Mags

If the news about Miley has you believing that all hope is lost for young pop stars in today’s culture, I invite you to spend four minutes watching recording artist Mags Wang singing “Boyfriend”:

I say watch, because along with sharing a very catchy song, this video has a story to tell. If you listen to the lyrics, you hear the angst of a society that’s been raised on “likes” and “unfriends”. If you watch to the end, you’ll catch the triumph that is possible.

Here’s a bit about Mags, from her website:

Mags is a new singer/songwriter out of Elmira, ON. Born in Kitchener, ON, Mags is the 3rd oldest child of a family of 11. Clinically diagnosed with MDD (Major Depression Disorder) and PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress) in 2011, Mags views singing and song-writing not only as a talent but as an opportunity to inspire and encourage others to seek God through suffering and pain even when He feels farthest away. Currently, at age 18, Mags continues life as a dedicated student and remains solidly rooted and in love with the Catholic Faith.

With regards to her music career, Mags started singing at 13 by doing some background vocals on Christian rock CDs. Later, she officially jumped into the local music scene by being a finalist in the Faith FM’s Shining Star competition in 2009 at the age of 14. After the contest, producer Andrew Horrocks (2010 Canadian Gospel Music Association Producer of the Year) was so impressed by her abilities that he encouraged her to pursue singing independently, even though at the time, Mags had been recording in the studio with Brad Dugas (Revelation Sound). In 2010, Maggie won the Wellesley Idol competition using entirely original material, and in 2011, at age 15, recorded (with producer Andrew Horrocks) her first album, “Dreaming of Christmas”, with some of Canada’s premier jazz musicians. Shortly after the album’s release, it was nominated for Best Seasonal Album at the 2011 Canadian Gospel Music Association (CGMA) Awards. Currently, Mags has just released her second album, “Missmatched”.

There is a quality to Mags’ voice that touches a deep place in my soul. In her song “Never” (watch this one too!), she shows a depth and emotional rawness that really speaks to my heart. Written for a friend lost too soon, the song is a tribute to anyone who has had to say goodbye to a loved one.

I’m now a major Mags fan, and I want you to be one too. Because we need role models like Mags for our girls… young women who let their God given talent shine without letting the “yuck factor” overshadow their gifts - Catholicmom.com

Maggie Wang apologized to God as she stood at the side of the freeway. She awaited the transport trucks known to frequent the route near her home. That night, there was only one. And as she was about to jump, she heard a voice say, “There’s more than this.”


Wang hesitated, and the truck went on.

“I was still standing there; I was still alive,” said Wang, who has used her struggles and her discovery of God’s grace as inspiration for her music.

The now 18-year-old singer-songwriter, known as Mags, is a finalist in the international John Lennon Songwriting Contest for her song “Lead Me to the River” in the Gospel/Inspirational Category. The song is a glimpse into her struggle with depression and how her faith helped pull her back from the edge.

“As a Catholic, I know taking my life is a mortal sin. I was just tired. I was a tired soul and I wanted to go home,” she said.

Wang had experienced anxiety for years, but channelled it into excelling at school and sports. No one realized she was suffering from depression, which she experienced as far back as Grade 9. In her song, she describes the feeling of having rocks in her legs.

But her illness went unnoticed, she said, either because it was dismissed as her being emotional or because she would hide it behind a façade.

But it all started falling apart in Grade 11, especially with the additional stress of finding out her grandmother, who she describes as her everything, had cancer.

“Everything snapped,” Wang said. She stopped being able to eat properly, focus or attend class. She began failing in school and went from top goalie on her hockey and ringette teams to letting down her
coaches.

“It was very humiliating and unreal and surreal for me.”

But that night on the freeway, she sat in shock that she didn’t end her life.

“That was the first moment where He really showed me, ‘I am here. I’ve been here all along with you and we’re going to get through this.’ And so throughout all my struggles the Church became my everything. I remember even as a kid I’d just saunter over to the rectory a few blocks away to seek refuge in the Church,” said Wang. “The Church had always been my beloved home. (It) never saw me as a reject, never saw me as a loser, never saw me as the worthless creature I viewed as myself.”

In “Lead Me to the River,” Wang sings about her struggles, seeking refuge in Christ, her blindness and hot-tempered personality.

The lyrics in the chorus are special to her: “Lead me to the river, I believe.”

“In that moment in that song, it’s speaking about the moment in time when I said, ‘God even if I don’t see that you’re here, I’m a blind man. I believe that you’re going to be faithful to your promises that there is more than my depression, there is more than my anxiety, there’s more than my struggles because there’s you,’ ” she said. “Jesus I place my trust in you.

You are the only one I can come to. I trust in you. Lead me to the river,” is a segment of the song that really sticks out, she said, as a reflection of when she could only turn to God. When she arrived at the point where her darkest struggles with depression were in the past, she felt God was calling her to share her experience with other young people, especially young Catholics, and to “witness to the power of the Church.”

Music was “not only a way for me to connect to God, but a way to connect to other people and really be able to move on,” she said. “And to always remind me of those times so I never forget when God reached out His hand to save my life.”

Wang takes pride that her song about faith was nominated in an international secular competition.

“It was very cool to give witness and for the Lord to use my sufferings for some good.”

Wang is the daughter of David Wang of the award-winning Christian band Critical Mass. She is a first-year student at the University of Waterloo and was nominated for a Canadian Gospel Music Association Covenant Award in 2011 for her jazz album Dreaming of Christmas. This year, she released her debut pop CD Mismatched available at Christian retailers. Her single “Knock” peaked at no. 7 on the Canadian Christian charts.

Judges on this year’s John Lennon Songwriting Contest, which was established in 1997 by Yoko Ono, included Sean Paul, Fergie and Natasha Bedingfield.
- The Catholic Register

A former Elmira resident is a finalist in the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
Maggie Wang, an 18-year-old student at the University of Waterloo, is one of the youngest songwriters to ever receive this honour.
The John Lennon Songwriting Contest was established in 1977 by Yoko Ono. It is one of the most important songwriting competitions internationally. Each year, there are two competitions, with three finalists and one winner announce simultaneously in each of 12 musical categories. This year’s judges included artists Sean Paul, Fergie, and Natasha Bedingfield.
Wang, known professionally as Mags, won for her song, “Lead Me to the River,” an autobiographical look at her battle with depression.
When Wang was a student at Elmira District Secondary School, she struggled with a severe bout of depression — so bad that she could barely get out of bed, yet alone cope with her day-to-day responsibilities.
“I was a 90s student, and I was failing out of class, and not able to attend school,” said Wang.
“I think it was God’s way of stripping away all the masks I identified myself with,” said Wang, a devout Roman Catholic. “I had to get back to who I am when it’s just me and Him.”
“Lead Me to the River” details this struggle, a back-and-forth battle.
“Nah nah nah nah nah uh someone please shoot me, ’cause everyday life is starting to kill me,” sings Wang. “I’m late for class again, I’ll need another story, just going through the motions, Jesus please save me.”
Wang said her faith is what helped her emerge from her battle with depression.
She decided to write about it because she wanted to share her experience, and provide some hope to others who are also struggling.
“There’s still so much stigma with depression,” said Wang. “If God wants to use my song to help even one person, then His will is being done.”
“Lead Me to the River” is the second single being released from Wang’s debut pop CD, “Missmatched. Her first single, “Knock,” peaked at number 7 on the Canadian Christian charts. Wang was previously honoured with a nomination for a Canadian Gospel Music Association Covenant Award for her jazz “Dreaming of Christmas” album.
Not bad for someone who isn’t a formally trained musician.
Wang said that her songwriting is truly a spontaneous process.
“I have never really consciously written music, because I hear it in my head.”
Wang said that she can keep musical phrases in her head for years, waiting for the “right song” to come about.
When something comes together, she’ll record it, getting help from her producer to translate it into sheet music.
Her father and manager, David Wang, said that in many ways, it is good that his daughter has not formally studied music, because she will put together various combinations that are not normally tried — and yet, they somehow work.
“In the studio, some of the musicians see the music, and see the chords the producer has come up with, and say ‘these can’t be the right chords,’” said David. “It’s kind of neat.”
For Wang, she sees her ability to compose music in her head as a unique gift, one that she is grateful to have.
“I really like the ability to get to share my heart with people,” said Wang.
Wang’s album, “Missmatched”, is available for sale at Gospel Lighthouse in Waterloo. It is also also available to download on Itunes. - Elmira Independent