Steven Malcolm exclusive interview: On his love for Jesus, fashion, films, and cinnamon toast crunch

Steven Malcolm

Q: Which song on your album is your favorite and why?

A: "Fuego". It's my favorite because of the reaction at my live shows. That song comes on and the place just erupts. And everybody knows it cause it's the lead single. It was a song that I heard and as soon as I heard it I knew this was gonna be a banger. And I was right.

Q: What inspired that song? What's the story behind that?

A: My love for films. I love movies ever since I was a kid. As soon as I heard it, all I thought about was the movie, Desperado, and the video of Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson. I was like "this song makes me feel on fire". When someone sees somebody so passionate about something it's kind of contagious. Their fire kind of rubs off.  Another word for fire is fuego. That was the hook. That song is crazy. I laid my vocals down and Joseph added the Spanish guitar in it. That's what honestly took it to the next level. That was crazy.

Q: Is that your favorite song to perform as well?

A: Absolutely.

Q: What do you like to do outside of music that contributes to you musically? As in a hobby that in turn helps rejuvenate your creativity.

A: Fashion. I love shopping. I love researching and studying the fashion culture. Especially when it comes to streetwear and stuff like that. That always keeps my creativity going and mind flowing and something I want to dig more into in the future.

Q: Who has influenced your music the most?

A: I have a lot of influences, but when it comes to the music -- I really only started doing music because I was a fan of music.  I just grew up around it. And then once I started serving at the church, that made me fall in love with the gift that I realize I do obtain.  The gift of using music to impact and to glorify Jesus. That feeling became super dope.

Q: What drives you to keep going when it's really tough?

A: The fans. It's to the point now where the music has reached people. People reach out and tell me how the music has reached them; which is super dope. As an artist, it's easy to get encouraged one moment and then discouraged five seconds later.  The fans keep me going and the impact that the music has on people.

Q: What is one of your greatest failures and what did it teach you?

A: My greatest failure is also my greatest triumph and that is why I wrote "the Heart of David" Fans can go listen to that.  

Q: Where were you in your life when you first decided to become a Christian artist?

A: I was a freshman in college. I had just graduated high school. I was young. I wanted to be a basketball player. I was in college for criminal justice, but then life just got crazy. I honestly looked in the mirror. What am I supposed to be doing? It's time to grow up. I've always been a guy with dreams, and passion, and ambition. Life circumstances drove me to search for identity. Search for that for real, for real. I was looking and I found.

Q: If you were not doing music, what would you be doing right now?

A: I'd probably be in the FBI. Seriously. I was going to be a police officer, but I wanted to be like G.I. Joe. It was going to be law enforcement and stuff.

Q: What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

A: Stay faithful to the craft. Stay obedient to God. And work harder than everybody in the room.

Q: What are some nicknames that your music fans or your friends call you?

A: Truth. Even before I was saved, my nickname was "Truth". I'm naturally good at everything. You know how somebody's like, "I'm the truth at playing basketball" ,"I'm the truth at this game". I was literally good at everything. One day my friend was like, "This my boy Steven, yo he the truth.". Everybody started calling me Truth from then on. Ain't that ironic? How crazy is that? Other than that, my close friends call me Steve. I hate that because it sounds super hillbilly-ish.

But that's how I can distinguish if this is my close friend or not. If they call me Steve.

Q: What is your biggest strength?

A: My work ethic.

Q: What is your biggest shortcoming?

A: My passiveness.

Q: What are some Christians songs from other artists that are on your playlists right now?

A: Definitely Ty Brasel, Praying Hands II. No Big Deal Over Here, or Over There.  IMG, Infinity Music Group. That's the squad. Coffee, she's a Jamaican artist. Shout out to my boy Torey D"Shaun, Boomerang. He's on there. My boy Ray Jones.

Q: What is your current favorite traditional hymn? What's your go to worship song?

A: Definitely Oceans by Hillsong.

Q: What's a special talent that you have that we are not aware of?

A: I can cook.  

Q: What is your favorite color?

A: I love red.

Q: Favorite current food you're craving right now.

A: Cereal. Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I don't want to eat it. Trying to cut down on the sugar and all that stuff.  I used to eat it heavy, but I'm not trying to get diabetes out here. I was on a diabetes level of eating cereal. It's that intense. I crave it everyday, but I deny it everyday.

Q: What is your current favorite Bible verse?

A: Right now, it's Proverbs 3:5-6. Lean not on your own understanding; acknowledge him and he'll make all paths straight.

Q: What would you tell your future self one year from now?

A: Stay the course. Stay encouraged.