Empowering Girls Through Music: Grammy Award winning musician Dante Bowe Teams Up with GSNETX for the 2023 WDL Opening Performance

October 25, 2023

In an interview with renowned singer & songwriter Dante Bowe and Sabrina Harrison, President of TRUE Music Label and a 2019 Woman of Distinction honoree, we discussed their latest project, which is set to be a real showstopper at our upcoming SOLD-OUT Women of Distinction Luncheon. If you're eager to know what's in store and why you should eagerly look forward to this event, read on.

Media Inquiries: Stephanie Horne, Shorne@gsnetx.org

**Additional high-resolution photographs, exclusive behind-the-scenes video footage, and opportunities for interviews upon request.

From your perspective, Sabrina, having worked closely with Dante, can you tell us about Dante's musical background, highlighting some of his recent achievements?

Sabrina: Dante has had significant influence on the Christian Gospel community. Dante made history with three simultaneous nominations in a single category at 64th GRAMMY Awards. Dante was recently named the 2023 BMI Gospel Songwriter of the Year, and just last week at the Dove Awards, “Gratitude” a song he co-wrote won Worship Song of Year. It’s incredible to see his contributions as an artist and through his philanthropic endeavors.

How does Dante approach music and faith, and how has this balance shaped his career progression?

Sabrina: Dante is passionate about music, giving back and sharing stories and life experiences through the songs he writes for himself and many other artists. While he remains dedicated to his Christian roots, he's also driven by a desire to expand his artistry. Dante released his self-titled R&B album this year which has been a seamless, natural progression, and showcases his versatility as an artist as he boldly enters this exciting new chapter of his artistry.

How does Dante's versatility in sound relate to this project with GSNETX?

Sabrina: Dante possesses incredible versatility and really takes you on a sonic journey with his new music. To him, faith is an action, and this collaboration project signifies his commitment to serve his community. The conversations we’re having are so much bigger than music. The music is simply the means to a much bigger purpose-driven assignment. We’re just so grateful and take none of this for granted.

Left to Right: Sabrina Harrison, Anaya Dube, Eisha Alam, Dante Bowe, Carolina Lopez, and Makayla Wilson outside True Music Studios during a performance practice session.

Given your close connection with your mother, Dante, and her impact on your music, was the idea of women's empowerment a significant consideration in your decision to work with the Girl Scouts?

Dante: I mean, I have a sister, and my mom is a single mom. Being raised by a woman, you see and experience a lot of things you wouldn't normally do. I have such high respect for single mothers and the growth of girls and women. I was drawn to this project to create something cool and do something positive for young girls in the community at this incredible luncheon.

We spend much time online and see Instagram models, filters, and many fake realities. This can affect confidence. You see all the superficial things that distract from the things that we should all be focused on. Music is powerful, and this project, at its core, is about using music to show people that there's another way. These are intelligent and confident young girls, and we want to emphasize the importance of these qualities.

Using ASL in the chorus creates an inclusive experience.

Did you witness any positive growth in the Girl Scouts who took part in this project?

Dante: All four of the Girl Scouts who are part of this project really stepped out of their comfort zones. They came in physically shaking. They were so nervous, but by the end of the first rehearsal, they were thanking me for coaching them and saying how much this meant to them. The atmospheres in which I create music are comfortable and peaceful. I try to make it feel like home. Creating a safe space for the girls was crucial because it allowed them to be more willing to open up, more receptive to singing, and fully embrace the experience. They were so brave, and I couldn't be more proud of them.

Creating a safe space where girls feel that they can be themselves without explanation or judgment is what Girl Scouts is all about! What was it like working with such a diverse group of girls?

Dante: I'm so glad that there's this diverse group of girls representing the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas. We are showing people that we're all more alike than we are different. You know, working with these girls from various cultures and backgrounds, you can't help but appreciate the beauty of diversity. Kids are exposed to a lot of the same things, and it's often easier to focus on our differences rather than the things that make us alike.

I loved writing this song for the Girl Scouts. I enjoyed working with Shyspeaks, who helped write the rap/spoken word portion of the song and helped me prepare the girls for their big performance. We had a great time. I'm thankful for our producer, Brandon Bailey, who created the perfect beat for this song and made this whole process so easy and fun. I feel like this song and this performance are powerful acts of unity. I'm honored to be a part of it.