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10 Questions with ... Dara Maclean
October 14, 2013
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Discography:
- 2006 Dara Joy Independent
- 2011 You Got My Attention Fervent
- 2013 Wanted Fervent
1. Brief history....birthplace, childhood, schools, jobs, current hometown
Miami FL, went through a Doctor phase at 7, been singing ever since ;) ... Starting writing, playing guitar at and developing my own artistry at 13. Worship leader and youth leader from 18 on. Grew up doing music and ministry... Private School. Retail, Exercise Class Instructor, Make Up Artist. Fort Worth, TX.
2. What does a normal day at home look like for you? Morning to Night.
Non stop social media until my husband and I both say, okay, phones down for the night. Working out. Drinking coffee and tea, playing with my Maltese Roman. Answering emails. Cleaning. Spending time at my sisters house across the street with my baby niece and nephew. Enjoying family time in the midst of work.
3. What's the song that you just can't get out of your head right now? Why do you like it so much?
Unstoppable Love By Kim Walker and her husband on their new record.
I love it because it's unconventional worship, but feels exactly like the the heart beat of God. It's what I feel called to as well. I love what they do and how God uses them.
4. How do you juggle life on the road with wanting to be home? How much do you travel, what are the challenges?
Now being married 4 months and some change, my husband and I from the start have had a long distance relationship. We have set boundaries for how long we will be gone from each other. Also, we both are each other's biggest fans, so the other feels supported 100% across the board and encouraged to do what is in their heart.
5. What's the biggest "God moment" that you've ever experienced, personal or professional?
Too many to count. Recently a girl tweeted at me "I drank tonight. instead of coming home and cutting (one month clean) I listened to Wanted by @DaraMaclean"... That was humbling and a beautiful moment of God doing what only He can do.
6. What's the last book you read?
Reading Love Languages By Dr. Gary Chapman and Love Does by Bob Goff. Both are relationally focused. One is how to win at relationships and the other is how to let love win overall by just unreservedly lavishing the same love our Savior pours on us. Life changing stuff.
7. Tell me about how you became a believer. What caused you to want to serve God in full time ministry?
So thankful that I grew up in a household of faith. I was too young to remember accepting The Lord. Around 5 is what I think, but there were a few years I would raise my hand and pray the prayer just in case, ha. Dad caught on and told me I didn't need to do that anymore. To know and believe that Jesus was in my heart and heaven was already my home. I was so relieved.
My parents looked at me as a kid and didn't say you can be anything when you grow up, they said God has an exact and specific plan for your life and until you know how to discover it for yourself, we will help you. You can do the impossible for the sake of the Kingdom, just believe. My whole life there was never a plan By the grace of God, Music and ministry is what I have dedicated my life to.
8. Take us thru a few songs on your latest project (title please). What's the "story behind the song", how is it impacting audiences, etc.
Blameless:
For years I found my identity in everything I did wrong, always feeling like a failure letting good things that happened or bad things determine the highs and lows of my identity.
God arrested me in my heart and said why do you act like an exception to the rule. You preach about my love, redemption and acceptance, but you don't believe it for yourself which is why you're stuck. That was the day I started opening up the Bible and reading the scriptures on who He says I am and started to believe them for myself and let His sacrifice be enough. That's when things changed. Every day, as I renew my mind to His truth, that's the case.
Wanted:
The universal need of every man, women and child to know that they are eternally pursued, they are worth the fight, they are cherished, loved and adored by a father that never left, even if theirs did.
"we love Him because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19
The way it's been reaching and impacting has been incredible and humbling. A girl tweeted at me saying "tonight I drank, instead of coming home and cutting (one month clean), I listened to Wanted by @daramaclean"
Most amazing thing. Only God can do that.
9. If you could go back and change anything in your life, what would it be, and why?
I would never EVER date the same way. It wasn't tragic, sure I had my share of unnecessary heart break, but God protected me from me. However, if I would have trusted the vision God put in my heart for a man of God, than I would never have even dated until I met Donnie. I would wait a thousand years just to meet you him all over again.
Oh and P.S. I don't believe in regrets, just learned a lot.
10. Person you'd most like to have a discussion with, living or dead.....Deities are excused from this question
I would write songs with David and discuss the grace of God with Paul.
Bonus Questions
1. Favorite Bible verse....life verse?
This is my life verse:
If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In. (Isaiah 58:10-12 NKJV)
I want to be about the hungry spiritually and physically and those in need of rescue all over the world. "Repairing the breach" and praying God would use the music He gave me as an avenue of healing for those that are broken.
2. Funniest or most embarrassing moment?
Wardrobe malfunction. The second button of my blouse was broken and wide open and I was on stage just singing and enjoying myself. Didn't realize it until I was off the stage. Not the best for a CCM artist, ha.
3. What artist or pastor has had the greatest impact on you?
My Father. Pastor, Mentor and friend for life. He is selfless, loves me unconditionally and has always been there, some how. He epitomizes the grace of God and His heart beat for me. I know the love of God the Father, because of how beautifully my Father loves me. Thankful.
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