Christian rock mainstays Audio Adrenaline are back for the third installment of the band, and after releasing new record Sound of the Saints, it looks like they are here to stay awhile. BREATHEcast had the opportunity to chat with new lead singer Adam Agee about his new role, the Hands & Feet Project, and his favorite classic Audio A songs.

BREATHEcast: Do you feel as the new singer of Audio A that you have a responsibility to continue the legacy of this band? Is there a lot of pressure?

Adam Agee: Absolutely. I felt the pressure early on during the writing process, singing on the album, and preparing for our tour with the Newsboys. I was trying to find the balance between my style and the style of Audio A. I have been doing my own thing in music for the past 15 years, so there was an adjustment period. After a few weeks on tour, I found that balance of being me and doing my best to perform the older Audio A songs.

BC: Audio A has been around for nearly 25 years. They are most known with Mark Stuart, then Kevin Max. As Adam Agee, how do you and the rest of the guys draw in some of those older fans to what you guys are doing now?

AA: It has been amazing to meet fans on the road who have been following the band for two decades. They have been overwhelmingly supportive, saying that they love the new album and that we are doing the older stuff justice. It's very encouraging to have their support along with the full endorsement of Mark and Will. I think most of the fans see that we are doing everything we can to capture the energy and spirit of Audio A past and present.

BC: Despite the changes over the last few years, one thing that has remained constant is the message of the band. Does the band have any personal goals as far as spreading the gospel? Are there things you guys are hoping will happen through the music?

AA: Spreading the Gospel is the goal. We hope everyone who hears our music on the radio, on the album, or at a show hears the Gospel. I hope our music and lives can inspire, encourage, and challenge people to be unafraid to live out their faith.

BC: With Mark and Will fully dedicating their time to Hands & Feet, what is the role of the band in conjunction with the organization now?

AA: We are planning a trip to Haiti later this year and I personally cannot wait to see the ministry firsthand. Hands and Feet and Audio A will forever be associated with each other and we hope to continue to partner with them and encourage fans to support them. I believe H&F is a real life example of how to put the words of our songs into action.

(Photo : Facebook: Audio Adrenaline)

BC: Sound of the Saints stylistically is different than anything put out under Audio A. However, the sound is modern and geared toward the more contemporary and perhaps sounds of this generation. Was the music written this way intentionally or did it kind of just flow out this way?

AA: We were very intentional with most of the songs on this album, both stylistically and lyrically. Also, a few of them caught us by surprise and we couldn't help but put them on the album. Audio A has changed musical styles from record to record, so I think we have continued that trend. We've tried to record songs that capture not only the newest generation of AA fans, but songs that continue the journey for longtime supporters.

BC: Whenever there are changes in such a big band, it's always fun to see how the group will perform some of the classics. What are some of the older songs in new Audio A's arsenal, and as someone who undoubtedly grew up on some of these songs, what's it feel like to be able to perform them?

AA: We've performed hits like "Big House," "Get Down," "Hands and Feet," "Ocean Floor" ... just to name a few. Honestly, it's a bit surreal. It's fun to see the crowd respond to these tunes and I believe our joy in playing them shines through during the show.

BC: Why do you think music serves as this powerful language to reach people, and do you think it is a useful tool for evangelism?

AA: Music moves people. It speaks to the soul. That's why back in the day, we used songs to memorize Scripture, the alphabet, and the presidents. The beautiful thing about music is it's a language everyone can speak.

BC: Speaking to Duncan from the Newsboys, he told us that Christian music sometimes lacks some of that "umph" to make it not only something Christ centered, but something that can be considered fine art. Is it difficult to create a balance between "I think this sounds amazing" and "Hmm... I didn't hit the Jesus quota"?

AA: I don't think about a "Jesus quota" when writing. I pray and ask God to inspire the right lyric for the song and want to create something that speaks to people in an encouraging way. Sometimes a song says "Jesus Loves Me" and sometimes it says "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." These songs mean the same thing to me, just stated differently.

BC: And of course speaking of everyone's favorite, Duncan, and his bandmates, what's it like touring with the Newsboys to kick off this new installment of A.A. Talk about getting a jump start!

AA: These guys are amazing and we get to learn from the best every night. I sit side-stage and watch the show and learn from them as much as I can. I've been playing music professionally for over 10 years now and I still love learning from these guys. On and off the stage, the Newsboys are the best.

BC: Last and most importantly, removing Sound of the Saints from the equation, what's your favorite Audio A record and song?

AA: I love the Bloom record. It's the album that got me in to music. I'm here today because of that album. However, my favorite song is probably "Underdog." I love the message and the rock and roll.

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Audio Adrenaline's Sound of the Saints debuted on May 4 at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Christian chart. Read our review of it here.