Meet Colleen Dauncey | Singer-Songwriter & Twitch Music Streamer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Colleen Dauncey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Colleen, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
I think people who are unfamiliar with Twitch.tv might not realize that it’s so much more than a livestreaming platform – it’s a true community. Since I started streaming on Twitch in 2021 my community has grown to over 20k members, including followers, subscribers, and fantastic team of moderators. We have shared incredible highs, celebrated many holidays and milestones, and have been there for each other through low times as well.

In 2022 I was lucky enough to be asked to perform at Twitchcon, an annual convention that brings together Twitch streamers, viewers, staff, and vendors, which was held in San Diego. It was my first time at an event since the pandemic, and it was surreal to meet so many of my fellow music streamers and community members who I had become friends with online over the previous 2 years. I was so moved by the instant sense of connection and camaraderie I shared with people who I had only ever known online. Since then I have been to many more Twitch-related events, several here in LA, and have even started travelling collaborate with other Twitch streamers!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m really excited to be releasing a brand new original song this month called “Weekdaze”, which is available on all streaming platforms as of February 10th! The song is about coming to the realization that you might actually be in love with someone when you start hanging out together on the weekdays, and not just going out on the weekends. It’s a love letter to the small, simple, and quiet moments spent with someone who just seems to understand you. I got to work with an incredible producer and fellow twitch streamer named Justin Mullinix, who I actually met at Twitchcon where he was performing with his band, Risky Biscuit. Justin was a dream to work with and he was able to dial in the guitar-forward indie-pop sound I was craving for this song.

We’ll be celebrating the release on my Twitch stream, which is a full-circle moment for me because I played “Weekdaze” for my Twitch community the same day that I wrote it, incomplete bridge and all! They’ve watched that song and many others grow from small seeds of ideas to fully produced songs. They’ve been that big push I needed to get over my insecurities and actually release these songs out into the world.

Speaking of my stream – it’s a live interactive show that I put on three times a week on Twitch.tv. Every night is a unique experience that includes song requests, anecdotes, Q&As, and even improvised loops where I take song suggestions from the audience in real time and weave them into one long mashup!

It’s been quite the journey to get to the point where I was able to manage all of this musically while also running the livestream software and keeping up with the comments in the chat. I started small with a simple piano/vocal setup, one camera, and minimal overlays on the screen. But the beauty of streaming is that if you set yourself a regular schedule, you end up getting lots of time to practice, improve, and hone your skills while simultaneously being supported by the community. So month after month I kept adding new elements to my audio and visual setups, I learned how to create loops in Ableton Live (music software), I wrote new original songs and debuted them on stream, and I even started learning the bass guitar so I could add that layer into my loops as well. This learning process also helped connect me with other streamers who have done similar things, and I’ve made some wonderful friends just by reaching out to ask or answer questions about streaming.

I think adding new elements to the stream helps keep the audience interested, but equally importantly it keeps me interested. When I’m engaged in what I’m doing, I think that comes across to the community – they can tell when someone is being authentic and staying open to new experiences. I also use this as a buffer to keep me from being too affected by the numbers and analytics of it all. If I’m working on my craft, and I’m growing and learning, then I’m winning regardless of whether viewership is up or down on any given day. I always refer to Twitch as a magical little place because I have put countless hours of hard work and passion into my stream, and yet it never once has felt like a “job”. For that I am truly grateful.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m pretty new to LA myself so I still have a lot of exploring to do, but I’ve definitely already fallen in love with so many spots!

I love to go see live music, so I’d suggest checking out the intimate singer-songwriter showcases at Hotel Cafe, and the live music series called “School Night” that happens at Bardot.

I’m also a beach girl, so if it was someone’s first time here I’d probably take them to Santa Monica for the afternoon. Sunshine, sand, ocean, lobster rolls… what more could you want?

I also think it’s worth heading up to the Griffith Observatory, they have really cool exhibits and you get a great view of the city from up there.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to dedicate my shoutout to my amazing Twitch family. Their support and camaraderie has brought me so much joy, and has truly changed the trajectory of my career and my life.

My passion for music revolves around community and connection. I feel the most connected when I’m sharing music with audiences, performing with other musicians, watching musicians I admire, or simply sitting around a coffee table singing harmonies with friends. I am continuously amazed by the way livestreaming allows me to invite an international audience into my home and get to know them at the same time as they are getting to know me and my music.

Website: https://colleendauncey.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/colleendauncey

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ColleenDauncey

Other: https://twitch.tv/colleendaunceymusic https://tiktok.com/@colleendaunceymusic

Image Credits
Marisa McIntyre, Elyse Anna Photography