Meet Donterell McDuffie | Music Producer, Author, Actor, Composer

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

Hi Donterell, how do you think about risk?
There’s an old saying which I love. “Fortune favors the bold.” I’m not quite sure who said it, but for me and many I know, this is true. Well calculated risks bring the highest rewards. This is true for stocks, gambling, and careers (if done well and appropriately). I think about risks as unknown stakes for unknown rewards. The good thing about that is, in the realm of the “unknown”, there is a possibility of exponential positive growth if one were to take a well calculated risk. The opposite, playing it “safe”, usually generates mediocre results. I took a massive risk moving to LA. I packed my vehicle and drove across the country. I did not know where I would stay or if anyone would be willing to work with me. But my life has turned out better than I could have imagined; all from taking that risk. I have achieved far more than I believed possible in only a year. Risk, in business, is the greatest necessity. It teaches you faith in your ability, while also balancing faith in the unknown. If you can do that, you will absolutely find success.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a renaissance man. I grew up in one of the smallest towns in the country, but our school system did not lack in the areas of arts or academics. I was incredibly blessed. Currently I am a producer with Triangle Park Music. We are multi-grammy award winning production team. We are currently working on multiple projects with studios such as Roc Nation, Atlantic Records, and Mega. Aside from that, I am a new author and am in the middle of planning my release for my first fantasy novel which will be announced sometime later this year or the beginning of next year (2025). Getting to where I am professionally has been a journey of blood, sweat, tears, self-doubt, frustration, moments of envy (as much as I hate admitting that), and stress; and I would not change it. It was worth every sleepless night, every let down, every disappointment; it was worth that and more.

How do you overcome those challenges: I’d like to believe this isn’t a gross oversimplification, but truthfully, blind faith and stubbornness. You must adopt an unwavering belief that no matter what your current circumstances look like, you absolutely can achieve the thing you have set out to do. And remind yourself that you aren’t the first one to do it. If *they* can do it, so can you.

I believe that one of the most valuable lessons I have learned in this is that tenacity beats everything else. It is the real trump card. Tenacity beats talent. It beats temporary hard work. Can you suffer the longest? Can you stay on the treadmill until the other person gives up. That’s how this really works.

I want people to know that, had they met me at age eleven or twelve, that there is no metric which would suggest that I would be where I am today doing what I am doing being around some of the industry’s best and brightest. This is a testament to risk, blind faith, and tenacity.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Okay, this question totally caught me off guard. Ha! Okay… The Observatory, obviously. It’s an amazing spot whether you’re a tourist or a local. The Getty is a great place to visit, site-see, and eat so you can knock all the things out in one swoop. For dining and drinks, I would hit either Joey in Woodland Hills or The Front Yard in NOHO.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
That’s a challenging question. This list could be rather extensive. There are too many to name but I will try to name a few of the people who deserve credit in my story. Sandra “Poochie” Rogers (my first musical mentor), Larry Hewitt (my art teacher), Kelly Jones (my theater teacher), Eric Wortham, DJ King Rico, My Triangle Park Family for sure (Scott “iRobot” Carter and Vanessa “Nettie” Wood), Carvin Haggins, and the great LA Reid.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/don_terell/