Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your latest album, and what themes or stories you aimed to convey through your music?

My latest single is called He Knows Your Name, and I wrote it to bring hope to people who are struggling with thoughts of taking their own life. It was inspired by the words in Psalm 139 which acknowledge God is the one who created each of us. A lot of people think they were a mistake or an accident, but God doesn’t make mistakes, and he is the one who decided to bring each person into this world. And he is the only one who can and will bring peace and joy amidst the suffering and brokenness.

Music often has the power to transport people to different places and times. Can you describe a moment in your life when a particular song or album had a profound impact on you?

It’s interesting that you asked this question at this particular moment in my life. I’ve had a lot of those moments in my life, but recently there is one that stands out. My wife and I went to Cancun a few months back and while we were laying on the beach admiring the beautiful ocean view, I had the newest album by Hermanos Gutiérrez, El Bueno Y El Malo, playing in my headphones. Ever since, when I listen to that album it instantly takes me back to that beach and I get to experience the beauty that God created in that specific spot all over again. That album provides one of the best soundtracks for when you are taking in a breathtaking view or staring into a starry sky.

Many artists have rituals or routines they follow before performing or recording. Do you have any unique or quirky pre-show or pre-recording rituals that you find help you get in the zone?

I wouldn’t say it is unique or quirky, but I pray before shows and ask God to use the music to help people encounter him.

Your lyrics often tell a story or convey a message. Can you share the story behind one of your songs and the inspiration that led to its creation?

As a pastor I have ministered to a lot of people who have struggled with suicidal thoughts, and I have seen time and time again how God will free them from that struggle after they surrender to him. But I also see how suicide rates continue to increase, and that compels me to want to get the truth out about this issue to as many people as possible. So I wrote my newest song He Knows Your Name to bring hope to people who desperately need it by connecting them with their Creator.

If you could curate a music festival with a lineup of your dream artists, who would be the headliners, and what would the theme of the festival be?

Assuming I could book musicians who’ve already passed in addition to the living, the festival headliners would be Radiohead, Ween, Air, Failure, The Beatles, Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, Led Zeppelin, Elliot Smith, Supergrass, and Stone Temple Pilots. The theme would be “music that doesn’t suck” and we’d do it somewhere in the beautiful Texas hill country near my hometown of Wimberley.

Music can be a powerful tool for advocacy and change. Are there any social or political causes that you’re passionate about, and how does your music play a role in promoting these issues?

I’m big on efficiency and effectiveness, so I prefer to identify and resolve the root issue behind a problem rather than the other symptoms of that problem. That’s why I am passionate about telling people the good news about Jesus Christ, because he is the only fix for the brokenness in this world, including every social and political issue that exists. I write music to help people encounter their Creator so they can experience healing and freedom from their root issues and find peace and joy that is impossible to find apart from God.

The music industry has evolved significantly with technology. How do you see artificial intelligence and emerging technologies impacting the creation and distribution of music in the future?

AI and emerging technologies will make it easier for musicians to produce music at a much faster pace. There will be so much more music content released that ironically it will become even harder to find music that you connect to in an authentic way. The market will be flooded with more AI-created content than human-created content, and I’m referring to songs that are entirely created by AI with zero human involvement beyond prompting it to “make me a happy song that sounds like a combination of the bands I listen to the most”. But people will continue to crave authenticity, so live music will flourish as people will seek out opportunities for real human connection. Like all new technologies, there will be some incredible benefits to AI in addition to some major negative consequences.

Many recording artists evolve over time. How do you see your musical journey changing and growing in the next decade?

The most positive impact we can have on our society and the world is to reach the next generation. I am keenly aware that my music has primarily been influenced by the stuff I grew up listening to in my youth, and a lot of it probably sounds dated to younger generations even though it was only recently released. So I am on the hunt for good new music that young people are listening to so I can have those influences in my songwriting. As a complete music snob, it’s not easy to find stuff I really like, but there are plenty of pearls to be found amidst the ocean of mediocrity.