Doug Burns shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Doug, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
At the moment, and for most of my life, I have been chasing the dream of being recognized as a serious musician and songwriter. It’s an incredibly difficult goal to achieve simply because a great deal of it is based on being in the right place at the right time and a lot of luck. On top of that, and to make it even harder, the industry has changed drastically, and so have the rules. But it’s a bit like being a gambler because you never want to stop. And if I did, I’m not sure where I would then focus my energies. I feel that if I quit now, time would speed up and I would simply watch it fly by, getting nothing in return. I suppose I’ll stop at some point, but that point is far off at the moment. There are certainly times when I consider throwing in the towel, but those are the times when I tell myself, “Quit tomorrow.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Doug Burns, and I am a solo musician and songwriter. My brand is Doug Burns Music, and I divide my time between performing, writing and learning. It can be difficult working as a performer, and a lot depends on luck, but it also takes a great deal of hard work and determination, in no particular order. My brand is unique because when I play live, I typically include about fifty percent of my original songs. So, the songs I write have to be good first, but also must resonate with the listener. In addition, the show must have a level of energy that is consistent and honest, so the people in the crowd can enjoy it and feel like they are part of something fun and unique. I released a new EP in 2024 and have been supporting it through regular live events and social media. But since things move fast and you’re only as relevant as your last song, I continue to write and perform new material constantly.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
In the 6th grade, I was part of an “end of the year” concert. I played guitar (badly) with another friend, also on guitar. The band was rounded out by one of my favorite teachers on the drums and two other teachers on other instruments. We used lights, amplifiers, and a PA, so everything sounded really loud. We played the intro/beginning of the song “Smoke on the Water” for about 10 minutes and the crowd went nuts. I remember looking at the faces of my bandmates, and we were all smiling and feeling very happy in that moment. I didn’t want it to end, but when it did, the crowd roared with applause, and we even signed a few autographs. It was something I’ll never forget.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Our family faced many challenges while growing up, and most of them were financial. I remember being envious of friends whose families had big houses or brand new cars. Often we went without the “finer things” in life and had to miss out on things that other families were able to do. But it made me very determined that I would achieve those things when I got older. It also helped me build a very tough exterior, which makes being in the music business a lot easier.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
For the past 5 years, I have been writing a novel. It has involved a great deal of stopping and starting as well as revision and painstaking rewrites. But I believe in the book and I enjoy the process, so for just those reasons alone I will never give up. It’s a lot like the music business, in that there are no hard and fast rules, but you still have to follow the correct path. My goal is to have it completed and submitted to an agent before the end of the year.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
With only ten years left, I would stop wasting time on things that don’t matter. I would focus all my efforts on being creative and finding joy. We get caught up in silly things far too easily, which causes us to waste our time and energy on those things, i.e. social media, negativity, worry. I would use my time to focus entirely on my family, goals, and travel. Worrying and wasting time do us no good at all. Living in the present while being hopeful for the future is a much better approach to life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.reverbnation.com/dougburns
- Instagram: dougburnsmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doug.burns.351
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dougburns1038
