I Am Dallas Forte
Dallas Forte is a Guyanese singer, songwriter and entrepreneur, residing in the United States and using his gift to win souls for the Kingdom of God. After the death of his father Fitzroy Forte, at the tender age of five years, Dallas’ mother Mercia Anderson raised him and his younger brother in the Albouystown neighbourhood, situated in the capital city of Georgetown.
Dallas discovered his gift of music while attending the West Ruimveldt Primary School, where he had opportunities to sing at concerts, Presidential and other State events. Dr. Murtland Raphael Massiah, best friend and pastor of his late father, observed Dallas’ vocal abilities while attending his primary school graduation and encouraged him to use his gift to serve in God’s Kingdom. Dallas did not fully understand what serving God with his gift meant, but with his mom’s blessing, he began singing at Children’s Church concerts and Youth Ministry events – and loved it. He went on to become a member of the Christian male group, “One”, along with popular local Christian artists Rayon Brandt, Yohan Jackman, and the late Germaine Brandt.
After singing in church for a while, Dallas entered the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company’s first jingle and song competition, where he performed remarkably well and finished as the runner-up. He subsequently began to explore a more creative angle and secured gigs composing jingles and advertisements for local businesses. He had found his niche in writing and creating, away from the microphone or camera, and took a bold step to open his own business. At his studio, Shekinah Studios, he fervently indulged his passion, creating media content along with a small team of like-minded entrepreneurs.
Eight-Year-Old Dallas wanted to be an astronaut. With time, however, and as his interest in music developed and his talent evolved, he began to find his purpose within God’s will. Dallas admitted that prior to the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company’s first jingle and song competition, singing had become a joyless task that he wanted nothing to do with. “I just wanted to be a child”, he said. However, prior to the competition’s finale, he was recruited by his friends Devon Roberts and Ralph Harte to Second Coming Band, which opened the door for him to perform in his first international concert in Boa Vista Brazil. “We opened the concert, and it was the first time I understood the magnitude of the word ‘Hallelujah’, I knew what it meant but that word has a lot of power, so much that the people who were trying to revel recognised that we were a Christian band and reverenced God in the process, I will never forget that.” While on his final run with Second Coming Band, Dallas entered the Banks Groovy Soca Monarch competition and placed third as the sole Christian artiste. Thereafter, he received a call from New York regarding a recording project, and according to Dallas, “the rest is history.” It was there that he met his wife, Michelle – doing what he loved and meeting the love of his life.
Music Helped
Dallas had a concept of death at a tender age but losing his father had its own adverse effects. The absence of his father had understandably left a huge void in his life and he admitted to feeling the impact of that loss as he became a teenager. While nothing completely filled the void, he is grateful for music that provided an escape, and amazing mentors, such as Dr. Massiah, Apostle Medroy Brandt, and many others, who spoke into his life and prayed for him through difficult times.
Goals of Music
Dallas doesn’t consider himself a Christian artist, but an artist who loves Jesus and wants his music to be deliberately influential. “I want to be able to take the music anywhere and see Jesus show up.” He further added that music is just a tool. “It’s not my ‘why’; it’s simply my ‘how’,” he asserted. “How can I reach someone with the gift God has given me?” On the other hand, his ‘why’ is his God mandate – “…to spread the gospel to the ends of the world so souls can be saved, so that people are not lost, so that people are not subject to everlasting damnation.” He disclosed that proclaiming Jesus to the lost has always been his primary mission and although being creative is fun, he strives to never let it trump his ‘why’.
Creative Process
Dallas dished on his creative process. It begins with a concept. He usually writes without music, after which he develops a reference point, and then records a demo whilst musically figuring it out at his piano in the studio. His creative timeline varies. There are occasions when he can compose a complete song in one session, and others when it takes months or years to become the complete product he envisioned. Dallas is patient in the creative process and paces his work as the Holy Spirit leads him. “I’d write, demo, and send to my producer in Detroit Michigan then we have video calls or sometimes when he’s in New York we’d find the time and work. We collaborate on lots of projects, including co-writing.”
The Unconditional EP (Extended Play)
In 2021, Dallas’ EP ‘Unconditional’ was released. According to him, God’s character, which epitomises intentionality and unconventional love, served as the inspiration for the project. Dallas shared that although he made several mistakes, God continues to bless him. “Jesus was humble and obedient enough to be subject to His Father’s will and not say anything during death’s process,” he said. “It doesn’t get much better than going to the cross and dying for people He knew would have messed up, still mess up and He even goes further to make intercession for us. That is what ‘Unconditional’ means to him,” he emphasised.
Family is Everything
Eight years ago, Dallas married the love of his life, Michelle, and their union has been blessed with the adorable one-year-old Grace-Olivia. He described his wife Michelle as a God-fearing woman, who was the first to invest in his business and purchased his first pieces of studio equipment in the USA. While being an artist is demanding, Dallas believes it is critical to maintain good, healthy boundaries in order to balance career and family life. He strives to put his family first, even if it means putting music on the back burner. “It’s just how God designed it and I’ll always strive to be obedient in that capacity. God, Family,…”
Professional Opportunities
Recently, Dallas completed a two-year music business programme at New York University (NYU). He was awarded a partial scholarship sponsored by Billboard to pursue the programme, which covered sync licensing (music for commercials, video games, movies, etc). The programmme was rigorous. “I actually was writing my final paper in the hospital room as my wife was preparing to go into labour with our daughter.” However, this stint provided an opportunity for him to study alongside brilliant contemporaries, (which he absolutely enjoyed), and network with a pool of experts that could potentially help him along in his career, he added.
Already a voting member of the Grammy Recording Academy, he is in the process of pitching the music score for a major film. But this budding entrepreneur continues to diversify his portfolio. He is also the Brand Ambassador for Speak Prosperity LLC, a Christian clothing company in Dallas Texas, and Mogu Modern Chinese Kitchen.
Life Highlights
According to Dallas, being a husband and father is the most important aspect of his life, surpassing even music. Two of the biggest joys of Dallas’ career were performing at his first international concert in Brazil and at Carifesta. More than the opportunity to minister to thousands of people, he is grateful because God trusted him with such enormous responsibilities, one he does not take for granted.
Greatest Challenge
Reflecting on his life, Dallas identified academics as the greatest area of challenge in his early years. He believes this was not due to incompetence but rather because of his passionless, nonchalant approach. “I simply was just tired. Tired of expectations and pressure from people who thought they knew what was best for me.” But he remarkably bounced back, graduating from Cambridge University and the prestigious New York University. He believes his past failures served to propel his personal and professional development drive, resulting in a wiser man who now makes better decisions.
Leisure Time
Apart from working, Dallas likes watching wrestling events and has even attended a few, which he fondly recalled his mother Mercia introduced him to as a boy. He also loves spending quality time with his family. He affectionately expressed how much he enjoys watching his daughter grow and doing the little things she does in her growth process.
Words of Encouragement to an Upcoming Musician
Dallas offered three important pieces of advice to budding musicians. Firstly, understand who you are, who God intended you to be, trust God’s will for your life, and seek to learn lessons fast. Secondly, be creative, push the envelope, and push the boundaries within the spectrum. He explained that music is much more than simply singing and performing. Budding musicians should challenge themselves to explore all the facets of the art and business thereof; mixing, mastering, engineering writing, production, contracts, effective negotiating, legal fundamentals, etc. Thirdly, trust the process and pay attention to lessons learned along the way. Put God first, he says, and everything else will fall into place.
Dallas is about to embark on a tour along the East and West Coasts of the United States of America. We pray for him and wish him well in his future endeavours. Visit his website www.iamdallasforte.com, to discover more about Dallas. Follow him on Instagram @iamdallasforte, Facebook as ‘I Am Dallas Forte,’ and his YouTube page as ‘I Am Dallas Forte,’ to stay updated on his music.
