called Abba's Child and I saw 'the imposter' thing."

Some years earlier, whilst with dc Talk, the group went on a retreat with Brennan Manning and spent a week together. Kevin recalls, "He actually said to me, 'I realise that as an artist it's really difficult to constantly be who you are in front of people and entertain at the same time.' And I said, 'Yeah. I tend to like to project a different personality when I get on stage and I enjoy that. I don't want to be just plain old Kevin Max Smith when I jump out on stage. I become somebody else.' And he goes, 'Exactly. You become the imposter.' So that conversation, I remembered that and decided to put the whole package around that."

In his book Unfinished Work, which was published at the same time as 'Stereotype B' was released, he explores the beginnings of this theme observing that for some of the time with dc Talk he would fall into the role expected of him as a member of a Christian band but became increasingly unhappy about it. Now as a solo artist he is able to more fully and honestly express himself.

Over the years, Kevin has been a magnet for rumours and stories and accusations that his lifestyle has sometimes been less than that expected of a "Christian" artist. In the war between flesh and spirit, he has fallen. He responds, "I think if we were all honest, each and every one of us has broken the law several times over. I think I'm one of those few artists that actually talks about it, which makes me a very easy target. I think somebody else that might not talk about their weaknesses.or discuss them in an open interview like this, or put them in their music.people that hide everything, well, nobody can really get to them. It's like that constant bubble that you're trying to break to try and get into the soul of somebody. To me, that represents the Christian music marketplace because people are looking for that shining example. And when they have an example that's actually saying, 'Hey, I screw up. I've been divorced. I've probably taken the name of the Lord in vain a few times. I tend to drink once in a while when I'm on the road.' It's like you expose those things and immediately you're outcast."

Kevin Max: The Imposter?

He continues with an interesting observation that exposes the hypocrisy at the centre of these responses, "The funny thing is that the Church, the Christian community, when it's observing somebody over in the general market, let's say Johnny Cash or Bob Dylan or Bono, who are exploring their faith but again in a very realistic manner and talking about their weaknesses, they seem to somehow latch onto those people and make them heroes. But if they're in their own backyard, forget it! So that saying, 'a prophet is never understood in his own home' is very true."

But there are expectations for artists who are Christians. Just as there are expectations for the lifestyles of Christians generally. If the rumours are to be believed, he has a reputation for taking girls back to his hotel room. He's certainly on record admitting a soft spot for female company. "These are rumours because I don't take girls back to my hotel room. When I was a single guy I met up with a lot of females, absolutely, but as a married man, absolutely not. I set very strict rules for myself when I'm on the road because of the fact that I know that I'm pretty normal when it comes to my male impulses and my male responses to females. Absolutely, I find females very intriguing. But not at all am I somebody that is about to screw up something that God has given me, you know? So those are rumours are not founded on truths. If somebody has a picture of me going into a hotel bedroom with somebody, then please throw it out there man! Let's talk about it! You know? But absolutely not. And I think that's the thing, somebody might hear something and then make something up and then it compounds and becomes something that is just completely horrible and damaging. But at this point I'm not worried about people and their rumours about me, I'm worried about my relationship with God, my relationship with my family and my career, which is moving further and further out of the reaches of the CCM scene. But at the same time I really feel a calling to continue to relate to those people and allow them to listen to the music and make them feel a part of it, because that's where I've come from. And I believe that Christians need to be challenged and loved on as well."

As someone who has suffered the agonies of going through a divorce, I was sad to discover that Kevin had been through the same situation. Shortly after the release of his debut solo album I can remember him taking some time off the road trying to make the marriage work but sadly those efforts didn't work. He confesses, "I was pretty up front about what happened. There was never any tabloid-worthy reasons for our divorce. We grew apart. I mean, we had separate goals, we had different ideas of what that marriage should be, and over a course of six years it unravelled. I actually fought for the marriage for a good year and a half, through counsellors and pastors in this area. At the end of it she and I did not see eye to eye. I finally got somebody that I really felt was a spiritual leader in my life to get some conversation going with her as well. He finally told me, 'She's not ready for this.' So based upon that I allowed her to file for the divorce and go forward with it. I really tried very hard for a year to make that work. A lot of prayer went into it."

He continues, "I think when it happened, it really, really shut something down in me and I've had to constantly go before God and say, 'Am I healed? Are you healing me?' We use the word 'restoration'.I don't care about restoration, I care about God inviting me in still and being a part of my life. I know he forgives and I know he has forgiven me for that. I think now I'm blessed with a second marriage, it's about learning from the mistakes of this first one and build upon that and have an amazing relationship that is God-honouring and successful. And absolutely! I look forward to the future for us and I think the birth of my daughter, on October 7th 2005, was an answer to prayer. I look at it as the most obvious thing it can be - a blessing."

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Reader Comments

Posted by Grace Mercy in Texas @ 22:49 on Sep 5 2013

Kevin has held himself out as a Christian artist. He has specifically targeted the Christian market. I think he at least owes his fans a duty to actually be Christian. He compares himself to Johnny Cash and Bono. Last I checked these guys were not marketing in the Christian book stores or playing before youth groups as he has. He should just go secular and then deal with his struggles openly as he wants but why market to the Christian crowd.


Reply by Mary in Orlando, FL @ 04:04 on Aug 18 2018

Grace Mercy - I think if you're going to use a name like that, you should probably exhibit the characteristics of those words. Expecting perfection and then judging the heart of a person you don't even know demonstrates neither grace nor mercy. And that is certainly less Christlike than Kevin has been with his testimony.

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Reply by Sharr in NM @ 00:25 on Jul 9 2018

As a the ex wife of a former youth minister ..
I prefer that he doesn't wear a mask. I don't think it is our place to judge the contents of his heart. I found it refreshing to hear someone say "you know what I fail .. and I consistently seek God's face "

Who are we to judge the speck in our brother's eye .. when we can't see the plank in our own eye?

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Reply by Pam in US @ 20:47 on Aug 16 2016

As a matter of fact, Johnny Cash's albums have been sold in Christian bookstores.
I read the interview and then saw your comment. I'm not sure you were hearing what I was hearing. It doesn't seem to me that Kevin Max is espousing "cheap grace" or telling Christians to shut up. He said he is seeking God at all times. It seems that he is just being honest with his struggles, especially the ones of the past.
If, as Christians, we can't handle that, we are demanding hypocrisy and dishonesty.

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Posted by Ann in Africa @ 08:24 on Apr 14 2012

my prayer for everyone... judge or judgee. singer in a rock band or a robe wearing choir and even for the media who covers all issues of christianity- is that Jesus remains the centre of our focus everyday. We must ask ourselves for whom we are doing or saying things. John 15 is clear without Christ, we can't do a thing. So whatever we do, if Christ is not at the centre, we must always run back to him. I like Dc Talk and the Voice of The Matters ministered to me as a teen snd because of that I pray that Jesus remains the centre of Kmax, Michael Tait and TobyMac wherever they are. Trust me the devil came to steal, kill and destroy, that is his mission and where else to start, but the church? So while we are at our lives we must know that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but principalities and powers and rulers of this dark age. About time we start putting this in perspective so that instead of judging and questioning we break into intercession and rebuking in love. Yes and lets start within our homes and backyards before we go after artists we only see on TV. Lets just interecede for them as God speaks to us but not tell them what to do. It's the age of the holys Spirit and His conviction will reach everyone He loves as we intercede in Love



Posted by Ken B in New York @ 17:15 on Feb 9 2011

The best thing we could do is to be completely transparent in our lives and I believe that Kevin is one of those guys who does that very well. How can ANYONE judge another on there mistakes? What that shows me is that they are so ignorant of there own mistakes that they have created a "False World" , an illusion to make them feel better about what they have done or are doing, which in the end will leave them completely unsatisfied. Each individual needs to focus on There personal relationship with Jesus and to Help those in need, not tear down, cause anyone can do that.



Posted by Elisha Mueller in Perth @ 04:40 on Nov 19 2010

Just noticed in the interview, God is mentioned - but not Jesus (same goes for lyrics in the recent albums).

"No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also." 1 John 2:23

Anyway, keep praying that Jesus Christ will be his centre. Love always hopes (1 Corinthians 13) and we are called to love one another (John 13:35).



Posted by Joell K in Manheim, PA @ 20:54 on Oct 14 2010

Thanks Mike...so glad here from Kevin. I have been a big fan since the first time I heard dcTalk! Kevin's voice is just unbelievable, it hits deep inside of me and his lyrics. I Love his first solo album "Stereotype B", it spoke so deep to me. I also at that time was struggle with my first marriage and my convictions as a Christian and the views others had of me because of a failed marriage. It's been hard, many of my Christian friends have walked away from me. No one understood and no one wanted to help me along that path. So for a time I walked away, but now I'm married to a man who wants me to be myself. The hard thing is I still feel lost in the Christian community...I feel I'm not good enough anymore or worth to do anything for God, cause I hear the negative words of my ex-husband ringing in my ears.
Sorry to ramble..
Thanks and Blessing to You, Joell


Reply by Joel G. in Houston, TX @ 21:07 on Jul 13 2011

Dear Joell K, i just read your post and wanted to tell you that you are valuable in Christs eyes, and when you feel like people, even church people arent encouraging you, well they arent always where they need to be either, i just wanted to encourage you and tell you to look to Jesus "the author and finisher" of our faith, He has"plans to prosper you to not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future." all in Christ, amen-be blessed sister, i know its tough but keep your eyes on Christ, He is the way even when people get in the way.

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Posted by Alexandria Doetsch in Phoenix @ 22:40 on Oct 5 2010

My soul leaps at the mere sound of his voice. Love like this comes only from above. Healing, Love and Joy to you Kevin from the heart of the Valley, Phoenix, AZ.



Posted by Jeremy M in North Carolina @ 23:14 on Sep 26 2010

I loved the interview, thank you Mike for doing it and thank you Kevin for taking the time to meet with Mike.

I was surprised by some decisions that Kevin has made in his life, but I am glad that he's straightforward regarding his mistakes. Notice I used the word MISTAKES.

From what I gleaned in the interview, Kevin is not gloating about his divorce or anything else; he recognizes that he's made mistakes. Throwing people out of the church simply because they're not perfect would result in nothing except an empty church.

I agree we need to call our brothers and sisters into accountability, but the scriptures that everyone references regard instances when that particular brother/sister are either not aware they are sinning or are stubbornly continuing in sin. I see neither of those in Kevin.

I appreciate Kevin's nonconformist approach to life and music. I myself am quite a bit like that, so I know what it can be like to feel misunderstood my mainstream Christianity.

Once again, thanks Mike and Kevin for the interview!



Posted by Matthew Davis in Rapid City @ 07:26 on Apr 30 2010

In this day and age, judgement and condemnation push people from Christ, not bring them to him. We must love one another and not judge. Or so will you be judged and more so as the bible says. Kevin is a genuine Christian, and i believe he is living for Christ. He has made some mistakes, but so have we all. You may not get divorced or drink or have given into lust. but i bet your thought life is quite flawed. i bet you all struggle with pride, self righteousness, and judging others, let alone our pathetic motives. So lets give this man a break. support him, do not condemn him



Posted by BR in SD @ 05:35 on Mar 17 2010

I've seen DC Talk several times. The last time I saw them I was in the front row with a bunch of friends. I really got turned OFF by Kevin when he was totally eye balling my friends wife the whole night. Everyone in our section noticed it.

I make no apology for what I'm about to say but c'mon! If you say that you are a Christian, live like one! I am so tired of the compromise in the Christian community. We all sin, I understand that, but let's get some things right.

Divorce is more rampant in the church big time. It has become so the norm we try to whitewash it. Jesus said only for marital unfaithfulness. Which seems to be the norm in the Christian community as well.

Yes I believe in grace, but not greasy grace. When we accept the anything goes attitude in the Christian community.....well then anything goes and it appears so.

The big thing today seems to be who can push the envelope the farthest and if you don't approve you're just religious and not "spiritual" (or not culturaly relavent). Let's face it, Bono, is not the poster boy for Christendom and I get tired of hearing about him. He still hasn't found what he's looking for. :-)

There is a plumbline as mentioned in the bible in which we should get back too. The bible says not to judge those in the world, (as we once were) but we are to judge those in the church, as one of the previous poster said.

I for one have no respect for Kevin but wish him well in his walk.


Reply by Some One in Some Where @ 05:10 on Jul 22 2018

1 john 2:27 - don't judge according to the Bible, our only guide is jesus who is inside of us, john 1 tells you jesus is the word who became flesh, not a book. Matthew 23:8-10, jeremiah 31:31-34

Paul is not an apostle, revelation 21:14 says there are only 12 apostles, acts 1:26 says number 12 is matthias

Divorce is required if you inadvertantly marry someone who is already married to someone else.

Kevin is beautiful. And forgiven. Why remember sins that jesus has already forgiven and forgotten jeremiah 31:31-34

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Reply by C in UK @ 12:08 on May 26 2014

If you can't prove that BR I'm not sure you should say it. How DO you know where Kevin Max was looking when it's a dark room and big stage and a big crowd?

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Posted by TIM F in Fort Worth @ 00:51 on Dec 14 2009

I just saw KMax in concert last weekend with Mike Roe. I went there for Mike. Don't know anything about KMax other than his association with DCTalk.

My concern is with the hypocrisy of those living in shallow Christendom. So many people are quick to blab about divorce, yet so few are actually willing to read what the Bible teaches us about it. It's all there, folks! Freakin' read it, already!

1. It is *absolutely* the job of the Christian to judge! Anyone saying otherwise has never finished reading Jesus' comments on the topic (read the next 5 verses past Matt 7:1), nor understands the nature of holy worship. If we are not supposed to judge, why did Paul rip the Corinthians for *not* judging their member who was shacking with his step-mom? (1 Cor 5, esp v 3)

2. As believers, we have an obligation to *humbly* keep the church pure. If a person maintains his unrepentant ways, we are **commanded** to throw them out of the church and NOT ASSOCIATE WITH THEM. Please read both 1 Cor 5 and 1 Cor 6, as Paul deals with this exact topic at length. This applies not only to sexual sins, but greed, idolatry, homosexuality, drunkeness, rioters and swindlers. When people who claim to be believers refuse to turn from their ways, we are commanded to a) mourn b) kick them out. By the way, this is not Paul's idea: Jesus says the same in Matthew 18, including the part about not associating with them! (read it for yourself if you don't believe me)

This business of "Jesus is love, forgive everyone and ignore their sin" is an ignorant and gross distortion of what Jesus teaches re Christian living.

I have no idea how this topic relates to Kevin's situation, since I've not been asked to be involved.

We need to encourage each other to be faithful to what God commands of us. Keep Kevin and his family in your prayers.

But if he's (or anyone) is living in sin and refuses to repent .. the Bible has already spoken.


Reply by Carl in PA @ 03:39 on Apr 5 2013

Amen!

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