Colton Dixon – Super-Seeker

CCM: There are always critics out there, especially with what we do in contemporary Christian music, art, and media, etc. How do you think your work stands up against those who may claim hints of inauthenticity—or use an artist’s ‘success’ as a negative?
CD: Honestly I think it goes back to how you define success. I haven’t always looked at it this way. I’m sure there are still times I put it in the wrong place, but I don’t make music for anyone else except for God. Sure, I like be creative and I love to have fun. Do I want people to enjoy [my work]? Absolutely, but I can’t put all my chips in that basket because ultimately there are going to be people who don’t like it.

I shouldn’t do this—after all I am human and an artist—but I’ve read the comments on iTunes or on YouTube or whatever and you read things like, “He’s selling out. He’s not doing the ‘rock-thing’ anymore.” Or, on the flip side, you have people who didn’t like the first two records who liked Identity. You win some and you lose some. Again, it goes back to, “How do you define success?” Is it defined it in popularity, fame, or money? I’m trying not to.

I think I am a success story. I think God put a desire in my heart and He made it come true for me. I don’t know about you, but that seems like success to me. I’m banking on that. I love what I get to do. I’ll do it for as long as God allows me to.

CCM: Congratulations on your first year of marriage (January). As we discuss our identity, you have stated before that your relationship with Annie doesn’t define who you are. It seems a lot of young people can get hung up on that concept…
CD: I can’t let my wife define who I am. It goes back to, “Where do you put your identity?” I think it’s very easy to put that in a relationship—or in your popularity, the kind of house you’re in, what you do for a living, or whatever “it” may be. Going back to Psalm 119, it’s His love that should be our identity.

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