Art & Life with Emory Duncan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emory Duncan.

Emory, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I was a super theatrical kid. I would dress up all the time, Halloween was 365 days a year for me. I acted in school plays, sang in the school choir, and never knew that these things were taking root in my brain and shaping a foundation for my identity. Looking for a creative outlet, my parents bought me my first guitar the same year, I became a cast member of the Texas Renaissance Festival. The subsequent jump to acting in community plays and musicals was organic. In high school, people told me I should try out for the senior musical, but I brushed them off. After half-assing my way through a couple of rounds of auditioning, I played the Ren McCormack in our school’s production of Footloose. That’s when it hit me in the face that this was what I had been looking for. I studied film at The University of Texas, but most everything I learned was on the sets of student films and by teaching myself to songwrite rather than in the classrooms. I studied for a semester in Los Angeles through the school, then made the move west the day after my graduation ceremony. Since then, I’ve been acting in independent film projects, alongside writing, recording, and playing music with my band. Wow, crazy, I feel like I just summed up my whole life in a paragraph.

Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I’m an actor and a musician. People always ask me which one I would choose if I have to, and I honestly hate that question, mostly because I don’t have to choose. Rant over. I’ll use music as the example, but everything I say henceforth can also be applied to when I’m acting, whether it’s on stage, on a set, or in an audition room. Here’s the honest truth, buckle up. I don’t know why I do it or where the inspiration comes from. I gave up trying to understand it because I don’t think its something that can really be understood. It’s not a choice, it’s a compulsion. I don’t know what makes me get out of bed and pick up my guitar at 4 am when I hear a melody. What I do know is that it’s a healing process. If I’m going through a tough situation or struggling with something, writing a song will always get me through it. When I come out the other side and the struggle has manifested itself in something beautiful like a song, all of sudden it’s worth it. I’ve rewired my perspective to now believe that that’s why we struggle, that’s why we’re given the challenges we face. To get to the art. So, I guess if one other person can see themselves in my work, or it makes them feel something (anything), or it shows them that someone else has gone through something similar, then I’ve done my job.

Even more personal than that, there’s a feeling I get, whether it’s while writing a song or performing it live, where I know I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else at that moment. Call it a form of meditation, but it can really take you somewhere otherworldly. It dwindles you down to your most basic form, and it almost feels like you’re not there, like you’re not actually doing anything. Like it’s being done to you. And no matter what you do, you can’t actually mess up. There can be imperfections, but it’s okay. Those are what give it the soul. And I’m not doing this feeling justice by putting it into words. But it’s like touching the face of God, or whatever it is you believe in. Feeling that as much as possible is what makes life worth living. I’d be willing to bet it’s pretty similar to the feeling surfers get when they catch the biggest wave of their lives. I think everyone can find something that does that for them, and if they follow it, maybe there’d be less people that hate their jobs.

What would you recommend to an artist new to the city, or to art, in terms of meeting and connecting with other artists and creatives?
Keep an eye out for upcoming events and shows. Then go to them. Or start putting on your own. Talk to EVERYONE. Post ads. Answer ads. Sounds crazy but that’s how I connected with my bandmates. Ads at practice spaces. Ads at music stores. Online ads.

That said, don’t devalue your alone time. It’s a balance. Time to yourself is imperative to introspection and reflection. Things can sometimes get blurry when you’re always surrounded by people.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can listen to my band, Only Only, and keep an eye out for upcoming gigs here:
hyperurl.co/listenplaceholder

And this is my personal Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/emoryduncan/

My team and I are currently in post-production on a short film that we financed through crowdfunding. Definitely be on the lookout for future Indiegogo campaigns. The film is called South Down 79 and should be out before the end of the year.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6696543/
• Email: emoryduncan94@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emoryduncan/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onlyonlyofficial/

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