The best-selling group in the history of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), DC Talk, celebrates the 25th anniversary of their RIAA double-platinum album, Jesus Freak.
“This record was more the three of us than anything we had ever done together up to that point,” says TobyMac, who was also the album’s co-producer. “This was the first album that sounded like Michael, Kevin and Toby. Those guys are such great vocalists that I didn’t have any more time for them to sing choruses. I wanted to hear some of their passionate vocals in the verses and beyond. Looking back, I am so glad that we took a hip-hop touring group and added guitars and rock to transform and grow the sound. We went into that house that we turned into a studio, with no formula and said musically, whatever comes out comes out. We kept the same goal in mind, to use our music and platform to point people to God.
A previously unreleased video from a 1995 Michael Tait Vocal Session demo was also unveiled in honor of the silver anniversary of Jesus Freak. The video is available now on YouTube and features original photos from the album’s recording in 1995. Simultaneously, YouVersion has partnered with DC Talk to provide devotional content.
The “Jesus Freak” album has also been re-released and broken down into three thematic digital EPs. Titles “What Will People Think,” “Human After All,” and “Trying to Find a Life” present a deeper dive into the devotional themes of DC Talk’s iconic album. EPs are available on all digital streaming platforms.
“When we were finishing up the project, we played Jesus Freak for the label for the first time and, let’s just say, it wasn’t received well,” says album producer and Jesus Freak song co-writer Mark Heimermann. “I later heard that they thought it was the beginning of the end for dc Talk. Funny now for sure, but they were wise enough to trust Toby and keep riding that dc Talk train. We won the Dove Award for “Song of The Year” in 1996 for Jesus Freak and I think we were both shocked.
Up until that year, it was always the most conservative music that would win. It was truly groundbreaking within the industry. To see 80,000 people at a Billy Graham Crusade singing a song that you were a part of is overwhelming and beyond humbling. Evidently, it found its time. The Church needed passionate anthems for its generation and I truly believe God used Jesus Freak to inspire millions of people – believers and non-believers alike.”
All DC Talk social media channels are active and fun for fans to follow as well, with lots of previously never-seen-before content and more. The band can be found @dctalkofficial on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.