Music & Culture

I’m Loving This: New Christian Artist Dara Maclean’s album, “You Got My Attention”

Dara Maclean is a new Christian artist on the rise from Texas. Her debut album is called “You Got My Attention” and was released in 2011. Maclean’s music is very soulful, rich and catchy. Some of my favorite songs off the album are, “Suitcases,” “Home,” “Free,” “Nothin’ You Won’t Do,” “Had to Be You” and more. Every song on the album is refreshing, easy to listen to and uplifting.

Currently, Maclean is on tour with the well-known worship band Casting Crowns! Maclean recently did an interview with the FISH radio station, with hosts Doug and Jaci Velasquez. In the interview, Maclean explains part of the inspiration for her first single, “Suitcases.” She hopes people can relate to it, let go of their past, forgive themselves and be free in Christ. Maclean says that we should:

Set the baggage down daily and understand that is freedom available (Today’s Christian Music).

[Image Credit: Today’s Christian Music; pictured with Doug and Jaci Velasquez]

Maclean loves making music and said,

I love making music you can move and groove to…but at the same time, as Christian artists we have a responsibility to speak the truth of the finished work of Christ in love.

Through her music, she wants to express that you can’t always worry about the past or carry around baggage. She has learned this from her father, a minister. On her official site, Maclean said,

I want to paint a picture of God’s complete restorative love and how through Christ we can experience true freedom…my parents and I minister together as a family and during one service my dad said, ‘You can’t run when you’re holding suitcases.’ I’ll never forget it.

Maclean hopes “Suitcases” becomes an anthem for us as believers, an invitation to let go of the past. Here are some of the lyrics:

How can you move when they’re weighing you down
What can you do when you’re tied to the ground, yeah
You carry your burdens, heavy like gravity
Just let them go now, there’s freedom in release

You can’t run when you’re holding suitcases
It’s a new day throw away your mistakes and open up your heart
Lay down your guard, you don’t have to be afraid…

Check out the lyric video for “Suitcases.” This is one of my favorite songs!

Listen to her live performance of “Home”:

Listen to Maclean’s song “Had to Be You” live from Nashville in the studio:

PI girls, what is YOUR favorite Dara Maclean song? Comment below! We love you!

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Image: Dara Maclean | YouTube + PI