Anthony Evans Interview:
Q. How did you end up getting a record deal of your own?
A. It's a very random story. I came to Nashville last April to write and get some stuff together because I was going to start traveling with my dad (speaker and pastor Tony Evans) full time. I met with a guy named Jason Ingram, who used to be signed with INO Records. We were writing and hanging out and we have a lot in common. We're both pastors' kids--speakers' kids. And we really connected. And out of nowhere he said, "I've gotta send an e-mail to this label I used to be with. Let's just see what they say." So he sent the e-mail and we set up a meeting and I sang for them. So I met with the president and a couple weeks later, he said, "So do you want to do this? Because we do." He's a real straight-shooter, which is great. But that was real random. I wasn't in Nashville shopping a deal. It was a real God thing and that's why I've pushed through with this record, because it's been orchestrated by the Lord, really.
Q. Had you always wanted to work in music?
A. I didn't want to go into music, really. I wanted to go into Christian camping and work at a camp out in Tyler, Texas. I went out there and got hired, but then my boss said, "Anthony, God is not done with your music. You want to come here because it's safe." So I was like, "Um, okay." So that was the step that I took to Nashville and the story goes on from there.
Q. So when they offered you the record deal, was it like, "Okay!" or "I don't know if I want to do this!"?
A. Well, it was such a God thing because coming to Nashville was such a random step of faith. So when that got presented to me, I felt a peace about it immediately.
Q. Do you see your music as a ministry?
A. Oh, definitely. That's the only reason I do this music. Entertainment to me is very much second on the list. Ministry is first. I honestly feel like God burnt this record in me for the purpose of ministering to a certain demographic. Not necessarily age-wise, but people who have maybe grown up in church and have become almost kind of "blah" with Christianity.
Q. Why that kind of person?
A. Because that's what I was. That's what I'm working out of. The songs on this record came from that experience.
Q. What is your favorite song on the album?
A. I'd have to say "The One." It basically sums up me and I think sums up a lot of what Christianity is. It talks about how for so long, I tried to please everyone around me and I didn't realize that so much of me was being given out for people around me. So it looked right and seemed right, but at the end of the day, God is the only one who made that sacrifice for me. Jesus paid that price for me and everything I do needs to be for Him.