Meet Sam Duce

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sam Duce. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sam Duce, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

Creativity comes in abundance when you are an independent artist. There is always something I am accountable for creating, whether it is a cover art, music video treatment, or music in general. In a weird way, all these mediums feed each other because they are all creative outlets. There is a process to releasing music, and if you have fun with it, like I do, then it becomes a creative playground. What I mean is, I create dope music that is pleasing to my ear, I create cover art that aligns with my aesthetic, and I create music videos that imitates my life. Some may say what I output does not always marry or match one another, but I am not a one-dimensional person; I can chew bubble gum and walk at the same time…haha. Being my authentic self allows me to relate to those that may have not found their creative expression or outlet but relate to what I have to say. I think it is important to note that in my creative process, self-expression is always my goal. I am not tied to a single genre, rather guided by my life expression. Sometimes I feel good, and sometimes I don’t; and my music reflects both sides. I am human, you know? If I ever do feel creatively blocked, which rarely occurs, I simply move on to a new creative task; symptoms of being an independent artist.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

1. I’m Sam Duce, Houston native, who writes, sings/raps, and produces music. My music focuses on good vibes, partying, and in general my life. I started out as a rapper, and slowly grew and transitioned to an artist who creates a cross of rap and pop music. The rap foundation keeps me tied to my core audience, but my music expansion has led me to be categorize in multiple genres. Since I produce all my music, I have the freedom to create a unique sound, that does not follow the traditional music boundaries. My music spectrum ranges from pop records like my breakout song “Come Find Me”, a song that focuses on party vibes, to rap records like my song “Elemental” which places an emphasis on the trials and tribulations of living in the northside of Houston. My upcoming single releases will focus on similar topics but with an elevated song writing and production quality. Keep expecting good music, more videos, and all the vibes from me.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Self-awareness, resilience, and willingness to learn are three important qualities that are consistently being called upon in my journey. Of these three, the one that I would recommend to anyone is self-awareness because this skill will allow you to keep your individuality and stand firm on your belief. In a field where you are heavily criticized, you can easily get lost in the sauce.

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 agree with going all in on your strengths. In life we should be well rounded. At the end of the day the idea of strengths and weakness is all perspective. As I stand, I have many strengths all of which at some point were perceived as weaknesses. Had I not placed an emphasis in exploring these perceived weak areas I may have not learned that I am capable of being a rapper, a music video director, a producer, and an editor. Being perfect is boring. As humans, I appreciate all sides of me: good/bad, ugly/pretty, and happy/sad. I don’t strive to be perfect, rather strive to have a good balance. Temperance is how I guide my commitment to improving, ensuring I am a balanced human. Ultimately, consistently being well rounded and having temperance has gotten me where I am today, making great music.

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