Full name: Syd Duran
Position / Job title?: Songwriter/Recording Artist/Lead singer of Valora
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? At age 5 I told my mom I want to be a singer, and never changed my mind. Not even for a day.
Fast-forward several years/decades. How did you land (or create) your current position? I wasn’t born a naturally gifted singer, but I wanted to sing more than anything. I devoted my early years to learning how to sing properly and develop my own unique style. Once I had a strong understanding of how to use my voice, things got really exciting. At 13 I learned to play guitar so that I could write my own music. I discovered the value and fulfillment in songwriting. Aside from the time dedicated to my education, every waking hour was spent perfecting my craft. I didn’t even know I was doing it at the time. I just felt like I was doing whatever I wanted after school, which thankfully, was making music. I believe that if you put enough heart, along with time and diligence, you will eventually get to the destination you’ve been dreaming of. That’s how I’m doing it.
Did you have to take on internships to get there? How important in general, do you think, are internships? In my experience in the music industry, every unpaid gig is like an internship. I’ve done more than I can remember. They are extremely important for a few reasons. First, there is no greater lesson in mastering your performance than to just get on a stage, any stage, and give the performance of a lifetime. Also, you have to pay your dues, which will in turn develop your artistry. You can’t replace those experiences with a crash course in “how to be a rock star” all because somebody gave you your big break. Someone once told me that those overnight successes have the quickest burn out factor. They become extremely popular overnight, but one day you think to yourself “Hey, whatever happened to…?”
Tell us what a typical work day looks like for you. What is your job REALLY like, both the glamorous and not-so-glamorous parts?
Today’s work day looks like this: I will start with a couple interviews (including this one), hype myself up to actually complete a FULL workout video on fitnessblender.com, start working on lyrics and melody for a new track my writing partner sent over this morning, eat a meal at some point, and prep for an on-camera interview I have scheduled tomorrow. In my opinion, it’s not always easy to complete the tasks required each day while maintaining a peaceful mind with room for creativity, but to me it’s all glamorous because I’m doing what I love.
What is the single most important piece of advice you would give to other career-minded women? Always strive for greatness. Sometimes life and work can be so draining that you’re tempted to just check off the tasks on your list and get enough sleep to do it again the next day. My advice is try and remember that some things can wait, but you can’t live your dream later. You don’t want to look back and wonder how so much time has gone by and why you’re not at least headed in the direction of your goals. You may experience set backs along the way that could SLOW you down, but never let anyone or anything KEEP you down.
Let’s talk about work/life balance. What does that mean to you? Is it important?
In my line of work, it’s difficult to distinguish between “work” and “life” sometimes. There are no set hours of operation. I just get up and go. It’s very important to me to spend time with my family. Might I add, I live at home in the house I grew up in and I’m perfectly fine with that. It’s okay to surround yourself with the support and love of family especially when you are still in hustle mode to meet your career goals. It doesn’t make you less of an adult. I feel empowered to accomplish what I need to without getting sucked into a lonely world of workaholism.
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever received – career-related or otherwise? I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs throughout my journey. There are days that look so dark I’m not sure where to step. My aunt told me “The bigger your dreams are, the more likely you are to feel disappointment in life. If your goals are small, what risk are you facing?” At first this sounded like really sad news. But when it sank in I felt strong and privileged.
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