Cedar Rapids artist previewing new material at CSPS showcase

Lauryn Hill, Ani DiFranco and Suzanne Vega are among the celebrated singer/songwriters who took a hiatus due to pregnancy and child-rearing. Bekka Dunn Dove did the same a dozen years ago when the Cedar Rapids songsmith learned she was expecting her first child.

“I was pretty active as a musician before I started having kids,” Dove said.

She was part of the acoustic duo Bekka and Dani, with Dani Rogers.

“We played all around the region and toured the East coast,” Dove said. “But then I started having babies, and they became the priority.”

Even rock stars, who don’t have a 9 to 5 gig, have difficulty balancing music and children. It’s even more daunting for moms who are juggling a regular job along with parenthood.

“It’s tough, but you can always get back in it when the kids are of a certain age,” Dove said.

Dove, 42, who lives in northeast Cedar Rapids, is at that point since her children are 11, 8 and 5 years old. She has crafted a bunch of songs that were inspired by her family.

“I’m in a great space right now, and I’ve written seven original songs,” Dove said. “I’m working on making a full-length album. The songs have come in bursts. I’m excited to see what will happen next.”

Dove will preview her material Dec. 21, 2023, at A Holiday Songwriters Showcase at CSPS Hall in Cedar Rapids.

“This is the final Showcase for the season so we are mixing it up by bringing you a holiday show with several returning performers, as well as a few new faces, performing an eclectic mix of music styles, original songs and traditional,” said Kimberli Maloy of Cedar Rapids, who organizes the Showcases.

“There will be audience interactions, singalongs — all with the same intimate ‘house concert’ feel as our monthly Songwriter Showcases.”

Performers include Deb Kennedy of Amana; Bruce Nesmith, Dove and Maloy, all of Cedar Rapids; David Kav of Des Moines; and Lojo Russo of the Quad Cities.

They will be “coming together to celebrate the winter holidays in song wrapped in a nice warm musical blanket with fun, reflection and true joy,” Maloy added. “There may even be some special treats and surprises.”

As far as musical styles go, introspective folk is where Dove is filed.

“It’s just me and my guitar,” she said. “What I do is transparent and pared down. It’s a vulnerable sound, but I like it just being me and my instrument. I’m not hiding behind distortion or guitar solos.”

Dove is a big fan of songwriters who are adept at telling stories.

“That’s the way it is, even though I'm not a storyteller,” Dove said. “I love what Brandi Carlile does. I admire her so much. She’s amazing, and so are so many other female singer/songwriters.”

Taylor Swift is at the top of Dove’s list as far as storytelling songwriters go.

“Taylor Swift is phenomenal,” Dove said. “Even though she’s the biggest star around, she’s so underrated. The quality and quantity she produces is astounding. It’s hard work to write songs, and she is just so gifted. Listening to songwriters who are different from me but are so great, is so inspiring."

“Miss You Anymore” is the title of Dove’s album, which will be released in 2024.

“Some of it is about ticking off all of the boxes of things you might not really want in the end,” she said. “It’s introspective, and lyrically it’s inspired a lot by my family. I love writing songs. I would like to focus even more on music.”

By day Dove works in property management.

The diverse skill set she possesses was cultivated at school. After graduating from Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School in 2000, Dove left to study music at the International Leadership College in Sydney, Australia.

“That was an incredible experience,” she said.

Dove returned to Cedar Rapids and earned an associate degree at Kirkwood Community College. She followed that up by majoring in electronic media communication at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. She finished with a master’s in business administration at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.

“I’m done with school,” she said. “That was enough education, but all of what I learned has helped me in life.”

However, music is closest to her heart.

“There is just something about making music, recording it and performing,” she said. “I’ve always absolutely loved it. I have so much respect for those who create their own music. I have so much appreciation for them when they enter a room before they even sing a note. It’s quite an accomplishment to create a song.”