Duff MacDonald: How To Confidently Trust Your Creative Instinct

Did you ever feel that you needed to prove yourself as an artist?  To your parents?  Teachers? Directors? Castmates? Critics?

You are not alone!

Joining the conversation on Cue To Cue this week is Producer/Writer/Performer Duff MacDonald who will take us on a journey on how his “umbilical cord” was severed when he lost his parents and how it lead to an epiphany that he was doing everything to prove his worth to his  parents. When the magic carpet is pulled under you, Duff reminds us that you have the magic and the skillset to survive and grow as an artist.

Is there a project you’ve been wanting to start or a skill you’ve always to learn; but you’re worried that there’s a ton of technical things that you don’t know yet?

Don’t devalue yourself! You don’t have to be an expert; you have to be willing to learn the things that you don’t know as you go. As long as you have the fundamentals, you can do it.

In this episode:

• How the pandemic induced his creative juice and lead him to paint
• How an unexpected contract lead to a life-shifting experience in Scotland
• The influence of his mom’s creativity to his own journey towards discovering his own artistry
• The Connection bewtween creativity and confidence and how to find your confidence if you are struggling

A little about Duff:

Hailing from the wide open prairies of Saskatchewan, Duff has been singing and songwriting since the age of seven. He picked up the guitar at age fourteen and went on to win the Saskatchewan Search For the Stars at age 16. He also was a finalist in the Music City Song Festival in Nashville for his song “Dreamin” early in his career. He has performed venues all across Canada and the USA from coffee houses to large theatres and stadiums. 

His first professional recording came on a CD Compilation entitled “Desolation Sound” . Off his first recording, Duff received airplay for “If I Only Had the Time” and “In the Night” on CBC Radio Canada. 

His new country folk album NAKED is currently digitally available online within Apple Music, iTunes, Google Play and Amazon as well as many other sites. Material inspired by some major life events like the sudden passing of his parents, his brother and the end of a relationship. Veteran musicians Peter Bleakney (Anne Murray’s bass player of 25 years), Adam Warner (Kevin Quain and the Mad Bastards, Sarah Slean, Royal Wood) and Mark Stewartson (Classic Albums Live) are the backing band on the album. Featuring Duncan Scott on Mandolin/Fiddle, Fred Smith on Banjo/Dobro and Michael Lerner on Keys and Synth. Produced by Duff and Michael Lerner. Featured on the album is a haunting duet of the celtic traditional song “The Skye Boat Song” with Juno Award nominated singer songwriter WENDY LANDS.

His new country single PENNIES, NICKELS & DIMES can be heard on radio stations and streamed on iTunes as well. Mr. MacDonald is a seasoned performer of the stage, radio and television, acting in over 30 musicals and plays across Canada and the USA. He has also appeared in several national and international commercials.

 You are sure to have seen him in film and television roles like the recent CARTER (CTV Drama Channel), GOOD WITCH, TITANS (NetFlix), CLAWS OF THE RED DRAGON, Incorporated (SyFy), Tru Love (Winner of 35 Worldwide Film Fest Awards), Cinderella Man, Foolproof, The Music Man and most recently in the nation-wide spot for BOSTON PIZZA as the gold Professional Sports Trophy Model. Extremely popular during the 2015 World Baseball Series.

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