Dorothy Savage Interview

Dorothy Savage launches into Christian music with her debut album, Glorious Mess, and her Christmas album Sleigh Ride, as a fresh exciting voice that is a powerhouse in more ways than one. She sings these songs passionately and personally to her Lord with a talented voice but she also has a voice to speak strength to her Christian sisterhood in living out a new chapter in a life that has already lived more than one amazing ‘dream come true.’ From earning her music degree in college to the bright footlights of the Broadway theater stage in New York—and now the recording studios of Nashville—the spark of kinetic energy and bright “can do” spirit that is Dorothy Savage has won the personal battles in her own young life with the simple realization that real strength comes in letting go of her own agenda and letting God have His way.

How did you know God was calling you to pursue a career in music?

I come from a musical family on both sides so music has always been a part of my life. After growing up singing in church when I was about 15 I felt that sharing my love of Christ and life in general through music was something that God was moving me towards.

You have a very unique personality and image! How do you describe your place in Christian music?

Well, it may sound like a cop out, but I think that's up to God to decide. I mean, there will always be people who try to fit you into the categories that most people identify with, i.e. the traditional, the rocker, the rebelious child turned saint etc. However, I am just me. I feel like I have always been a little of this and a little of that, a bit of a mess...but a Glorious one because of Christ. :) If He has called me into this ministry then He has a place for me in it. If I am His unique creation then my personality and abilities are designed exactly as they should be with His perfect plan and purpose in mind. That's enough for me. So...in short..my place is wherever He wants it to be.I just have to be obedient, he takes care of the rest.

Tell us a little about the current single, “Finder of the Lost.” What does the song mean to you personally?

First off, I loooovvveee this song! I think Chris Sligh wrote lyrics that are relevant and truthful. As a person who came to know the Lord at a young age, I have had a good bit of time to make my share of mistakes even though I know the Lord as my Savior. At first listen some may think this is about Christ finding the "Lost", meaning those who are not yet saved. However, even those of us who know and love Christ can find ourselves desperately lost and many times in terrible situations, many times of own making. To me the message of the song is for all of us, both the saved and unsaved. "Finder of the Lost" is about a Savior who finds us when we are desperate, broken, and seemingly hopeless. The song is about the love of a father that seeks us at our darkest hour, at our most sinful and breaks through to rescue us. To have a Savior that will never leave us or forsake us, that will fight for us, that has died for us, that will rescue us...that's a beautiful thing. A true miracle.

The new Christmas album—what can listeners expect?

Making the Christmas album for me was a dream come true. I have always wanted to record some of my favorite Christmas songs that just make you get all sparkly and warm inside. I chose some of the songs that mean the most to me mostly because they just remind me of the sweetness of Christmas, the innocence of it all and of course the baby Jesus. To me "Sleigh Ride" is about just enjoying the season and the holiday with full out joy. From the sacred worship of Christ to the hanging of lights and giving gifts to the ones we love. There is something for everyone on this album from traditional carols to a new spin on the trippy title track "Sleigh Ride".

What were some of your favorite memories of Christmas growing up?

Christmases were sometimes tough for us, but there were definitely things that I remember from the good times.
Hands down, I loved when we had to go to bed early on Christmas Eve so that my parents could get ready for Christmas morning. I remember laying in bed listening to the scratchy voices of my parents' late night voices and the smell of coffee brewing to keep them awake to stuff my dad's socks with treats for us and wrap presents. It's a very comforting memory.

Any unique traditions you’ve adopted over the holidays in recent years?

My husband and I got engaged at Callaway Gardens in Georgia during Christmas. Every year we go back and spend three days right around Thanksgiving at the lodge and go out to see the lights. It's a true small town Christmas feel and my favorite trip we take all year. This year will be out 9th year!

How will you celebrate Christmas this year?

With my husband and family. We have an apartment in NYC so we plan to spend a few weeks of December there just enjoying the city. We always go to see the Radio City Spectacular and eat roasted chestnuts off the street, etc. so I'm sure we will do all of that. We will of course start the season off in Callway like I shared before and also have a Christmas party at our new home. It's going to be Christmas fabulousness!!! I'm so excited. I always start listening to Christmas music in October so my season starts early.

Any secret “wish list” gifts?

Well, I would love to see my sister and brother fall in love with wonderful people and live happily ever after. I would also like to see peace and healing come to a number of families that I care about and I'd like to loose 10 pounds and get some Louis Vuitton luggage! You asked...

Your song “End of Me” came out of a frustrated point in your life. Tell us about that.

Oh goodness, for most of my life I have been a perfectionist. The trouble is, I have never been perfect at anything. In fact, I find that I'm pretty average in most things. I can do a lot of things adaquately, but few things exceptionally, if any. When I began writing "End of Me" I had just gotten to a place where I was sick of myself in so many ways. I was sick of not making the cut, at least in my eyes. I was sick of failing myself and mostly failing God. I finally came to a point where I realized that God made exactly who I was and how I was for a reason and for a purpose. So what if I wasn't brilliant and was a failed perfectionist. God loved me and found value in me. I realized where my true significance came from and that was in Christ. This song is about that heart cry to God to release me from my own self made chains to help just get over myself and let Him work in me and through me. It was a beautiful revelation and although I still struggle at times with beating myself up, I know what the truth is and that gets me back on the right page.

Your bio says that God helped you through a tough time when you were younger. Are there any steps you have taken to help you through the healing process?

Pray, Pray, be vulnerable, open, willing to do the work of opening up wounds and letting them get cleaned out through the working of the Holy Spirit and God's Word and being patient. Then . . . I pray some more. Prayer is the most powerful thing because it is our conversation with God. People think that is such a "churchy, go to thing" to say... to just pray. That's just because most of the time we don't do it. We don't realize the limitless power behind it. It's our direct line to the Creator of everything. It's the key. When we need to know how to fix something that's broken like plumbing, or a car, we call the experts. God is the expert on us when we are broken and otherwise. Prayer is calling THE expert! Oh.... and when things get really hard and really painful and you think you just can't overcome something you have to kick it up and work even harder then. That's when the real work gets done when you are at your most vulnerable and hopeless. We tend to listen better when we are starving for an answer. At least that's been my experience.

How did you come to know the Lord?

I was four years old and in the bath tub when I just knew I wanted to say that prayer. I already understood who Jesus was and I believed in Him. My mom had an amazing faith that you just couldn't help but catch. It just flowed from her. I jumped out of the tub one afternoon and ran to my mom and told her I wanted to ask Jesus into my heart. We knelt down in my bedroom with a towel wrapped around my head, and that was that. He had my heart after that.

What advice do you have for teenagers who don’t yet know what they want to do with their life?

I just recently had a conversation with one of my nieces about how you never regret being patient, waiting, and listening. I mean, as a teenager those things can seem like impossible tasks but with Christ and the Holy Spirit it can be done. I believe in dreaming and following those dreams even when your path may not look like everyone elses, in fact to me that usually means I'm doing something right. It means I'm following my own unique path and journey.

These days kids seem to feel a sense of entitlement, they seem to think they should all be famous and rock stars and half of them have no gifts in those areas. However, I would challenge them to find what they are good at or at the very least enjoy and follow that path and see where it takes you. Sometimes your destination is very different than what you thought, but if they'll just trust Christ along the way it will be a purposeful journey and a worthy destination.

I would also encourage teens to not put so much pressure on themselves to figure out the "answers" to life and their future too fast. We are a society that says you can be whatever you want to be and achieve any goal and you have to go at it immediately and as hard as you can stepping on anyone that gets in your way. I disagree. There are things that we won't achieve and sometimes the things worth fighting for take a long time, much longer then expected. Be patient, work hard, play hard, trust God, enjoy the little things and the big things. They all count.

Do you have any advice for teens trying to pursue their dreams?

I would defintely say go for it, but pay attention and listen along the way. Sometimes God gets us going down one path because he needs to get us to another path or dream. Be flexible, live, love and love with all your heart and trust Christ to make all your endeavors purposeful and worthy. Sometimes dreams change, sometimes they stay the same. Either way, whether we reach and achieve them or not, they are a gift because they inspire us, and many times the journey is the real achievement.

Are there any steps you take to stay on track spiritually?

I listen to preaching on the radio a good bit. I've done that since college and it's a great way to keep yourself in the word even when you don't make time to sit down and read. Also, just talking to God and keeping an open dialogue throughout the day even when your not talking about "life changing " things or making prayer requests. Sometimes it's just about spending time with Him.

Tell us about your album Glorious Mess.

Glorious Mess is an album that has some really purposeful and personal messages on it. There was so much prayer that preceded the project, and it was amazing to see everything come together with the things that God was teaching and revealing to me in my own life. Songs like "As Long As It Takes" with a message of staying where God has you no matter what trusting that His plan is perfect to "Beautiful Savior" which is a classic love song that is straight forward and truthful about the sacrifice that Christ made for us, the album is filled with the truth of hoe God loves us and will never forsake us. There are also messages about struggles with measuring up and perfectionism like "Beyond All Measure", "See Through Me", and one of my own tunes "End of Me" which I think are really relevant to people of all ages particularly women.

What is your favorite song on the project and why?

My favorite song on the Glorious Mess album is "I Am" because it's an uncomplicated and stunning truth of God's love. I mean, what is more comforting then the picture of a mother lovingly comforting her child? To imagine God loving us in such a relatable way is really a beautiful thing.

What message do you hope people will come away with when they listen to Glorious Mess?

I hope people can find messages that touch their heart and that are really relatable. I hope they come to a new understanding of the way in which God loves us and how He loves us. I hope they realize that God can make something of our mess. That He can make it healed and purposeful. That He can make it glorious.

The theme of your album is freedom. Can you explain?

Well, for me it's about many types of freedom....Freedom from perfectionism, freedom from the guilt that we can never be perfect and God doesn't expect us to be. It's also about the freedom from sin and the situations that we get ourselves in. God delivers us continually and perfectly. Knowing that we have a Savior that accepts us as we are and allows us to grow and make mistakes and fail yet still loves us without ceasing is an incredible thing.

If Jesus was coming back in 24 hours, what three things would you do?

I would call or contact any of my friends and loved ones that I am not sure if they know the Lord and just lay it out there. I would tell my husband that he is the most wonderful gift I have ever been given and I would gather all of my family that I could together so we could be together when Christ comes back.

Where do you hope to be in five years?

Wherever my husband, dogs, and hopefully a child are. I hope to be content, excited and at peace with where my life is but still motivated to live my life both professionally and personally in a way that pleases God.

What do you know now that you wish you’d known a year ago?

I wish I would have trusted God more that He can take much better care of our hurting family members then we can.

What’s the memorable place you have ever played?

Mercy Minstries. I love seeing the faces of young women that are willing to listen. For the most part younger people, even the most broken ones, are much more open to healing and resolution then adults. I really appreciate that vulnerability. That's why I enjoyed Mercy so much. Those girls are so willing to find healing and wholeness.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with TitleTrakk.com readers?

I would just encourage them to seek the Lord in every area of their life and to be loving and patient with themselves. God loves us as we are with all of our flaws. We are His treasure and His delight. That is a beautiful thing.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take three things, what would they be?

My Bible, My husband, and my dogs, Emma and Wicket

When you’re not singing, what do you enjoy doing?

I love working out with my husband, I love decorating and Interior Design and fashion as well as just spending time with family

Your favorite food of all time:

home made hummus with pita chips

Your favorite movie of all time and why:

Anne of Green Gables---Anne is a classic heroine for every little girl. She is brave, hard headed but soft hearted, smart and adventurous. She's a dreamer who takes action and she is a wonderful friend. I always felt inspired when I watched those movies and it helped me to be comfortable with who I am. I just watched Anne of Green Gables again about a month ago. It was just as perfect.

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Tracy Darlington is a freelance writer, and her work has appeared in Brio, Breakaway, YS, CCM Magazine, Insight, Susie Magazine, and other publications. She has interviewed countless Christian musicians including Rebecca St. James, Delirious, Newsboys, Leigh Nash, Barlowgirl, Krystal Meyers, Joy Williams, Pillar, Michelle Tumes, and many others. In her spare time she can be found riding horses or listening to music and sipping a Venti 3-shot sugar-free vanilla latte. Visit her online at her blog where she talks about Music, God, dogs and coffee. You can also look her up at Twitter and Facebook.