When musicians manage to find their audiences and (especially) some measure of success along the way, rare indeed are those who abandon such formulaic security for the uncertain, often harsh territory of artistic adventure and freedom. Kevin Max is one of those rare artists.

The former dcTalk vocalist didn't just say goodbye to one of the most successful, celebrated groups in the history of Christian music a few years back (over 8 million units sold); he uprooted himself from his longtime hometown of Nashville and headed west to Los Angeles, to begin the next chapter of his life. In Los Angeles, Max Found himself in unexpected and perspective-altering relationships that ultimately led to his newest solo-album (and first with Northern Records), an ear-opening, poetic, alt-rock juggernaut he calls The Imposter.

"The idea of "the imposter' comes from Brennan Manning's The Ragamuffin Gospel and Abba's Child" Max reveals. "dcTalk did weekend retreats with Brennan, and we'd get to talk. He'd explain that the imposter is in all of us - it's that fleshly part that isn't willing to give up the ghost, that part that wants to take over the spirit in us. That's what this album is about - the fight between the flesh and the spirit."

One track captures elements of that battle is the first single, "Sanctuary," a pulsating, careening tune full of chiming rock guitar - courtesy of former Prayer Chain guitarist and producer of The Imposter, Andrew D. Prickett - and Max's instantly recognizable tenor. It's also a metaphor for Max's recent sense of homelessness and his ultimate hope for a heavenly home: So hand me the keys to your kingdom/give me back my Garden of Eden/ lead me to a place that I can call my own, a home, a sanctuary...

But for all the inspiring new songs on The Imposter, Max's favorite track by far is vocally blazing, gospel-tinged cover of Bob Dylan's "When He Returns" (from Slow Train Coming). "To Me it brings it all together," Max, says of the piano-and-vocal track, the sparest song on the album. "I kept the same lyric, of course, but I changed a few things - it's a little more gospel.
It's a great moment."

When it's all said and done, Max hopes The Imposter can take on a life of its own. "I want to make music that gets brands new people listening to it. And I want to bridge the gap between Christian and mainstream audiences," he declares. "I believe the only way I can have an impact on both is to take off the mask - no hiding my weakness and no apologies for my faith."