Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/366230
AUGUST 20-26, 2014 UCW 19 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Dara MacLean is a vocalist and songwriter whose lifelong dream of ministering broadly through music came to pass as she spent almost two years straight on the road with inspirations- turned-friends like Casting Crowns and NewSong. If her first album showed a young artist praising the value of trusting in God's plan and in grace, MacLean's new album, Wanted, beams the heart of someone who's seen that trust proven out. "This is the sweetest time I have ever experienced," MacLean says, "and this new record is timely. It's my journal, of sorts. It's my journey." MacLean's journey is, in and of itself, a testament to the power of God's faithfulness. She grew up in Fort Worth, Tex., immersed in music and ministry from age 7, songwriting and pursuing a calling in the music industry since age 13, all the while learning and growing spiritually, as well as developing an appreciation for all things soul/Motown music to worship music, thanks to her supportive musician/pastor parents. MacLean's parents encouraged her to trust in God's divine plan for her, to explore the musical gifts God had given and what He meant for her to do with them. Working part-time jobs and struggling to find a footing in between doing what she had to do and what she felt born to do, she fought against impossible standards she imposed upon herself, and often would feel the need to point out the real enemy - herself. "It's that realization that forms the heartbeat of much of Wanted: a reminder that through the gift of God's grace, you're truly blessed, forgiven, good enough, that you can stop fighting and find peace, as you rest in the knowledge of God's opinion of you and letting it be the only one that matters. "You know how you go to church on Sunday morning, and then it's Monday morning, and you have to go back to work and life's demands are screaming, you get devastating news, you have one deadline after another and emails and you're waking up at 4 in the morning to catch a flight and you're missing home and the ones you love and it doesn't stop… This is a Monday morning record. When life hits in the hardest of ways, and you need peace and you need an answer, let's take Him at His word and together learn about truth and the only answer, God." Musically, Wanted shows MacLean's musical upbringing — a love of powerful, personality-fueled and soul-steeped vocalists from Etta James and Stevie Wonder to Lauryn Hill — filtered through a modern pop lens, with help from producer/songwriter/drummer Paul Mabury and a cast of other talented co-writers, including Jason Ingram, Dave Barnes and Cindy Morgan. "I think music should make you laugh and cry and everything in between," she says. "I just want it to feel like life." Listen for Dara MacLean's new single, "Blameless" on Christian 107.3 beginning Labor Day weekend. THE BUZZ DAN DEBRULER, General Man- ager Christian 107.3 COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. Concert Connection Sponsored by IT'Z ENTERTAINMENT CITY www.itzentertainmentcity.com HUSKE HARDWARE HOUSE 405 Hay Street • 437-9905 www.huskehardware.com DJ Tommy King every Friday and Saturday night MARQUIS MARKET 116 Person St. • 483-1337 marquismarket.com Live Jazz every 4th Friday VILLAGE COFFEE HOUSE 3037 Boone Trail Ext. • 484-4515 2nd Saturday Scott Johnson 2nd and 3rd Friday Open mic ITZ ENTERTAINMENT CITY 4118 Legend Ave • 826-2300 August 23 Football August 24 Football August 25 Football HILLTOP HOUSE 1240 Fort Bragg Rd. • 484-6699 www.hilltophousenc.com Thursday Live Music DRUNK HORSE PUB 5149 Bragg Blvd. • 491-1810 Fayetteville's Concert Connection Sponsored by IT'Z ENTERTAINMENT CITY www.itzentertainmentcity.com Dara MacLean Releases Album by DAN DEBRULER Dara MacLean