After listening to Micah Dalton's "Advancement," I knew I wanted to talk to him, find out more about what drives and moves this creative, expressive artist.
His alt soul sound is fresh and appealing, almost healing on a deeper level (See Suite review here). Our conversation only sealed the deal: Micah Dalton's candid answers reveal a deep sincerity and an honest faith. I can't wait to see how the Lord advances and uses this artist's musical ministry.
You mention on your website that you played music as part of your role in the community development program in Chattanooga. Why was it songs from the church you were playing? How effective was music in impacting that program and its participants? (I'm somewhat fascinated by this concept!)
I think my experience at Hope was really important because it activated something that was already there, so to speak. I grew up in the area I now live in here in Atlanta. The area is called Grant Park and before it was on its way towards gentrification, it was a rougher area on the city, so I remember the people in this area and the musical surroundings pretty vividly. The musical surroundings were gospel based because of my dad's pastoring position at the local church. So working at Hope and having to learn the songs that the congregation was singing challenged me to articulate a lot of the musical tendencies I already had but was never challenged to put out.
Before this experience, I never knew how to express the urban side of what I deeply desired to communicate. So it's very educational how it worked. I "went to school" and integrated myself into a different group of people and societal differences. It became challenging and informational and turned out to be a cornerstone for my career. It was also refreshing spiritually which always directly affects what is created.
It seems that music played a huge role in drawing you to the Lord. Is this a part of what drives you creatively today?
The creative process, to me, is really ambiguous. So, it's hard to say exactly what drives me to write and become creative. Music did, in fact, play a gigantic role in drawing me to the person of Christ. I always thought that songs said a great deal more than sermons, booklets, and what not. For the first time, I saw that people were taking liberty to say what they really were thinking and feeling about spirituality and it made me think "No way, I think the same thing, I'm not alone"! I think that's what made me want write: my response to that liberty I saw in other artists.
I know that this still drives me to write...and revelation...I believe God is, obviously, more creative than anyone. So my dialogue and relation to Him directly affects what I do vocationally and creatively. A constant effort to write honestly is a challenge I've received from friends who live in town. Which seems basic, but I'm a people pleaser and that can be some serious poison.
Part Two of our Micah Dalton chat digs deep. Click here for more.
