View source for Kevin Max

{{Other people|Kevin Smith}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2008}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = Kevin Max
|image = KevinMaxandWindow.jpg
|caption = Max in July 2008
|image_size =
|background = solo_singer
|birth_name = Kevin Max Smith
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|8|17}}
|origin = [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]], U.S.
|genre = [[Christian rock]], [[alternative rock]]
|instrument = Piano, vocals
|years_active = 1988–present
|label = [[Northern Records|Northern]], [[ForeFront Records|ForeFront]], [[Motion Records|Motion]], Blind Thief Recordings
|associated_acts = {{flatlist|
* [[dc Talk]]
* [[Audio Adrenaline]]
* [[tobyMac]]
* [[Newsboys]]
}}
|website = {{URL|http://kevinmax.com}}
}}
'''Kevin Max Smith''' (born August 17, 1967) is an American [[singing|singer]], [[songwriter]], and [[poet]]. He is best known for being a member of the [[contemporary Christian music|Christian pop]] group [[dc Talk]]. As a solo artist following the band going on hiatus, he has recorded 12 full-length studio albums, including a Christmas album. From 2012 until 2014, he was the lead singer of the band [[Audio Adrenaline]].

==Early life==
Adopted as a baby to Max and Elaine Smith, Kevin Smith was raised in [[Grand Rapids, Michigan|Grand Rapids]], [[Michigan]].<ref name="mlive.com">{{Cite web|date=2010-08-22|title=Grammy-winner Kevin Max, formerly of Christian group dcTalk, makes his way back home to Grand Rapids|url=https://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/2010/08/grammy-winner_kevin_max_former.html|access-date=2021-06-03|website=mlive|language=en}}</ref> Kevin went to high school at Grand Rapids Baptist (now [[NorthPointe Christian Schools|Northpointe Christian]]).<ref name="mlive.com"/> He went to college at [[Liberty University]] in Lynchburg Virginia.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kevin Max {{!}} Biography & History|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kevin-max-mn0000768017/biography|access-date=2021-06-03|website=AllMusic|language=en}}</ref> Kevin Max Smith legally changed his name to "Kevin Max" in 1997 as a tribute to his adoptive father, Max Smith.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Unfinished Work|publisher=Thomas Nelson|year=2001|isbn=978-0785266303}}</ref>

==Career==
===dc Talk years (1989–2000)===
While at Liberty University, he met fellow [[dc Talk]] bandmates [[TobyMac|Toby McKeehan]] ("tobyMac") and [[Michael Tait]]. They formed DC Talk in 1988 and went on to achieve great success in both [[contemporary Christian music|Christian]] and mainstream music, winning numerous Dove Awards and Grammys.<ref name="mlive.com"/> The band went on to win four [[Grammy Award]]s and 16 [[GMA Dove Awards]]. The band went on hiatus in 2000 as each member pursued their own solo careers.

===Going solo (2001–2012)===
Max's first solo album, ''[[Stereotype Be]]'', released on August 28, 2001, was praised by [[Allmusic]] for "[combining] pop, rock, and world music to create a versatile and intriguing project.".<ref>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r546280|pure_url=yes}} |title=''Stereotype Be'' Review  |first=Ashleigh |last=Kittle |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=January 2, 2010}}</ref> Artists [[Adrian Belew]] and [[Tony Levin]] of [[King Crimson]], [[Larry Norman]] and drummer [[Matt Chamberlain]] contributed to the album along with Max's collaborator Erick Cole.  It became a turning point in Max's career, as the project was a foreshadowing of Max's own brand of alternative music.

While ''Stereotype Be'' has developed a considerable cult following, it was not well received in the Christian music market. Soon after its release, Max was dropped from his Christian label, [[ForeFront Records]]. Undeterred, Max began to slowly build his solo career through live shows and word-of-mouth. He released independent albums via his website, including ''[[Between the Fence & the Universe]]'' and a spoken-word collaboration with Adrian Belew, ''[[Raven Songs 101]]'', both in 2004.

In fall of 2004, Max's [[word-of-mouth]] strategy finally began to pay off. He played the title role in the Visalia Theatre Company / Hutson-Cavale Productions revival of the classic [[Tim Rice]] and [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]] musical ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]''. Later that year, he signed a new deal with [[Northern Records]] and released a second full-length album, ''[[The Imposter (album)|The Imposter]]'' on October 11, 2005. He released a [[Christmas music|Christmas]] album, ''Holy Night'', in time for the 2005 Christmas season.

In April 2007, Infinity Music announced that Max had been signed to their label for his next project. ''[[The Blood (album)|The Blood]]'' was released on December 26, 2007.<ref name="ymz" /> According to Max, "The Blood is not a classic hymns cover project or a white/homogenized version of black gospel or soul music. It's a sensitive and stylized adaption of the music that was at the root of rock and roll, blues and popular culture."<ref name="ymz">{{cite web |url=http://www.yourmusiczone.com/go/ymz/music_artist/max_kevin |title=Kevin Max |publisher=Yourmusiczone.com |access-date=July 16, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080401060520/http://www.yourmusiczone.com/go/ymz/music_artist/max_kevin <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = April 1, 2008}}</ref>

Max has attempted to create a name for himself apart from [[DC Talk]]. While he does not shy away from vocally defending his faith, he has expressed a desire to create art with a universal appeal. He insists, "My music is for a [[Christians|Christian]] and a [[Buddhist]] to pick up and still enjoy, as well as for an [[atheist]]. But it is there to prod and ask questions: What is my worldview? What do I believe in, and why do I believe it?"<ref>{{cite web |title=Kevin Max Ready to Release 'The Blood' This Fall |publisher=Soul Shine magazine |date=April 20, 2007 |url=http://www.soulshine.ca/news/newsarticle.php?nid=4392 |access-date=July 16, 2008 |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716060015/http://www.soulshine.ca/news/newsarticle.php?nid=4392 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In February 2008, Max starred in the independent film ''[[The Imposter (2008 film)|The Imposter]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.breathecast.com/Christian.Music.Artist-Kevin.Max/Article-277_1939.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722014132/http://www.breathecast.com/Christian.Music.Artist-Kevin.Max/Article-277_1939.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |title=Kevin Max Starts New Year With New Movie, New Album and Rave Reviews |publisher=BREATHEcast.com |date=January 28, 2008 |access-date=January 3, 2010 }}</ref> In the film, Kevin plays a character named "Johnny C", a singer who becomes addicted to [[OxyContin]] and loses his family and job as a Christian music star. The movie also features [[Tom Wright (actor)|Tom Wright]] and [[Troy Baker]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1175292/ |title=The Imposter |publisher=[[IMDb]] |access-date=January 3, 2010 }}</ref>

In 2009, Max released [[Crashing Gates]] through dPulse records. It was critically praised as returning to his experimental side in the rock and pop genres.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.soul-audio.com/album-reviews/12-08-2008/kevin-max/ |title=Soul-Audio » Album Reviews » Kevin Max |access-date=September 9, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425082005/http://soul-audio.com/album-reviews/12-08-2008/kevin-max/ |archive-date=April 25, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In February 2011, Max formed a [[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]] with [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] singer [[Tony Vincent]] and longtime collaborator David Larring. The band was tentatively named "Bad Omens". The three were writing songs when Vincent decided to drop out to pursue theater interests, leaving the new band in a state of pause. A song, "Control", can be heard on Max's SoundCloud.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://listenin.org/player/playpost.aspx?PostID=17040 |title=Playing: Kevin Max speaks about his new band, The Bad Omens (...his birth father's band) . • . interviews . • . . • . • . listenin.org . • . • . this is where rock stars SPEAK . • . • |publisher=Listenin.org |access-date=August 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316051458/http://listenin.org/player/playpost.aspx?PostID=17040 |archive-date=March 16, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://christiangospelmusicdaily.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/broadway-singer-tony-vincent-collaborating-with-ex-dctalker-kevin-max/ |title=Broadway singer Tony Vincent collaborating with ex-dcTalker Kevin Max « Mark Weber presents Christian Music Makers |publisher=Christiangospelmusicdaily.wordpress.com |date=February 24, 2011 |access-date=August 28, 2012}}</ref>

On February 27, 2012, Max released ''Fiefdom of Angels-Side One'', the first of two albums to coincide with the forthcoming novel series of the same name. The overall project were chosen covers of well known 80's rock songs, with one Kevin Max original and a [[Muse (band)|Muse]] cover set to lush orchestration. Ology Magazine describes the work as "a new wave mix-tape played at full volume through the Sistine Chapel".<ref>{{cite web|last=Zaratan |first=Ruiz |url=http://www.ology.com/music/album-review-kevin-max-fiefdom-angels-side-one/03052012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130200718/http://www.ology.com/music/album-review-kevin-max-fiefdom-angels-side-one/03052012 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 30, 2013 |title=Album Review: Kevin Max - 'Fiefdom Of Angels: Side One' |publisher=Ology |date=March 5, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2012 }}</ref>

===Audio Adrenaline years (2012–2014)===
In August 2012, Max became the new lead vocalist in a reunited [[Audio Adrenaline]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2012/08/21.Kevin%20Max%20Is%20The%20New%20Lead%20Vocalist%20For%20Audio%20Adrenaline!.asp |title=Music News, August 2012: Kevin Max Is The New Lead Vocalist For Audio Adrenaline! |publisher=Jesusfreakhideout.com |date=August 21, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2012}}</ref> He continued with the band until June 2014, when the band opted to take a different creative direction.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://theundergroundsite.com/kevin-max-to-step-down-as-lead-singer-of-audio-adrenaline/?hvid=3qv722|title = Audio Adrenaline announces new lineup with Josh Engler at the helm|date = June 4, 2014|access-date = June 4, 2014|website = The Underground|archive-date = January 8, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160108041013/http://theundergroundsite.com/kevin-max-to-step-down-as-lead-singer-of-audio-adrenaline/?hvid=3qv722|url-status = dead}}</ref>

Max has also contributed vocally to other artists projects including [[Mark Heard]], [[Jonathan Thulin]], [[Marc Martel]], [[Michael McDonald (musician)|Michael McDonald]], [[3kStatic]], and many others.

===Return to solo career (2014–present)===
In late 2014, Max released two singles, "Infinite" and "Light Me Up". On March 10, 2015 the album ''[[Broken Temples]]'' was released.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/BrokenTemples.asp |title=Broken Temples review |publisher=Jesusfreakhideout.com |date=March 10, 2015 |access-date=March 11, 2015}}</ref>

In 2015, Max released another studio album of covers of pop standards ''Starry Eyes Surprise''. Max released ''Playing Games With the Shadow'' in 2016, ''Serve Somebody'' in 2017, and both ''AWOL'' and ''Romeo Drive'' in 2018.

In 2020, Max released spoken word album ''Radio Teknika'' with electronic pioneers 3Kstatic and in the same summer released ''Revisiting This Planet'' a tribute to legendary rock artist [[Larry Norman]]. Later that year, Max announced a new indie rock band called Sad Astronauts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-05 |title=Kevin Max And Erick Cole: Sad Astronauts |url=https://hmmagazine.com/podcast/kevin-max-and-erick-cole-sad-astronauts/ |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=HM Magazine |language=en}}</ref>

In 2022, Max released the album ''FANTASY'' with co-production by Old Bear Records, Chris Hoisington. Singles ''Pure Imagination'' and David Bowie's ''As The World Falls Down'' were also released. 

A Kickstarter campaign was successful in supporting the new album ''Winter Woods'' to be released before December 25, 2022. 

In a statement made on his Facebook page, Max announced that he would be creating an album with Father John Misty Bassist, Eli Thomson in the spring of 2023. Elijah Thomson was also featured on Max's album The Imposter.

== Personal life ==
In 1997, Max married Alayna Bennett. They divorced in 2003. In April 2005, he married Amanda Lynn MacDonald,<ref name="interview-p1">{{cite web |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Kevin_Max_The_Imposter/21535/p1/ |title=Kevin Max: The Imposter? |work=[[Cross Rhythms]] |date=May 10, 2006 |first=Mike|last=Rimmer |access-date=July 16, 2008}}</ref> but stated in an interview that earlier the two had "a secret [[wedding]] and marriage vows were spoken and we had binding agreement together in front of a spiritual leader, but we decided to go with the public ceremony a little bit later."<ref name="interview p2">{{cite web |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/kevin_max_the_imposter/21535/p2/ |title=Kevin Max: The Imposter? |page=2 |work=[[Cross Rhythms]] |date=May 10, 2006 |access-date=August 22, 2008 |author=Mike Rimmer}}</ref> They have four children.    In August 2010, Max and family moved back to [[Grand Rapids]], [[Michigan]]. In 2016, Kevin Max bought a farm an hour southwest of Nashville in Centerville, Tennessee, and called it "Blind Thief Farm and Studio".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newreleasetoday.com/news_detail.php?newsid=1644|title=Kevin Max Bought the Farm (And You Can Rent It!)|website=newreleasetoday.com|access-date=April 18, 2020}}</ref> In 2018, the Max family moved to the Westhaven community in Franklin, Tennessee. The Max family frequently tours the states in a Winnebago/Mercedes RV titled ''Bilbo Waggons''. 

Max became vocal on social media about his politics and spiritual deconstruction in 2019 and 2020 during the pandemic. On the song "Shock Ra" from his 2020 album ''Radio Teknika'', he proclaims himself a "''gothic, hippie, inclusive, Jesus freak wanting peace"'', alongside other political commentary on the album''.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-03 |title=Kevin Max - Radio Teknika |url=https://hmmagazine.com/kevin-max-radio-teknika/ |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=HM Magazine |language=en}}</ref> Politically, Max has identified as an [[Anarchism|anarchist]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dennill |first=Bruce |date=2016-10-29 |title=Interview: Kevin Max - To The Max, Or We Need To Talk About Kevin |url=https://www.brucedennill.co.za/to-the-max-or-we-need-to-talk-about-kevin/ |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=pARTicipate |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1160613456120352776|user=kevinmax|title=As for my political affiliation I am an Anarchist. Going back to the time before Kings, Queens, dictators & presidents/self governed but with understanding of natural law, under God- I'm simpatico with the teachings of Christ but believe in the individual right to self-govern.|access-date=2022-10-04}}</ref> and expressed support for a number of [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]] causes.<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1394422919854534658|user=kevinmax|title=Anti-war, Pro-Peace, Anti-Hate, Pro-Love, Pro-LBGTQIA, Pro-BLM, Pro-open mindedness Anti-narrow mindedness Pro-Utopia, Anti-White Nationalist Agenda, Pro-equality, Pro-Vax, Pro-Music, Anti-1%rs, Pro-poor, Pro-misfit, Pro-Jesus, Etc....}}</ref> By 2021, he specifically identified as an "[[exvangelical]]", though he rejected claims that he was no longer a Christian and said that he followed "the Universal Christ".<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1393440477714788352|user=kevinmax|title=Hello, my name is Kevin Max, and I'm an #exvangelical|author=Kevin Max|date=14 May 2021|access-date=2022-10-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210530093415/https://twitter.com/kevinmax/status/1393440477714788352|archive-date=May 30, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Law |first1=Jeannie |title=DC Talk's Kevin Max says he's an 'exvangelical': 'Deconstructing' and 'progressing' |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/dc-talks-kevin-max-reveals-hes-an-exvangelical.html |access-date=18 May 2021 |work=[[Christian Post]] |date=18 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goins-Phillips |first=Tré |date=2021-05-18 |title=DC Talk's Kevin Max Is Now 'Exvangelical,' Says He's Been 'Progressing' for 'Decades' |url=https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/2021/may/dc-talk-rsquo-s-kevin-max-is-now-lsquo-exvangelical-rsquo-says-he-rsquo-s-been-lsquo-progressing-rsquo-for-lsquo-decades-rsquo |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=CBN News |language=en}}</ref>

==Discography==
===With dc Talk===
* (1989) ''[[DC Talk (album)|DC Talk]]'' ([[ForeFront Records]])
* (1990) ''[[Nu Thang]]'' (ForeFront Records)
* (1992) ''[[Free at Last (DC Talk album)|Free at Last]]'' (ForeFront Records)
* (1995) ''[[Jesus Freak (album)|Jesus Freak]]'' (ForeFront Records)
* (1997) ''[[Welcome to the Freak Show|Live in Concert: Welcome to the Freak Show]]'' (ForeFront Records)
* (1998) ''[[Supernatural (DC Talk album)|Supernatural]]'' (ForeFront Records)
* (2000) ''[[Intermission: the Greatest Hits]]'' (ForeFront Records)
* (2001) ''[[Solo (DC Talk album)|Solo (EP)]]'' (ForeFront Records)
* (2002) ''[[Free at Last: The Movie]]'' (ForeFront Records)

===Solo===
'''Studio albums'''
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Year
!width="220" rowspan="2"|Title
!colspan="2"|Peak chart positions
|-
! scope="col" style="width:2.3em;font-size:85%;"|[[List of number-one Billboard Christian Albums|US<br />Christ]]<br /><ref name="billboard.com">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/kevin-max/chart-history/ill/ |title=Kevin Max (Top Christian Albums)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=May 15, 2018}}</ref><br />
! scope="col" style="width:2.3em;font-size:85%;"|[[Heatseekers Albums|US<br />Heat]]<br /><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/kevin-max/chart-history/tln/|title=Kevin Max (Heatseekers Albums)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=May 15, 2019}}</ref><br />
|-
|2001
|align=left|''[[Stereotype Be]]''
*Released: August 28, 2001
*Label: [[ForeFront Records]]
| 12
| 20
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2005
|align=left|''[[The Imposter (album)|The Imposter]]''
*Released: October 11, 2005
*Label: [[Northern Records]]
| —
| —
|-
|align=left|''Holy Night''
*Released: November 15, 2005
*Label: Northern Records
| —
| —
|-
|2007
|align=left|''[[The Blood (album)|The Blood]]''
*Released: December 18, 2007
*Label: Infinity Music
| —
| —
|-
|2010
|align=left|''[[Cotes d'Armor (True Rebels)]]''
*Released: August 24, 2010
*Label: dPulse Recordings
| —
| —
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2015
|align=left|''[[Broken Temples]]''<ref>{{cite web |title=Facebook |website=[[Facebook]] |date=June 10, 2014 |url=https://facebook.com/groups/199315040106180?view=permalink&id=693622107342135|access-date=June 13, 2014}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=April 2020}}
*Released: March 10, 2015
*Label: Blind Thief Recordings/Motion Records
| 32
| 22
|-
|align=left|''Starry Eyes Surprise''
*Released: October 30, 2015
*Label: Blind Thief Recordings
| —
| —
|-
|2016
|align=left|''Playing Games With The Shadow''
*Released: June 10, 2016
*Label: Blind Thief Recordings
| —
| —
|-
|2017
|align=left|''Serve Somebody''
*Released: July 7, 2017
*Label: Gotee Records/SMLXL
| —
| —
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2018
|align=left|''AWOL''
*Released: June 8, 2018
*Label: Blind Thief Recordings
| —
| —
|-
|align=left|''Romeo Drive''
*Released: October 31, 2018
*Label: Blind Thief Recordings
| —
| —
|-
|2020
|align=left|''Radio Teknika''
*Released: July 3, 2020
*Label: Blind Thief Recordings
| —
| —
|}

'''Compilation albums'''
* Frozen in Time Since Two Thousand and Nine (2023)

===Other notable projects===
* (1994) ''At the Foot of Heaven: a Mini Audio Book'' (spoken word, [[Star Song Communications|Starsong]])
* (2010) ''Traveler (Mora Brothers Remixes)'' (dPulse Recordings)
* (2010) ''Unholy Triad'' (dPulse Recordings)
* (2010) ''Unholy Triad Remix'' (dPulse Recordings)
* (2015) ''Same Wavelength'' (Kevin Max & Service Unicorn) (Blind Thief Recordings)

===With Audio Adrenaline===
* (2013) ''[[Kings & Queens (Audio Adrenaline album)|Kings & Queens]]'' ([[Fair Trade Services]])

===Collaborations===
* (1995) ''In the Bleak Mid-Winter'' from ''Noel'', (as Kevin Smith), produced by [[Steve Hindalong & Derri Dougherty]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-Noel/release/3429490|title=Noel (1995, CD)|year=1995 |access-date=May 19, 2021|via=www.discogs.com}}</ref>
* (1996) ''Lonely Moon'' (from ''[[Strong Hand of Love]]: A Tribute to [[Mark Heard]]'')
* (1996) ''Louie's Solo'' [[Petra (band)|Petra]] cover with [[Passafist]], from ''[[Never Say Dinosaur]]'')
* (1997) ''[[The Canticle of the Plains]]'', (musical written by [[Rich Mullins]])
* (1998) ''Save Me'' (from ''[[Awesome God: A Tribute to Rich Mullins]]'')
* (1998) ''[[Birthday (The Beatles song)|Birthday]]'' [[The Beatles]] cover, from [[ForeFront Records]]' ''[[Ten: The Birthday Album]]'')
* (1999) ''There's Something About That Name'' (with [[Sonicflood]], from ''[[Listen Louder]]'')
* (2002) ''Just an Illusion'' (from ''Songs For a Purpose Driven Life'', [[Maranatha! Music]])
* (2003, 2009) ''[[Raven Songs 101]]'' (collaboration with [[Adrian Belew]], [[Blind Thief Publishing]])
* (2006) ''[[Help Me Rhonda]]'' (from ''[[Making God Smile: An Artists' Tribute to the Songs of Beach Boy Brian Wilson]]'')
* (2006) ''The Day Is Dawning'' (with [[Jill Phillips]]), from ''[[The Prayer Of Jabez...A Worship Experience]]''
* (2007) ''Blue'' (feature appearance for [[Manic Drive]], [[Whiplash Records]])
* (2009) ''Sugar Evolver'' (with [[3kStatic]], from ''Evolver'', [[Sony Music]])
* (2010) ''Come Together Now (Music City Unites for Haiti)'' ([[charity single]], relief effort led by [[Michael W. Smith]])
* (2011) ''I Am Second'' (feature appearance for Newsboys on ''God's Not Dead'', Inpop)
* (2011) ''A Name, A Day'' (from "of Shadows and Scars"] with Atlantic
* (2013) ''Man On Fire'' (feature appearance for Newsboys on ''[[Restart (Newsboys album)|Restart: Deluxe Edition]]'', Inpop)
* (2013) ''The Living Years'' (feature appearance for Newsboys on ''Restart'', Inpop)
* (2019) ''Love One Another'' (feature appearance for Newsboys on ''United'', [[Fair Trade Services|Fair Trade]])
* (2020) ''Under Pressure'' (feature appearance with Marc Martel) 
* (2022) ''You Did Not Have A Home'' (from ''Bellsburg'' album release) [[Old Bear Records]])

===Guest appearances===
*[[Marc Martel]] - "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkhUQXqx0Us Under Pressure] "
* [[Michael McDonald (singer)|Michael McDonald]]&nbsp;– "Ain't That Peculiar"
* [[Audio Adrenaline]]&nbsp;– "My World View"
* [[Manic Drive]]&nbsp;– "Blue"
* [[Jimmy Abegg]]&nbsp;– "These Daughters of Mine"
* [[Rich Mullins]]&nbsp;– "To Tell Them"
* [[TobyMac]]&nbsp;– "Atmosphere (Remix)" on 2004's ''[[Welcome to Diverse City]]''
* [[SONICFLOOd]]&nbsp;– "Something About That Name"
* [[Raze (Christian pop group)|Raze]]&nbsp;– "Forgive Me"
* [[Newsboys]]&nbsp;– "[[God's Not Dead (Like a Lion)]]", "[[I Am Second]]", "Man on Fire", "[[The Living Years]]", and "Love One Another"
* [[Michael Sweet]]&nbsp;- "This Time" on 2014's ''[[I'm Not Your Suicide]]''
* [[tobyMac]]&nbsp;– "Love Feels Like" on 2015's ''[[This Is Not a Test (album)|This Is Not a Test]]''
* [[Philippa Hanna]]&nbsp;– "Embers" on 2016's ''Speed of Light''
* [[TobyMac]]&nbsp;– "[[Life After Death (TobyMac album)|Space]]" on 2022's ''[[Life After Death (TobyMac album)|Life After Death]]''

===Singles===
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Year
! Single
! Album
|-
|rowspan="3"|2001
| "Be"
|rowspan="3"|''[[Stereotype Be]]''
|-
| "Existence"
|-
| "You"
|-
|rowspan="2"|2005
| "Seek"
| ''[[Between the Fence & the Universe]]'' 
|-
| "Sanctuary"
|rowspan="2"|''[[The Imposter (album)|The Imposter]]''
|-
|2006
| "Confessional Booth"
|-
|rowspan="2"|2007
| "Run on for a Long Time" <small>(featuring [[Chris Sligh]])</small>
|rowspan="2"|''[[The Blood (album)|The Blood]]''
|-
| "The Cross" <small>(featuring [[dc Talk]])</small>
|-
| 2009
| "Traveler"
|rowspan="3"|''[[Cotes d'Armor (True Rebels)]]''
|-
|rowspan="3"| 2010
| "On Yer Bike!"
|-
| "Unholy Triad"
|-
| "Exorcist"
| non-album single
|-
| 2011
| "Take a Bow"
|''Fiefdom of Angels: Side One'' 
|-
|2012
| "Kings & Queens"
|rowspan="4" |''[[Kings & Queens (Audio Adrenaline album)|Kings & Queens]]''<br /><small>([[Audio Adrenaline]])</small>
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2013
| "Believer"
|-
| "King of the Comebacks"
|-
|rowspan="4"| 2014
| "He Moves You Move"
|-
| "Infinite" <small>(featuring [[Rachael Lampa]])</small>
| rowspan="2" |''[[Broken Temples]]''
|-
| "Light Me Up"
|-
| "Cave of a Million Songs"
| ''Praise and Arrows'' <small>(soundtrack)</small>
|-
| 2015
| "Clear"
| ''Broken Temples''
|-
| 2016
| "Girl with the Tiger Eyes"
| ''Playing Games with the Shadow''
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2017
| "Let the Day Begin"
| ''Serve Somebody''
|-
| "Plans"
| non-album single
|-
|2018
| "Moonracer"
|''AWOL''
|-
|2019
| "[[Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas]]"<br>|(with [[Michael Tait]])
| non-album single
|-
|2021
| "A Pearl To Hide"
| non-album single 
|-
| 2022 
| "As The World Falls Down'
| "Pure Imagination" 
| "Coventry Carol" 
|}

===Filmography===
'''Music videos'''
* (2001) ''Existence'' ([[ForeFront Records]])
* (2003) ''Seek (Live)'' ([[Northern Records]])
* (2010) ''Carry On My Wayward Son (with Kerry Livgren of Kansas)'' (Unknown)
* (2015) ''Moon Over Bourbon Street'' ([[Blind Thief Recordings]])
* (2016) ''Girl With the Tiger Eyes'' ([[Blind Thief Recordings]])
* (2018) ''Moonracer'' ([[Blind Thief Recordings]])

'''Film'''
* (2010) ''[[The Imposter (2008 film)|The Imposter]]''
* (2014) ''As Dreamers Do'' <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3402880/fullcredits/|title=As Dreamers Do|date=April 17, 2014|publisher=IMDb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.waltmovie.com/|title=As Dreamers Do - The Amazing Life of Walt Disney|website=walt|access-date=May 19, 2021}}</ref>

===Books===
* (1994) ''At the Foot of Heaven'' (poetry/artwork, [[Starsong]])
* (2001) ''Unfinished Work'' (autobiography, T. Nelson)
* (2002) ''Slip of the Ink''
* (2003) ''The Detritus of Dorian Gray'' (poetry, Blind Thief Publishing)
* (2004) ''Divine Erotica''
* (2005) ''PO/ET/RY'' (poetry, Blind Thief Publishing)
* (2014) ''Fiefdom of Angels''

==See also==
{{portal|Poetry}}
*[[DC Talk|dc Talk]] - Christian Band, 1988-2001 with [[tobyMac]], Kevin Max and [[Michael Tait]]
*[[tobyMac]] - Solo artist, former bandmate in dc Talk
*[[Newsboys]] - Christian band (lead singer Michael Tait 2009-2024)
*[[Adrian Belew]] - guitarist, producer, frequent collaborator
* [[Tait (band)|Tait]] - Band of former dcTalk member Michael Tait.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Kevin Max}}
* {{Official website|http://kevinmax.com/}}
* [http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=93 NewReleaseTuesday.com Between The Fence And the Universe Interview]
* [http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=107 NewReleaseTuesday.com Exclusive The Blood Interview with Kevin Max]
* [http://www.wreckedfortheordinary.com/index.asp?filename=the-blood Interview with Kevin Max About ''The Blood'' with ''Wrecked for the Ordinary'']{{dead link|date=February 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
{{Kevin Max}}
{{dc Talk}}
{{Audio Adrenaline}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Max, Kevin}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century anarchists]]
[[Category:American anarchist writers]]
[[Category:American Christian writers]]
[[Category:American male poets]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American performers of Christian music]]
[[Category:American rock singers]]
[[Category:American rock songwriters]]
[[Category:American socialists]]
[[Category:Audio Adrenaline members]]
[[Category:Christian anarchists]]
[[Category:DC Talk members]]
[[Category:Former evangelicals]]
[[Category:Liberty University alumni]]
[[Category:Musicians from Grand Rapids, Michigan]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Michigan]]