Emotionally inspiring and spiritually comforting, these are the thoughts that come to mind when describing the music of Deidra Hughes. Deidra delivers beautiful tunes throughout her music that gives one a sense of peace and tranquility when one is listening to her songs. Her love, faith, and devotion to Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is also what keeps Deidra so passionate about her music especially when she sings praises of His good graces. In this spotlight with our Webzine, we were able to speak to Deidra about her music and what fans can expect from her debut self-titled CD. Here is what developed.
Isaac: I just listened to several songs off your new EP/CD. What was the inspiration for making your new album?
Deidra: I am putting together songs for this new album that are birthed out of my own experiences and expression of worship. This new album will definitely give the audience a close-up look at my heart. My prayer is that these songs will be worshipful and encouraging. My inspiration is based solely on the Word of the Lord. I am a very lyric-driven person, so you can look for these songs to be rich in content. I can't take all the credit either because I am surrounding myself with skilled writers and musicians who are helping make this album the best it can possibly be!
Isaac: Who were your influences?
Deidra: `Stylistically, I love CeCe Winans, Israel Houghton, and Martha Munizzi, but I would have to say a big influence for me has been my church and my Pastor. I go to Grace Church in Nashville under the leadership of Lindell Cooley. He is not just a phenomenal Pastor, he is an awesome worship leader and under his leadership I have found a new passion for worship.
Isaac: What do you consider to have been the highlight(s) and low point(s) of your career to date?
Deidra: Some definite highlights would my time with Apostle Fred Price at Crenshaw Christian Center in Los Angeles. Not only was I given the opportunity to minister in his church, but I was also given the opportunity to minister with him on his cruise to Alaska. :) Some low points.... well I don't think a person could have a ministry without experiencing low points. Sometimes it is hard to get people on board with the vision the Lord has given you, and you feel like you are constantly trying to get people to buy into you and your talent. You have to get your perception in check and realize that not everyone is going to be as excited about the work you are doing as you are. I have to keep my focus on the Lord and the work at hand, and not be distracted with other people's opinion of me.
Isaac: Brief history about your background plus the style of music you play.
Deidra: I grew up in a Christian home with parents who are ministers as well. My parents actually met and married in the group TRUTH. I also had the opportunity to sing in TRUTH, and I was the first second generation TRUTH member! I would say my style is very close to TRUTH in the sense that it is geared toward the church. I still consider myself to be young :) so it will be contemporary in style but appealing to all ages.
Isaac: How easy is it to gets gigs for you as an artist? What is the live music scene like in your area?
Deidra: I have been doing full-time solo ministry for the past 3+ years and I haven't been lacking for opportunities to minister. It is not always easy, but you work at it and pray for God to open the right doors ~ He always does!
I live in Nashville so the live music scene is pretty spicy :) You can't walk through downtown Nashville without hearing music of all kinds. You will even find it in the airport!
Isaac: What do you think of the state of Indie music at the moment? Do you listen to radio much at all? Has the Internet helped music grow or hindered it in your opinion?
Deidra: The state of Indie music is really in a great position. With all the technology, social media sites, work and dedication there are so many ways to get your music played.
I do listen to the radio. The Internet has helped music grow tremendously in my opinion. There are songs out there that I would have never heard of if it wasn't for my friends sending me clips or posting things to their accounts.
Isaac: If you could create a fantasy band - what would be the line-up and why?
Deidra: I live in Nashville so we aren't lacking in the talent department. For me, it is all about the attitude of the heart. I want band members who travel with me to be just as much about the worship as I am. We have to be unified in the way we bring forth the message because we are ministering as a team.
Isaac: What CD's do you currently have available and where can they be purchased from?
Deidra: My current CD is my self-titled debut that can be found on my website www.deidrahughes.com, MySpace, or Shoutlife.
Isaac: Where can fans access your music, videos, blogs, and anything else about you online?
Deidra: I am on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Shoutlife, and YouTube. Or you can always go to my website.
Deidra: If you contact me through anyone of these sites, you can always expect to get a response from me! I would be privileged to chat with you, pray for you, or just give you an encouraging word!
