Houston’s Southern Songstress: Dixie Trahan

“Mom, do you have a song for everything?!” says Dixie Trahan’s young daughter of mom’s ability to lecture in song. “I probably do,” replies Trahan as she flashes a coy smile.

Talking to Trahan is easy. Southern belle comes to mind, even; except Trahan writes music and can really serenade an audience. When she was nine, she toured North America, singing in churches with her family. Now a mother, she has instilled musical expression to her children; from Bluegrass to Rock, this modern-day Brady Bunch family has no boundaries for musical taste, but country music is what makes Trahan visibly happy.

“It’s just…real,” says Trahan as she fishes for words to describe the reason for the love affair with country music. Her self-titled debut album, Dixie Trahan, is evidence of that. The recording of the album was a labor of love that took Trahan to Nashville, Tennessee.

Nashville was “inspirational” for the singer (country music legend Patsy Cline once lived in the home-turned-studio where Trahan recorded the album’s vocals). However, the nine months it took to conceive the record meant she would have to fly to Houston often to her family. The jetlag was worth it because her first effort delivered. Vocally, it showcases her talent and love for the genre and artistically it exhibits her charisma.

Songs like, You’re the Ticket and Too Far Gone are unquestionably country; and Fallen Angel is a melodic ballad with a message. But the most poignant, single worthy song on the album is Little Soldier, were she recounts the moving story of a mother well-wishing her son off to the service.

Trahan is not a fame-chaser nor is she a music marketing queen. The Trahan movement is all “grassroots” – the radio play, international sales and a hefty touring schedule is all her.  The mother of three has a day-job, a solo career and works with a cover band that might take her to China this summer.

“I just want to meet everybody,” Trahan says, raising her voice a bit to emphasize her sincerity. “Where are you from? What’s your story? That’s the type of person I am,” she affirms with an immense smile.

In embarking on a music career, Trahan wanted two things: to follow her dreams in country music and “if I’m going to tell my children that they can do anything… I’m going to have to drink that Kool-Aid too!”

So, the album came to fruition and her family is more than a support system for her; they are her co-workers. All three children play a musical instrument and the oldest son plays in a band when not playing for mom. Her husband, Skeeter, co-wrote some songs on the album and also plays with Trahan.

Judging by her charisma and her openness, it is safe to say Trahan is carving a path for herself in country music on her own terms. Her affinity for music and the love for life make her the real deal. And to not break continuity, Trahan pauses, grins and says, “I don’t like being in a box.”

To learn more about Dixie, visit DixieTrahan.com.