Erin Duvall on Returning to Music After Motherhood, Finding Herself Again and Turning Pain Into…

Authority Magazine: Erin Duvall on Returning to Music After Motherhood, Finding Herself Again and Turning Pain Into Purpose -- Listen Share “I stepped away when my oldest son… was little… I chose to focus on them at that moment in time… I also needed to focus on me at that time and just go through the healing process… Then God opened a door… I wrote eight songs in a matter of days. I so desperately needed to get it out and for other people to hear it.

It was a wonderful process.” “I stepped away when my oldest son… was little… I chose to focus on them at that moment in time… I also needed to focus on me at that time and just go through the healing process… Then God opened a door… I wrote eight songs in a matter of days. I so desperately needed to get it out and for other people to hear it. It was a wonderful process.” I had the pleasure of talking with Erin Duvall. Born and bred in Dallas, Texas, she is a singer-songwriter whose music blends country, soul, gospel, and rock and roll.

As the fourth of five children in a devoted University of Texas family, her path to the stage felt almost inevitable. She describes herself as someone who “came out of the womb performing,” always finding a way to elevate herself onto a stage, whether it was the kitchen counter, a stairwell, or a hotel lobby. From cheerleading and musical theater to choir and solo performances, music was always a driving force in her early years. Although she almost attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, she pivoted at the last minute to the University of Texas to study journalism.

She wanted the traditional Southern college experience, a decision that deeply informed her writing process and storytelling abilities. After college, Duvall moved to New York City to work on the window display team for Ralph Lauren. When offered a larger role within the company, she faced what she calls a “hard fork in the road.” She turned right when the world told her to turn left, declining the corporate job to pursue her music. This leap of faith led to her 2010 debut album, Out of Focus. However, life soon demanded another major pivot.

She became a mother to four children — two boys, now thirteen and twelve, and nine-year-old twin girls. Raising them required her to step away from the demanding, late-night schedule of performing. She notes that touring constantly and paying others to watch her kids simply was not the most cost-effective or fulfilling way to raise them. She relocated to Colorado, went through a difficult divorce, and eventually moved back to Dallas nearly a decade ago to heal and focus entirely on her family. Duvall never stopped writing during her hiatus, using her pen to process the heavy emotional toll of her divorce.

Her official return to the studio was sparked by a chance encounter. While attending a meeting at The Potter’s House, Bishop T.D. Jakes asked if she still sang. That brief conversation led to a music video project and an introduction to the Baker Brothers, including Terry Baker, who has drummed for Kirk Franklin for twenty-five years. In a burst of renewed creative energy, she wrote eight songs in a matter of days. That cathartic process laid the groundwork for her 2024 album, One by One. Today, her songwriting comes from a place of deep clarity rather than urgency.

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While Erin Duvall's personal journey offers valuable insights into authenticity in branding, the themes of personal storytelling and community engagement are already established concepts in brand strategy.