We recently connected with Emily Drennan and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Emily, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
Doing your best and finishing what you set out to do has always been something that was instilled in me from a very early age. I didn’t realize that not finishing your homework or not preparing for a test was even an option until I got older and saw other classmates choosing that path. It was very simple: once we finished our homework or chores, then we got to play or go outside or do whatever we wanted to do. Until then, we didn’t. So, we did.
Because it was an important part of my upbringing, it has never felt odd to work first and then play; quite the opposite. Even now, it is actually very difficult for me to do anything extracurricular if the work I have before me isn’t finished. It can be a double-edged sword as any asset can quickly become a liability; however, I am very thankful for the work ethic my parents instilled in me and in my brother and how it prepared us to become constructive and successful adults.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a professional singer and songwriter based in New York City. Lately, I have most often been singing with symphonies across the country as a guest artist. I am a voice-over artist recording in both English and Spanish and perform in various Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. I am also a Mom of 2 young boys.
Most exciting for me is the variety of things I get to do from day to day whether it be singing in front of 10,000 people or changing diapers all day the next. It is humbling and exciting and it also helps you appreciate each opportunity you have.
For the music I write, I really try to be authentic and rooted in experience and musicality as that is what I also want from an artist. There should be some exciting projects coming about this year and the next few, so stay tuned!
And if you want the long bio (!), it can be found here: www.emilydrennan.com/bio
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?
The most impactful skills I have used in my journey that first come to mind are: 1) reading music; 2) being persistent with a strong work ethic and 3) having faith.
Growing up in a musical family, exposure to music and learning to read it was inevitable. Because I took many years of piano and was a part of All-State Choir, church choirs and more, the opportunity to learn to read music and practice the skill was in front of me constantly. It also didn’t hurt my pitch-perfect mother was a vocal music teacher and helped me along the way either. 🙂 As such, I learned to read music very quickly and because of that skill, I have gleaned more specified work because of it. I am very comfortable when someone says in an audition, “ok, we will now need you to sight-read” or in a recording session when they give you a new chart and you have to sing it in a few minutes. I actually love those times because it is a challenge and one I grew up loving. Certainly in the entertainment industry, there are varied skills in this area.
There have been plenty of jobs I didn’t get because I didn’t look or sound a certain way which is out of my control, but I have never not been hired because I couldn’t read the music or handle it musically. So choosing the things that ARE in your control and conquering them and trying not to worry about the things you can’t control is a good mindset (and one I need to remind myself often).
As I mentioned earlier in the article, a strong worth ethic was instilled in me early on and that has benefitted me in my journey. Persevering and pushing forward towards and to finish the task at hand is not only beneficial in the arts industry, but in life. Simple things like showing up on time, being gracious, sending a thank you letter or follow-up email all add up over time. Continuing to show up, to knock on the door, to be kind, to keep training, to keep learning and to keep setting and achieving specific goals all add up over time. It may lead you in a different direction than you thought, but hard work and pressing forward never is in vain.
Having faith has also kept me grounded. Having faith in God and that He has the best plan for me whether I see it or feel it or not changes one’s perspective. Having faith that, even amidst difficulties, tragedy, heartbreak and loss, there is goodness and purpose changes one’s perspective. Having faith that whether you win or lose right now doesn’t matter quite as much in the grand scheme changes one’s perspective…and that changed perspective changes everything.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
I don’t think there is a “right” answer here and there have certainly been many successful people with both paths; however, for me, I prefer the more well-rounded approach. While one might not become a true expert in a certain area investing effort in improving weaker areas instead of focusing solely on one’s strengths, it creates perseverance, character and a greater understanding and appreciation of people who ARE experts in that area. I think it opens the door to greater collaboration and it also creates a more well-rounded share of life experiences.
That being said, if you are start naturally at a 8/10 at a skill, it is not as difficult to get to a 10/10 at that skill. Whereas if you begin at a 2/10 with your natural gifts, it isn’t impossible, but it is a bit more improbable. So, it is important to work at the things you are already naturally skilled and gifted in to do and be the best you can in them as you have a greater likelihood to rise to the top in those areas. This also gives you a greater opportunity to use your gifts in service and to give back as they will naturally be in more demand. But, to be fully well-rounded in life experience, trying to increase your 2/10 skills to even a 6/10 is of value and might actually help your 10/10 skills. With both, you gain a greater humility and a greater understand that we all have different gifts and that we are all needed to use those different gifts in our world and society.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.emilydrennan.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilykdrennan/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilyDrennanMusic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-drennan-16890a64/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@emilydrennan
- Other: iTunes: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/emily-drennan/561836338 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1sjV0uQTmsyXISXm1d669F?si=p91nr8DkRzWU9EIohOkHIA
Image Credits
Cover photo, red jumpsuit and yellow photos courtesy of Caitlin Cannon Photography Bravo Vail! photo courtesy of Bravo Vail! Detroit Symphony photo courtesy of Detroit Symphony
