On April 30th, 2019, Whiteville native and Catawba College senior Dustin Chapman will release a powerful new single titled “Lead the Way,” that combines spirituality, maturity, and sensibility.
In late 2017, Dustin Chapman released his debut, self-titled EP, which many people called “heartfelt, powerful, and extremely well-written.” The Carolina Country and Rare Country Awards nominee wrote every song on the EP while battling an extremely rare disease called Achalasia, which he accredits for helping him develop some of his most powerful songs. Now, the young musician expands on his medical and religious journeys in his second release, which was recorded and produced by Brad Phillips at Studio 101 in Woodruff, South Carolina.
"[The song] has a religious theme throughout, like, trusting in God's plan," said Chapman. "I may not understand His plan, but what He has in store is greater than anything I can imagine."
Since his debut release in 2017, the 21-year-old has experienced various circumstances that he says have not only shaped his music, but shaped him as an individual.
“I’ve had to travel all the way to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland, Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, New York, and I’ve spent weeks at a time at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, trying to obtain proper medical treatment. I’ve endured many medical procedures and attended so many appointments, my body has continued to get weaker and weaker, but my determination has only gotten stronger. I’ve used all of the odds that have been stacked against me to motivate myself to produce music that can help my fans overcome whatever situation they’re going through.”
In particular, his song, “Lead the Way,” has already inspired hundreds of thousands around the world. A video of Chapman performing the song at Duke University Hospital’s Cancer Center during a 16-day hospital stay has inspired nearly 1,000,000 views on social media and has been shared on NBC’s “Early Today Show,” “Nightly News with Lester Holt,” and various news outlets across the world, including “The Washington Post.”
The single is guaranteed to showcase a side of Chapman that has become a staple characteristic of his music, a state of emotional vulnerability and honesty. Considered to be “breath taking…” and “full of sincerity” by thousands around the world, his new EP is likely one to add a music lover’s collection as soon as possible.
