An Interview with Dana Catherine
By Emily Rogers
While browsing for new songs to pray with via Spotify, I stumbled (virtually) into Dana Catherine’s top hit, “Surrender Song.” Dana is a Catholic, Pop/R&B singer-songwriter and keynote speaker based in Nashville, TN. Dana graciously took some time to let us get to know her and learn about what moves her to create music out of her experiences with our Creator.
On your website, you wrote that the mission behind your music is trust and surrender, similar to St. Therese of Lisieux's "childlike trust in the Lord." Could you expand on how this mission has influenced you personally and professionally?
I had always known who St. Thérèse was, but I didn’t truly dive deep into her spirituality until I graduated from college. A mentor told me that my steady trust in God, my provider through my highs and lows and confusion during my college years, reminded her a lot of Thérèse. Once I started looking into her, I fell in love with her writings, especially Fr. Jacques Phillippe’s writings about the way she thought of God, interacted with Him, and relied so much on His Fatherly love.
My mission to help others open their hearts to a more childlike trust and dependence on the Lord just overflowed out of my own relationship with Him. I think we complicate things so often, but every single time I’ve surrendered to Him and said, “God, I’ll do what I can, but I really need you to take care of me in this season...” He has come through for me more than I could’ve ever imagined. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for the childlike trust I’ve leaned into, choosing to wholeheartedly believe that the Lord would lead me in everything and never let me down. I just don’t want to be the only person who gets the chance to experience just how beautiful and freeing it is to live life with God in that way, you know?
"Surrender Song" was released in 2019 and was a huge success. It was so huge that its number of Spotify streams in the first month alone surpassed any of your previously released songs! Why do you think that song was such a powerful connection point for your listeners?
I can’t say for sure, but I think it was a number of different things that came together so perfectly in that song. For one, I wrote “Surrender Song” as a true prayer from my heart during a time when I really needed the song personally. I needed to re-surrender a lot of things I’d previously given to God but took back out of fear or distrust or desire for more control over my life. So I think people can connect to the vulnerability and honesty of what I’m saying in the song because everyone can see themselves in one way or another in the lyrics and story. I think the best music is always music we can all relate to.
I definitely feel that “Surrender Song” marked the beginning of a new season for my music. I’ve really come into my own when it comes to the production of my songs, message, melodies, the soul that’s infused throughout, and so much more. I just really feel that I’ve matured musically. I’m hitting my stride. I’ve found my sound and everyone can tell when they listen to the song!
You recently released your latest single, "Right Where You Want Me.” What inspired you to write this song? What are you hoping to say through these lyrics?
I wrote the song because I wanted to remind myself that the answer to my anxiety and anticipation wasn’t to look at my past or run ahead in haste but to instead embrace the present season God has me in... I guess that’s what I’m trying to say to listeners as well. When they hear [this song], I hope they can step back, take a deep breath, and realize that life isn’t found in focusing too much on the future but it’s found in fully living in the present.
In addition to singer-songwriter, you’re also a keynote speaker for special events and conferences. One of your talks is titled "The Truth about Beauty." What is the message of this particular talk?
I wrote that talk because I’ve seen in my own life, especially during college, and in the lives of so many young women just how self-conscious we can be about what we look like, society’s standards of beauty, and how people perceive us. We unfortunately connect so much of our worth and value to whether others, especially men, think we’re attractive. At least in my own life, I’ve seen that living like that can be paralyzing.
The heart of the talk drives home the reality that what makes women, and really anyone, genuinely beautiful is their heart, their commitment to following the Lord, the way they love [and empower] others, and their pursuit of becoming the person they were made to be in Christ. I just want women to know that we’re capable of so much, we’re strong and unique and filled with purpose, but we’ll always be held back from stepping fully and confidently into our purpose and calling if we’re overly focused on our weight, skin, clothes, hair, …you name it. We’re just so much more than that.
I doubt Mother Teresa was worrying about her weight all the time or what she was wearing. She had more important things to think about!
Where are you currently receiving inspiration from in your life?
I’ve been home in NC for the past couple of months and, I’ve got to say, life off the road is exactly what I needed. I’ve been finding inspiration from simply living the normal day to day... spending time and laughing with my family, taking long walks in the sun, listening to encouraging podcasts (I love anything Christine Caine!), and most of all, spending more time than usual in prayer, reading Scripture, and journaling. This has been a season of rest, and it has left me inspired in more ways than one. Since I’m always on the go, inspiration usually comes from spending extra time in the presence of those I love and in the presence of God.
