Meet Jenna Dundon

We were lucky to catch up with Jenna Dundon recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenna, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
As a musician and artist, I believe we never really overcome our imposter syndrome. The best artists are never satisfied with where they are and always striving to be better. I believe overcoming your imposter syndrome is impossible, but accepting it and using it as motivation rather than letting it deter you from your dreams is the key. It took me a long time to find a perfect balance between accepting where I am in my career, but never feeling satisfied.

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 was born in Kingston Ontario, a small town between Montreal and Toronto best known for Queens University, and moved to Mississauga to attend college at the age of 18. I have always loved music but I started playing drums at the age of 15 in my high school band and in Kingston’s youth orchestra. Being late to discover the instrument I was passionate about definitely fuelled my drive to pursue drumming as a career. I loved the feeling of being the only women in the room and standing out for not only that but also my intense drive for music. Once college applications came around in my last year of high school, I knew I would regret not trying to become a musician for the rest of my life. I took a strategic leap and ended up studying at Metalworks Institute in Mississauga in their two year Music Performance and Technology program as a drum major where I studied drums, music business, recording engineering and live sound. Since graduating Metalworks in 2022, I have gone on to play many shows for a multitude of Toronto artists and am currently the live drummer for artists Takaayla and Michelle Owen as well as booking studio gigs and creating my own music. Since January of 2024, my life has taken a turn and I am now marketing myself as not only a drummer, but as an artist as well. In January I started to publicize my challenge for this year as an artist where I release an original song on the first of every month for the entire year. It’s an ambitious project for such a small artist, but is something I am very proud of. It took a year of planning, writing, and building my team but if I could go back I would still do it all again. I was sick of writing what I though were amazing songs for them to just sit in a book beside my bed, never to be seen again. I urge you to try something new and fully dive in, it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I hope you choose to follow me on my journey through 2024 and enjoy the change and growth this year brings.

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?
The first one is definitely the power of kindness! A lot of people think stepping on toes and pushing your way to the front of the line is the best and most efficient way to get ahead in life. What happens when we get to the front and are not accepted by where who or where we are trying to get to because of all the people we hurt during our attempt to get there. People notice kindness and people notice when you radiate positive energy! This is a quality that will get you ahead, maybe not in a month but with a little patience you will notice people starting to chose you because of the way you treat others.

The second skill I think is valuable is listening. Good communication skills are essential in the music industry! Being someone that people want to open up to is such a valuable trait and will definitely put you ahead. Try asking more questions about people in your life that you want to be closer to. Taking an interest in these people and being able to give them space to talk makes you more approachable and easier to open up to. Who doesn’t need a great listener!

Saying yes to new opportunities is always beneficial. I am someone who likes to be in bed by ten and feel really relaxed and comfortable in my own space, but I think events are a great way to connect with new people and find new opportunities. I treat every social gathering whether it’s a jam session, gig or just a party as an interview opportunity. You never know who you will meet or connect with and sometimes you meet no one, but other times you leave wondering how you even contemplated staying home instead. Put yourself out there more, the worst people can say is no!

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
I am a young disabled women living in Mississauga off one income. Being disabled is something I am very open about and that impacts every aspect of my life every single day. I have been diagnosed with IBS, Chronic Pain, Depression and Tourettes which at one point or another have been uncontrollable. Putting aside the pain I am constantly in every day and gaining the courage to get out of bed, go to work, and go above and beyond to create accommodations for myself is honestly exhausting. 27% of Canadians are disabled and this is something that goes unnoticed and is frequently thrown money at instead of consulting disabled people and creating usable accommodations for people in need. I don’t like to complain about my life because I am so grateful for so many things but I often forget that not everyone lives like me. I have sensory issues and frequently have to avoid certain situations or wear earplugs/use fidget toys to help calm myself down, I avoid eating out with friends and family because of my anxiety of having an IBS attack away from home, and I have mobility issues and struggle to navigate large crowds and lots of stairs. I don’t wish I was someone else, I am glad I get a platform where I can speak so openly about this topic. Finding the good in a bad situation can sometimes seem impossible but I wouldn’t change this because this is who I am. I will always face this challenge and have accepted that.

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Image Credits
Felice Trinidad

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