“Hard experiences in life don’t have to break us, instead they can define us and allow us to use our experiences and turn it into something really beautiful.” - Erin Duvall
There are many roles women play on a daily basis, creating a need for several different faces that each resemble the role authentically. Erin Duvall’s intention is to show you all of her roles and “faces” via her successful mediums of Music, Motherhood, and Entrepreneurship. Collectively – “The Three Faces of Erin”. She aims to have you unmask your “faces”, embrace your roles, and find what inspires you.
The Texas-born singer-songwriter, Erin Duvall, was raised on a foundation of country, blues, gospel, and rock ‘n’ roll. Erin’s unique approach to music has drawn comparisons to singers like Janis Joplin, Natalie Maines, and Susan Tedeschi. As the fourth of five children in her family, Erin learned to advocate for herself and what she wanted at an early age, which was to always perform. By delivering raspy country vocals, Erin sets herself apart from other women in today’s country music scene. She belts, teases, and soars into listeners’ ears with her roadhouse bluesy tunes and the sultry sounds of her vocals.
The story of Erin Duvall has taken her around the sun twice and led her back to her passion for music time and time again. As a mompreneur, Erin is the creator and founder of the children’s animated character Aunty E, who teaches children about all types of music. The project is very near and dear to Erin’s heart, and she is excited to share the progress with all of you as she revamps it. Aunty E now features over twenty characters, a book series, and an album.
Additionally, Erin Duvall, created ‘Twice the Love Foundation’ for single parents, both men and women alike, after experiencing firsthand the effects of a one-parent family. When Erin moved back home in 2016, she was very fortunate to have a loving place to land; however, she knows many single parents do not find this support on their journey.
One thing that is absolute is that it takes a village; a village that welcomes you with open arms and provides encouragement and help for single parents and their children. In a one-parent household, you provide twice the love to your children and are lucky to receive twice the love as well.
Can you start by introducing yourself and telling us in your words, about your inspiring story? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Hi everyone! My name is Erin Duvall and I am a singer/songwriter/mother and entrepreneur. I grew up in a large family in Dallas, TX as the fourth of five children. I have two very wonderful parents who taught us at an early age the importance of hard work and giving back. Every aspect of my life since I was a little girl was based around being a performer. I was always writing songs in my journal, blaring Dolly Parton or Shania Twain, and putting on shows for anyone that would listen.
My younger years were full of performing, from being the lead in the high school musical to captain on the cheerleading squad. I took a pause to go to college at The University of Texas and majored in journalism, where I really honed in on my craft of writing. Immediately after college, I went straight back to music and have had quite the journey along the way: from children’s music to my music, from New York to Nashville to the West Coast, then back to Texas, to becoming a mother and writing my latest album, it’s been a long and winding road. One that has always been centered on music. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my love of music and all the fabulous places it has taken me along the way to get to where I am now. Currently, I am working on my next album and my animated project, Aunty E, which teaches children about the wonderful world of music and the connective tissue that binds us together!
If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out, what would it be?
Just jump in and put all of your heart and soul into everything you do! Time doesn’t wait for anyone, so start multi-tasking and get after it! You will thank yourself later for starting when you did!
Does your company help the community where it is located?
Yes! My foundation, Twice the Love Foundation, does an annual event that benefits The Genesis Women’s Shelter here in Dallas, TX. We feel so honored to work with them and help where we can!
How do you prioritize self-care and well-being while managing the demands of your business?
As a single mother of four and an entrepreneur, it is a delicate dance and one that requires a lot of planning and patience. Luckily, I am proficient at compartmentalizing and very proficient at multitasking. Some days I knock it out of the park, and some days are harder than others, but I get up every day and strive to make forward progress in every area of my life. And self-care is a huge part of that process! I prioritize sleep and exercise to be the best version of myself that I can be.
What would you consider your biggest accomplishment and why?
Being a mom to my four children. Everything I do, I do for them.
When you go through a divorce with children it is a toll, it is a very different approach to emotions than it would be if you were sans children. First and foremost, you are there to protect them. You want them to know how much they are loved by both parents. That is super important. So my healing process through my divorce was about becoming the best version of myself for my children (and for me). I am much more interested in the journey ahead and how to do something positive in this world with my experiences, and so my role as a mother of four is a huge influence in everything I do. We have plenty of negativity in the world, and I have no desire to be a part of that conversation. I want to be part of the hope, love, and light conversation.
We all face challenges. Looking back, what have been some of the biggest challenges and obstacles you’ve had to navigate?
Life comes with its ups and downs and the strength you must find to rise from the ashes when it all goes up in smoke. It’s what either breaks you or defines you. The past several years for me have come with some of life’s biggest blessings and yet some of my biggest heartbreaks. When I got married, I never envisioned that I would be standing where I am today. As a single mother of four incredible children, I am fervently chasing the dreams that ring so loudly in my heart and have the burning desire to leave a legacy behind for my children. Without the hardships I endured, I truly believe I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I definitely would not have written my most recent album or started my foundation. Sometimes life throws you big curve balls, but those curve balls are what push you to become who you were always meant to be.
Is there a piece of wisdom or lesson you’ve learned along your journey that you wish you had known when you started your career?
To always surround yourself with people who are smarter than you. If you are the smartest person in the room, then you need to move rooms.
Comfort is complacency, especially in the business world. You need to be uncomfortable to make a change.
I was comfortable in my own skin, but I was constantly pushing myself to try new things, put myself out there more, and stay more focused than I ever had before.
Lastly, you should always pitch the project, ask for the opportunity, etc., because the worst thing they can say is no, and then you are in the same spot you are in right now.
What are the three most important habits to be a successful high performer or leader?
I think that to be a leader, you must push for certain mindsets. These three qualities have always helped in my day-to-day life as a high performer.
My willingness to evolve as a person, artist, and professional while still keeping a true sense of myself and my family is something that I possess. I am able to take critiques very well and understand that they are not personal, just business.
I have a lot of perseverance. I have been knocked down a few times on my journey, and the ability to dust myself off and keep pushing forward is something I am proficient at doing at this stage in my life. It is important to not sweat the small stuff and to always learn from your mistakes, but don’t let them define you.
I am a very loyal person. If you treat me well, then I will treat you very well in return. But I also understand when a relationship is not the right fit and am able to gracefully walk away and find someone who is a better fit.
Which female leader do you admire, and why?
Dolly Parton because she knows exactly who she is and never apologizes for it. She always remains kind, spreads so much love and goodness into the world, and never asks for anything in return. She is such a powerful force and a ray of sunshine at the same time.
Do you have a favorite quote or motto that inspires you?
There is a great song by Little Feat called “On Your Way Down,” and there is a line that says, “The same people that you must meet up with on your way up, you might meet up with on your way down.” That always stuck with me. It is a true reminder that life is about riding a rollercoaster. Sometimes you are at the peak, and sometimes you are running down that slope, going from zero to 60, about to crash head first. So always be kind; there is no reason not to be. You are never too important in life to be anything but respectful. Everyone, no matter where they are on their journey, should treat everyone with the same love and respect.
You are a person of influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
To always be kind and live by the golden rule. We were all made different on purpose, and we should celebrate one another’s differences and learn from one another because that is a beautiful way of life. That is the way the world was intended to be.
And to rewrite the narrative around being a single parent. There are so many amazing people raising children alone, and their stories deserve to be heard.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me before I started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
It is a much harder path than you will ever expect it to be. So always keep pushing forward and expect the ups and downs to come, because they will. But never give up!
Not everyone is going to love what you do. But if you love what you do and can internally be happy with what you are putting out into the world, then it doesn’t matter. You will find your people.
Keep your head down, work hard, and tune out the noise that doesn’t matter. If someone really wants to work with you, they will absolutely make that known. So be careful not to trust just anyone.
Always be working on your craft. The moment we stop bettering ourselves and our crafts, we become stagnant.
Keep your inner circle very tight and build a wonderful team around you that has the same goals in mind.
And one more extra one—that is very important. Don’t get caught up in the “idea of the music business.” That will just take you away from what you are really there to achieve and do nothing but get you into trouble.
What message would you like to leave us with today?
My career has many different faces attached to it. I am a full-time single mother, a singer/songwriter, an entrepreneur with an animated children’s music project, and the founder of a foundation that benefits single parents. Each piece is intricately intertwined with one another and without my experiences, both good and bad, these parts that make up who I am as a person would not exist. I always say to my children that you can’t go through hard times, you can’t go under them, but instead, you must go through them. Hard experiences in life don’t have to break us, instead, they can define us and allow us to use our experiences and turn them into something really beautiful.
Contact Info:
Website: www.erinduvallofficial.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/erinduvallofficial
Image Credits Photography by Michael Gomez
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