Today we’d like to introduce you to Patreece Dade.
Patreece, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I began singing in church at the age of three under the encouragement of my mother a church musician. My parents divorced when I was around four years old. It was a hard thing for me to accept. At age five, I was molested for the first time and would have this experience several times leading into my middle school years. I sang throughout all of my childhood as it was my go-to activity besides writing poetry, reading, and dancing. I wanted to become a professional singer, dancer, and actress but did not have support behind that idea at the time as a teenager. I knew I loved expressing myself. I wrote my first poem around age ten about Easter. I received an honorable mention from a poetry contest, and it made me feel like an official writer. As I grew older, my passion for writing extended to writing song lyrics. Many times, I would make up songs with my mother for a church that we would teach the choirs I helped direct. Around 19, I started attending college and pursued a degree in English with a minor in Spanish and Speech Communications. It took me years to finish my undergrad, but I never quit. I worked, kept singing, writing, and working towards finishing my degree. Finally, in 2007, I graduated from college. That same year my older brother died from a drug overdose, I started working on an EP, and I went into teaching later that year. I also stepped out and accepted my call of ministry. I, then, experienced what we call “church hurt” and I left the church disappointed.
Has it been a smooth road?
No, life has not been a smooth easy road for me. I have had several challenging moments in my life that I have been able to overcome and push through by learning to activate my faith and operate in the power of who I am. In 2007, I had begun to work on an EP, unfortunately, the producer I had been working with hustled me out of my money for my project. Subsequently, I had my heart hurt by people in the church I had been serving and working at. At that point, I didn’t want anything to do with church, ministry or people in the church. I stayed out and even stopped singing. By late summer of 2008, I was pregnant with my son and became focused on survival and caring for him as a newly single mother. Singing was definitely on the back burner, and I had lost my motivation for it along with writing. I wouldn’t even sing at home. I was walking under a cloak of heaviness, shame, guilt, low self-esteem. Those feelings were compounded by father’s stance to disown since I had told I was pregnant and not married. Although, I was well into my twenties and living on my own, that crushed my spirit. At that point, I felt no or little motivation to sing. I was utterly convinced that I wasn’t worthy to sing or to be loved. This feeling would for the next couple of years of my life, gravely impact the relationships I involved myself in, and the life decisions I made in various areas of my life. I was determined to “hide” and I decided to focus on pursuing teaching certification and my Master’s of Education in Teaching. I started grad school in 2011 and it took me 6 years to finish that degree. I can honestly say that in my immediate family, by the grace of God, determination, and resiliency I am the first to graduate college, learn a foreign language, and obtain 3 degrees. In the past decade of my life, I have experienced domestic violence, a miscarriage, depression, being on food stamps, and struggling financially, being homeless for a short period of time, raising and supporting my son with no financial or emotional support from his father. I started back singing here and there but felt that I had lost some of my confidence to stand and minister in song. My heart, self-perception and spirit were wounded and bleeding. I have had many trials, but I have seen victories in the midst of all of them.
In the summer of 2017, while at my church, I was approached by Crystal Aikins, the first winner of the BET show Sunday’s Best and extended the opportunity to start serving on the worship team of the Potter’s House of Fort Worth. I was so excited about the “coming out of hiding.” I starting serving consistently and started back writing songs and poetry again. I felt inspired through having a consistent opportunity to minister through song, and through Crystal’s words of encouragement. I made up in my mind at the beginning of 2018, that I was going to focus on getting my songs copyrighted, music recorded, and establish myself as an indie gospel artist. Then, three weeks after taking advantage of an opportunity to record some of my songs in a live recording with other indie gospel artists, I found my mother died from a heart attack. She was my music teacher, voice coach, taught me stage presence, made me serve, and taught me strength. I saw her strength and faith demonstrated many times as I grew up as she battled and survived breast and ovarian cancer, the death of a child, financial struggles, two divorces, and family challenges.
My mother Bobbie Dade showed me what it means to not throw in the towel. For me, she was and is the paradigm for resiliency. I will not lie and say that we had perfect relationships because we did not. There were hurts, hang-ups, and issues, which came to understand were fueled by a generational issue stemming from her tumultuous relationship with her mother. I had a hard time reconciling the fact that we would never have the chance to resolve the issues we had had on this side of the earth. Yet, I still hurt over my mother’s passing. All the while, I have found solace in ministering through song and pursuing what brings me joy. Although we had a challenging relationship I still see the value of what she left behind for my brother and me. It is because of her that I love to sing and love music soooo much!!! I choose to honor her for the good of how she lives and gave, not by dwelling on what “wrong” or negative. All of those things are so minute compared to the greater value of what she taught me regarding my faith, responses to life’s challenges and love of song. After her unexpected death, I struggled to gain my center back, but I knew that I needed to run with the songs and ministry that were in me. So pushed to finish production on my debut single “Redeemed” which was released on February 4th of this year. That song was written in July of last year. It has a more profound meaning than it did when I first wrote it. I feel that my gift of song, peace of mind, passion, dreams, fight, strength, confidence, purpose, and ministry have been redeemed and revived with a heightened sense of power and faith. I will be leaving the field of education soon in order to pursue my first desire and love from my childhood. I am excited about what God has in store for me. I hope that from my story someone will feel encouraged to push on and not give up. I hope it will inspire people in the church to be more transparent about their struggles so that other believer can know that they are not alone in this walk in their faith. They need to know that no matter what they have gone through or erred in, that there is a possibility to have a second opportunity to go forth in their purpose. They need to know that everything that they thought was lost or had died can be retrieved, resuscitated, and redeemed
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
In my personal ministry of music, I am known for my high energy, stage presence, connection with the audience to whom I sing, and my passionate sincere delivery. I am most grateful that others feel inspired by my determination to step out by faith and pursue my God-given heart’s desire. I believe that my resiliency, faith, and excitement to do what I do makes me distinct from others. I am not here to fit in and please a crowd, but I am here to do what I believe God has purposed and planned for me to do.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I feel the D/FW metroplex is a great place to start moving in pursuing a music career. There are so many opportunities to share your gifts, and so many amazing local artists to be inspired by various genres. I encourage anyone who is looking to pursue their passion to simply take the risk to move out of their comfort zone of fear. Take yourself seriously by setting your business cards, Facebook page, professional email, etc. Then, also begin to make sure you are encompassing yourself with people who are going to speak life to your vision or goal. Naysayers in your ears are a sure way to kill your dream quickly. Lastly, check your why. Remember you have a purpose and seek to thoroughly understand what it is. When you know your why, you will find the strength and push to keep going in spite of adversities and setbacks.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://patreecedade.hearnow.com/
- Phone: 6822028115
- Email: patreecedademusic@outlook.com
- Instagram: iampatreeced
- Facebook: @patreecedademusicfrommyheart
- Other: https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/PatreeceDade
Image Credit:
Lawrence Kelly Photography, D Gort Photography, Steven Glick, Benjamin Williams
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