Interview: Grace + Max
Acclaimed husband/wife duo Grace + Max talk to Louder Than The Music about their song 'Better Place,' and how their own experience of depression led them to partner with a helpline working to help people with mental health struggles.
For those who haven't heard of you before, can you tell us a bit about yourselves and how you got involved in making music?
MAX: We are Grace + Max, a husband-and-wife duo based in Nashville, Tennessee. We’ve been making music as solo artists for the past five years, but when we got married a year and a half ago, we became a duo. It wasn’t something we were planning, but during our engagement, we began praying about our future and what it would look like to do music together. We thought we might collaborate at some point down the road, but God had other plans. While we were searching for opportunities in our solo careers, God created opportunities for us as a duo. It became clear The Lord was joining our ministries to be one. We got married, and then two days after our honeymoon, we began touring as a duo and haven’t looked back.
Tell us about your new single 'Better Place' and what the inspiration behind it was?
GRACE: 'Better Place' was written about my journey with depression. It's something I have struggled with for the past 10 years. Even in knowing God, sometimes the lies in my mind take over, making me feel hopeless. For anyone struggling, it takes a toll not only on you but also on your loved ones.
Max has walked with me through some of the most grief-filled moments life has to offer. The sad reality is that I am far from being the only one struggling with the heaviness depression brings. We wrote “Better Place” not only as a reminder to me but to the person who feels alone and isolated. We want to remind you that the world is a better place with you in it.
You've pledged to donate a portion of the proceeds from this single to charity - which one have you chosen and why is that important to you?
MAX: We have partnered with TheHopeLine, a faith-based suicide and crisis intervention hotline. When we're on tour, we have the opportunity to talk with so many amazing people, so when someone opens up to us about their mental health struggles, we want to be able to help them find resources near them. TheHopeLine is a 24/7 chatline with trained mental health professionals available to talk with you anytime and assist you in finding local help - and it’s completely free to use.
What advice would you give to anyone reading this who has been going through their own mental health struggles recently?
GRACE: For the person reading this struggling to stay afloat: The world is a better place with you in it. We know it’s hard. We know it’s isolating…BUT we promise if you keep fighting and clinging to the Lord, He will make a way. We can promise this because God promises this. We’ve seen it. Maybe not today, next week, or even next year, but you will be okay. Healing isn’t a linear journey. It takes work and effort, but it will be worth it.
There is no shame in getting help. When I started taking medication a year ago, I began seeing colors again. I started desiring to spend time with God and read my Bible. Don’t keep trying to fight this battle on your own. You weren’t made to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. To receive help and find resources near you, visit TheHopeLine.com.
How do you find being a husband/wife duo, what challenges and advantages do you think that brings?
MAX: We love being a duo! One person’s weakness is another person’s strength. We feel so blessed that we are able to fully join our ministry and be aligned with where we see The Lord leading us. Since we became a duo when we got married, we’ve had to learn how to balance marriage and working together. We have to remind ourselves that we are a husband and wife before we are “work” partners. We make such a great team, it feels effortless.
What message would you like people to take from your music?
GRACE: If we could leave you with one thing, we hope you know how much Jesus cares for you. God takes care of the birds in the sky and the grass in the field, but He didn’t die to save the birds or the grass. He died for YOU, so how much more does He care for you and me?
How would you describe your style of music and what are your influences?
MAX: Our sound is acoustic-pop. We love being influenced by all genres (folk, pop, and rock to name a few) and incorporating them into our music. I produce all our songs, and I'm influenced by the production of artists like Ed Sheeran, Joseph O’Brien, and Jon Bellion.
Currently, Grace is inspired lyrically by SEU Worship, Avery Anna, Noah Kahan, and Franni Cash. Any song that gives us "goosebumps" when we listen to it inspires us to be better creatives. We will forever be learning from other artists, writers, and producers.
If you could work with any songwriter, who would it be and why?
GRACE: I’d love to write with Avery Anna. When I listen to her lyrics, they hit home for me. She has a way of capturing exactly how I feel and helping me heal. The Lord has used her songs to help me, and it would be an honor to one day write with her.
MAX: I’d love to write with Jon Bellion. He is known to be a great collaborator and help artists and writers be the best version of themselves as creatives. He brings joyful energy into the room and recognizes that our abilities come from God, not from our own strength.
How would you define success in your career as artists?
MAX: Success five years ago was defined as something completely different from what we define success as now. Of course, we have dreams and goals we’d love to accomplish and are working towards. Ultimately, success in every part of our lives is when we put God in the center of all we do. God doesn’t ask for our abilities but our availability. We just have to show up, work hard, and God will do the rest.
If we have the whole world but don’t have Jesus, we have nothing. Whatever is supposed to happen will happen, and as long as we are going where God is leading, walking in His will is far more fulfilling than anything we could ever plan for ourselves.
What does the rest of the year hold for you?
GRACE: We have been working on quite a few songs and plan on releasing them this year. We also have a tour planned for the summer and can’t wait to announce the dates. I am currently recovering from shoulder surgery after a social media video stunt gone wrong, so we are also focusing on resting and healing. We have had a great start to the year and cannot wait to see what The Lord continues to do!
