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One of this year's best surprises comes in the form of Kevin Max's debut solo album, Stereotype Be. After sitting for long periods of time contemplating how to approach the subject, sometimes a writer must deal with it straight-on, stating the obvious for the sake of overcoming it. Other times, he must simply nod and briefly acknowledge in order to make a point. Or he can just ignore it, for an artist is best measured by his own merit. Stereotype Be finds its author both bold and mysterious, sounding both adventurous and classic. Bold because he's saying what he wants; mysterious because he is poetic and often speaks in metaphors and vague pictures; adventurous because the music sounds like nothing else and sparkles with creativity; classic because influences are evident but not overpowering and the record as a whole is one avoiding musical trends. Kevin Max answered a few questions for Familiar Vagrant and gave a bit more insight into his music, his ideas, his life.

Familiar Vagrant: In some of your songs, there seems to be a heavy Jack Kerouac influence (maybe I just hear that because i've been listening to some recordings of him lately) ...in what ways has he and other poets (particularly beat poets) influenced your own poetry and songs?

Kevin Max: It's funny you mention Kerouac because, for kicks, i just this year completed a spoken word project with Adrian Belew. We are calling it RAVEN SONGS 101, in ode to my favorite poet e.e.cummings who said, "Every poet should be fed by ravens." (Raven Songs 101 will be available through my web site and Adrian Belew's personal site at the beginning of next year) Poetry is a huge inspiration and component, in my lyrical explorations and thoughts in general.

FamV: I understand you grew up on a farm in Michigan...what sort of things have happened or influences have you had that changed you from a midwestern farmboy to an artsy feather boa-wearing poet?

K-Max: Well now, then, there......growing up in Michigan was such a different landscape than I where I am at today, in many ways. I was always a bit of a reader, my parents would worry about me sometimes because i would spend a lot of time in my room. I harbored alot of rock and roll fantasies as well, dressing up as Simon le Bon and singing and in our bathroom mirror, but maybe everyone goes through that phase....Looking back it was really wonderful to grow up in a rural area, taking care of horses and the land, it gave me a big sense of God's creation.

FamV: Musically, Stereotype Be is definitely a departure from anything DCTalk has done, much less the early albums where it was mostly rap...what sort of music have you been into personally, whether you would view it as influential or not?

K-Max: The making of Stereotype Be was actually quite a release, like a giant purge or something. I had wandered around for quite some time with all of these melodies and lyric in my head. Musically, i am quite different than DCTalk because of my background and musical preference. I grew up listening to alot of British music as well as underground rock and roll. I was influenced as a singer by everyone from Elvis to Morrissey, Freddy Mercury and Echo and the Bunnymen. The alternative quotient was always attractive to me even at a young age. I remember being drawn to the poetry of Edgar Allen Poe and the writing of Frank Herbert over more traditional writers. Music was such a huge part of my life as a boy, I remember my first real concert being OMD, my girlfriend at the time thought they were fringe. It's interesting that the 80's, even though they were devoid of true writers like Dylan, or Lennon, offered a kind of imagination that we lack even today.

FamV: I love to ask this question of anyone who was influenced by Morrissey or into the Smiths (i realize the question is gratuitous and self-indulgent)...have you covered any Smiths songs? If you were, which one(s) would you cover?

K-Max: I have covered the song "Please, please, please, let me get what i want." It's a personal favorite of mine. On a related note, the producer of the Smiths was actually an option for my record. He listened to my songs and loved the project; however, when DCTalk was handed over to EMI, I decided to do the project at home in Nashville. Maybe next project we will do it in England with John Porter.

FV: On the album you worked with some really great musicians, among them Adrian Belew and John Painter...what sort of things did they bring to the recording and sound? (I personally have heard in a couple places string parts and rhythms that remind me of something John Painter would do with Fleming & John)

K-Max: Yes, John and Adrian were a big part of the creative process. Adrian more so as an arranger on this record, even over a guitarist. John was also a creative arranger with the string parts, and occasional strange instruments like the theramin. I really wanted to push it musically and i believe that the team was perfect. John and Adrian really got along well, and had a mutual respect for each other. Tony Levin and Matt Chamberlin added to the musicality in a performance setting. The songs however, were practically done in form when I brought them to Adrian. He actually wanted to keep some of the demos, which being a huge compliment, was unthinkable to me! Without these guys, I would have to say the project would have been very different.

FV: I mentioned John Painter already, but he worked with you quite a bit on the record...was there ever any talk of Fleming (McWilliams) adding background solos or dueting with you? I know that I, for one, would be blown away by what that would do vocally...

K-Max: Fleming and I have talked about it, maybe somewhere down the road, when she gets tired of singing with John (laughs).

FV: Are you planning to do any sort of solo tour anytime soon?

K-Max: Yes, we have for the time being postponed touring to the beginning of next year. I would love to get out on the road with someone that made sense with us musically and could challenge us. Europe is a focus for us because I feel this music could be easily understood over there. But God has us in the palm of His hand, wherever he wants us.

FV: If you could put together a dream tour and pick any 2 or 3 other artists/bands to tour with right now, who would you choose?

K-Max: ummmmmm, 1. u2 2. Peter Gabriel or David Bowie 3. DCTalk, they are my brothers you know.

FV: In the song "Deconstructing Venus," to whom or what is the song directed? If possible, would you expand on the sentiment expressed in the song?

K-Max: I actually wrote the song as an answer to all the media mayhem made over the Versace dress worn by J-LO. I thought it was so much like our society to make such a big deal over something that was literally meaningless. I mean, I like fashion but there is no reason that it takes precedent over world issues. The fact that we attribute WHOLE magazines to the plight of the next J-LO dress is kinda sad. I also wanted to write a fictional analogy of how empty a life can be when it is centered around the self and self-glorification. The song was not a personal attack on J-LO, should could be a very nice girl.

FV: In the liner notes, you thank a couple different coffee joints...what are your favorite caffeinated beverages?

K-Max: My favorite place is right next to my house in Hillsboro villiage called Bongo Java. It's a hippy house where all sorts of vagrant people thrive on life and coffee beans. My favorite drink is called the McBowl, it is 2 shot espresso with a shot of irish creme.

www.kevinmax.com