Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Erin Duvall. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Erin with us today. Welcome, and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I get my work ethic from my parents. They are the two hardest-working people that I know. They taught us at a very young age that you have to work extremely hard for everything you want and to understand that nothing major will come super easy. Since becoming a mother to four amazing children and then a single mother, my work ethic has only intensified. Leaving a legacy behind for my children that they are proud of is my number one goal in life. From my own personal experiences, I fully understand that life and work are full of many ups and downs and that you have to keep your head down, drown out the noise that doesn’t matter, and always keep pushing forward. No matter what.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
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 has been 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 captaining 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 this new 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.
I wear many hats on a daily basis, and all of those different hats make up who I am as a person. To give you a little insight into the world of Erin Duvall, here are some of the fun projects I am currently working on.
For my music, we just released the third single off of the album on May 12th for Mother’s Day. It is a love song to my children and to anyone who is raising kids or has raised kids. Being a parent is the hardest but most rewarding job in the world. We are preparing for our next release that will come out at the end of July! It’s a super fun summer song!
Additionally, my foundation, “Twice the Love Foundation,” hosted its first event in November of last year, and we raised money for a wonderful charity in Dallas, Genesis Women’s Shelter. We are currently working on some exciting new ideas for the charity and starting to prepare for next year’s event. ‘Twice the Love Foundation’ focuses on the social, emotional, and financial stressors of being a single parent and helps those who need assistance get back on their feet again.
And my animated children’s project is preparing to make its return; we are very excited for everyone to follow along!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back on my career, there are definitely three qualities that stick out the most to me and have allowed me to keep pushing forward every single day.
First, 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.
Secondly, 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.
And lastly, I am a very loyal person. If you treat me well, then I will treat you very well in return. I also understand when a relationship is not the right fit and I am able to gracefully walk away and find someone who is a better suited for me.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
Both! I think it is super important to understand your strengths, lean into them, and continue to strengthen them as you grow. However, I think you are even more powerful when you lean into your strengths AND invest effort into improving areas you aren’t as strong in as well. It allows you to become a force to be reckoned with. I think that you should always be learning something new every day. Also, if you are the smartest person in the room, then you should move rooms because it is so important to surround yourself with people who have more knowledge and experience than you. Never stop learning, and never stop sharpening your strengths.
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Image Credits: Photography by Michael Gomez