We were lucky to catch up with Trey Duncan recently and have shared our conversation below.
Trey, so great to have you sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our readers and so let’s jump right into one of our favorite topics – empathy. We think a lack of empathy is at the heart of so many issues the world is struggling with and so our hope is to contribute to an environment that fosters the development of empathy. Along those lines, we’d love to hear your thoughts around where your empathy comes from?
I’m fortunate to a have been raised in a family that supported me and instilled in me the belief that I could do whatever I wanted to with my life. I was also raised in a family of faith and believed that my life had a calling and a purpose. No matter what happened all things would work towards the good.
That belief was challenged when I grew to feel my own negative emotions and brokenness and crossed paths with friends that knew that darkness as well. I learned firsthand how dwelling in that space creates a feedback loop that can feel impossible to escape. Approaching the abyss, I decided I could be lost to it or I could strive to make the experience worthwhile; having felt that pain I could choose to inflict it upon others or lessen their suffering from a position of empathy.
A foundational goal of my music is to uplift people and to give them an outlet for their emotions- whether that be dancing to an upbeat song or grieving to a tragic one. Those painful emotions are a fact of life, and I think sad music can give us catharsis. It also lets us reckon with those emotions so that when we feel mistreated by others we don’t immediately resort to mudslinging and assuming that they are inherently bad people. Rather, our first instinct should be an empathetic one: to wonder how they’ve been hurt and to show them the grace and kindness that’s been withheld from them. My empathy is informed by the belief that we live in a world where we can learn from our mistakes and grow to be better people.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a country rock’n’soul songwriter, musician, and performer. When I perform I focus on making sure everyone has a good time and has a positive human connection. The beauty of music is how it can be so personal and introspective but simultaneously bigger than oneself and unifying across boundaries of sex, religion, culture, and the usual suspects that try to divide us. If I can get you tapping your foot along with me then I’ve done my job!
I’m very excited about my latest release, “Honeymoon,” that was inspired by mine and my wife’s honeymoon. It is out now and available on all platforms. We’re doing a special project for this song that perfectly demonstrates the idea of music connecting people. We’re encouraging folks to submit their stories, pictures, and videos from their honeymoon to be featured in the music video. The theme of the song is that everyday with our spouse can feel like a honeymoon, so even if you don’t have any media from your honeymoon you can send a photo of you and your partner loving life together. You can share on social media with #honeymoonchallenge or contact me directly at [email protected]. My team and I are so excited to celebrate y’all and your precious memories!
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?
Hard Work, Kindness, and Humility.
Hard Work: No one will champion your work like you will, and, if you can’t, why should they? You have to make the decision to show up everyday and commit to being the best you can be that day. You might not see leaps and bounds of difference from day to day, but if you’re taking even a single step forward you’ll get where you’re going. Bonus points if you can do it with a smile on your face!
Kindness: No matter what, treat others with respect. Besides being a good practice that will enrich your own soul and help you to maintain gratitude, you never know what others are going through at any given time or what part they have to play in guiding you along your own path.
Humility: There’s always going to be someone with more talent and experience, so there is always someone for you to learn from. Be a perpetual student and don’t let your ego make you get in your own way. I’m a fan of not taking myself too seriously. This keeps life fun, helps with facing criticism, and maintains humility. I like to say that “I’m a child at heart, but my craft is no laughing matter.”
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
My wife and my parents.
Sometimes we need to be pushed, and sometimes we need to be comforted. Fortunately, my wife is an expert in both of these areas, and I can promise you I wouldn’t be anything close to resembling who I am today without her love, support, and encouragement. She’s my biggest cheerleader, but she also holds me accountable when I’m not living up to my own standards.
My parents are both very selfless, and I learned a lot about the importance of helping others by watching their examples. They both have great work ethics and have overcome adversity with grace and strength. They’re also both great musicians!
I can’t stress how important it is to have a support system because your own willpower will only get you so far. Paradoxically, there is strength in recognizing our own weakness and being humble enough to ask for help.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://treyduncansings.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treyduncansings/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/treyduncansings
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNk8W8kxdF41b0U80Qg3WJQ
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@treyduncansings
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3NOQLve0O2t5pNLWtPILTn?si=ULVEX-rsSOqG6ZsfmdlWpA
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/cl/artist/trey-duncan/1612767414?l=en-GB
Email: [email protected]
Image Credits
Erin McCaffrey, Dan Johnson, Celia Luck-Leonard, Christian Crocker, Mayden Blackston, Davey Morgan
