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10 Questions with ... Hope Darst
September 19, 2022
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1. Share about that new song/album of yours.
I'm really excited to put out new music this year. I really took my time before jumping into another project. I really desire to create and release music when I sense it's right. And it wasn't a clear green for a while. I felt like it was yellow for longer than I expected. God kept telling to me show up, get in the car and drive to "work", the discipline of songwriting everyday, but to not go too fast. So that's what I did. God was trying to help me hone in some skills professionally and personally that I would have skipped over if I had just gone full speed ahead. So I kept writing and waited til there was a green light, and at the top of this year I could tell it was time. So I started working with some of my favorite songwriters and producers on the songs I loved and felt sure about releasing. "If the Lord Builds the House" was the first single we released. It felt like an important foundational statement that I wanted to say in my music after having come out of this past season. It felt like the perfect combination of the worship leader in me and this new "artist" part of me. And it was a different sound than anything else I've put out so far. It hints to more of a gospel sound that will show up more than once in these new songs. Don't get me wrong, there's still some big ballads and worship songs, but I wanted to stretch myself to try new things and return to old things that I love. So I can't wait for people to hear the new stuff.
2. Share a challenging part of the past year.
Um, do you mean the past three years? Ha, kidding, but I mean, in all honestly, the last few years have been hard for everyone. Becoming a working mom as a full-time artist in the middle of the last three years has been challenging at times. I hate change, so I typically try to figure out a new system to a new season really quick. But trying to do that in the midst of a really confusing time worldwide when everything was constantly changing made it feel extra challenging at times. I also found that as a result, I didn't really want to do a ton of songwriting while all that change was happening. I thought I would want to write songs about everything in real-time, but instead I found that I just needed to live it before I could write it. That was frustrating at times because I had to fight the lies that I was "falling behind" or "getting stuck", instead of just embracing that I was processing a lot of new things and needed to give myself grace to just take a moment and trust God would pour out what I needed in my creative life when the timing was right.
3. Some really great advice you received recently was…
Just keep saying yes to Jesus. It will always lead you to the exact place you need to be. Also, keep extra deodorant in your car and get counseling. Both have been life saving for me, haha!
4. How do you continue to deepen your relationship with Jesus?
By spending time with Him. Reading His word, worshipping Him by myself, and talking out loud with Him everyday. That last part was a real shift for me a few years back. I asked myself what was something specific in my relationship with my husband and my best friends that I needed to incorporate in my relationship with Jesus to bring more intimacy. And immediately it was talking, out loud. So I started practicing it and made a huge change. When we think of our relationships, there is always a tier of strangers, acquaintances, friends, best friends, and spouse. Time spent together and the amount in which you talk regularly really determines those degrees of relationship. There's a a big difference between the person that you "don't talk too that much" and the person who you talk to everyday. I want Jesus to have the deepest tier of relationship and intimacy in my life, so I try to talk to him the most.
5. Share how you balance creating, recording, and performing.
I don't know that it's ever "balanced", but I do try to be sensitive to which one deserves more of my focus in each season. I'm a songwriter and worship leader at my core, so those two things are always happening in my life. The pace ebbs and flows. I try hard to not fall in the trap of just "creating" to keep up with everyone else's pace. So sometimes that means I need to take a break from writing and creating all together. Mostly to recenter the posture of my heart to remember I am a worshipper because God made me in His image to reflect His glory and give Him glory. Not for anything else. Not a job, title or product I'm producing. Hopefully, that helps keep me from ever just "performing", but instead offering everything I do from making dinner for my family, to writing songs or singing to a group of people as an act of worship to God. I think that's the real balance.
6. Tell us about someone who you really respect and why.
Wow, so many people. But Natalie Grant came to my mind immediately. She has navigated bring a Christian artist, songwriter, mother and leader, but on and off the stage for over 20yrs. She has done it with humility, conviction and a deep love for God's word and His people. She has poured out her life generously through her non-profit to save human trafficking victims and served local women and communities through her Dare to Be Events. She hasn't just been a great "artist", she has taken the platform and opportunities God has given her and really use it to be the hands and feet of Jesus. And she's been singing like a QUEEN while doing it!
7. What's one thing that most people would be surprised to learn about you?
I can't play any instruments or whistle. Haha!!
8. What's your favorite room at home and why?
My kitchen. My husband and I remodeled a 1950s ranch a few years ago and we got to design the whole house. So I took the opportunity to design my dream kitchen. Plus I love to cook and host parties, so it's the hub of our home for sure.
9. What's something you're looking forward to?
Going to the beach with my family this summer. It's where I really slow down and get to focus on my family 100%.
10. What do you do to chill and unwind?
Curl up on my couch and watch movies with my daughters. I also love to read, but I don't have much time these days. Maybe I'll bring a few books to the beach.
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