Meet Cora Duke

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cora Duke. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cora below.

Hi Cora, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I honestly think it was a combination of 2 things; a Barbie karaoke machine, and a spotlight on my parents’ raised hearth.

I discovered my love of performing very young. Even long before I could be on stages, I was constantly performing for my family in my daily life. There are countless stories and videos of me as a small child hamming it up 100% of the time, it wasn’t long before I joined dance classes and discovered that everything on the radio could be a duet if I tried hard enough. I got my first guitar, looked up chords on the internet, and the my horizons got so much wider. I started picking up instruments wherever I could, and figuring out the rest as I went. I’ve taught myself four instruments, and learned a fifth in school- and if we’re counting the voice as an instrument (which I think we should), all-in-all I have 6 under my belt so far.

Once I started writing my own songs, a lot of things started to make more sense to me. I was finally in a position to be creative and expressive in a way that I never knew how to be before. And the more music I heard, the more music I made. Eventually, I started writing for other people, and got to tell stories that didn’t feel held down by my own perspective. I took time and slowly built up a home studio, recorded a few singles, and started to build a following- then the pandemic hit. Most of my business became session vocals, demo work, and writing for other artists. And while I was grateful to have every opportunity I had to make money at it, I always felt more fulfilled when I was writing and singing for me. Life went on, and I got back into working full time in another field to make end’s meet, but I always knew it would never be enough for me. I needed more.

I’m back in the studio, writing and recording new material that sounds like nothing I’ve ever done before, and I’m so excited. Working with other people on their music has really broadened my sense of my own identity in my music, and I’ve been able to find more diverse elements that make these new songs the most exciting and true-to-myself music I’ve ever worked on. I still can’t stop writing while I’m working on these songs, so I also started a TikTok page to post clips of more of my writing to show more of my style. Being able to connect with people on music is so special, and it’s all I really want to do.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m not lying when I say I’m singing at least 50% of my life, I often don’t even notice myself doing it. It’s so intrinsic to me, and I think on some level, music is intrinsic to everyone in their own way- I find a lot of excitement in finding what that way is.

I love making music that’s vulnerable and lyrical, and I also love making music that’s bitter and music that is jovial. Everyone connects with something different, and it’s so much fun to find that connection in the faces of a crowd, or the comment section of a post.

I’m working on a new EP to expand my available musical catalogue, and I’ve finally been getting back into performing around the metroplex. My TikTok is also a new place to find what I’ve been working on, and hear my music as I work on it.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think persistence, passion, and curiosity are crucial to development in any area.

Persistence can be hard, especially when you don’t know how long you’ll be going at the pace you’re going. It’s so easy to get complacent or discouraged when you’re in a competitive field, but no one succeeds on the first try. As disheartening as it can get, as they say, “persistence is key.”

Passion is often under-valued in people’s lives and decisions. Practicality wins out a lot of the time, and at the end of the day, there’s something missing for a lot of people. I’m lucky enough to have found my passion very young, and I know that doesn’t come the same way to everyone. But once you find what you’re passionate about, being persistent with it will be so much easier.

Curiosity to learn and try new things, to expand your knowledge, I feel goes hand-in-hand with passion. Sometimes it takes finding some things that you don’t like to know what you do like, and that’s almost part of the fun. Being curious is how all great creations get made, so I try not to be afraid to fail and make something bad, as long as I learn from it.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I’m always looking for new people to collaborate with- producers, singer/songwriters, photographers, videographers, etc. I’m making some darker, harder-hitting music lately and have been working with a few people to really create a bigger sound and style than I have ever had before.

You can find me on Instagram and TikTok as @coradukemusic, or email me at <coramusic04@gmail.com>. I also have a profile on Soundbetter for my session and demo work.

You can hear my previous work on all major streaming platforms.

Contact Info:

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