About Dan
Macaulay:
I see you
have written songs because last fall you entered the CCM Magazine’s 2012 Create
Songwriting contest and placed as one of the runners up. This is where you got
on my radar as I was following that contest quite closely. We can check out
“From You for You” at the contest winners page HERE.
Q – First
off, since you got 4 nods from the GMA Canada 2012 Covenant Award with 4
nominations. I take it you are from Canada. Tell us briefly about where you are
from and your family.
A-
Yes, I am a Canadian, from Brantford
Ontario. I grew up there and started playing music publically and leading
worship in my youth group when I was about 15. Started writing songs around the
same time. Both the performing and the songwriting was rough at first, but as I
stuck with it God grew me and grew my sphere of influence too.
I've
been married to my wife Danielle now for 12 years. We met at youth camp when we
were teens. We have 2 boys; Keaton, who’s almost 5 and Braden who’s 10 months.
Q- What
types of songs do you write?
A
– I mostly find myself writing Christian worship music. I feel called to write
songs for the church primarily. Songs that encourage believers and give voice
to the worship they want to express. Occasionally I’ll write something outside
of that ‘genre’ but I feel like this is where God wants me to apply my focus
and gifting.
Q- When did
you begin your professional songwriting
career ?
A – I started making up songs when I was pretty young. I can remember laying in bed singing out songs I’d make up on the spot about whatever… In my mid teens it became more of a conscious effort. I also began singing/playing publically around this time and I wrote and performed a few songs in my church to great reception. I also started writing a few ‘worship choruses’ that we began singing in our youth group and kids ministries at church. Soon the songs seemed ‘good enough’ to even do outside of our church, and a few even became songs that others heard and sang elsewhere – with a couple songs travelling around the world through others – with no promotion on my part at all. I always tell people “you can’t keep a good song down.” If it’s good it’ll sprout legs and get around on its own.
I
continued writing through Bible College and saw more of my songs really go far
during that season of my life as well, with another song, written in my first
year of Bible College called “Amazing” (1995) be taken literally around the
world by others who heard it and liked it. All with no promo on my part. I
sometimes joke that the songs of mine that have gone the farthest were the ones
I wrote before I ever tried to do this professionally and TRIED to promote a
song.
Q – You are
a worship leader…Where? …and for how long?
A –
Yes, I’ll wear a bunch of musical hats, but the one that fits best and that I
wear most is that of worship leader. So while occasionally I do ‘performance’
oriented things, I most often am leading worship in churches. Even my
performance-concerts usually come down to worship for at least a while.
I’ve
been leading worship since a teen, carried on through Bible College (95-99) and
Youth & Worship Pastoring (99-03) in CT before launching out to travel in
music full time (03-08) to worship pastoring again (08-12) and back to full
time on the road. So right now I’m based in Williamsville NY (just outside
Buffalo) close to our Canadian roots and family, but stateside. We base from
here, are not pastoring, but are leading in various churches from week to week.
We partner with World Vision along the way so in many cases I lead worship and
also present people with an opportunity to live out their worship in a tangible
way by sponsoring a child through that great organization too.
Q – I see
you have a full tour schedule
booked through October. Do you have an agent yet? If you do, how did you and
your agent meet?
A-
Yes, we’re staying pretty busy! :) I don’t have an agent
officially. What I have is an amazing wife who looks after all the
booking-stuff for me. She’s been doing that for 10 years (the last 5 on top of
being a mom!) and so we’re a team in that way. I couldn’t do it without her!
Q –Do you
tour the U.S. much? (2 NY dates are
listed)
A-
At the moment we’ve been touring in Canada a bunch as we’ve seen some good open
doors for ministry there and have a great working relationship with WorldVision Canada which helps open some doors. We expect to do more in the U.S. in
the future as well!
Q- And WAIT! …
In the studio with SMITTY? …whaaaat? Tell us a little bit about what it was
like to record Breathe in Me with Michael W. Smith….(Listeners click video below)
A –
Recording with Smitty was a dream come true. I’ve been a super-fan my whole life
and really look up to him. Honestly, the first time I met him I could barely
string words into a sentence. I did better the studio day though :) Formed, sentences and even
sang :) He was super nice, friendly and gracious. That song “Breathe In Me”
has been important to me over the years and has really blessed me. So I had
always wanted to record it - and the chance to do so with Michael himself was
surreal.
Q - So…New
Full Album “From You For You” released on iTunes
April 2012. I take it, you have had a crazy last year or so? (This song was
announced as a runner up for Create, late December 2012) Tell us about your
journey thus far.
A –
This past year has been super crazy in so many ways. We had so much on with a
new baby and working at a busy church for most of last year, as well as trying
to release the album independently, it was all a little much. I still feel like
I’ve barely exposed the album and it has a lot of life ahead of it still. Still
excited to go out and bless people (hopefully) with the songs God gave me for
it.
We’ve
had some cool little successes with the songs on the album, like the Create runner-up
thing, a finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting contest and the International
Songwriting Competition, as well as two of the songs “Life Like You’re Free”
and “Win With Love” being featured in Worship Leader Magazines Song DISCovery
program; plus a bunch of Christian radio success in Canada…
Q – Give me
a list of 5 songwriting experiences in your repertoire of which you are most
proud:
A-
1.
My song ‘Amazing’ which I wrote in 1996 in Bible College has been sung around
the world and recorded by other artists as far away as Jerusalem. It’s still a
‘fav’ that people talk to me about or write me about the most. So thankful for
and humbled by the way God has used this song in people’s lives over the years.
2.
I’m really pleased with the reception to my Christmas single “Hope Is Here (Joy
To The World)” which is a new song based around the verse of the classic Joy To
The World. Have seen that song be used around the world so far and it has done
well on radio too. It was also nominated for a Canadian GMA Covenant Award for
“Seasonal Song of The Year” 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is9KCl1afnY Last year PraiseCharts.com listed it at #9 on their “Top 100
Christmas Worship Songs” list http://www.praisecharts.com/top-100-christmas-worship-songs/
3.
I’m thankful for the John Lennon Songwriting Competition ‘Finalist’ finishing
for my song “In Awe” from the ‘From You For You” album. Worked really hard
crafting that song and glad it was appreciated.
4.
Also thankful for the GMA Canada Award Pop or Worship “Song of The Year”
nominations for 5 of my songs between the 2009 and 2012 nominations… Always
feels nice to be recognized.
5.
Thankful as well for some Christian radio success in Canada, with a bunch of
CANCON (Canadian Content) #1 singles and a bunch more “Top 5’s”… Just to be
played and enjoyed on Christian Radio in Canada is nice and it’s great when I
go places and people say “I hear you on the radio all the time”… it helps build
a bridge big time with people.
Q- Give me 2
of what you consider your greatest accomplishments so far:
A
– My 12 year marriage is still thriving and my kids are growing up well and
happy so far ;)
Q- Beside
songwriting, you sing. Do you play any musical instruments?
A-
Yes, I play piano. Hack around on guitar.
Q – Do you
consider yourself more Songwriter, or more Singer?
A-
Good question… Hmm, I love both, but if I were to choose, or pick a ‘stronger’
of the two I think I’d choose songwriter.
Q- Are you
pursuing a solo career? Or would you like to write songs for other new and/or
established Christian artists?
A-
I’ve been pursuing a solo career but
writing for others is certainly an option too. Some of my favs do both.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And now –
for the Facebook DJ Five. The Five Questions I ask everyone I interview...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q – In 5 words or less,
who/what is your target audience?
A – Worshippers
and Seekers of God
Q- What is the mission of
your music/songs?
A- To give
people who want to worship, inspiring, creative, while Biblically and
theologically sound, songs to facilitate and deepen their worship and walk.
Q- What result would you
want to see happen by the listeners of your songs? (5 yrs, 10 yrs, tomorrow?)
.jpg)
Q- What’s your life Bible
scripture right now?
A- Psalms 77:19 “Your
road led through the sea,your pathway through the mighty waters— a pathway no
one knew was there!” (NLT) – So even when it seems we’re at a dead end God has
and has always had a plan for how He’s going to lead us. He’s the only one who
can see it. So we have to trust Him.
Q- Who is Jesus to you?
A –
My savior and Lord. The only righteous leg I have to stand on. The only reason
I have any hope.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q- Is there an email or street address where interested other writers
and musicians in need of songs can feel free to email/mail you and connect with
you for more inquiries about God, your songs or yourself?
A – Sure: info@danmacaulay.com
Q – You have a website, www.danmacaulay.com and you are on Twitter, iTunes, Facebook, and Youtube. Do you have any other social media links?
A- Sure, people can get
4 free songs on Noisetrade from me here: http://noisetrade.com/danmacaulay/
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/danmacaulay
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/danmacaulay
Thanks to Dan Macaulay for the
interview. Here's what he would like to share with the readers in closing...
A – Keep on keeping on.
If you’re a songwriter, persist. Don’t give up! It takes a long time to become
an “overnight success” (I am told – still waiting for that myself) I am
encouraged when I hear it has been a long road for others too – only because it
means I’m not the only ‘loser’ and the lack of instant success does not mean
there isn’t something there worth running with. Don’t compare you’re small
beginning [to] someone else’s success. They’ve been on a journey too. In fact,
don’t compare at all! - But re-define success and find ways to take joy in the
journey. God will get you where He’s taking you. Trust Him.
So what are you waiting for, readers? Go out and get Dan's album, From You For You, on iTunes !
Album Art and photos provided by Dan Macaulay
And also...Facebook DJ Deb would like you to think/pray about considering partnering with World Vision or World Vision Canada. You have the opportunity to impact another person's life for Jesus in a really BIG way! I have been sponsoring a child through a similar organization and I can't imagine my life being the same without her! Think. Pray. Live. :) Go out and be what is put on your heart!
And this has been your Artist Exclusive 1-on-1 with Facebook DJ Deb and Dan Macaulay!
Tune in next time on this same Blog Page for something else! Very awesome I’m sure!
Chatta’ Latta!
Facebook DJ Deb
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